Overview
South Korea's second city has a very different character to Seoul: think golden beaches, mountain temples, a working fish market the size of a small town, and a laid-back coastal pace that makes Busan a rewarding addition to any South Korea itinerary. For UK travellers, it takes a bit more planning than a straight flight to Seoul, but the payoff is a city that mixes seafood, hiking trails and genuinely dramatic seaside scenery.
Best time to fly to Busan
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) are the sweet spot, with mild temperatures, clearer skies and cherry blossom or autumn colour depending on the month. Summer (July to August) is hot, humid and brings the monsoon season, with a chance of typhoons late in the season, while winter is cold but dry and much quieter on the beaches. Use the When to book chart above to see how fares move across the year and plan around the shoulder seasons for the best combination of weather and value.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights from the UK to Busan, so journeys involve one connection. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines both fly nonstop from London Heathrow to Seoul Incheon (around 11 hours), from where you can take a short domestic flight or the KTX high-speed train down to Busan in around two and a half to three hours. Alternatively, several one-stop routings connect straight into Busan's own Gimhae International Airport, notably Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Singapore Airlines via Singapore, avoiding Seoul altogether. Gulf carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad also offer competitive one-stop options via Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi into Incheon. Total journey times to Busan typically run from around 15 to 18 hours door to door, depending on the connection.
Things to do in Busan
Busan rewards a few days' exploring, from beach days to temple visits and street food crawls. A few highlights to build your trip around:
- Haeundae Beach: Busan's most famous stretch of sand, backed by hotels, cafes and a lively boardwalk.
- Gamcheon Culture Village: a hillside neighbourhood of colourful houses, murals and small galleries, often called Korea's Santorini.
- Jagalchi Fish Market: Korea's largest seafood market, ideal for fresh sashimi and a proper taste of local life.
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: a striking Buddhist temple built directly on the rocky coastline, rare for Korea.
- Beomeosa Temple: a peaceful mountain temple with forest trails, a world away from the city centre.
At Gimhae International Airport (PUS)
Gimhae International Airport sits around 16km west of central Busan. The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit connects the airport to Sasang Station, where you can join the city's metro network, making it straightforward to reach Seomyeon, Haeundae or Nampo-dong without a car. Limousine buses run direct to major hotel districts, and taxis are readily available for door-to-door transfers.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Busan
- Book two to three months ahead for spring and autumn travel, when fares to South Korea are in highest demand.
- Flying midweek, particularly Tuesday or Wednesday, tends to be cheaper than weekend departures.
- Stay flexible on dates and routing – comparing a Seoul-plus-KTX itinerary against a one-stop flight straight into Gimhae can uncover useful savings.
- Compare airlines and connection cities using the price charts on this page rather than booking the first option you see.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can currently visit South Korea for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, though it's worth checking the latest Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) requirements before you fly, as these rules are periodically updated. The currency is the South Korean won (KRW); cards are widely accepted, but it's handy to carry some cash for markets and smaller temples. No unusual vaccinations are required for South Korea, though standard travel insurance is recommended as always.
