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Photo: Bl00dnFl4mes, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Gamcheon village was a Korean war refugee camp, and backwater outside of the city center. In 2008 it attracted the attention of local university students who began painting murals throughout the village as part of their social service activities. Today it has become a cultural center with photography and graffiti galleries, small museums, cafés and restaurants.
Gamcheon Culture Village (Korean: 감천문화마을) is a town within Gamcheon-dong, Saha District, Busan, South Korea. The area is known for its layered streets, twisted labyrinth-like alleys, and brightly painted houses, which have been restored and enhanced in recent years to attract tourism. Built on a steep mountain-side slope, the village has been nicknamed "Korea's Santorini" and the "Machu Picchu of Busan".
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송도해수욕장
Songdo beach was apparently the first official beach in Korea and the main attraction in Busan for many years until Haeundae became the main tourist center. Today the beach is small (450 meters) and quiet with some charm, surrounded by low key restaurants and cafes. It is also in easy reach of Jagalchi fish market. (Jagalchi Station - Subway Line 1, Exit 2. Turn left at the corner, go straight 50m and cross the street to the bus stop. From the bus stop (충무동교차로), take Bus 7, 26, 71, or 96 to Songdo Beach)
부산송도해상케이블카
This marine cable car connects Songdo Beach to Amnam Park. It offers spectacular views as it glides over the sea. For a more thrilling experience, you can choose the Crystal Cabin with a transparent floor. On a clear day, you can see as far as Yeongdo, the Namhangdaegyo Bridge, and even Haeundae.
BIFF 광장
As a symbolic location for the Busan International Film Festival, BIFF Square features handprints of famous film directors and actors. Once a district with a high concentration of theaters, it is now a representative street food destination in Busan with various food stalls. You can enjoy the festival atmosphere while trying out the street food.
자갈치수산시장
This is possibly Korea's most famous fish market with a large selection of seafood there. You will have to opportunity to eat squid that is still wriggling when you eat it! Try to come very early to see the activity around the fish being landed. It is walking distance from the Nampo Lotte Department store or the Jagalchi station on the Busan Metro Line 1.
부산근대역사관
This building housing the Busan Modern History Museum was used as the Busan Branch of the Oriental Development Company during the Japanese occupation and as the Busan USIS Cultural Center (a CIA post) following the Korean war. The exhibition consists of the modern history of Busan during the Japanese occupation, Busan's role in the Korean war and the history of the relationship between Korea and the United States. Although not at all impartial, this museum nevertheless provides a fascinating background to modern Busan and you could probably spend two to three hours here.
용두산공원, 부산타워
This pleasant little park is home to Busan's one true tourist attraction, the 118-meter-tall Busan Tower. This is the fourth tallest tower in South Korea, although it is over 100 meters shorter than the Namsan Tower in Seoul. There are some decent views even without going up the tower, and you can buy some corn to feed the resident population of ravenous pigeons. The fences surrounding Busan Tower are adorned with love padlocks, which can be purchased in the souvenir shop. If you go up the Busan Tower you will get to see an awesome panorama of the entire city. You can walk or take the hillside escalator up to the tower.