Seoul vs Busan: Which South Korean City Is Better For Tourists?
Not sure whether to visit Seoul or Busan? Read on for the best advice!
If you’re travelling to South Korea and wondering which city to visit, then a Seoul vs Busan debate is a must before your trip!
Both of South Korea’s most popular cities have so much to offer while being totally different – Seoul is a sprawling metropolis while Busan is much quieter with stunning coastline views.
Having spent time in both of these amazing cities, I’m the perfect blogger to detail which is actually better for tourists, taking into account the most important factors when choosing which of these iconic South Korean cities to visit.
Seoul vs Busan: Which City Is Better To Visit?
To decide whether Seoul or Busan is better for your trip to South Korea, let’s look at the most important factors, from cost to weather to which city has the best temples, nightlife, public transportation and a lot more:
Which city is cheaper to visit?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Busan is the cheaper city to visit. Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in Asia, with only Tokyo being more expensive to visit.
When it comes to accommodation, attractions, restaurants, shopping and the daily cost of living in general – Busan is cheaper.
Winner – Busan ✅
Which city is bigger?
Another answer which is probably not all that surprising is that Seoul is indeed the bigger city of the two.
As a capital city, Seoul is the largest metropolis in South Korea and has a population of just under 10 million, meaning it has one of the highest population densities of any city in the world.
Although Busan is the second largest city in South Korea after Seoul, it’s a much smaller and less crowded place, with a population of over 3 million.
So if you prefer a quieter, less crowded travel destination in this country, then Busan is for you.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city has the best food?
This is a really tricky question as both cities and South Korea in general is known for having one of the best cuisines in the world.
Busan is famous for having fantastic seafood restaurants as it is a port city, while in Seoul you can find some awesome food markets such as the absolutely brilliant Gwangjang Market.
If you’re a foodie and you’re visiting Seoul then I definitely recommend a visit to this thriving market – you can find countless stalls where you can try all kinds of food specialities.
Busan has one of the best and biggest fish markets you’ll ever visit – Jagalchi Fish Market, which was a memorable place for me and I recommend a visit here, as long as you’re not squeamish!
Both cities have great street food scenes too, with BIFF Square in the centre of Busan turning into a street food hotspot after dark, while Myeongdong Shopping Street in Seoul is packed with countless varied food stalls selling Korean snacks.
If I had to pick a winner I’d have to choose Seoul as having the better food scene, purely because of my food tour experience here which was unforgettable.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city has the best nightlife?
Seoul is undoubtedly the winner for this category – it has an absolutely thriving nightlife scene with so many options to consider.
Whether you fancy partying at a nightclub, going on a pub crawl or visiting a late night food market or restaurant, Seoul has got you covered.
I visited restaurants and street food stalls until the early hours during my visit and loved the energy of Seoul during the night time.
The most obvious districts like Hongdae, Gangnam are Itaewon have great nightlife scenes, but the whole city in general has a reputation for being a city that never sleeps.
Busan has its own fair share of nightlife options as well, but on a much smaller scale compared to Seoul.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city has the best museums?
Both cities have a fantastic array of fascinating museums, but I would have to say that Seoul is better in terms of the sheer number, quality and variety of museums you can visit.
Here are my top 3 best museums to visit in Seoul:
- War Memorial of Korea – this is one of the most impressive museums I visited in Seoul, dedicated to Korea’s military history, it is a must visit place if you have an interest in learning more about the country’s complicated past.
- National Palace Museum of Korea – located in Gyeongbokgung Palace, this museum has a huge collection of items from Korea’s dynastic past and is totally free to enter.
- MMCA (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) Seoul – this is Seoul’s most prominent collection of modern art and is the best choice for art lovers visiting the city.
Busan has some exceptional museums too. If you’re a movie geek like me, then you simply must visit the Busan Museum of Movies – an absolute treat for fans of Korean cinema.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city is safer?
South Korea as a whole has a low crime rate throughout the country and both Seoul and Busan are considered safe cities for tourists to visit.
If I had to say which city is safer I would pick Busan, simply because it is a smaller city and has a lower population.
Despite it being a relatively safe country, petty crimes do still occur so be on your guard when visiting as you would any other destination.
Winner: Busan ✅
Which city has better weather?
Busan is considered a slightly warmer city than Seoul and has a more humid climate in the summer months than Seoul does.
With Busan being next to the coast it does enjoy pleasant, comfortable weather, whereas Seoul can be quite unbearable during hot periods as it is such a big city.
Busan is also favourable than Seoul during the winter months, experiencing not so drastically freezing temperatures and less snow than Seoul experiences.
Winner: Busan ✅
Which city is more popular?
This is quite an easy one as Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, so it is much more popular both with locals and tourists alike, attracting 1.6 million visitors in 2023.
Busan on the other hand is much lesser known by tourists, though it’s still a popular destination for Koreans – attracting nearly 500,000 visitors in 2023.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city has better public transportation?
Both cities have really top quality public transportation. Despite being a huge metropolis, Seoul has an absolutely fantastic subway system – one of the best I’ve ever used.
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway (SMS) has a total of 23 lines that allows passengers to commute all over the city with ease.
It is regarded as one of the fastest subway systems in the world, with trains pretty much always on time. The subway trains are spacious and come with free wi-fi which is definitely something that the London Underground needs to install!
Busan also has a subway system known as the Busan Metro, but this is much smaller in comparison with only 6 lines. This is slightly limiting but taxis in Busan are quite cheap – much cheaper than those in Seoul.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city has better nature?
Both cities have several amazing nature sites to offer, but Busan has one huge advantage over Seoul in this area: beautiful beaches!
With Busan being a coastal city based on the south coast, it features a total of seven beaches that each have unique and beautiful landscapes.
The most well known beach in Busan is Haeundae Beach. It’s not hard to see why – it stretches for a kilometre and a half and has stunningly clean and golden sands.
I really loved visiting this beach and was impressed with just how clean it was as well as the amazing views – I highly recommend you give it a visit if in Busan!
Winner – Busan ✅
Seoul does have some beautiful nature spots as well of course. If you’re looking for an escape into nature when in Seoul, then I can also recommend Bukhansan National Park.
This is the biggest park near the city – just a 45 minute subway ride away and has awesome trails, temples and incredible views of the Seoul skyline. I loved hiking here and recommend spending a full day to make the most of your time.
👉 Pro Tip: reaching Bukhansan National Park from the centre of Seoul can be quite tricky if you’re visiting there for the first time.
There are a few different entrances to the park, but I would recommend you catching a subway to Gupabal Station on line 3 – which takes just under 30 minutes from Seoul Station.
From Gupabal Station take Exit 2 at the station and catch the 704 bus to Bukhansanseong Fortress Entrance (which takes about 10 minutes). From the entrance it’s a 30 minute walk to the start of the park.
If that sounds too tiring then you can catch a taxi from Gupabal station to the park, but this will of course be more expensive than the bus.
Which city has the best temples?
This is very difficult to answer as both cities are filled with some amazingly beautiful and unforgettable temples and palaces to visit.
Here are in my opinion the best temples to visit in both cities which I was fortunate enough to visit:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul) – an absolute must see palace when visiting the capital, the sheer scale of the palace and the surrounding grounds is mightily impressive.
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan) – this is located right on Busan’s coastline and has some very dramatic scenery to enjoy – easily the most beautiful place I visited during my trip to South Korea.
- Changdeokgung Palace (Seoul) – another huge palace in Seoul that is surrounded by beautiful nature and it has a secret garden to discover and explore!
- Beomeosa Temple (Busan) – this is a really beautiful Buddhist temple in Busan, full of colourful designs and located in very peaceful surroundings.
I would probably choose Seoul over Busan in this category, simply because of how many temples there are to visit within the busy fast paced city.
Winner: Seoul ✅
Which city is more beautiful?
And finally one of the most important questions to consider in our Seoul vs Busan debate: which one is more beautiful?
This is another difficult question as both cities are beautiful in their own right. I would have to choose Busan, as it’s based on the coast there are some really stunningly beautiful coastline views which are unbeatable.
The sprawling metropolis that is Seoul does of course have a lot of beautiful spots to visit as well though, such as the famous Han River which is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a picnic for a few hours.
Winner: Busan ✅
How To Travel Between Seoul and Busan
You may decide to visit both Seoul and Busan on your trip to South Korea, so knowing how to travel between both cities is vital.
Your best choice is to catch a train (which if you’re a movie geek is quite a cool experience!). The KTX line from Seoul to Busan and visa versa is a very convenient, quick and reliable train line between the two cities.
With tickets ranging from £20 to £5o and the train taking between 2-3 hours, this is a fantastic way to see more of the South Korean landscape.
The trains I caught between both cities were clean, spacious and I experienced no problems whatsoever.
Seoul vs Busan FAQs
Still not sure whether to choose to visit Seoul or Busan? Let me answer some of the most commonly asked questions about these two awesome cities:
When is the best time to visit Seoul or Busan?
The spring and autumn months are both considered the best seasons to visit both Seoul and Busan. Temperatures during these seasons are often pleasant and there are less tourists during these months as well.
The summer months of June, July and August are best avoided for both cities as temperatures and humidity can become somewhat unbearable – especially in Seoul.
June through to July (and sometimes longer) is typically the rainy season in South Korea, when you can expect torrential downfalls sometimes on a daily basis.
The winter months are a cheap option to visit South Korea in terms of flights and accommodation. But Korean winters can be brutally harsh with temperatures known to fall to a bitterly cold -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Is it easy to travel around both Seoul and Busan?
Yes, as I’ve previously mentioned it is really easy to travel around both Seoul and Busan. Seoul has one of the most punctual and efficient subway systems in the world, making it easy to get around the various neighbourhoods in the big city.
Busan on the other hand has fairly cheap taxis you can use, as well as its own metro system.
What are the best day trips from Seoul and Busan?
Both of these amazing Korean cities offer really different day trips, if you fancy visiting nearby destinations during your visit.
One of the most fascinating day trips you can take from Seoul is to the DMZ – the Korean Demilitarized Zone. I was lucky enough to take a guided tour to this historical location and I can fully recommend it.
Having the chance to learn more about the history of the DMZ was thoroughly captivating, and seeing North Korea through binoculars right on the border is an unforgettable experience I thoroughly recommend.
As for Busan, the most popular day trip is to the ancient kingdom of Gyeongju. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of temples and archeological sites of the Silla Kingdom and is the oldest city in Korea.
Conclusion: Seoul vs Busan
So that concludes everything you need to know when it comes to comparing the two major cities in South Korea; Seoul and Busan.
Deciding which city is better really comes down to personal preference more than any objective analysis. If you enjoy coastal scenic views and a quieter, less crowded experience then Busan is the choice for you.
But there’s no denying how awesome the capital of Seoul is; it has so much to offer that it is a must when visiting South Korea, despite it being costlier to visit.
Read my 1 day or 2 day itinerary for Seoul if you’re looking for inspiration on things to do.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my Seoul vs Busan review and if you’re still struggling to decide which city to visit then my advice is simple – visit both!
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➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
