Busan in 5 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs)
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5 days adds a full coastal day to the core-plus-Gyeongju plan
Days 1-4 follow the same beach, Gamcheon, market, temple, and Gyeongju plan as the 4-day itinerary ; Day 5 adds a coastal day around Taejongdae, Songdo, and the Oryukdo Skywalk, ending at the UN Memorial Cemetery. Expect roughly 50,000-145,000 KRW a person per day, cheapest on the free coastal day and highest on the Gyeongju day trip. Want a second day trip too, to Tongyeong? See the 6-day itinerary .
Book these before you go
- A room near a Busan Metro line, check rates on Agoda
- A T-money or Cashbee card on arrival, about 3,000-5,000 KRW
- A Gyeongju day tour from Busan on GetYourGuide for Day 4, or your own KTX/bus tickets
- A room booked ahead during BIFF (6-15 October 2026) or the summer beach peak
Day 1: Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches
Haeundae Beach , free to walk or swim; street food nearby (8,000-12,000 KRW) for lunch. Afternoon at Gwangalli Beach, dinner with the Gwangan Bridge lit up at night.
| Day 1 cost (KRW, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed (hostel dorm / budget room, verify) | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Breakfast | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Lunch (street food near Haeundae) | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Dinner (seafood at Gwangalli/Millak) | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| Transit (incl. T-money card) | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Day 1 total | 58,000 | 105,000 |
Day 2: Gamcheon Culture Village and the markets
Gamcheon Culture Village (free to wander, stamp map 2,000-3,000 KRW), BIFF Square lunch, Jagalchi Market or Gukje Market in the afternoon and evening.
| Day 2 cost (KRW, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Breakfast | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Gamcheon stamp map (optional) | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Lunch (BIFF Square street food) | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Dinner (Jagalchi seafood) | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| Transit | 3,000 | 6,000 |
| Day 2 total | 54,000 | 102,000 |
Day 3: Beomeosa Temple and Haedong Yonggungsa
Beomeosa’s mountain grounds and wisteria (Natural Monument No. 176) in the morning, the seaside Haedong Yonggungsa near Gijang in the afternoon, both free entry.
| Day 3 cost (KRW, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Breakfast | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Lunch (near Beomeosa) | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Dinner (Haeundae/Gijang area) | 12,000 | 22,000 |
| Transit (bus/metro across two temples) | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Day 3 total | 55,000 | 102,000 |
Day 4: Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital
The former Silla capital, about an hour from Busan, holds the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto plus the royal tumuli (verify current KTX/bus schedule and entry fees).
| Day 4 cost (KRW, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Breakfast | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Gyeongju round-trip transit (verify) | 20,000 | 35,000 |
| Bulguksa/Seokguram entry (verify) | 4,000 | 6,000 |
| Lunch in Gyeongju | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Local transport in Gyeongju (verify) | 5,000 | 8,000 |
| Dinner back in Busan | 15,000 | 22,000 |
| Day 4 total | 81,000 | 141,000 |
Day 5: Taejongdae, Songdo, Oryukdo, and the UN Memorial Cemetery
Morning at Taejongdae, the clifftop forest park on Yeongdo Island (free; the Danubi shuttle train around the loop is a small optional extra). Midday, head to Songdo for the free Cloud Trails Skywalk, then across to the Oryukdo Skywalk for views of the volcanic-origin islands offshore. Close the day at the UN Memorial Cemetery, the world’s only United Nations cemetery, free entry and a sober rather than casual stop.
| Day 5 cost (KRW, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Breakfast | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Lunch (Nampo-dong/Yeongdo area) | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Taejongdae Danubi train (optional, verify) | 0 | 5,000 |
| Dinner | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| Transit | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Day 5 total | 58,000 | 110,000 |
Getting around on 5 days
Days 1-3 stay close to Busan Metro Line 1; Day 4 leaves the city for Gyeongju; Day 5 needs buses out to Yeongdo Island and the Nam District coast. A T-money card covers every ride across all five days. Full route detail sits in the main Busan guide .
The UN Memorial Cemetery closes the day deliberately; treat it as the quiet stop it is, not a quick photo before dinner.