7. Sightseeing Courses to Recommend to Solo Female Travelers
Solo traveling is the best way to listen to our inner voice and realize that there are many sentiments and feelings that we didn’t notice in our daily life easily.
In our daily busy life, we rarely get chances to figure out what we really want and who we are and while traveling solo, we discover different parts of ourselves.
While traveling by ourselves in different corners of Busan, every single day will be a new adventure. Sometimes you might feel like just chill out, on other days you might feel like talking to local people and also meeting new people.
Your feelings will be different from today. This is a guide for those who wish to try new things with different themes for solo female travelers when they travel to Busan in South Korea. Feel free to download the 👉PDF version of this guidebook.
🌺THEME I. For those who wish to jump into the big ocean and feel nature
1️⃣ Try to go surfing at Songjeong Beach
If there is a city where you can feel sunshine with a breeze touching you and waves are leading you to jump in, what would you like to do? Don’t you want to just dive into the ocean? Well, then you are in the right place. Songjeong Beach is the surfing spot if you get chances to travel to Busan.
Don’t worry even though you have never tried surfing yet. You do not have to worry because you have never tried surfing and do not have to be nervous. What if it is your first time going surfing? You can go and try to take surfing courses at surfing shops around the beach. It feels so liberating to go surfing and dive into the water while seeing the sunset. You can learn everything starting from A to Z when it comes to surfing at Songjeong Beach.
Q. Where can we try to go surfing?
There are two exemplary surfing shops at Songjeong Beach.
- Surf Holic
This is open for everyone starting from the elementary level to professionals and different levels of surfers can take courses. They also offer accommodation and some other options.
Price: 65,000 won per 1 class (Including Suits, Board Rental Fee)
Opening Hours: Everyday 06:00~21:00
How to get there? : Busan Metro Exit 2 of the Line Donghae and take a walk around 15 min to Songjeong Beach
Instagram: @surfholic_kr
- Songjeong Surfing School
Starting from entry-level to professionals, different levels of surfers can take classes.
Price: 65,000 KRW per class (Including Suit & Board Rental Fee)
Opening Hours: Everyday 06:00~20:00
How to get there? : 15min from Busan Donghae Metro Line Exit 2
Instagram: @sjscsurf
2️⃣ Feel the true local vibe of Busan at Haeundae Beach
Haeundae beach might be the most popular spot for summer vacation. If you get a chance to go and walk around Haeundae beach, You will easily see why Haeundae beach is the symbol for summer vacation for South Koreans. Also, there are many activities that you can try in Haeundae Beach. Just within 5 min walk, you can grab and eat fresh seafood and also can go to the traditional market of South Korea.
After Sunset, there are endless lights across the border and it makes the atmosphere so romantic. Well, you might wonder whether it is safe to walk around 2 am in Haeundae Beach. You can wonder whether it might be quite dangerous for a solo female traveler. Not at all! Haeundae Beach would be full of travelers and locals who wish to get some breeze from the ocean.
You will feel the dynamics of the travelers and locals who are standing outside of the beach. You do not have to feel lonely even though you travel solo as the vibe of the Haeundae beach is so dynamic and always full of people. Don’t miss this chance to see two different faces of the Haeundae beach and you can go and grab morning coffee in front of the beach in the morning and see endless lighting and buzzing streets at night.
3️⃣ See the sunset over the Yacht at Gwangalli Beach
You can easily see the Yachts at the seaside of Busan and can observe a Yacht tour easily in any part of Busan. Especially, yacht tour around sunset time is especially popular as you can see the ocean full of red and mysterious colors. Well, taking a Yacht in Busan is such an affordable option!
Most of the Yacht tours will have a tour around Gwangalli Beach and the price might be slightly different depending on the size of the Yacht but starts from around 20,000 KRW to 40,000 KRW. Don’t worry about taking a Yacht by yourself as the staff on the Yacht are so friendly and also you can get chances to talk to other people on the Yacht. Feel free to listen to the music on the Yacht and the time flies as you would feel that 1 hour is quite short.
Q.Where can I book a Yacht Tour?
There are many different Yacht programs in Busan. Most of them have an almost similar price range and programs and feel free to choose what you prefer.
- Let me Yacht(요트탈래)
The Yacht tour starts from Busan The Bay 101 and is for 60 minutes. You will get a chance to have a tour around the Gwangan Bridge. Don’t forget to bring your ID for the ID verification check.
Price : Morning Time 20,000 KRW / Sunset TIme 40,000 KRW / Evening 30,000
Opening Hours: Every Day 09:00~22:00
How to get there? : Busan Metro Line Dongbaek Station Exit 2, 10min walk
Instagram: @yachttale
- Yacht Holic
The Yacht tour lasts for 60 minutes starting from Busan Yachting Center for 60 minutes. You can get a great view over Gwangan Bridge with a Yacht Tour for 60 minutes. Don’t forget to bring your ID for the onboarding process.
Price: Morning Hour 30,000 KRW / Evening Hour 35,000 KRW
Opening Hours: Everyday 11:00~23:00
How to get there? : Busan Metro Station Line 2 Dongbaek Exit 3, 10 min walk
Instagram: @yachtholic
🌺THEME II. For those who wish to feel the youth local vibe
1️⃣Feel the vibe of Busan Gamcheon Cultural Village
Have you ever seen the diverse and endless colors of the houses when you search for Busan Traveling? Yes, That is Gamcheon Cultural Village which is also called the Machu Picchu of South Korea.
It first started as Busan’s cultural art project and tried to create the space for artists within Busan, and now Gamcheon Cultural Village is reborn as the artistic space with the collaboration with local residents and artists. You can get a chance to see so much graffiti on the wall in different corners of the town.
How to enjoy Gamcheon Cultural Village?
You can get a stamp tour map with 2,000 KRW and will get chances to walk around different spots of the town based on the map including observatories, art galleries, etc.
Working Hours: It is not recommended to visit the Gamcheon Cultural Village during late hours as there are currently local residents living in the village. All the facilities are open from 9 am to 6 pm and open until 5 pm during the wintertime
How to get there? : Grab the metro line 1 at Toseong Station exit 6 and take the local bus Saha 1–1, SeoGu 2, SeoGu 2–1 and get off at Gamcheon Cultural Village. There are quite many hills and it is better to bring sneakers and a bottle of water!
2️⃣ Discover Yeongdo, the heaven of Busan’s Local Creators
Starting from the western part of the Yeongdo, Currently, Yeongdo is one of the hottest spots in Busan where all creative young local creators gather together and work. They are working on brewing the traditional alcohol, brewing the beer, and trying to revitalize the old swimming pool into a complex cultural space.
Busan is making Yeongdo an attractive space where South Korean youth gather and solve the local problems and bring new value to the community. If you wish to visit the cultural district where you can feel the vibe of the youth, then you must definitely visit Yeongdo.
👉The places below are within 5 minutes of walking distance. Shall we visit together?
✔️ Complex Cultural Space with local masters and artists, AREA6
It is a complex cultural center where there are artisans and artists who have been living in Yeongdo for a long time. It opened in 2021 and currently, around 10 shops and business owners are incubated at AREA 6.
There are shops such as traditional alcohol breweries, tea coffee shops where you can try Korean traditional tea, arts and goods shops where you can see the artists’ artworks in posters and postcards, leather factories, and also Korean traditional souvenirs shops. I strongly recommend you to go and visit if you wish to see all the artworks made by local creators.
Opening Hours: Everyday 11:00 am ~ 19:00 pm (Every Monday is a day off)
How to get there? : We recommend you take a bus as there isn’t any metro station near here. There might be several bus recommendation options.
Instagram: @area6.yeongdo
✔️Coffee shop transformed from an old swimming pool, GEMSTONE
The place has been transformed from an old swimming pool into a trendy coffee shop and a cultural center. There is interesting furniture and artwork in every single corner of the coffee shop. Isn’t it so interesting that the old swimming pool has transformed into a coffee shop? There are many spots where you can take trendy photos in different spots of the coffee shop. For those who wish to experience a unique coffee shop experience, it is recommended to visit GEMSTONE.
Opening Hours: Everyday 11:00 am ~ 22:00 pm
How to get here? : Strongly recommend taking a bus as there isn’t any metro station near the cafe. On the Kakao Map Application, there will be some bus recommenda -tions to get to the coffee shop.
Instagram: @gemstone_official_
✔️Samjin Fish Shop where 3 generations have been making a fish cake in Busan photo5
Fish Cake is one of the most common side dishes and staple food in South Korean meal culture where they fry fish with flour. Busan is famous for fish cake where they have a comparatively high portion of fish for fish cake.
Yeongdo’s Samjin Fish Cake is one of the most popular fish cake brands and you get chances to eat different kinds of fish cake flavor including Kimchi fish cake, Pepper fish cake, lotus root fish cake, and French Fries fish cake, etc. Are you hungry during your solo traveling to Busan? Then directly go to the Samjin Fish Cake store and try Korean Fish Cake!
Opening Hours: Everyday 09:00 ~ 18:00
How to get here? : Take a bus instead of a metro station. You can search for Samjin Fish Cake Shop on the Kakao map for different options.
Instagram: @samjinamook
3️⃣ Sneak Peek into the true local community of Busan through a local market
Gukje Market — Kkangtong Market — Bosu Book Market are all within 5 minutes of walking distance. Why don’t you try to have a look at all?
✔️Find everything here, Gukje Market
You cannot dismiss the joy of having a look around the local market. If you ever get a chance to visit the Gukje market, you will be surprised to see the huge dimension of the market and also endless curations of the beautiful products. This is the largest local market in Busan, and you will find everything here starting from clothes, accessories, lighting, furniture, bags, Korean traditional clothes called Hanbok, snacks, and everything here.
Especially, if you are someone interested in fashion, interior design then these would be the best attraction sites for you. The time goes so fast at Gukje market and why don’t you just walk around in the market and have a conversation in Saturi (Busan local language) and talk to local vendors?
Opening Hours: 09:00–20:00, Closed every first and the 3rd of the Sunday
How to get here?: Take a metro line 1 and get off at Jagalchi Station
✔️ Heaven of the delicious food, Kkangtong Market
Kkangtong market is always more crowded during the evening than during the days. Why? Because there is a delicious night food market opening here. There are so many delicious foods here at Kkangtong market and there are street shops opening every night which literally makes you so hungry.
If you are not sure what to eat first? Then why don’t you go and check the food lists recommended by NomadHer for solo female travelers? It is preferable to bring the cash to pay at local shops and you can get chances to try Seed Hotteok, Tteokbokki, Bibim Noodle and different kinds of food. If you ever want to try the street food of Busan? Then we recommend you stop by the Kkangtong market.
Opening Hours: Kkangtong market opening hours 08:00- 20:00 / Night Market opening hours: 19:30–23:30 / Open 365 days
How to get here? : Take a metro line 1 and get off at the Jagalchi Station exit 7
✔️Bosu Book Store, where you will read old books
If you are one of those who stop by the local book store whenever you go traveling, and you love reading books, then this might be heaven for you. There are many old and vintage books that would make you feel like taking a time machine and going back to the past.
This is like a secret jewelry shop where you can buy and read books that are not available anymore in the normal bookstore. Why don’t you order a small coffee or tea with music coming from an LP?
Opening Hours: We recommend that you go around the afternoon time as it closes doors around the evening hours.
How to get here? :Take a metro line 1 and get off at Jagalchi station exit 7
🌺THEME III. For those who wish to put a comma in their life and take a break
If you travel around in a new city, you might get easily tired as you want to go and observe so many attraction sites at once. It’s normal that you would feel like you did not enjoy the sites enough and feel like you have wasted traveling experience.
Traveling Solo is an essential experience to look back on who we are and get out from a busy and hectic life. Why don’t you travel to escape from the hectic and busy daily life? Why don’t you give “commas” in your daily life and take care of yourself?
1️⃣ Pray at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple right next to the ocean and make a wish
Temple was built where monks gather and study and pray for Buddha so most of the temples are situated in the deep mountain. However, interestingly, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was built just right across the Donghae ocean and the place attracts many visitors.
You would feel so much Zen and peace in the mind. You feel so peaceful by listening to the sound of the wood. The place says that if you make a wish with your true 100% will then the wish can come true. What kind of wish do you wish to make at Haedong Yonggungsa temple?
Opening Hours: 5:00 am — before midnight
Price: Free Entry
How to get here? Take a metro Line 2 and get off at Haeundae Station and take a bus Line 181
2️⃣ Take a walk at Dongbaekseom in the middle of the city
Come to Dongbaekseom if you wish to have a look over Haeundae Beach if you do not wish to go further. It takes around 1 hour in total and you will have an endless view of the ocean and a walking road full of Dongbaek Island. When you take a walk around 10 minutes, you will see a road surrounded by pine trees and camellia trees.
You will listen to the sound of waves and seagulls on the way and enjoy the moment of concentrating on yourself and get relaxed. At the end of the walk, there is a lighthouse and APEC house, the place where they organized an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. Do not miss out on the chance of seeing endless lights near The Bay 101. You deserved to be loved and this course is definitely a gift for yourself.
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
APEC house: Free Entry, 09:00–17:00 (Holidays every Monday)
How to get here? : Take a metro line 2 at Dongbaek Station Exit 1 and 10 min walk
3️⃣ Grab a coffee at Huinnyeoul Culture Village at the end of the steep cliff with an ocean view
Do you agree that wherever you go a cup of coffee or tea makes our day so peaceful? Huinnyeoul Culture Village has been a film scene background for various South Korean films. Houses in white color remind you of Greece’s Santorini village. Gamcheon Cultural Village consists of houses in different colors, Huinnyeoul Culture Village is just right next to the ocean.
All across the road, there are various coffee shops and this is the best spot to just chill out with a sip of coffee. Just below the hill, there is a long pathway where you can take a walk. This course takes around 3 hours and it’s better to bring your sneakers. There is a small shop where you can have Korean Ramyeon with an ocean view and why don’t you try Ramyeon?
Opening Hours: Various depending on the coffee shops but it is better not to go too late as there are local residents
How to get here? Take metro line 1 and get off at Nampo Station. From Exit 6, take a bus 6, 9, 82, 508
4️⃣ Listen to the sound and story of nature at Taejongdae surrounded by endless forest
Taejongdae is on the top of a high cliff where you have the emerald blue ocean view entourage with pine trees. Every year people from Busan visit this place. There is an option where you can walk, or take a small train called Danubi and stop by the observatory, lighthouse, and Taejongdae.
You can always get off the train and get on to Danubi train. If you go in a very late afternoon, don’t forget to have a sunset over Taejongdae. Especially try to stop by Yeongdo lighthouse where you will get an ocean view while walking down the floor. In total, it takes 3 hours. Even though you take a train, it is better to take comfortable shoes.
Opening Hours: 05:00–24:00, Free Entry
How to get here? : Take a line 1 metro to Nampo Station and take a bus 8, 30, 66, 88
Taejongdae entry Danubi train: 3,000 KRW for adults
5️⃣ Participate in a sunset yoga class at Busan Haeundae and Songjeong Beach
From spring to fall, near Haeundae and Songjeong Beach, there are different Beach Yoga, Sunset Yoga classes. There are seasonal classes and it is better to ask NomadHers on the NomadHer app as the information on the internet might not be correct. NomadHers living in Busan will be more than welcome to answer you with kindness. You can sit on the ocean with a breeze and try to find peace in your inner life.
🌺 THEME IV. For those who wish to take an adventure and try different things
Sometimes we wish to try something exciting and adventurous. There are interesting outdoor activities in Busan and why don’t you give it a try?
1️⃣ Take Haeundae Beach Train & Sky Capsule and have a look at different sides of Busan
Haeundae Beach Train & Sky Capsule(Haeundae Blueline Park) was made based on an old train road and you can take a Beach train and Sky Capsule.
Enjoying the view of the ocean from the Beach train will be a whole different experience. Keep in mind that you can always get off at any travel stop and get back on the train which goes from Mipo to Songjeong if you buy a free pass ticket. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance as it is very touristic and always full of people waiting for the train.
Price: Different depending on Beach Train & Sky Capsule. Check the website.
Opening Hours: Different depending on the season and check before going
How to get here? Take metro line 2 and get off at Jungdong station. 15min Walking Distance.
Where to book? : https://www.bluelinepark.com/booking.do
2️⃣ Take Skyline Luge and enjoy the speed in a safe way.
It’s a special activity where you will take the luge from the hill and roll down the hill. You take a lift through a curvy way. It’s pretty easy to drive with 4 different courses. During the weekdays, only 2 courses are available and all 4 courses are available during the weekend. It is situated right across the Haedong Yonggungsa temple and you can try it on the way to the temple.
Price:22,000 KRW for twice
Opening Hours: Weekdays 10:00–18:00, Weekends 10:00–19:00
How to get here? Take a bus 1003 or 1001 and make a transfer to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple with a bus 181
How to book? : https://www.skylineluge.kr/busan/
3️⃣ Take Busan Air Cruise to feel that you are floating over the ocean photo12
Busan Air Cruise(Songdo Marine Cable Car) is a unique experience with glass-bottom cars for views of the surrounding sea & mountains. It ranges over 1.62 km, starting from Song-rim park from the eastern side of Busan to the western side An-Nam Park. You will feel like you are flying over the ocean and will see an endless blue ocean with a view of the whole Busan City. It is another charm to see Busan City from the top of the sky.
Price: 15,000 KRW to 20,000 KRW for a round trip
Opening Hours: 09:00–20:00
How to get there? Take a metro line 1 and get off at Jagalchi Station and take a bus 6, 26, 30, 71, 96, 96–1 and make a transfer
How to book: http://busanaircruise.co.kr/main/main.html
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