Korea’s second largest city, Busan is a coastal city full of charms. The nightscape in particular is outstanding. Discover the most beautiful attractions through the city’s nighttime tourism brand “Starry Night in Busan.”

Cultural Art Spaces

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Busan is an artistic city with a plethora of cultural art spaces. One such space is F1963, an old wire factory that has been transformed into a multicultural space that blends a retro building and artworks with peaceful nature. The Moonlight Garden, decorated with flowers and trees, and Bamboo Sori Trail give off the vibe of stepping into a fantasy world, not found anywhere else in Busan.

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Busan is also the center of Korea’s film culture, host to the famous Busan International Film Festival with the main events taking place at Busan Cinema Center. Outside of the festival period, the center offers a free film resource room, as well as free screenings at the outdoor theater on weekends. The large roof over the outdoor theater also lights up with hundreds of LEDs for a fantastic lightshow until 11 PM.

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Gamcheon Culture Village looks like it’s straight off the pages of a picture book, with the colorful houses stacked over the entire mountainside. The view of the village slowly lighting up after the sun sets is stunning, and is best seen from Haneul Maru, the highest point in the village. Some of the best photo spots within the village are before the “I Love Gamcheon” mural and the statues of The Little Prince and the Fennec Fox. There are plenty of affordable guesthouses within the village, sure to make for a unique stay.

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Huinnyeoul Culture Village is another unique attraction, located atop a coastal cliff. The village is home to many artists in a variety of genres. Wander the area to discover ateliers, murals, and sculptures, each as unique as the artist who created them. The most popular photo spot within the village is the tunnel along the coastal walking path. The arched tunnel serves as a frame for the view of Gwangandaegyo Bridge stretching across the horizon.

Nightscapes of the Ocean and City

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During the Korean War, many refugees flocked to Busan and began living wherever they could find space, mostly on the mountainsides. From this sad history comes some of Busan’s most beautiful nightscape viewpoints, located along these old mountainside rides. Hocheon Village is one such community space, and has served as a filming site for many Korean works, including the drama “Fight For My Way (2017).” The narrow alleyways lit by streetlamps easily make it feel as if you’ve travelled 30 years into the past. For the best view, head to Hocheon Culture Platform; from here, you can see the entire village spread out below you. Come before sunset to enjoy the view changing with each passing second.

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Ibagu-gil Road gets its name from the Gyeongsang dialect for the phrase “a street with stories to tell.” From the site of the first modern store, Namseon Old Store, to the 168 Stairs that featured in “Café Midnight Season 3 (2021),” the area is filled with a retro vibe. The Eco-friendly Skyway Observatory is located at the highest point of the area. This wooden deck passes through trees and is lit with soft lighting resembling that of moonlight. From the observatory, you can see the nighttime cityscape around Busanhangdaegyo Bridge.

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Yeongju Sky Eye Observatory isn’t a famous tourist attraction, remaining only known among locals as a hidden location to enjoy an evening stroll and take in the city’s nightscape. The observatory is lined with a glass fence, allowing for unobstructed views of the area, which includes the sea, Busanhangdaegyo Bridge, Bongnaesan Mountain, and Busan Tower. It’s also in the vicinity of Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market; visit afterwards to fill up on tasty foods.

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Cheonmasan Mountain is a romantic location to take in the city and sea shining in the moonlight. The area includes a sky walking path, Cheonmasan Sky Observatory, Nuribaragi Observatory, and Busanhang Port Observatory. The Sky Observatory in particular looks out over both the new and old city centers of Busan as well as Busanhang Port. The walking path connects each of the viewpoints so you can easily spend an evening leisurely enjoying the differing views.

* This column was last updated in September 2021, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.