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Where is Busan? - Busan, South Korea is located in the country's southeast region. It’s 280 miles (450 km) from the country's capital, Seoul, and only 155 miles (250 km) away from Shimonoseki, Japan.

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Busan or Pusan? - The city's official name causes some confusion. "Pusan" was the official name until July 7, 2000, when the Korean language was changed. From that day forward, the official name became "Busan."

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City history - Koreans have lived in this city since the Neolithic era. During the Joseon dynasty, in the middle of the 14th century, Busan became a base for the diplomatic representative to Japan.

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City history - In the middle of the 20th century, when the Korean War began, Busan was the temporary capital during wartime.

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Busan Station - Want to visit Busan? Grab a KTX train ticket from Seoul Station. If you're a zombie flick fan, watch 'Train to Busan' while on your three-hour train journey to your next favorite city.

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Gimhae International Airport - But if you're planning to visit Busan by plane, you can go through Gimhae International Airport. Public transportation from there is a breeze!

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Public transportation card - There's one unified public transportation card in Busan, called Cashbee. However, if you already have the one from Seoul, T-money, you can use that card in Busan as well.

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Five fantastic trip routes - Pictured is Busan Tower, the city's landmark, located in the heart of Busan. But there's plenty of other sites to see. Check out the following five unique trip options.

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1. Old city center trip (all season) - Gamcheon Culture Village was built in the '50s when the Korean War was going on. Nowadays, the village is known for its vibrant colors and artistic murals.

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1. Old city center trip (all season) - If you're going to visit this hilly village with amazing views, it's best to take a bus to the start of the village. You can catch several buses from Jagalchi Station (Sa-ha no. 1, no. 1-1 / Seo-gu no. 2, no. 2-2).

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1. Old city center trip (all season) - After your fairy-tale trip to Gamcheon Culture Village, come back to the city center. Near Nampo Station and Yongdusan Park there are plenty of things to enjoy, including shops, restaurants, and traditional performances.

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1. Old city center trip (all season) - The true spirit of the city is found in Jagalchi Fish Market. This is the place to meet locals. Don't forget to try the fresh raw seasonal fish and spicy fish soup.

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2. Baseball season trip (spring to fall) -

Koreans consider Busan the capital of Korean baseball. Join local fans and feel their enthusiasm!

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2. Baseball season trip (spring to fall) - Stop by Oncheonjang Station and check out nearby historical hot springs. A must see!

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2. Baseball season trip (spring to fall) -

Try a walk around Geumjeongsanseong, a 10.5-mile (17-km) long mountain fortress built from 1701 to 1703.

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2. Baseball season trip (spring to fall) - Beomeosa is thought to have opened in 678 BCE. This Buddhist temple is highly recommended for observing autumn colors. To get there, take metro line 1 and get off at Beomeosa Station. From exit 5 or 7, you can catch bus no. 60 to your final destination.

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3. Film buff trip (October) -

Have you ever heard of BIFF, the Busan International Film Festival? Sounds fun, right? But just before you go, why not check out nearby Haedong Yonggung—yet another beautiful Buddhist temple. Take bus no. 1003 from Busan train station to Songjeong Beach. Then, transfer to bus no. 181.

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3. Film buff trip (October) - Embracing the vital force of the ocean and visit one of the most popular beaches in South Korea: Haeundae.

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3. Film buff trip (October) - Every year in early October, the city hosts the Busan International Film Festival at Busan Cinema Center.

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3. Film buff trip (October) - View future BIFF programming and purchase tickets.

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3. Film buff trip (October) - Discover the modern beauty of Busan in the Centum City neighborhood. There you can find the biggest department store in all of Asia.

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3. Film buff trip (October) - After you've finished with your daily plans, head to Hwangnyeongsan Mountain. Get to Mulmangol Station and then grab a taxi, because these great views have to be taken in by car.

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4. Geojedo trip (spring to fall) - If you get tired of the busy lights of the city, turn to the suburbs. Go to Dadaepo, where the Nakdonggang river meets the Namhae sea.

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4. Geojedo trip (spring to fall) - It's best to rent a car for your trip to Geojedo Island. Take the Geogadaegyo, a 5-mile (8-km) bridge connecting Busan to the island. This bridge has an undersea immersed tube tunnel that's the deepest in the world (157 ft/48 m in depth).

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4. Geojedo trip (spring to fall) - Geojedo Island is the second-largest island in South Korea after Jeju Island. Must-see attractions include its pebble beach, and the Hill of Wind.

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5. Gimhae and Jinhae trip (spring) - When spring arrives, expect to see various gorgeous seasonal flowers during this day trip. Catch Busan metro line 3, or rent a car to Gangseo-gu Office Station.

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5. Gimhae and Jinhae trip (spring) - Next, look around the city of Gimhae. This historical city was once a capital of the ancient Gaya dynasty. The city is full of archaeological sites and museums.

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5. Gimhae and Jinhae trip (spring) - If this is your first visit to South Korea, check out this traditional Korean housing experience center (Gimhae Hanok). Reasonably priced, you can stay one night and try classic Korean food while dressed in traditional attire.

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5. Gimhae and Jinhae trip (spring) - This is the best cherry blossom sightseeing point in South Korea. Roughly one hour from Gimhae, you can visit naval base city Jinhae for these amazing views. But since it's the most popular place to appreciate the country's cherry blossoms, it can be crowded. Still, it's definitely worth the visit.

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