South Korea | A Comprehensive Guide to an Art and Food Tour in Busan and Seoul from a Seasoned Travel Blogger

As soon as the country's borders reopened, I organized all the places I've wanted to visit over the past three years, big and small. My first stop is South Korea.

【Travel Tips】

Weather: Check the weather before you go. Seoulites like to wear hoodies on top and shorts on the bottom—feel free to follow the local style, but skip it in winter, haha.

Exchange Rate: Exchange some Korean won based on the number of travel days. Bank of China offers good rates; if you're in a hurry, book through Ctrip and pick up at the airport—it'll be a bit more expensive.

Power Plugs: Bring a converter plug in case the hotel doesn't have one.

This post compiles [Busan]’s many must-visit cafes with ocean views, delicious food, and [Seoul]’s restaurants, entertainment, and art galleries worth exploring. Quaint and cozy, with sea, food, fashion, and tradition—let's go!

——————Busan

Busan Cafe Collection

1. WaveOn Coffee

This cafe offers a 360-degree panoramic sea view! Many locals come to check it out. The whole place is white and blue, photogenic from every angle. It's built on a hill facing the sea and forest. If you have enough time, stay for a sunset and enjoy the tranquility of being in a painting. You can choose a quiet wooden cabin or a transparent hanging chair—great for photos!

2. Marisstella Coffee near Busan Station

I love the vintage style here. There's always a little item that brings back a beautiful memory from your past. With an antique piano and creaky wooden floors, ordering an Americano (3,500 won) warms up the whole afternoon.

3. Seaside Capsule Train Cafe

This might be why you must come to Busan for coffee. It's not just about good coffee—it needs Busan's sea to be perfect. Take the capsule train, sip coffee while gazing at the ocean, and enjoy the colorful, adorable trains—Busan's romance to you. Oh, by the way, Busan's seaside capsule train is called Blue Line Park. Got it!

——Busan Restaurant Collection

1. Wonjo Grandma Beef Soup Rice

Many celebrities have visited this 24-hour restaurant, where you can add sides yourself. My friend even finished a whole plate of their radish kimchi 😅. The beef soup rice is the specialty—generous portions with big chunks of beef! You can see a huge pot of soup simmering in the shop. Many locals eat it as a morning meal; it seems about 5,000 won. Remember to bring cash! After eating, you can take a stroll—it's only about ten minutes from the beach.

2. Myeongpum Seafood Hotpot

A must-visit seafood hotpot in Busan, with tons of celebrity autographs! EXO is a regular, and you'll find signatures from Chanyeol, Sehun, and others. Live octopus is the highlight—not sure if you dare to try it, but it tastes great. The seafood hotpot is both generous and fresh. Like buying clothes, it comes in sizes M and L. The difference is an extra lobster in L; personally, I think M is enough for three people. Add ramen and cheese, and you'll love nothing else, haha. The beef soup rice is also delicious—pair it with some soju for perfection! The menu has Chinese, so no need for a translator. We ordered the premium seafood soup in size M, and it was just right! It's close to Haeundae Beach, so you can take a walk by the sea after eating.

——Other Busan Activities

1. Busan Beaches

I love the sea, and I love Busan's sea because it's called Haeundae. If you want to see seagulls, go to 'Mipo Breakwater'—no filter needed; white and blue spread across the sand, returning a refreshing world. 'Cheongsapo' is also beautiful—the capsule train mentioned above is here. Remember to book in advance! The sea rocks here are more abundant, giving photos a cinematic feel. Remember the movie 'Decision to Leave'? The filming location is here. Couples can feel the line: 'That way, Hae-jun couldn't easily find Seo-rae from afar among the rocks.'

2. Gamcheon Culture Village

This is a Little Prince check-in spot, with colorful houses perfect for photos! It feels like stepping into an animation—just a bit tiring on the legs, haha! The most famous is the statue of the Little Prince and the fox. The night view is also great.

3. Busan Lotte World

Opened in 2022, Busan Lotte World Adventure Park is very close to the sea. An all-day adult ticket is 47,000 won. At the entrance, you'll see the dreamy landmark Lorry Castle. On the first floor, you can rent school uniforms and instantly transform into a Korean drama heroine! The park also has performances and parades. The entire park is larger than Seoul's, so you can spend a whole day here.

4. Gijang Church

This is also a great spot for photos, with a seafood market nearby. Although the church was built for a TV drama, its seaside location creates a fantastic atmosphere! It's fresh and serene; both sunrise and sunset are worth capturing.

5. Gwanganli Drone Show

Many locals don't even know about the drone show here. The theme changes weekly, usually on Saturdays. From March to September, there are two shows at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, each lasting ten minutes. Very special and impressive!

6. X Sky

A great place to overlook Busan. The X-SKY high-rise observation deck is stunning! It's 100 floors high, and on clear days, you'll get amazing photos. There are two cafes on the 98th floor: Blackup and Starbucks. Coffee costs around 4,800 won, and both have full glass windows—perfect for photos!

————————Seoul

Seoul Recommended Attractions

1. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA)

Apart from eating, shopping, and buying in Seoul, there are many artistic spots worth visiting.

For example—Seoul/National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA)

Its stylishness comes not only from international exhibitions held one after another but also from the design of the quaint courtyard, which presents the heavy history of old buildings and new artworks in the same space. It makes me feel the dimension of time, just like our lives. Live each day seriously, and when we grow old, our memories will be worth remembering.

❤️ The museum has nine galleries, with different artists holding exhibitions at different times. Most focus on contemporary art. I even met a group of girls in traditional Korean clothing and a couple in love. It seems this is also a popular photo spot for locals.

I saw an exhibition I really liked—video and eyes. It made me think: which is closer to reality? The natural scenery outside the window or the stuffy air inside the room—which is our environment and life? If you want to see all the recent exhibitions, set aside an afternoon, because I didn't finish.

2. SM Town

SM Entertainment, one of Korea's top three entertainment companies, has a new building. The basement and first floor are now open to the public. You'll find albums and merchandise of the company's artists. Many people come here to buy goods, and their practice room is also on this floor. You can listen to some idol songs! I heard you might run into idols at the first-floor restaurant. It's close to SM's new building and Seongsu-dong, so you can visit them together.

3. HiKR Ground

If you want to learn about eating and having fun in Korea, come here. It's the Korea Tourism Organization's Seoul Center's promotion hall. The space is very comfortable and well-designed, and it looks even better at night!

There's a bookstore called Dawoo Bookstore, with a great literary atmosphere, and a cafe that's perfect for photos. The stationery and accessory shops here are good for buying souvenirs.

Cheong Wa Dae served as the presidential office and the symbol of supreme power in Korea from 1948. It only opened to the public on March 20, 2022. Main attractions include the main building, the official residence, and the guesthouse. Cheong Wa Dae is not very large, so strolling around is quite pleasant.

——Seoul Food Recommendations (No need for details—everything is delicious)

1. Dae Wagwa Soy Sauce Crab

Their crab is absolutely amazing—tons of roe! Definitely not a letdown!

2. Hongdae Night Market BBQ

Stroll through the night market and enjoy some Korean BBQ. The soybean paste stew is also good.

3. Tosokchon Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)

This is definitely the king of nourishing soups. It feels like all the fatigue from the past few days in Korea has been restored!

This is my complete guide to Busan and Seoul! I'll share more travel tips and notes about South Korea with you soon! I'm travel blogger Qian yu Qianxun—let's explore the world together!