Region

Busan

Korea's second city is a laid-back coastal sprawl of beaches (Haeundae, Gwangalli), the hillside art village of Gamcheon, and the country's biggest seafood market at Jagalchi. It's warmer than Seoul and built for slow, salty days by the water.

Getting thereGimhae Airport (PUS) or a ~2.5-hour KTX from Seoul to Busan Station; the metro and buses reach the beaches and markets.
How long to stay2โ€“3 days for the beaches, Gamcheon, Jagalchi, and a temple like Haedong Yonggungsa.