Seeing the world with your own eyes is a million times better than any dream.
Ray Bradbury
Where should you sleep in South Korea's second-largest city? There's a question for you! If you plan to discover the lovely coastal city called Busan, you have lots of places to suit your tastes and budget - the most important factor of all!
Are you more of a city-centre sleeper? Would you rather have quieter quarters? Maybe you want to wake up to the sight, sound and smell of the sea. Did you know that
million inhabitants
That's a lot of beds in one location! So whichever your preferences, you'll find lodgings to your taste. This huge metropolis abounds with traveller accommodation solutions. From the standard hotel to atypical stays, circling around Yeongdo gu, we present your best options. Before spilling all the details, we tease you with a brief overview:
| Accommodation Type | Hostel | Temple | Public Bath | Hotel | Homestay |
| Price per night | Between £12-30/night | Between £40-65/night | ~£8/night | From £30-300, traveller's choice | Between £25-100 |
| Advantages | Low cost, many beds, very social | Unique experience, meals included | Atypical, inexpensive | Comfort, privacy, many options | Typical Korean experience, social encounters |
| Inconveniences | noise, dormitory setting | Strict rules, minimal comfort | noisy, minimal comfort | Depends on selection | House rules, minimal independence |
Which Busan District to Stay in?
After Seoul, Busan is the country's second-largest city. It's not easy trying to find your way around this South Korean metropolis. Especially not when you're trying to find someplace to stay during your travels or after work.
Located in the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula, Busan sprawls across several districts. Let's start with an overview of all the districts so you can get the lay of the land.
Nampo-dong is one of the city's most attractive quarters. It's known for its many markets, particularly the Jagalchi Fish Market and the Gukje traditional market. You may walk 'Fashion Street', a pedestrian street featuring local and international goods. You can round off your evening by strolling through Yongdusan Park, which offers a spectacular view of the area.
Seomyeon is a popular commercial sector where you can shop and enjoy the nightlife. This district is considered Busan's 'city centre'. It might not be the most restful district but its central location gives you easy access to anywhere else in the city.
Gamcheon is the colourful quarter; it's one of the most picturesque parts of the city. There, you'll find small, colourful homes perched on the city's foothills. It's the ideal district for strolling around and admiring street art, of which there is plenty.
Dongnae is renowned for its hot springs, its parks and magnificent temples.
Haeundae et Gwangalli: Situated close to the beach, Haeundae is one of the most popular areas in Busan, particularly in the summer. Gwangalli is also a summer town, favoured for its closeness to the beach. It offers a spectacular view of Gwangan Bridge.
Gijang is a bit far from city centre. This coastal neighbourhood affords you beautiful beaches and proximity to the ocean.
Yeongdo is a lovely island connected to the mainland by a bridge. This part of Busan will thrill nature lovers who crave calmness. Away from the city's bustle, it's the ideal district to recharge your batteries.
Jung-gu is Busan's central district. There, you'll find many shops and restaurants, as well as many tourist attractions.
This list of Busan districts is not exhaustive. However, it gives us a look at some of the city's flavours, from the most lively to the seaside calm.
Youth Hostels: The Small-Budget Choice
Youth hostels - simply hostels or backpacker hotels are the most economical accommodations. All around the city, Busan has many such 'guesthouses' - another name for low-cost hostels. Hostel stays are a great way to save on rooming. Let those savings overflow into your spending allowance so you can discover more of this lovely South Korean metropolis!
Busan hostel prices float between £12 and £30 per night. These facilities are best suited to students but people who want to find fellow travellers will be equally well served. Most hostels have common areas and host social activities. Among the city's least expensive, we find:
From £15/night
Kimchee Busan Downtown Guesthouse
Located a few minutes from the Beomnaegol metro station (line 1), this hostel offers dormitories and private rooms. Advantages: free WIFI, game room, TV room, terrace
From £16/night
Sohostel Korea is in the Dong-gu district, close to the train station. This hostel only offers mixed and women-only dorms. It's an adults-only facility. Advantages: common kitchen, free WIFI, gaming console.
From £13/night
Blue Backpackers Hostel: located 3 minutes from the Seomyeon metro station, this hostel has private rooms as well as dormitories. Advantages: movie nights, free WIFI, TV room, baggage storage. Situated in the city's most lively district.
Sangsang Stay Busan
Sangsang Stay Busan is one of the best hostels in the city; it rates an impressive 9,3/10 on the Booking website. This establishment has single, double and family rooms starting at ~£33/night. The rooms are all non-smoking and the WIFI is free. Common areas are clean and attractive. This hostel lies in the heart of Busan, 600 metres from the Seomyeon train station.
Hostel Family Guesthouse
For ~£23 per night, you can secure for yourself one of this hostel's 12 rooms. It comes complete with breakfast, free WIFI and a washing machine in each room. The facility is in the Choryang district, just a few minutes from the Jagalchi Fish Market.
Sleep in a Busan Temple
If you're looking for an unusual experience in South Korea, what could be better than spending the night in the Beomeosa Temple? Located 20km from the city's centre, its Temple Stay program affords tourists a unique experience. You'll dine, sleep and have breakfast in an authentic, working Buddhist temple.
Immerse yourself in the rituals of Buddhist monks, complete with meditation, prayers and ceremonies. And then, you'll roll out the sleeping mats for your temple dream time. Your temple stay may well be the most memorable experience of your time in Busan.
To secure your place at the temple, turn to the Temple Stay website. There, you'll find information, pictures and reservation options. You may select weekday or weekend stays, the difference being in price. Count on ~£45 per weeknight per person and roughly £20 more per person for a weekend stay.
Jjimjilbang: Sleep in Busan's Public Baths
If you're more about sauna than meditation, sleeping at a public bath is the experience you're looking for. Jjimjilbangs are an integral part of Korean culture. It's a meeting place where city dwellers come to relax and talk about what's on their minds.
These public baths generally feature saunas, jacuzzis and even massage tables. Most include common areas with restaurant or food service, a bar and swimming pools, too.
These 'baths' provide a perfect shelter solution because they are generally open 'round the clock. They're very affordable, too. Count on an admittance fee of £8, on average. Some amenities, like food and games, cost extra.
Like the temple stay, spending the night at a Busan Jjimjilbang will be a most unusual experience. And, just like your temple stay, don't count on any sumptuous appointments. Comfort is rudimentary because you'll sleep (practically!) on the floor; standard Korean mattresses are very thin. If those are just the conditions you're looking for, investigate these two public baths:
Busan Hurshimchung Spa: considered one of the country's grandest spas, this 5-level facility can accommodate up to 3000 people. You'll find 40 different baths scattered throughout the luxurious décor, each one more inviting, calming and relaxing than the last.
Get there by metro; Oncheonjang Stn.
Songdo Haesupia: situated in the Busan Strait, this Korean sauna is blessed with superb views of the city. The facility is spacious and modern, an unforgettable experience in relaxation!
This bath is near the Daelim Apt. bus stop.
Where to Sleep in Busan for Less than £35 per Night
Travellers with skinny budgets have lots of accommodation options in the heart of Busan. If you're not claustrophobic - and particularly if you love small spaces, you could spend the night in a capsule hotel. This concept, freshly imported from Japan, offers cosy sleep spaces for up to two people. If that's not for you, Busan has countless no-frills hotels that charge less than bank-breaking prices.
Busan: Sleep in a Seafront Capsule
Who's never dreamt of sleeping in a box? When you put it that way, it doesn't sound exactly dreamy. But it well describes the concept of Japanese capsule hotels.
These capsule hotels make maximum use of small spaces. They consist of closed berths rather than entire rooms like those standard hotels have for rent. The berth contains just a bed, with space outside the capsule to store luggage. Guests have access to communal sanitary facilities; the small space makes private ones impossible.
Busan's Hotel 1 is for those on a tight budget who don't want to skimp on other aspects of their Korean experience. Located by the sea, Hotel 1 offers a range of rooms, including capsule rooms. You can stay in one for around £20/night. If you pay a bit more, you'll get a capsule with a seaside view.
Less Than £50/Night: Busan's Inexpensive Hotels
Hostels, temples and sauna stays aren't for everyone. Neither are capsule hotels. If you'd rather reserve a standard room but don't have a lot of room in your budget, Busan has plenty of hotels with rooms that cost less than £50/night.
That amount is more than enough to enjoy a private room with an en suite bath in the heart of this southern Korean city.
O'guest in Haeundae
Fronting the sea and close to the metro, this two-star hotel offers basic but comfortable private rooms. Advantageously positioned in the Haeundae district, you'll enjoy your own bathroom and free WIFI access. Nightly rates run approximately £38 for a double room. The price includes breakfast.
Lion Hotel
Ideally situated in the heart of Seomyeon district's liveliness, the Lion Hotel is perfect for city escapades. Catch the Korean effervescence from this 3-star hotel, which offers double rooms as well as family accommodations. Each room has an en suite bath. Not a bad deal for £44/night and up.
Busan's Midrange Hotels: Sleep for Less than £100/Night
Busan is on a quest to satisfy every traveller's tastes; the city succeeds admirably in their goal. You may prefer more amenities but don't want to break your bank. These two hotels should fit the bill.
Seomyeon Central Hotel
This hotel sits in the centre of the popular Seomyeon district. The Seomyeon Central Hotel offers bright, spacious rooms, some of which present a stunning city view. The Seomyeon provides free WIFI connectivity with a television in each room. You'll also enjoy your en suite bath; all this for £80-95/night, depending on room size.
Hotel tt Gupo
Located next to the Gupo metro station, Hotel tt Gupo offers air-conditioned rooms - some of which afford guests impeccable river views. Establishment facilities include a gym and private parking. You may stroll through its garden to recover from your daily expeditions. You may choose a single or double room, or family accommodations. Room prices start at around £83 per night.
Nights of Luxury in Busan for the Big Spender
If you're the traveller for whom money's no object and comfort is king, you're spoilt for choice in Busan. You can indulge yourself at one of these two exquisitely appointed facilities.
Signiel Busan
This magnificent 5-star hotel's 260 rooms offer stunning panoramic views. Each has an en suite bath, high-end linens, a terrace and a mini-bar. Only 150 metres from the beach, you can relax within the hotel's enclave or work out in its sports facilities. Starting at £260 per night, you can wallow in luxury in the heart of this South Korean city.
Ananti at Busan
Rated 9,5/10 on Booking, this superb hotel affords you a marvellous Busan stay. Facilities include several swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor. Rest and recover from your long journey to South Korea ahead of mounting your sightseeing quest! You'll enjoy free WIFI in your luxury room. Room prices start at £290 and breakfast costs extra.
Staying With Locals in Busan
For the most authentic Korean experience, you might book your Busan stay in a Korean home. This lodging option is more economical than paying for a hotel room; it's a great way to interact with the local population. It's also the best way to learn more about South Korean culture.
To find such a deal, you can search platforms like Couchsurfing, which advertises no fewer than 11 000 hosts in Busan. You can find such lodgings on Airbnb by selecting the 'Rooms' filter as you search.
Prices vary depending on whether you search for a single or double room and the type of accommodation you want. On Airbnb, you might stay with a local for less than £50/night but you will also find much more expensive rooms. That's due to the location and the amenities the room affords you.
Knowing all this, what have you planned for your Busan stay? A temple stay, a luxury hotel or an experience with a local resident?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
