Hi, welcome back to our Korea travel itinerary. The weather was so nice! Today we gonna continue exploring the beautiful side of Busan. Hope this blog could help you to finetune your trip.
Day 2 : The little things in Busan
BIFF Square - Gukje Market - Bosu-dong Book Street - Jagalchi Market - Taejongdae Recreation Area - Gwangalli Beach
First station: BIFF Square
We took subway from Dongbaek station to Jagalchi Station. Taken the Exit 3, BIFF Square was on our right side after 3 minutes walk.
BIFF gets its name from ‘Busan (Pusan) International Film Festival’, one of the most significant film festival in Asia which held annually at this district.
There are rows of copper commemorative plates stretching along the street. These are the handprints and signatures from movie directors and celebrities who honored in Busan International Film festival.
We arrived BIFF at around 9.30am. Maybe it was still considered early for whole-day market, some of the ajumma and ajusshi were just started to prepare their food booth.
We grabbed some Ssiat Hotteok and fishcakes from one of the street-side food booth.
Ssiat Hotteok is one of the Busan’s representative street foods. Different from brown sugar filling in classic Hotteok, Ssiat Hotteok is also filled with seeds eg. Sunflower seeds which give the nuttiness.
It was a great experience to have some warm local food by the road site in this cold morning.
Most of the shops and restaurants were still closed. But the street was still looked gorgeous, wasn't it? (❁´◡`❁)
Second station: Gukje Market
Gukje Market is just beside of BIFF Square. We arrived the entrance of Gukje Market with 6 minutes walk. It is one of the largest traditional markets in Korea. Different from our imaginary market, it is clean and well organized. There has almost everything, from foods to electronic items, from souvenir to clothing. The things are not too pricey and can be slightly bargain. Both of us found some great deals at here. I got an unique autumn coat and YD bought pair of pretty sneakers.
Another interesting part in the market was the local food stalls lined at the middle of street. Ajummas (local Korean woman) were selling grass noodle, kimbap, sundae etc., and eaters were having their meal on the short stool.
We ordered kimbap and japchae (grass noodle). The kimbap was served with generous portion of side dishes eg. garlic chives, radish, seasoned fishcakes and squid. The kimbap was white rice wrapped with seaweed, so kinda plain in taste. But the side dishes were spicy in flavour. So both served as a good combi when kimbap gave the seasoned fishcakes or squid a piggyback ride. The grass noodle was pretty good taste too.
It was a good stop for tourist, worth strolling around and experiencing local life even not shopping.
Third station: Bosu-dong Book Street
Crossing the main road beside Gukje Market, Daecheong-ro, the book street is straight ahead. Located beside of bustling market, Bosu-dong Book Street is in totally different ambience. The alley is quiet and full with smell of old books.
Various kind of second hand books can be found at here, from dictionary to comics books, even some classic music vinyls. The books are literally filled in the shops, staking from the floor up to the ceiling. Korean famous entertainment show ‘Running Man’, was also filmed at here before.
The book alley is not big and most of the books are in Korean. So, literally we were just strolling around and enjoying the cool quaint atmosphere here. 10 to15 minutes would be sweet to those who are not keen on books and reading.
Fourth station: Jagalchi Market
Before taking bus to Taejongdae Recreation Area, we stopped by Jagalchi Market beside the Jagalchi Market bus stop. Jagalchi Market is the largest seafood market in Korea. Before entry the market (the building), you can already find many seafood sellers along the road outside of the building and along the shore, selling endless choices of seafood - mackerel, octopus, squid, abalone, whale meat etc, in fresh form or dried form. In the big building, wet market are housed on the first floor and the restaurants on the second floor. It is huge and well organized.
Both of us were still so full and couldn’t fit in any food yet, so can only drooling in depth of our heart. If you are a seafood lover, then you couldn’t miss to the taste on the fresh seafood here. All you need to do is purchased the seafood at the first floor and get the seafood cooked at anyone of the many restaurants at the second floor. Additional charge is required for the preparation and cooking.
Fifth station: Taejongdae Recreation Area
Coming out from Jagalchi Market, we hopped on bus no.30 to our next destination, Taejongdae Recreation Area. As Taejongdae is located outskirt of Busan, the bus ride would take around 50 minutes to arrive. The entrance of this beautiful seaside park was totally free. But both of us were attracted by the cute Danubi Train parking in front of the entrance.
The mini train service is only available in the park. Different from usual train, the Danubi Train is pretty colourful and lovely. Both of us opted to take the train even required to take a long queue. The train ticket was KRW3,000 per adult, KRW 2,000 per teenager and KRW 1,000 per kids. Gladly, there were few trains run at the same time, so the queue moved pretty fast. Its was right on our turn when we finished up the snacks we bought from the convenience store aside. Danubi train brought us to the 3 major destination within this beautiful huge park. Platform →Observatory →Yeongdo Lighthouse → Taejongsa Temple → Platform. We can more into the natural beauty along the route in a leisure way.
Yeongdo Lighthouse was our favorite destination. We were totally in love with this vast sea view. The lighthouse built by the rocky cliff overlooking the boundless ocean under blue white sky. A cruise rowed across the ocean and passed by Tea Kettle Island (Jujeonjal). Sinseon Rock and Mangbuseok Rock, two artistic masterpiece which shaped by mother creatures stand firmly under the cliff embracing the sea wave. According to local, sometimes Japan’s Tsushima Island can be seen from here when the sky is clear enough.
Yeongdo Lighthouse is located down the cliff, so we required to walk down flight of stairs before the lighthouse. There also have food tents on the edge of the rocks where you could find some fresh fish delight if walking further down to the rocky shoreline. But the way walking back up (500+ steps) might difficult to those with knee problem.
This place was stunningly beautiful. We spent almost a good 1.5 hours appreciating the beauty of nature at the cliff.
Sixth station: Jang Su San
After walk for whole day, we decided to have a warm soup for dinner. We hopped on bus no.101 and transferred to bus no.1001 at Choryang garage. Get off at Suyeong bus stop, then walked straight 4 minutes and turned left at the T-junction, crossing the road. A Samyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) restaurant named Jang Su San was right in front of us.
Jang Su San is a small traditional Korean shop with no much decor on the wall, sitting on the floor at low tables, but the food served warms our tummy and soul.
The soup was clear and delicious. The chicken was fresh and tender, the meat could be broken into small pieces with the slightest touch. Served together with plentiful side dishes served - kimchi, few types of pickled radish and fresh green peppers. Salt was provided for us to adjust the saltiness of soup according to our preference.
The service was also top-notch. Owner patiently explained the side dishes served and showed us the best way to enjoy the soup, she was extremely friendly and we could felt her warm hospitality. Other than that, they also gave us to taste their ginseng wine which homemade by owner themselves, a small cup of instant coffee, fruit and ginseng sweet to round off at the end of meal. Foremost, this huge portion of Samyetang in which you can find a whole young chicken inside, only cost 12,000won, what a reasonable price. Both of us waddled out pleasantly full and satisfied.
Seventh station: Gwangalli Beach
We headed to Gwangalli Beach by bus no.1003, boarding at Suyeong bus stop and getting off at Geumnyeonsan Station. Walked straight and turned right at the junction, then Gwangalli Beach was at the end of the road.
Gwangalli is also referred as Gwangan Beach which known for its fine powdery sand. What being laid before us was the gorgeous Gwangandaegyo Bridge. The beach was very lively and full of lights. Many families and couples were walking and sitting around. Some youngsters were setting off fireworks.
We thoroughly enjoyed our night here. Felt chill to sit on the beach and grab some coffee while enjoying the spectacular lighting and firework show of Gwangandaegyo Bridge. A live band was performing in the background, giving a great atmosphere here.
The night of Gwangalli was still young even at 10 o’clock. We took bus 1003 back to our hotel at Haeundae.
These were all our activities on our second day in Korea.
Hope you enjoy this Busan itinerary Day 2.
See you next day, bye. (*￣3￣)╭
Busan Itinerary Day 2 Travel Tips
My D2 Busan Metro Map
BIFF Square, Gukje Market, Bosu-dong Book Street and Jagalchi Market, all are in the same area and very close to each other. No transit is required, just have to get-off from subway at Jagalchi station. You will see all of them when walking around. BIFF Square is located in between of Gukje Market and Jagalchi Market. Walking northward is Gukje Market, a traditional market that have everything you want. While walking southward is Jagalchi Market, a heaven for seafood lover. So you can explore based on your preference. Both are just 3 minutes walking distance from BIFF Square.
If you are a shopping holic, it would be prefect if you arrange Gukje Market, Bosu-dong Book Street, Gwangbok-dong Culture & Fashion Street and BIFF Square in one day since they are all in same area and close to each other. While Jagalchi Market, Taejongdae Recreation Area and Gwangalli Beach on another day.
Hope this itinerary would able to help you in exploring Busan.
Enjoy! (‾◡◝)
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