Best of Busan With Yonggungsa Temple, Yongdusan Park and Dongbaek Island

Note: The following itinerary order is subject to change due to poor weather conditions, unexpected venue closures or road conditions.

Meet your guide upon pickup from your hotel or Busan’s train station for your full-day sightseeing tour. Begin with a visit to Yongdusan Park, located on Yongdusan mountain in downtown Busan. Ride an elevator to the lookout point inside the 423-foot (129-meter) Busan Tower to take in marvelous views of the park’s scenic landscape as well as the sea. Or stroll with your guide to see the park’s many monuments and landmarks, such as Palgakjeong (Octagonal Pavilion), the Busan citizens’ bell pavilion or the Buddhist temple.

Back in your minivan, drive past Gwangan Bridge en route to Dalmaji-gil, a scenic walkway near Haeundae Beach. Here, marvel at the forested pines that blanket Mt Wausan.

Make a stop at a ginseng outlet for information about Korea’s famous immune-boosting herb, then enjoy a traditional Korean lunch at a local restaurant with favorites like bibimbap, a signature rice dish.

Continue on to Gwangbokdong Street, the heart of youth fashion, art and culture in Busan. You’ll have time to explore just a few of the 100 or so shops, which carry items ranging from bargains to luxury goods. Or simply stroll along the pleasant street, where you can find plenty of places to rest among the flowerbeds and sculptures.

Your next stop is the 35-acre (14-hectare) UN Memorial Cemetery, established by the United Nations in 1951 to hold the remains of soldiers from 11 countries. See the Main Gate, Memorial Service Hall and Dongnae Patriots Monument before driving to Haedong Yonggungsa, a Buddhist temple situated on the coast of Busan.

First built in the 14th century, the complex offers visitors a look at several landmarks, each seen while looking over the ocean. Your guide may point out the three-story pagoda of four lions, symbolizing joy, anger, sadness and happiness; the uniquely designed Buddhist sanctum, which is enclosed inside a cave; and the stone lanterns lining the rocky landscape, reached by climbing down 108 stairs.

The final stop on your route is Dongbaek Island (aka Dongbaekseom). No longer technically an island, as it is connected to the mainland via a land bridge, the rocky promontory juts out from the urban landscape and teems with camellias, evergreens and dongbaek trees. See the Haeundae Carved Stone, a statue located at the island’s southern end, and view the 8-foot-high (2.5-meter) statue of a mermaid on your way to Haeundae Beach.

Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or Busan Station.