[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Busan bliss: Where coastal charm meets vibrant city life

Busan offers vibrant city life, stunning beaches and convenient city tours. Must-visit spots include Haeundae Beach, Huinnyeoul Culture Village and Blue Line Park for unique experiences.

An ice cream stop at Cafe Gurme is refreshing if the intense sun has got the better of you in Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Yeongdo District, Busan. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Busan is a city of vibrancy with coastal views. Placed 67th on the U.S. business magazine Forbes's list of "100 Best Cities to Live, Work and Visit," the seaside city once again reclaimed its crown as one of Korea's must-visit spots. Busan was even dubbed the "Miami of South Korea" in this report that assessed cities based on their "livability, lovability and prosperity," as it was recognized for its beaches, fancy leisure facilities and shopping places.

Along with the famous Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach, which are already well-known among locals and tourists, there are a handful of choices that are easily accessible by public transport or the city tour bus. If you are up for reexamining the beauty of Busan either by trying out new spots or enjoying the already famous beaches, check out these four Busan recommendations compiled by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Busan City Tour Bus 부산 시티투어 버스

Busan City Tour Bus departs at the Busan Station, where each zones are marked for different courses: Green, Red, Blue and Orange. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Unless you are willing to sign up to drive on the narrow roads of Busan, traveling in Busan boils down to two routes: taking the subway or the bus.

Apart from the public buses that take longer to arrive, you can take a city bus tour to conveniently travel around the major spots of the city and choose the route to take depending on what you fancy. Busan Tourism Organization operates four bus lines — the Red Line, Blue Line, Green Line and the Orange Line. The Blue Line Course is temporarily closed, but the remaining three stay open from Wednesday to Sunday. The Red Line Course focuses on the Haeundae part of the city, the Green Line touches the sightseeing spots and the Orange Line Course hits the remaining trendy spots like Gamcheon Culture Village and museums. Some stops, like the Yonghoman Sightseeing Boat Terminal or the Peace Park, are common to multiple lines and act as transfer stations.

The Green Line, a popular tourist option, includes a ride along the Busan Harbor Bridge, the notorious cable bridge whose maximum deck height is 63 meters (207 feet). Crossing the narrow and steep bridge way is deemed a challenge by many tourists, and the two-story Green Line bus races along the bridge with no hesitation, cutting no slack for the passengers and making them hold onto their hats to keep them from falling off.

A ride along the Busan Harbor Bridge is intimidating for some, as it speeds along at a rapid pace. [KIM DONG-EUN]

To book a ride on one of these bus routes, you can get tickets online at the City Tour Busan website or purchase them on-site at Busan Station. All buses depart from Busan Station in front of the Ramada Encore Hotel. Nine bus rides operate every day, with the first ride at around 9:30 a.m. and the last one at around 4:20 p.m.

Busan City Tour부산 시티투어Departure: Busan Station, in front of Ramada Encore Hotel Plaza10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong District , Busan(부산광역시 동구 중앙대로196번길 10, 부산역 광장 라마다앙코르호텔 앞) Ticket price: 20,000 won ($15)Phone number: 051-464-9898Website: https://citytourbusan.com/en2/00main/main.php

Huinnyeoul Culture Village흰여울문화마을

Huinnyeoul Culture Village in Yeongdo District, Busan, is home to old houses that have turned into trendy shops and cafes, as well as blue-painted walls across the seashore. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Yeongdo District in Busan is the only district in Korea that is an island, located at the far south of Busan. Huinnyeoul Culture Village is one spot you do not want to miss out on in Yeongdo, as the village stands on a high slope, placing its shops and houses open to a refreshing view from a seashore cliff. The small houses, cafes and individual shops streamline the seaside view, giving off a leisurely, cozy atmosphere. Jeoryeong Coastal Trail welcomes those entering the village, its alley walls painted blue and white attracting visitors to stop every now and then to pose for photos. If the intense sun tires you out, stop by a cafe for an iced drink or ice cream. Cafe Gurme, one of the little cafes that sells milk ice cream and desserts, offers a sea view either from indoors or a rooftop area.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village is a tranquil town in southern Busan that overlooks a sea view. [BUSAN METROPOLITAN CITY]

Huinnyeoul Culture Village was the background in several Korean films, "The Attorney" (2013) being the most famous one. You can spot traces of the film through a wall with one of its movie lines printed on it as well as some pictures of the movie on the physical street maps. Huinnyeoul Coastal Tunnel is also another tourist spot: the large tunnel provides shelter during hot weather and also offers a photo zone for couples and families.

Although many of the old houses have transformed into cafes and shops, the rest remain where residents stay, adding liveliness to the quiet seaside village.

273 Huinnyeoul-gil, Yeongdo District, Busan(부산광역시 영도구 영선동4가 1043)Phone number: 051-403-1861, 1862, 1863Website: www.ydculture.com/huinnyeoulculturetown/

Cafe Gurme구름에 @cafe.gurme253 Huinnyeoul-gil, Yeongdo-gu, Busan(영도구 영선동4가 1024) Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Haeundae Blue Line Park 해운대블루라인파크

Haeundae Blue Line Park in Haeundae District operates the Beach Train and the Sky Capsule, two popular tourist rides of the city. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Haeundae Blue Line Park is a tourist zone where you can experience Haeundae's two special rides, the Beach Train and Sky Capsule. You can sign up for either of these two rides to travel along the sea coast and appreciate its view. The Beach Train accommodates plenty of people and races along the railway, while the Sky Capsule is a smaller capsule-like ride for those who prefer a more private ride through an aerial rail.

Departing from Mipo Station in Dalmaji-gil, half an hour away by foot from Blue Line Park in Cheongsapo, the Beach Train continues until its final stop, Songjeong Station. The train runs slow at 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) per hour, while the Sky Capsule travels at an even slower pace, four kilometers per hour. Both rides last for about half an hour, but the slower Sky Capsule operates only up to Cheongsapo Station, running along two kilometers between the two stops. However, many line up for the exclusive experience of traveling in a small ride along a 10-meter-high rail, taking pictures and selfies as the capsule passes by the sea during sunset.

@bluelineparkHaeundae Blue Line Park (Cheongsapo Station) 116 Cheongsapo-ro, Haeundae District, Busan부산 해운대구 청사포로 116 청사포정거장 Beach Train Fare: 7,000 won for a ride, 16,000 won for all stops Sky Capsule: 35,000 won for two passengers, 45,000 won for three and 50,000 won four passengers Website: https://www.bluelinepark.com/eng/

Haeundae Beach 해운대

Haeundae Beach in Haeundae District, Busan, is a classic stop for tourists. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Haeundae Beach is already a classic spot if you're visiting Busan, but the mix of leisurely time by the ocean and a fun nightlife never gets old. Haeundae Station, which is on Line No. 2 of the Busan Metro, is just a ten-minute walk away from the beach, which stands near a food market street and a small square full of food chains with Busan's eateries, not to mention a luxurious seaside path with strands of small lounge pubs and tall towers.

An ideal day in Haeundae District may include lying by the beach and swimming, enjoying eateries at the food market — gukbap, pork soup over rice, is a popular choice — enjoying the excitement of splashing at the water park Club D Oasis and finishing off the day with a drink at one of the seaside bars or cafes.

A night walk along Haeundae Beach offers a look around multiple pubs and cafes that are less crowded than those in Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong District. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Although Haeundae is often mentioned alongside Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong District, as the two are the most recognized beach spots in Busan, they are distinctly different in terms of street view and the types of people they attract. Gwangalli Beach stays brighter and more lively as young visitors and groups of friends crowd the streets, while Haeundae Beach remains relatively more reserved, attracting many foreign tourists and families. If you are looking for a calmer seaside experience, you may want to stick to Haeundae's seaside street, where more exotic pubs light up throughout the night, with open seating in temperate weather. If you are unsure where to start the night, check out ici, a restaurant and pub that stays open until two or three in the morning and serves wine, beer, and coffee at a reasonable price range.

U-dong, Haeundae District, Busan부산 해운대구 우동 (해운대해변로) ici잇시24 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 298beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan부산 해운대구 해운대해변로298번길 24 팔레드시즈 1층 1-20호Operation hours: 9:40 a.m. - 3 a.m.

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]