5 Best Sights in Busan, South Korea

This 1.5-km (.9 mile) expanse of white sand is the most popular in the country, which means there are parasols as far as the eye can see during the busiest weeks of the summer. Still, the beach is home to events year-round, including the Polar Bear Swim and the Jeongwol Daeborum Fire Festival in the winter; it also plays partial host to the Busan International Film Festival in October. Whatever the season, this gorgeous inner-city beach is a destination unto itself and, for most Koreans, is synonymous with "Busan." Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; fee parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

Hosting exhibitions by modern Korean artists rather than big name international draw cards is exactly what makes the BOMA interesting. Recent Korean art and design has a distinct aesthetic and is, in many cases, politically influenced. The BOMA offers visitors insight into recent Korean history and political thought through the eyes of the peninsula's artists. Located close to Centrum City, it is well worth taking an hour or so to visit.

Originally a hillside shanty town, Gamcheon Cultural Village has blossomed into one of the city's premier tourist attractions. In 2009 the tiny houses and warren of alleys and staircases were given a radical makeover, transforming this former slum into a chromatic mishmash of diminutive residences, art spaces, cafes, and vivid murals. While the village is open year-round, please keep in mind that this is a place where real people live and work, so please exercise courtesy and never take photographs of people without their permission. 

Even though it attracts fewer tourists and more locals than the neighboring Haeundae Beach, the sands here are equally beautiful and the views much better, especially with the Gwangan Diamond Bridge spanning the bay. The area is packed with cafés and bars overlooking the water, so it's an excellent place for a sunset or late night stroll. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Located in the middle of Haeundae Beach and home to 250 species and some 35,000 varieties of fish, algae, amphibians, and reptiles (the sharks and penguins are perennial favorites), Busan Aquarium is one of city's most popular family attractions and arguably the best aquarium in the country. Though the aquarium is huge and spread out over three floors, it still can get crowded during peak times. The modern displays are designed with an eye toward education and entertainment.