Busan is a popular tourist destination and a vibrant city that offers an authentic seaside atmosphere, a modern downtown and beautiful beaches and hills.
Where to book accommodation in Busan? In Asia, the traditionally strong agoda. com portal also offers the most accommodation in Busan. Particularly when it comes to smaller hotels and guesthouses, Agoda often offers significantly lower prices than competitor booking.com.
Where to stay in Busan?
Busan is a surprisingly large city that can be divided into 3 main districts suitable for tourist accommodation.
The Old City (Nampo-dong)
Busan's most popular district, Old Busan Nampo-dong, with the adjacent huge Jagalchi fish market, is considered the city's main tourist hub.
You'll be close to the main train station, walking tours of the peninsulas and the village of Gamcheon.
- Brosis Hotel *** - A very nice smaller hotel with modern rooms offers rates from 31 eur per night. Located on Gudeok-ro main street 100 meters from the metro station
- Hotel Marcher *** - A modern hotel with quite spacious rooms in the quieter Nampo-dong area and prices from 35 eur per night.
- Griffinbay Hotel **** - Mostly the cheapest 4* hotel with good ratings in the area. It's on the main street of Gudeok-ro 80 metres from the metro station and offers rates from 40 eur per night
The orange subway line runs through Nampo-dong.
The modern centre
A major hub for locals with offices, skyscrapers and corporate headquarters, it is also the geographical centre of Busan.
You won't find many tourist sights here, but with all metro lines crossing here, it's very easy to get to all parts of Busan, which will always be roughly the same distance away.
- Toyoko Inn Busan Seomyeon *** - Simply furnished, the larger 3* hotels always offer excellent rates from 33 eur per night and very good reviews.
- Lion Hotel *** - a standard hotel with small but modern and very nice rooms will entice with prices starting from 29 eur per night
- Avani Central Busan **** - one of the few multinational chains in central Busan offers the quality you are used to from around the world and decent prices from 73 eur per night
Haeundae
The popular district of Haeundae attracts mainly to the beach of the same name, which is one of the most famous in all of South Korea. This part of town is very lively with plenty of restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment.
You will also find the largest concentration of large international chain hotels here.
- ibis Budget Ambassador Busan Haeundae ** - A classic simple ibis just 200 metres from the beach with great rates from 48 eur per night
- Best Western Haeundae *** - a 3* classic without compromise is 100 metres from the beach and offers prices from 44 eur per night
- Mipo Oceanside Hotel ** - a local well rated hotel attracts with its location right on the beach and very good prices in low season (from 29 eur per night)
The Haeundae district is also home to more luxurious hotels, including Grand Josun Busan ***** or The Westin Josun Busan *****.
Hotels with a view
A specific category is accommodation with a view of the very photogenic rugged city with its many hills, bays, bridges and illuminated skyscrapers.
What hotels in Busan offer the best views from your room?
- Lavalse Hotel **** - One of Busan's tallest hotels stands on Yeongdo-gu Island and offers breathtaking views of the rainbow-lit Busan Tower and Jagalchi Fish Market building, the old fishing harbour, the old city centre and part of the modern harbour. Rooms with the best views cost from 92 eur per night and the investment is well worth it.
- Park Hyatt Busan ***** - Quality without guessing, more is probably not needed to introduce this hotel. The rooms offer views of the colourfully lit Gwangan Bridge, the open ocean and part of Busan's modern city centre.
Hotels near the station and harbour
Planning to leave Busan by train or boat in the early hours of the morning? The main train station, international and domestic passenger port are all in the same district, and the sheer size of the city means it's definitely worth staying somewhere nearby for early morning departures.
- Ramada Encore Busan Station *** - A classic well-known chain with good prices around 48 eur per night is right at the entrance to the station building.
- Crown Harbor Hotel Busan **** - this hotel is closest to the national port and offers great rates from 40 eur per night
Hotel prices in Busan
Despite its size and economic strength, Busan is one of the relatively cheap metropolises.
Local 3* hotels offer 2-bed rooms per night at prices between 0 eur 0 eur and 37 eur, while hotels of multinational chains around 48 eur.
Prices only reach western levels at 4* and 5* hotels, where you'll pay between 92 eur and 220 eur per room per night.
Expect the lowest prices in early December and January, and the highest in summer (especially September), despite the rather unpleasant muggy and humid tropical weather.
But Busan is still mainly a seaside destination and attracts sea bathers, and summer prices are accordingly.
