31 Best Sights in Side Trips from Busan, South Korea

The waters off of Tongyeong are home to scores of beautiful, sleepy islands, most of which are part of the Hallyeohaesang National Park. The crown jewel, arguably, is Bijindo, which is actually two tree-covered mountains connected by a white sand spit, which in turn makes up one of the most idyllic beaches in the country. Most Koreans come to Bijindo to hike, while others arrive for the fishing and beach action. The island has plenty of basic accommodations available in the form of pensions and mibaks, the bare-bones, sleep-on-the-floor rooms found throughout the beaches and mountains of Korea. There are also some very simple restaurants, though many people choose to bring their own food. Boats leave three times a day (6:50 am, 10:50 am, 2:30 pm) from Tongyeong's Passenger Terminal. The trip takes about 40 minutes.

One of the most prominent museums in the country, Gyeongju National Museum is dedicated to the art, history, and treasures of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–AD 935), with weapons, armor, clothing, pottery, statues, royal crowns, and more on display.  An hour or so browsing its exhibits will give you a deeper appreciation of the civilization that once called Gyeongju its capital. If you really want to understand the Silla period, this should be your first stop in town.

Nestled at the base of the stone-crowned Yeongchuksan, Korea's largest temple is a village unto itself. With more than 65 buildings within the temple grounds, Tongdosa is one of the country's "Three Jewel Temples" and is famous for having no outside statues of Buddha. This is because the temple contains relics of the Buddha himself, including a robe, a begging bowl, and a supposed piece of his skull. For all of its history, art, and heritage, Tongdosa shines brightest as a nature destination. The valley it calls home is a stunning piece of real estate, and the mountain that looms over the temple and surrounding town is like a gargantuan stone sentinel. You can feel the power emanating from the rock and understand at once why, centuries ago, it was decided that this was a holy place. Tongdosa also hosts temple stays, if you're in the mood to experience life from the inside.

At 1,240 meters (4,068 feet) Gajisan is the highest mountain in the Yeongnam Alps, and makes a great day trip for anyone wanting to summit the peak. The best approach is from the trailhead at Baegyeonsa Temple. While it's a challenging hike in spots, the trail is well-developed and it can be done by anyone in reasonable physical condition. And like any great trek, the view from the top makes all the hard work worth it.

This former amethyst mine has been turned into a tourist attraction that's worth a visit if caves are your thing. The 2.5-km-long (1.55 miles) cavern can be accessed on foot and offers views to amethysts, rotating exhibitions, as well as subterranean boat rides. There are a few older carnival rides outside in case the cave itself wasn't thrilling enough for you.

While perhaps not to everyone's taste, gopchang (grilled pig or cow intestines) is a Daegu specialty, and this street is packed with more than 50 restaurants dedicated to the delicacy. On weekends the street is flooded with locals eating and, most importantly, imbibing, as gopchang is seen more as an anju (a side dish for drinking) than a main course. Even if intestines aren't your thing, the festive atmosphere is worth the visit alone, and all the restaurants also serve up more conventional cuts of meat.  

This sky tram delivers visitors to the observatory perched atop Apsan mountain, offering panoramic views of downtown Daegu and beyond. The vistas are especially impressive at night, when the city below erupts into a twinkling tapestry of lights.

A popular summer getaway for Busan residents, who flock to its bracing river waters to beat the heat, this long valley is a beautiful area full of pine trees, apple orchards, waterfalls, and plenty of accommodations in the form of country pensions. It's also a great base from which to launch hiking trips up into the Yeongnam Alps, which act as a natural rock walls on both sides of the valley. 

Situated on the slopes of Toham mountain, Bulguksa is one of South Korea's greatest temples, classified not only as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also the nation's Historic and Scenic Site No. 1. The complex is a precious piece of national heritage with its pagodas, traditional wooden buildings, and stone terraces, and as a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, it's also a functioning place of worship and meditation, as well as one of the hosts of the country's temple stay program.

Located in the larger Bulguksa complex, the Seokguram Grotto is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. This hermitage overlooking the East Sea features some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculptures in the world. The detail of artistry—plus the grotto's sweeping ocean views—will imbue you with tranquility while also taking your breath away.

Situated on the edge of town, this spacious, tranquil park is home to more than 200 burial mounds. You'll feel transported far from the hubub of the city as you walk amongst these ancient graves, which are particularly striking come sunrise or sunset. In spring the park comes alive with wildflowers that bloom in profusion. 

Though perhaps a bit underwhelming at first, this 9-m-high (30 feet) stone tower takes on more weight when you consider its historical context. Constructed in the 7th century, it's Asia's oldest surviving astronomical observatory, making it one of Korea's great scientific contributions to the world. It's worth a visit just to see the obvious pride the town takes in this marvel. Notice the numerical symbolism: the tower's 362 granite blocks are said to represent each day of the lunar year.

This former landfill is home to more than 400 varieties of trees, along with flowers, giant cacti, and medicinal herbs spread over 21 gardens. In early November the arboretum hosts the Chrysanthemum Festival, which draws visitors from all around the country.

Focusing on regional history, this museum hosts a nice collection of pottery, textiles, clothing, armor, Buddhist statues, old books and scrolls, and a few very impressive royal crowns. A number of exhibits are currently closed to the public, but if you're interested in artifacts from the local culture, its worth an hour or so of your time. It's just a 5-minute taxi ride from Hwanggeum Station.

If you're a die-hard soccer fan, it may be worth the hour-long bus ride to this stadium outside of the city—the venue was originally built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It now houses the Daegu Sports Museum, which displays all kinds of memorabilia from the stadium's top sporting events. It is also where the K League sometimes plays professional soccer, though baseball is the real game to check out here. The stadium also hosts concerts and events such as the Daegu Marathon.

This expansive, tranquil park is home to scores of royal burial mounds, including the famed Cheonmachong Tomb. Excavated in 1973, this resting place of an unknown Silla king features a wooden coffin in the center. More than 11,500 artifacts were discovered in the tomb, making this one of Gyeongju's greatest treasures. Cheonmachong's name, which means roughly "sky horse tomb" refers to a painting of a white horse found during the site's excavation.

Built by order of King Munmu of Silla in 674 AD, Donggung is more of a large pavilion than a palace, overlooking the serene waters of Wolji Pond. It's a lovely place to take a relaxing stroll, and really comes alive at night when the site is lit up in dramatic fashion.

With terrific views of the town and sea beyond, this hillside village features narrow alleys, vivid murals, and scores of quaint cafes perfect for taking a load off and soaking up the placid surroundings. The walk up to the village is steep, so make sure to wear your comfy shoes.

Woobang 83 Tower looms over E-World, an amusement park that features a slew of rides such as the Top Spin, the Viking, and the Megaswing 360, as well as two rollercoasters. The observation deck at the top of the 83 Tower offers great city views. 

Famous for its hanu beef bulgogi, the town of Eonyang sits in the shadow of Sinbulsan mountain on the far outskirts of the city of Ulsan and makes the perfect base for exploring the Yeongnam Alps. Most of the main attractions are within a 20-minute drive of the town, which offers plenty in the way of lodging and food options.

Situated on the northern flank of Cheonwangsan mountain, this natural wonder is famous for its unusual climate. In the heat of the summer, the valley's streams and water freeze; in the winter, they thaw out and run at higher temperatures than normal in the region. There is also a cable car that runs to the top of nearby Jaeyaksan mountain (1,112 meters/3,648 feet), a rugged peak that's considered the eastern gateway to the Yeongnam Alps.

Originally located in Tongyeong's main Gangguan Harbor, these four replicas of Admiral Yi Sun-shin's famous Geobukseon "Turtle Ships" have been moved to a marina on the edge of town. They're still worth the short taxi ride for anyone interested in Korean history, as these boats were instrumental in destroying the Japanese fleet during the Imjin War of the late 1500s, events made famous by the Korean film Roaring Currents. One of the boats has been transformed into a small, floating museum, and though most of the information placards are in Korean, it's interesting to go onto the ship to get a sense of what it was like for sailors hundreds of years ago.

This 1.1-km-long (.68 miles) sandy beach is famous for its crystalline waters. The nearby village is also a great spot to sit down for a meal of fresh hoe (raw fish). Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Made up entirely of smooth, small dark pebbles, this 1.2-km (.75 miles) stretch of beach is the perfect place to grab a coffee and listen to the waves wash over the clattering stones. While you're there, make sure to take advantage of the beach's therapeutic effects: remove your shoes and socks and stroll barefoot over the rocks while they massage the pressure points on the bottom of your feet. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

Covering an area of more than 545.63 square km (210.67 square miles), this marine park has a rugged coastline, sandy beaches, sleepy islands, and lots of open water. The sanctuary is also home to myriad sea life including finless porpoises, otters, and the endangered Northern Pacific right whale. The real stars of the show are its scores of islands, including Saryangdo, Somaemuldo, and Bijindo, all of which are easy day trips via ferry from Tongyeong.

Geoje was home to the biggest POW camp of the Korean War, at one point housing more than 170,000 Chinese and North Korean prisoners. While the camp is long closed, the site has been transformed into a kind of museum, complete with exhibition halls containing detailed (and sometimes graphic) dioramas meant to give the visitor a feel for how life was for both the prisoners and the guards. There is also some military hardware on the premises, including old tanks. The camp is a fascinating visit for any history buff, a vivid reminder of the brutality unleashed upon Korea just some decades before. 

While not just limited to seafood, it's certainly the star of the show at this lively market, where people come from all around to stock up on fresh fish, clams, scallops, octopus, crabs, shrimp, squid, and other more acquired-tastes such as sea cucumber, marine spoon worm, and sea pineapple. Like any traditional Korean market, it's also packed with great restaurants offering up dishes running the gamut from raw fish and oysters to grilled cuttlefish and anchovies. 

Rising like a guardian over Tongyeong, Mireuksan mountain is accessed by the longest cable car in Korea (1,975 meters/1.22 miles). This Swiss-designed gondola not only provides jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains, islands, and ocean, but also affords passengers enough time to meditate on the raw beauty of this particular corner of the country.

This viewpoint overlooks Dojangpo Fishing Village as well as the ocean beyond, including Oedo. It's most famous as a filming location for more than one Korean drama (including Eve's Garden), and comes complete with a faux-windmill on top. While it may be tailor-made for Instagram shots, Windy Hill does afford some terrific views and the area around it contains footpaths that are well-worth exploring on their own.

This ornate covered bridge dates back to the Silla period but was destroyed long ago during the Joseon dynasty and only recently rebuilt. Like other Gyeongju sights, it's lit up beautifully at night casting reflections on the river, making it a great place to stroll.

Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty period (16th century), this village is home to more than 160 traditional homes. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time as you wander among its placid lanes. Nestled between the Hyeongsang River and the rise of Seolchang mountain, Yangdong radiates history in the midst of an idyllic natural setting. Despite its movie-set quaintness, this is a real, lived-in village, where the people are known for their generosity and kindness.   Yangdong is located 50 minutes outside of Gyeongju by bus, accessible from Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal on buses 200 to 208, 212, and 217.