Last Updated: September 5, 2022
Seoul Vs. Busan: Two Major Cities in South Korea
If you have always wanted to visit or live in South Korea then you’re probably wondering which of its two major cities, Seoul and Busan, is worth spending more time in.
There is no better way to get a feel for a country than spending time in one of its cities but which one should you choose? In the case of Seoul vs Busan, they are quite different places and the last thing you need is to end up being in the wrong one for you.
That being said, they are also both great cities and in an ideal world you would visit them both on one trip, but one doesn’t always have that luxury. Here is everything you need to know about Seoul vs Busan so you can make the right choice for your time in South Korea.
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About The Cities
I always find a general overview of a place helps me to get a general feel for it. It can be quite eye-opening as to how the city operates from a big picture and to pick up a vibe for it before diving into more details.
Seoul
Seoul is a big city, the biggest in South Korea and it’s super modern too contending with the likes of Tokyo when it comes to modern infrastructure. It’s the capital of South Korea and sits on the northwest of the country, close to the border with North Korea.
Seoul is home to around 9.8 million people, so it’s just as populated as London, and if you add in the general Metropolitan area, you have a population of 25 million which is half the population of South Korea.
The city is alive, humming with people and developing at a rapid pace as you’d imagine with such a large size and population.
Busan
Busan sits in the southeast of South Korea and is the main port for the country and the third-largest port in the world. It’s home to around 3.8 million people and is the second biggest city in South Korea, but it’s around a third the size, or smaller than Seoul.
Being a coastal city, you have access to stunning beaches, mountains, and love landscapes, making it ideal if you like the outdoors. You can have your fill of city life while being able to escape into nature whenever you please.
Busan has a much slower pace of life than Seoul, as you can imagine with a third of the population, or an eighth if you count Seoul’s metropolitan population. It feels more genuine and like everyone has some space to think whereas in Seoul life is a hurried rush.
Verdict
As you can see, Busan and Seoul are very different. Seoul is huge, busy, and very much a true buzzing Asian capital with everything you might want and expect from city life. Busan on the other hand is a lot more relaxed and life is much slower, you are at the beach after all and have great access to nature too.
If you’re after bright lights and a city buzz, Seoul is the place to be. If you want a balance of the city and nature with a slower vibe, you should head to Busan.
Things To See And Do
One of the most important considerations, when you’re picking a place to travel to, is ensuring it has tourist attractions and things to do.
Between Seoul vs Busan, believe me, boredom is the last thing you’re going to experience. Especially if you don’t speak the Korean language!
Keep in mind, they are quite different in terms of sights to see and things to do, so let’s find out how.
Seoul
Seoul has a great mix of old historical and cultural buildings, new-age modern architecture, and hip neighborhoods. This is all balanced out and connected with some green areas, even in the city center too. You can spend your days or even just a day in Seoul going from one vibe to another with ease, just follow your feelings.
For a dash of history and local culture, you can head to Changdeokgung Palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace. These old palaces are absolutely stunning and the Bukchon Hanok Village is a great sight to see some old South Korean architecture.
If you’re craving some time in nature away from the city buzz then a trip to Seoul’s Namsan Mountain Park is a must. There are hiking trails you can follow up the mountain that are all surrounded by pretty plants and trees, especially in the spring when the cherry blossoms are out. Once you’re at the top you can see an amazing view of Seoul and the river, and if you want you can climb a few more steps to the top of N Seoul Tower for an even better viewpoint.
If you’re looking for a place to have a few local Korean drinks or a good meal, then Myeongdong and Itaewon are great. They’re alive with a neon atmosphere and you can even hot to the top of a skyscraper for a drink with a view.
Busan
Some people prefer Busan because it is more about relaxing than Seoul and has a very beach vibe to it. It’s where everyone in Seoul goes on holiday for a slower pace of life and it’s not surprising why.
If you want to experience some authentic South Korean culture, then Busan is the place for you. The city is covered with ancient temples that are around the mountains and the sea, a great way to see the surrounding city and countryside while driving into Buddist architecture.
For a more current cultural experience, a trip to Gamcheon Culture Village is a must. The houses in the village are awash with different colors and it’s full of hip cafes and restaurants. Just walking down the windy little streets of Gamcheon Culture Village is enough to make you feel like you’re in South Korea.
You can’t be in Busan without seeing the beautiful nature that surrounds it. You have mountains and great beaches on your doorstep, and the best beach in Busan is Haeundae Beach with its white sand and backdrop of skyscrapers.
One thing you shouldn’t miss while in Busan is a trip to the Busan fish market. It’s a large market and the number of different species of fish on sale is out of this world. The fish market is awash with colorful scales and it’s a little surreal, to be honest. The fish market is also a great place to eat some seafood as it’ll be as fresh as it comes.
Verdict
When it comes to things to do and see, Seoul and Busan are very different. Seoul has it all from the glittering city lights, some great cultural experiences, good green spaces, and loads of different areas if you want to do anything from having a low-key dinner to sipping cocktails in style.
Busan is more authentic culturally and is much slower. It’s all about hanging on the beach, walking up mountains, seeing temples, and having great food and drinks at hip cafes and bars.
What’s The Food Scene Like?
I love traveling to somewhere new as you get to taste all the amazing food that’s on offer, it’s a vacation for your taste buds as much as your mind and boy too. When it comes to Seoul vs Busan and their food scenes there is, of course, some commonality as they are both South Korean cities, but there are some differences too.
Seoul
Seoul is a very cosmopolitan city and you can find a lot of different cuisines across the city so if Korean food isn’t your thing you will have some great other options. Restaurants in Seoul can disappear overnight though, that’s how fast the city is changing, and new ones are popping up everywhere.
When it comes to finding great Korean food in Seoul you need to be a little careful. Look for restaurants off the main streets that are full of residents having lunch or dinner and watch out for restaurants with Japaemnse written above them as they are tourist traps.
Street food is everywhere in South Korea and if you’re on a budget you’ll love it, and if not, you’ll love it too as it’s delicious. Make sure to try everything from Korean fried chicken to hotteok, Samgyeopsal, bibimbap, and all the broths and bbq too.
Coffee shops are also popular in Seoul so if you have a penchant for good coffee and want to have the best coffee experience in South Korea, then Seoul is the right place for you!
Busan
Busan is a little different from Seoul in terms of the food and this is mainly because it’s by the sea. Imagine every kind of Korean dish out there and add some seafood to it and that’s what you get in Busan. Whether it’s Codfish soup, raw sliced fish on the bone, fish balls, shellfish bbq, fish cakes, and more.
Korean street food is also very popular in Busan and you’ll find everything you might in Seoul but along with some seafood options as well.
There are plenty of traditional Korean restaurants to choose from in Busan, but they aren’t changing as often as they are in Seoul. Plus there are fewer tourist traps and everything is a little more guaranteed to be genuine, but you should still avoid chains and look for places where the locals are eating.
Verdict
Both Seoul and Busan have great food scenes and you’ll find an authentic taste of Korea in both plus some tastes from around the world too. The main difference is that seafood in Busan is far more available and affordable than in Seoul.
Nightlife
Going for a night out in a new city is a must. There isn’t a better way to meet some locals and see just how fun the city can be when it lets its hair down. If you love a night out on the town then you’re going to love Seoul or Busan but they are quite different.
Seoul
Seoul has a young vibe to it and everyone in the city likes to have a drink and a good time out on the town. So, there is definitely plenty to do at night in this city.
The party scene in Seoul is solid and you’ll find nightclubs everywhere playing all kinds of different music with different themes too. After all, there are up to 25 million people to entertain so diversity is key.
Karaoke is very popular and you shouldn’t leave South Korea, or Seoul for that matter without having a night with your friends in a private karaoke booth. This is usually how Seoul’s residents start the night, karaoke with a few drinks before going to a nightclub.
One of the best places in Seoul for a local night on the town is the Hongdae district, if you want something more upmarket, then Apgujeong is the place to be, and for an ex-pat vibe with rooftop bars and the like, head to the Itaewon district.
Busan
Busan comes alive a night and it’s all about outdoor rooftop bars that look over the sea, the city, and its dazzling lights.
Haeundae Beach is a great place to start your night out. The beach is lined with bars and street stalls selling delicious Korean food and there are no open container laws in South Korea so you can bar hop from one place to another via the beach with your drink in hand.
The club scene is very much alive and kicking in Busan, so much so, that people travel from around South Korea to go clubbing in Busan. You can expect to see world-class DJs playing on great sound systems in funky clubs all around the city. The music can be anything from hip-hop to K-pop and you’ll often see the Busan people having dance contests and generally have the best time, it’s a great experience.
Some of the best clubs to go to are Output for hip-hop and electronic music, Club Babau for EDM, REVEL for hip hop, and Billie Jean for some hip hop and funk.
Verdict
Considering everyone in South Korea goes to Busan for the clubbing scene it takes the cake in this section compared to Seoul. That’s not to say Seoul’s nightlife isn’t fun, it just doesn’t have the draw on the beach nightlife of Busan, often dubbed as South Korea’s Miami.
Public Transport
Going to a city with a great public transport system makes such a difference to your life. If you can get to where you want to be quickly and easily for a small price then life is good. Spending hours on a bus in traffic can really put a big dampener on your day.
Luckily, South Korea’s public transport systems are excellent meaning both Seoul’s and Busan’s are great too. They are, in fact, some of the best in the world but they can be a little confusing to work out.
Seoul
In Seoul, you’ll be able to use buses, the metro, and taxis to get around the city. To be honest though, you only really need to use the metro as it’s highly efficient, affordable, and extensive.
There isn’t anywhere in the city you can’t get to as the metro stations are well placed and close to all the tourist attractions and districts too, meaning you won’t have many long walks to do either.
Busan
Just like Seoul, Busan also has a great bus and metro network with affordable taxis to back you up when needs be. Using the metro is the best way to go as the network is again extensive like Seoul’s and highly efficient. You can set your watch to the arrivals of the trains and you can get everywhere you need to in the city.
Verdict
Using the public transport systems in South Korea is an absolute pleasure and no matter whether you’re in Seoul or Busan you’ll get where you need to be with ease.
It’s a good idea to pick up a Cashbee card which is a prepaid card you can use to pay for public transport and in some shops too. It makes buying tickets a lot easier as all you need to do is tap in and tap out.
Cost Of Travelling
When it comes to Seoul vs Busan and the general costs of traveling in each one, neither of them are very cheap cities on a global scale, it’s not like you’re in Delhi. But considering their modernness it’s not surprising there is some expense to being there.
Seoul Vs Busan
Seoul is generally a little more expensive than Busan which is unsurprising considering it’s a lot more populated and it’s the nation’s capital too. When you look at the costs of living, Busan is around 22% less expensive than Seoul and that’s with rent included.
If you’re traveling around South Korea and not looking to live there, your money will also go further in Busan. Your groceries will be 17% cheaper, meals out will be 7% cheaper, and accommodation options will be a bit less expensive too.
The saving isn’t huge between visiting Seoul vs Busan, you’ll probably save around 10% so don’t let it put you off Seoul if that’s your preferred choice.
The Weather
When it comes to the weather and Seoul vs Busan, there is very little difference apart from in the winter. During summer both cities get to around 29-30°C and it’s nice in Busan as you get a sea breeze and an ocean to swim in.
In winter, Seoul can get to -7°C on average, and up to -15°C in extreme cases, whereas Busan, being a lot further south has an average maximum low of -2°C with the temperature staying above 0°C most of the time.
Seoul vs Busan – The Verdict
It’s a tough call when it comes to Seoul vs Busan as both being South Korean, there are a lot of overlaps.
The biggest difference for me is their locations and how busy they are. Busan is a bit slower and surrounded by beaches and mountains, which is great if you want a balance of the outdoors and the city. Seoul on the other side is busy, alive, and a bit chaotic, a truly modern city that is ever-changing and growing.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
