Cheap Flights to Gimhae International Airport

As the second largest city in South Korea, Busan has a large and comprehensive aviation facility, called the Gimhae International Airport (PUS). Passengers will find that the amenities in this airport cover all transiting needs, with full-service banks, ATMs, foreign exchange, a plethora of shops and duty-free outlets, numerous eateries, a medical clinic, a business centre, and several information desks.

The airport is a fairly short distance of 22km from the city centre, and you can get into town via the light rail service, public buses, shuttles and taxis. Hopping in a cab from the airport into the CBD should cost you 30,000KRW ($35).

Korean Air, Asiana, JAL, China Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Thai Airways, Air China, Qantas, China Eastern, Dragonair, and China Southern fly out to Busan from Australia.

Why visit Busan?

Busan is South Korea’s second city in prominence and in population. Typically much warmer than Seoul, and boasting a lovely coastline backed by soaring mountains—this is the city to beat. With an excellent traditional and international dining scene, a throbbing nightlife, and a number of excellent cultural attractions, this is a worthwhile addition to any bucket-list.

Things to do in Busan

The southern city of Busan has a lot of heritage attractions that will keep you busy for the duration of your stay here. Find your way to the Buddhist Beomeosa Temple, this 7^th century house of worship is situated on the slopes of Geumjeongsan Mountain, and offers its visitors an extraordinary view of the city. There is also the coastal Yonggungsa Temple, which looks out to sea, and is a great example of the architecture in the Goryeo Dynasty.

Then leave serenity behind to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city by experiencing a shopping trip in the Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest of its kind in the country, and you’ll find most restaurants will get their produce here. Then wander to the Changseondong Meokja Golmok Street, a foodie’s heaven, where you can pick up Korean snacks and dishes, such as bimbimbab, and pajeon.

Lastly, you have to hit the beach if you come to Busan. There are two main stretches, the most well known is Haeundae and is better for sunbathing, and swimming, but the more popular is Gwangalli Beach, just off the main part of the city, where many nighttime celebrations often spill out onto the sandy stretch.

Best time to visit Busan

·         Summers (June-August) in Busan are warm and sunny for the most part, but you can also see quite a bit of rain. The early autumn (September-October) is the best season to visit, when the sea is warm, and the days are still seeing highs of 22-26°C.

Arriving in Busan by plane

·         Flights to Busan will involve one layover, either in Seoul (ICN), Hong Kong (HKG), or Taipei (TPE).

Currency

·         South Korean Won (KRW).

Visa requirements

·         Australians can enter and stay in South Korea for up to 3 months without applying for a visa. If you would like more information, or are simply looking for some travel advice, the Smart Traveller website has a great resource page on South Korea that is very useful to read before you travel to this country.

Please note that information is correct as of December 2016