Busan Pass 48-Hour Guide: Making the Most of It!
Today, I decided to take the beach train I wanted to ride yesterday. Traveling alone is liberating, but it also meant I didn't leave until after noon. By the time I got to Haeundae, it was already past 1 PM, and the only tickets left were for after 3 PM.
Haeundae Beach Train
• Price: 12,000 KRW, free round-trip tickets with Busan Pass
• Features: Scenic beach views, leisurely travel experience
After exchanging my ticket, I went to grab a meal to kill time. Since I'll be coming back with friends in two weeks, I just took the train and quietly walked to the beach, then used another Busan Pass ticket for Busan X The SKY. The view from the top was stunning, and it would be even more beautiful at night.
Busan X The SKY
• Price: 27,000 KRW, free with Busan Pass
• Features: High-altitude observation deck, magnificent city and ocean views
After that, I planned to head back to the hotel area to shop, but while waiting at a traffic light, I noticed another Busan Pass attraction, Ryan Holiday in Busan. I exchanged a ticket and went in. It's a cute photo spot, and I left after 10 minutes.
On the way back, I thought of another place to visit, a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna), which was on the way home. Since it was still early, I decided to go for a bath. Although not as luxurious as SPA Land, it had a sauna and a high-temperature oven 🥵. The highlight was the bath area with a view of the Gwangan Bridge, and I even got to watch a fireworks show while soaking. It was a pleasant surprise!
However, this place is purely for bathing and can't compare to SPA Land...
Hotel Aqua Palace Spa & Sauna
• Price: 30,000 KRW, free with Busan Pass
• Features: Bath area with a view of Gwangan Bridge and fireworks show
After the bath, I felt relaxed and went home to sleep, ending the day.
—The Next Day—
The weather was great this morning, and I got up early to make the most of my Busan Pass before it expired. If used wisely, you can use it for three consecutive days within 48 hours!
One-Day Sightseeing Bus
• Price: 20,000 KRW (unfortunately not available on Mondays and Tuesdays)
I first went to Songdo to take the cable car. The weather really makes a difference; the scenery was breathtaking. Since I went early, there was no line, and I enjoyed the view while wandering around.
Songdo Cable Car
• Price: 15,000 KRW, free with Busan Pass
• Features: Stunning sea views and a peaceful beach
Then I returned to Nampo and found a place for lunch. I saw Baek Jong-won's Chinese restaurant and went in. After having jajangmyeon yesterday, I tried the seafood noodles today, which were affordable and delicious.
Taking advantage of the good weather, I quickly headed to Gamcheon Culture Village, which is less crowded on weekdays. Due to the Double Ten holiday, there were many Taiwanese tourists.
Gamcheon Culture Village also has many places where you can use the Busan Pass, but since my time had expired, I couldn't exchange any more tickets.
Busan Pass Trip Summary
I bought the 48-hour Busan Pass for 69,000 KRW. Here are the places I visited and their original prices:
1. Skyline Luge Busan - 27,000 KRW
2. SPA Land - 20,000 KRW
3. Diamond Bay Yacht - 20,000 KRW
4. Haeundae Beach Train - 12,000 KRW
5. Busan X The SKY - 27,000 KRW
6. Ryan Holiday in Busan - 20,000 KRW
7. Hotel Aqua Palace Spa & Sauna - 30,000 KRW
8. Songdo Cable Car - 15,000 KRW
9. Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge - 1,000 KRW
Total value: 172,000 KRW, saving about 60% with the Pass.
Taoyuan Airport Overnight Experience
I also experienced an overnight stay at Taoyuan Airport. Since there were no buses to Taichung at midnight, and a private car would cost 2,800 TWD, it wasn't worth it for one person. Being a good sleeper, I naturally fell asleep, but the airport air conditioning was very cold. I woke up at 3 AM and took the first bus to Taichung at 4 AM, then a bus to Nantou, seamlessly arriving at work by 8 AM.