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3-Day Busan, Gyeongju Tour by KTX
Travel to Busan, the second-largest metropolis in Korea, aboard a high-speed KTX express train that moves at 300km/h. The journey takes just two and a half hours and brings you to Busan station. Known as the "Dynamic Busan, City of Tomorrow," Busan is renowned for its stunning beaches, fresh seafood, Asia's biggest film festival, and its position as a desirable new urban center. It's worth noting that during the Korean War, Busan was a rare piece of territory that North Korea did not capture, which is why many refugee villages were established on the surrounding hills. These villages remain today, much as they were in the past.
After enjoying an exciting two-day tour of Busan, the next stop is Gyeongju, which was the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla (57 BCE – 935) for almost a millennium. Gyeongju is home to a wealth of heritage sites and relics that showcase its remarkable cultural achievements. Our guides will help you discover some of the traditional art and culture and even experience them firsthand, allowing you to fully appreciate the rich history of Korea. On the evening of the third day, after immersing yourself in Gyeongju's historical wonders, you will return to Seoul from ShinGyeongju Station via KTX train.
Tour description
Day 1
Jagalchi fish market
Choi Min-Shik Gallery
Choi Min-Shik is the first-generation documentary photographer who photographed ordinary people with tough lives emanating from war and poverty. He aroused sympathy from the world by photographing ordinary people's tough lives and underprivileged people during the modernization of Busan with a theme 'Human'.
His black/white photos capture the moments of people in a very vivid way. Every single one of his photographs is portraits that are Koreans in Busan streets.
Amidong Tombstone Culture Village
The stairs and the walls in this village are different from what you normally see. They are all tombstones. That's why the village is called Tombstone culture village. People began living here in tents since 1951 during the Korean War. When it became more settled, the tents became too small, so people began building on top of Japanese graves. This Village is right next to Gamchon culture village. From this village, the entire city of Busan can be seen.
Gamcheon Mural village
Gamcheon was a refuge to many people fleeing to Busan during the Korean War. The creative urban regeneration project started in 2010 and the success of the project attracts 1,400,000 Korean and foreign tourists to the village annually. It's earning this village the nickname of "Machu Picchu of Busan."
Jagalchi fish market
Jagalchi fish market mainly deals with live and freshly caught seafood. Fish and shellfish are caught daily and sold fresh to consumers, almost right off the boat. The area is lined with tanks containing all sorts of fish, eels, squid, shellfish, and mollusks. Some areas have workers preparing the seafood for long term storage. You can watch as the fish get scaled, beheaded, chopped up, and dumped in a box of ice, all in record time.
Gukje market
Among one of the traditional markets in Korea, Gukje market was first formed when refugees who fled to Busan sat up stalls in order to make a living after the Korean War. There is a wide variety of goods, so you can walk around and also check some food stalls.
Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Discover Busan's best-kept secret - Huinnyeoul-gil! This hidden gem comprises 14 charming alleys lined with cute cafes, workshops, and indie bookstores. Apart from the adorable cafes, delightful shops, and stunning murals, the panoramic view of the vast sea will leave you awestruck! The ocean breeze enters the slow-paced alleys, and the greenery between rocks adds relaxation to daily life. And don't forget to descend the stairs at the end of the path to find a cute tunnel that's perfect for capturing those Insta-worthy shots.
Day 2
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan. This superb attraction offers visitors the rare find of a temple along the shore line; most temples in Korea are located in the mountains.
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach is the most popular beach in South Korea, with 1 million visitors a day during the summer season. Offering various water sports activities, festivals, concerts, and parties, Haeundae Beach is a destination worth visiting for an exciting getaway!
Dongbaek Island
There is Dongbaek Island at the western end of Haeundae beach. Dongbaek is translated into Camellia which is growing in islands of southern provinces and southern coastal area of Korea blossoming around March., of which the leaves are thick and glossy maintaining dark green color through 4 seasons. There is Nurimaru APEC house, around three-story building exclusively built for the final summit meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in the island.
UN Memorial Park
The UN Memorial Cemetery is a well administered, beautifully maintained final resting place for many allied soldiers who died during the Korean War. If you have time during your visit to Busan, drop in for a couple of hours and walk around this solemn but magnificent place.
Haeundae Blueline Park
Haeundae Blueline Park is a core tourist facility in the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone of Busan as an international tourist city, which was built in an eco-friendly redevelopment of the old railway facility of the East Sea South Line, and operates Haeundae Beach Train and Haeundae Sky Capsule along the beautiful coastal scenery along a 4.8 km section from Haeundae Mipo through Cheongsapo to Songjeong.
Anapji Pond
Day 3
Tumuli park
Visit the Tumuli park. It has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period. The tombs are presumed to be those of kings and court officials. Most of them are earthen and mound-shaped. Some double gourd-shaped ones are for the joint burial of a husband and wife. As those excavated were all found to be stone-pilled wood-lined chamber type, most of the tombs here are presumed to be of the same type. During the excavations of chenmachong and Hwangnamchong , numerous artifacts (including a gold crown, gold girdles, gold and silver personal ornaments, horse fittings, and weapons) were uncovered.
Gyeongju National Museum
Arguably the best history museum in Korea, the Gyeongju National Museum is where you can appreciate the significance of this ancient city in one fell swoop. The main archaeological hall has dazzling displays of jewellery, weaponry and other ceremonial items from the Shilla dynasty, including a 5th-century gold crown
Cheomseongdae
Cheomseongdae means "Star Gazing Tower." Built during the reign of Queen Seonduk (27th ruler of the Shilla dynasty) in 634, it is the oldest existing observatory in the Far East. It has 27 levels of stones in a round shape with four sets of parallel bars to make a square-shaped structure on its top. The 12 rectangular base stones are positioned in a square, three on each side, representing the four seasons and twelve months of each year. For over two thousand years, astronomers studied the movements of stars and planets and charted them. Court astrologers reported and interpreted their findings to the King who would then act according to their predictions.
Anapji Pond was built in 674 after the unification of the Korean Peninsula. Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful trees and flowers, as well as rare birds and animals, were brought from all over to the islands and hills surrounding the pond. Also, a number of pavilions were constructed around it and used for state festivals and banquets and as a prince’s palace.
Bulguksa Temple
Declared a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO, the temple holds many national treasures that it accumulated throughout its long history. Bulguksa Temple, or the Temple of Buddha’s Kingdom, has so many meanings in every structure and every arrangement. According to the Buddhist point of view, each section of the temple represents the world of enlightenment; Daewoongjeon represents the World of Enlightenment where the Sakyamuni Buddha dwells, the Geukrakjeon area represents the Land of Happiness, and the Birojeon area the World of Lotus Sanctuary where the Vairocana Buddha dwells.
Seokguram Grotto
Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage that is part of the Bulguksa temple complex. The grotto overlooks the East Sea and rests 750 meters above sea level. It holds some of the best Buddhist sculptures in the world, including the main Buddha. Construction lasted from 742 to 774.
Inside the round-shaped main hall are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-sattva, and his disciples. The Bonjon figure wearing a generous smile is seated on the stage engraved with a lotus flower design. As the sunrise from this spot is quite beautiful, many people climb the mountain at daybreak.
Anapji pond
Tour itinerary
