Fun things to do at night in Busan

Busan offers a nightlife scene that rivals most South East Asian cities. If this is your first time in Busan, you won’t want to miss the city’s pumping nightlife, festivals, jimjilbang hot springs, and scenic night spots. Enjoy the stunning views of this bustling port city from a variety of lookout points, take a nighttime boat cruise and discover dishes unique to Busan at its food markets. To help you plan your night out, we’ve compiled a guide to Busan’s best night time experiences.

Haeundae and Seomyeon offer hundreds of fantastic nightlife venues to spend a memorable night out. Whether you’re into craft beer taprooms, cocktail bars, Izakaya restaurants, all-night dance clubs, unique dining experiences or karaoke rooms.

Haeundae’s main pedestrian road, Gunam-ro is filled with restaurants, shops, bars, and clubs. It’s great for people watching and taking photos of the musical fountain. Enjoy Milmeyon cold noodles in a spicy vegetable broth at one of the many Korean chain restaurants lining the street. Or for a fine dining experience book a table at LAB 24 by Kumuda. This French Restaurant has been chosen as one of the World’s Top 1,000 Restaurants by La Liste for several years. Pasta king Fiotto, which sits on the eastern end of Haeundae Beach, has two Michelin distinctions and sources its ingredients from the owner’s small farm in the North Gyeongsang Province. Also on Haeundae Beach is Michelin starred Japanese restaurant, Mori by chef Kim Wan-gyu. Mori stands out for its fresh seasonal flavours.

Enjoy fun vibes at one of Haeundae’s upscale bars. Pavox Bar, located on the fifth floor of Harbour Town Haeundae, is known for its extensive whisky list although they also serve inspired Asian cocktails. Muse-on is a cocktail and vinyl music bar where you can submit your classic song request - ideal for a fun date night. Wolfhound is a short walk from Haeundae Beach and is a great Irish pub that serves burgers and pints. It’s a popular after-work bar with expats and locals and on the weekends, it offers a lively party scene with a lineup of local DJs and dancing. Billie Jean is a laidback bar off the party path, located at the foot of Dalmaji Hill. It’s great for early evening drinks, karaoke nights and late-night dancing, ranging from funk to hip-hop.

Seomyeon is the centre of all nightlife in Busan, an inner-city late-night hub known for its party street and alleyways filled with decorative lights, selfie studios, games arcades and tiny bars. Seomyeon has a little something for everyone whether you want to hit a club in the early hours of the morning, visit the local pubs or eat, there are plenty of choices.

Yaki-ya is all about the informal Japanese inspired izakaya style of dining with lots of plates to be shared. Order the pork belly or the shrimp okonomiyaki and try their Japanese highballs – whisky and soda, served in large beer glasses.

After dinner walk over to Momsocl for drinks and to mingle with locals or start your night of fun at Fuzzy Navel, a bar offering tasty cocktails and a lively atmosphere. If you’re into laidback tunes, Double Pub, a fun dive bar with an international crowd plays hip hop and R&B. The Thursday Party Draught House in Seomyeon attracts tourists and locals all looking to having a good time. Here you can play foosball, darts, enjoy interesting, flavoured beers and sing along to big hits. Wildcat Brewing Co is the only micro-brewery in Seomyeon. You can try a tasting tray in the brewery’s taproom along with prawn crackers to soak up the craft beers. A highlight of their bar menu is fiery Korean fried chicken. If you haven’t had Korean fried chicken before, begin your future obsession here.

For a smooth jazz venue go to Display Speakeasy, or if you’re looking for an special night out, then you’ll enjoy the warm ambiance of Woodside Bar. Enjoy the single malts from Scotland and classic old school cocktail menu.

If you're keen to locate Seomyeon’s most popular club, look no further than JeJe, just be prepated for queues wrapping around the block. Hit the Beach, a club popular with Koreans, is situated on a rooftop and offers amazing night-time views of the Seomyeon district. Output is the only techno club in Busan and is open until 5 am.  Cream Nightclub attracts mostly tourists and expats and offers a great Hip Hop party atmosphere.

If you need something to eat, even after 3 am, you will find lots of street vendors selling delicious street food like spicy tteokbokki rice cakes and octopus pancakes along the side streets and alleyways of Seomyeon.

Busan is South Korea’s largest port and as a result fresh seafood is abundant and headlines many of the city’s restaurant and street food menus. Local specialities which you’ll find in Busan’s colourful markets include naengchae jokbal which is made from braised pig’s trotters and topped with jellyfish, spring onion pancakes and Seed Hotteok - an oily, chewy, and crispy sweet pancake packed with seeds, nuts, and honey.

The Jagalchi Fish Market in Nampo-dong is Busan’s largest fish market. It’s a complete experience - from the rows of fishtanks lining the lanes, crawling with fresh crabs and lobsters, to the noisy vendors punting their wares and streets thick with crowds. Clams, snails, and prawns are piled next to tables draped in octopus and squid. Inside the central hall, you point out your fresh fish choices and vendors fill your colourful plastic bowl with your chosen fish. You’re then directed to the upstairs dining hall which is lined with kitchens and filled with tables and chairs. Chili and pepper, kimchi, garlic, and shiso leaf condiments line the tables. An efficient server whisks your bowl away and returns with dishes of grilled, deep fried or steamy deliciousness.

Gukje Market in Jung-gu is a massive enterprise encompassing six zones set in fourteen different buildings, numerous lanes, and alleyways. It features countless vendors selling everything from kitchenware, clothes and accessories to tools and appliances. Stroll along the market lanes located under a canopy of bright umbrellas where you will find different food stalls and street vendors. Whilst here you could taste sikhye, a local rice drink. 

The Gamcheon Culture Village (Toseong Station) is a historical residential area in Busan. Houses have been built in a staircase formation on the foothills of the Gamcheon coastal mountainside. Today this residential village is a tourist attraction with visitors coming to view the village’s colourful structures and alleyways which are decorated with sculptures and street art murals. At night, particularly during the winter season, the village is lit up with hundreds of lights.

The Busan Cultural Center in Nam-gu is a distinctive venue for arts and cultural events in Busan. It is home to the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Metropolitan Dance and Theatre Companies, and the Metropolitan Chorus. The centre hosts various international collaborative art exhibitions ranging from Monet to Andy Warhol. While in Busan, attend a concert and enjoy traditional Korean music and dance performances. Show times vary so check performances online and book tickets here.

Visit the Haeundae Traditional Market for delicious street food. Unique Busan street food dishes worth sampling include gukbap, a pork and rice soup and traditional eomuk fish cakes. Or you can sit down and enjoy a seafood feast at one of the many restaurants selling fresh seafood. The market also sells trinkets, souvenirs, clothes, and other items. 

Take the lift to the 100th floor of Busan X the Sky, an observatory situated in the Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower. The observatory, which closes in the late evening, covers the top three floors and includes sky restaurant, a sky garden, an artwork installation on the 99th floor, and a souvenir shop. The 98th floor stages evening light shows, and, on this floor, you’ll also find photo zones, rest areas, and a souvenir shop. It's definitley worth booking your tickets ahead here.

A short walk from Busan X the SKY is the entrance to the Haeundae Cruise Terminal where you can take a night-time cruise to Gwangandaegyo Bridge. The bridge is lit up at night with thousands of colourful lights that change colour repeatedly.

The Bay 101 Yacht Club, located on Dongbaek Island close to Haeundae beach is perfect for sunset drinks at one of the pubs. You can also enjoy dinner at Daedo Restaurant which is a great spot to see Marine City’s skyscrapers reflected in the sea. Whilst in the area, hop on a yacht and take a nighttime tour of the bay.

Busan Tower situated in Yongdusan Park in the city centre, offers special light displays during the Starry Night Fiesta. The Festival runs each year from July to October every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Graphics are projected onto the tower’s windows creating compelling scenes. The lower floors of the tower offer an amusement park and selfie studio with different themes representing famous travel destinations in Busan. Bring along a blanket so you can sit on the lawn while watching the light displays, different concerts and musical performances. And sample the delicious street food from the flea market vendors. If you’re feeling especially romantic, head to the top of Hwangnyeongsan Mountain for panoramic nighttime views of the entire city.

One of the most relaxing nighttime experiences in Busan is a visit to a jjimjilbang, a Korean spa. There are two distinct areas - the baths, which are same-sex only, and the sauna areas, which are communal. We recommend SPA Land at Centrum City in Haeundae which offers eighteen different hot springs and thirteen saunas. A key rule when visiting a jjimjilbang is that before entering the hot spring baths you need to wash beforehand. There are rows of washing stations situated in the locker rooms, but remember to bring along your own soap, shampoo and conditioner and scrubbing towels and mitts.

After you have soaked in the baths for a while you can choose to have a professional sesshin scrub. Be aware that this is not a light, private exfoliation treatment but rather a rigorous scrubbing in front of fellow bathers but your skin will never feel smoother. South Korea’s traditional saunas are different to eestern saunas in that they are made of clay or stone. They are pleasantly heated to between 50°C and 90°C. You don’t sit on tiered benches, instead you lie down on a hemp mat. Complete the experience with a cup of sikhye (fermented rice drink). The Jjimjilbang closes at 10 pm and you can get entrance tickets here.

Another relaxing activity at night is a long walk along Haeundae Beach - its the longest beach in Busan. Often you will see fireworks but mostly you will enjoy the tranquillity of the waves, the sea breezes, and the whisper of music from nearby street performers. 

September and October are hot ticket months for the arts in Busan. The annual Busan International Film Festival takes place each year in the Busan Cinema Center at Centum City, in Haeundae. A stalwart of independent and arthouse films, the festival now also features streaming titles. The annual Busan International Performing Arts Market takes place in various citywide venues. The aim of the Performing Arts Market is to provide a platform for local and international artists, musicians, performers, and artisans. The Next Stage initiative recognises emerging talent, the Goods Zone exhibits locally made artisanal products, and the Bifarm Zone features diverse and exciting performances and street art at Gwangalli Beach Road.

The Busan International Rock Festival takes place every year in August at the Samnak Eco Park located on the Samnak-dong riverside. Attracting crowds of over a hundred thousand rockers, the lineup includes rock, metal, and indie bands. Past headliner international rock bands have included New Hope Club, FTISLAND and SPYAIR. 

• Busan Lotte World has about twenty attractions and major rides for the whole family to enjoy. Including crowd pleasers like the Giant Digger Rollercoaster which reaches a top speed of 105 kilometres per hour, with mind-numbing G-Forces. The Giant Splash water ride which culminates in a massive 45 metre slide into water – you’ll be soaked but its great fun. The Giant Swing, which completes 360-degree rotations at high speeds. The Candy Train, created especially for younger kids gives joyful rides around the park. There's also a castle and smaller amusement rides for little ones to enjoy, along with a Korean speaking Talking Tree and plenty of food and drink outlets which you’ll find in the large food court. Lotte World normally closes at 8 pm with the last park-entry closing around 6 pm, check their website for hours and updates. 
  
  
• Observe nocturnal underwater creatures at Sea Life Aquarium’s Night Zone. This is an amazing nighttime experience for families, featuring dramatic digital technology that captures three different ocean scenes – the beach, lagoon, and deep sea. The Sea Life Aquarium features a shark zone, turtle rescue zone, seahorse kingdom, and sea at night zone. The Aquarium usually closes at 7 pm and the last entry time is at 6 pm but it's recommended to check the website for more information. 
  
  
• Watch an awesome Drone Show every Saturday night from October to December at Gwangalli beach. At 8 pm and again at 10 pm drones create a variety of scenes and characters in the night sky. 

• The city has an easily navigable metro system with only four lines. The metro runs from approximately 5:30 am to midnight. You can download the metro app on any android or smart phone. 
  
  
• Taxis can be found on every corner and run on a metre system, although a surcharge of twenty percent applies after midnight. 
  
  
• Tourist information booths can be found near all the city’s main attractions. 
  
  
• If you are travelling solo you may want to consider taking a private evening tour with a local. These walking tours are tailored to your interests. On the tour you will discover the best places to eat, fun things to do and how to get around easily. During the walking tour you’ll also have the option of taking the metro or taxi at an additional fee.
  
  
• April to October is the best time to visit Busan as the weather is generally good and these months are during the dry season. April to May is peak tourist season and June to October is a more moderate season.

The glass-lined tower of Grand Mercure Ambassador Changwon is a distinctive landmark in Changwon. Located near the Changwon Exhibition and Convention Centre, the hotel is ten minutes from the Changwon Station and Changwon Central station. The hotel offers a relaxing experience for both business and leisure travellers with a Mediterranean-style restaurant, indoor and outdoor pools, and a variety of room styles.

Mercure Ambassador Ulsan is located in the scenic coastal town of Blumacity, just a short walk to Jeongia Beach. Ulsan is a known as a business capital in Korea and neighbours Busan to the south. Guest rooms offer stunning ocean views of the East Sea and include comfortable amenities. The hotel features an outdoor terrace, fitness centre, restaurant and café.