Finding your way around the city
At the very south, facing Yeongdo Island, all around the old town hall and the port is the traditional town centre. It's a nice place to stay, near the Jagalchi market and Busan tower, shopping, relatively quieter than elsewhere, with many good hotels and restaurants. The subway stations that serve the center are Jung-angdong, Nampodong and Jagalchi. If you get off at Nampodong, you can reach Yongdusan Park, the lively Nampo district and its Gukje market, Yeongdo Island. Jung-angdong is the place to take ferries to the Maritime Park, Jejudo or Shimonoseki in Japan
On the way up, you will come across the railway station's red-light district with its "Russian city" in the west, where the Choryang market for foreigners is located. This area is also known as "Texas Town", because it used to be home to many Americans, who have now been replaced by Russians who come here to do their shopping. It is not necessarily the best place to stop, as the large number of Russian prostitutes and sailors makes it one of the most unsafe areas of the city, especially at night when everyone has been drinking. Further north, at the Seomyeon station, is the "trendy" nightlife district. There is the Lotte department store and many hotels and yeogwans. If you want to have fun, this is the area to get off, especially since it is in the center of the city. It is really the counterpart of Myeongdong in Seoul, with its shops and small restaurants. Except for one thing: bars and restaurants close much later. Further up, at the Myeongnyundong station, you can reach the Geumgang park and its Geumjeongsanseong fortress, the Dongnae hot spring. It is still a nice place to stop, as there are all the necessary accommodation, restaurants, bars, hot baths, which is very convenient for visitors in transit. Almost at the beginning of the subway line is the Beomeosa temple
The popular beaches (Gwangalli, Haeundae, Songjeong) are to the east.
Nampodong
This district is in the south of the city, around the railway station and the ferry landing stage, and is one of the busiest, with the main markets of Busan. There are also a multitude of affordable hotels.
Seomyeon and Dongnae
Seomyeon is a bit of downtown Busan. It is the shopping district, the fiery nights and the paradise of the greedy ones. It is one of the most active districts, most of the professional activities of the city being grouped there. Although it is not the most pleasant district, it has the merit of being quite central, which facilitates travel to other parts of Busan.
Haeundae and Gwangalli
These two beaches, located east of Busan, are probably the most popular in the south of the peninsula. They are also the most touristy areas, and those in which most of the luxury hotels, restaurants and bars are located. In summer, the beaches are a bit crowded, but having such beaches in the second largest city in South Korea is a unique pleasure.
