Are you thinking of visiting Busan with a toddler?
Planning a weekend trip with a toddler can sometimes feel like packing for a mini-expedition.
But if you’re looking for a destination that’s exciting and manageable with a little one, Busan is a great spot in South Korea.
Busan has wide open beaches, a relaxed vibe, clean air, and plenty of surprisingly kid-friendly attractions; Busan is a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively, especially if you’re coming from Seoul!
I spent a few weekends here with my family, and it has always been an enjoyable trip.
In this guide, you’ll find a relaxed and practical two-day itinerary with ideas that work for both parents and toddlers. Let’s go!
Getting From Seoul to Busan by Train Tips
Traveling from Seoul to Busan with a toddler is best done by train. It’s about 2,5 hours if you take the fast one, which is totally doable with kids.
Everyone is pretty quiet on the train, so taking the train during nap time could be an option. Our son was wide awake, tho and made quite some noise during the ride, but it didn’t bother anyone.
Tip: Book a 4-seater in the middle of the train car so you and your family can sit facing each other. This gives you more space for your kid, and there is no chance that they will kick the chair in front of them.
Additionally, on both the way to Busan and back, other Korean families with kids would also sit in the 4-seater. My son loved interacting with the other Korean kids, and it made the trip just a bit more pleasant.
Busan is a really family-friendly destination. Compared to Seoul, traffic is a bit less busy, roads and sidewalks are more spacious, and the beaches are huge, perfect for kids to run around.
Besides that, the air is much cleaner than in Seoul; you’ll instantly smell fresh ocean air when you get out of the train station!
Tip: I always buy my train tickets in Korea through Trip.com
Where to stay in Busan with kids?
Every time we go to Busan it is always a bit of a hassle to find the perfect hotel. Prices vary a lot and can be quite steep; some don’t have breakfast, and some others don’t have a pool (my son loves it).
During our stays in Busan, we booked a room at ‘The Coolest Hotel’ and ‘The Westin Josun Busan.’ There are Pros and Cons to both of them. But, choosing a hotel close to the beach is the way to go in Busan.
The Coolest Hotel
It’s not a hotel focused on kids, but it’s a kid-friendly hotel. Here are the pros and cons of the Coolest Hotel:
Pros:
- Affordable price compared to many other hotels
- There is an amazing pool on the roof, and it was very quiet, making it great for kids to enjoy. We went in April (just before peak season), and there was only one other guest in the pool, and he was with two kids, so that was perfect.
- It’s right at the beach, and it’s much quieter than Haeundae Beach. It is also conveniently located next to the beach train.
- Several great bars and restaurants close by.
- Overall, it is a very quiet and chill area.
- The shower was super nice in the room.
Cons:
- They didn’t have a baby cod, so he just slept between us.
- Breakfast options are minimal
- Most coffee places only open from 11 am (in all areas). Except for the bigger brands, but those are a 5 to 10-minute walk from the hotel, which isn’t that bad.
- For most activities, you’ll have to take a taxi
- Rooms are fairly small (but you’re out exploring anyway.)
- The exit light was quite bright in the room! (I put a T-shirt over it to cover it…)
The view from the pool on the roof was really cool. And altho the weather was a bit chilly, the water in the pool was nice and warm. There’s even a hot tub next to the pool.
Here’s all the hotel info:
Overall, this hotel was actually a pretty good choice in terms of value compared to many other hotels with an outdoor pool. Somehow, it wasn’t easy to find an affordable one.
And while there is a beach, in April it was a bit chilly, so having the heated pool was super nice.
The Westin Josun Busan
A more expensive hotel, but a more convenient one, is the Westin Josun in Busan. It’s right next to the most popular beach, there are several walking trails close by, and more shopping options.
If you’re with kids in Busan, this might make traveling easier, as you can go outside and explore more compared to the area of the Coolest Hotel.
Pros:
- Right next to Haeundae Beach, where there is a lot to see and do
- Close to a beautiful trail along the coast
- You might have to take fewer taxis since there are lots of things to do in the surrounding area.
- Extraordinary service, they’re so kind!
- High tea is pretty cool!
Cons:
- More expensive…
Assuming you arrive Friday afternoon or evening, it’s a great time to explore the hotel and, if there is time, have a dip in the pool.
Day 1: Gamcheon Village & Arte Museum
Gamcheon Village
Gamcheon Village is a neighborhood filled with colorful houses. It’s kind of a must-visit when you’re in Busan!
It’s a super colorful, artsy neighborhood up in the hills of Busan with murals, cute cafes, and tiny alleyways everywhere. It used to be a pretty poor area, but they turned it into an art village, and now it’s full of character.
You can just wander around, take cool photos, and enjoy the views over the town. It’s honestly one of those places that feels like a hidden gem, even though it’s pretty popular.
The main streets are spacious, so kids can walk around easily. Some streets go up and down a bit, but nothing too steep.
There are smaller steep alleys but the main road is where it’s happening.
How long do you need in Gamcheon Village?
When you take your time, walking around in the village takes about an hour and a half, and when you’re having lunch there, it will take a bit longer. There are viewing points, souvenir stands, and places to purchase food or coffee.
For lunch, we went to this cozy cafe, which is just outside the main entrance of the village, so it was less crowded, worth the walk! Food was super good, it was spacious enough for our son to walk around a bit and it is next to the Daeseongsa Temple with a great view.
It’s a short walk up the stairs to the Daeseongsa Temple. In case of rain it might be a bit slippery so be careful.
Tip: You can order a taxi when you're at the end of the village. Taxis can come up the hill to some extent, this saves you a walk all the way down with the kids.
From my experience, it really doesn’t matter if you go early, trying to avoid the crowds; it will be crowded anyway. It’s better to just take it easy and take your time to enjoy the village.
Busan family attractions kids: Arte museum
After Gamcheon village, it’s only a short drive to the Arte museum. Not to be confused with the Museum of Art, which is also cool but much less fun for kids.
The Arte Museum is perfect for kids. There is plenty of room to run around and things to see. You’ll walk from room to room, each with a different theme and vibe, where projectors fill up the room with completely different scenes.
However, I do have to mention that in some parts of the museum, the sounds were pretty loud. For instance, there’s an area with a huge wave projected on a screen, which looks impressive, but the sound of crashing waves is too loud.
Some were so loud that we skipped those areas because our little one didn’t like them. But if your kids are a bit older, perhaps four or older, they might find those areas pretty cool.
The surrounding area outside of the museum is also perfect for kids. When I was there, there was a SpongeBob exhibition and a huge playground.
P.ARK
Outside of the museum in the building across the street, there’s a diner or, more like, a huge bakery called P.ARK. I highly recommend visiting this place for a nice lunch with the kids! There is loads of room to run around, the view is really cool over the river, and the food is delicious.
Not far from this area, within walking distance, you can also find the National Maritime Museum. It has several aquariums you can walk underneath; it’s pretty cool and might be a nice and bit quieter alternative to the Arte Museum.
Overall, this is a perfect stop after visiting the Gamcheon village!
Day 1 Weather Plan B 🌧️
If it isn’t your lucky day due to the weather, visiting the indoor playground Playtime Centum City (inside Shinsegae Centum City) might be a good choice!
Day 2: Scenic Rides & Beach Time
Day 2 in Busan! For a scenic ride along the coast, there are basically two train options in Busan: the Sky Capsule (the small colorful train carts) and the Beach Train (A more traditional, old-school, bigger train).
Sky Capsule: What You Need to Know:
The Sky Capsule train is one of the most popular attractions in Busan, and thus, tickets sell out really fast. You can get tickets at the station, but they will most likely be sold out. My advice is to pre-book tickets online, perhaps a week or two in advance.
The station, named Mipo, is on the coast just above Heandaeu Beach. From my experience, although the weather in the city is nice, it might be chilly there as it can be very windy.
The little train wagons go along the coast, and a one-way ride takes about 20 minutes.
Beach Train: What You Need to Know:
The beach train is a much bigger train. What’s pretty cool is that you’ll be facing the ocean instead of facing forward like in a normal train.
In my experience, both rides are just as fun. In fact, the beach train (which has more tickets available) might be the better choice because a stroller fits inside easily. It was a nice moment for my son to take a nap.
Tip: Both the sky capsule and the beach train go the same route!
You can check prices here
Haeundae Beach
Depending on where you hop on the train, you might end up close to Haeundae Beach.
You can easily spend an entire afternoon here. You’ll find lots of things to do, such as:
- Checking out sand sculptures
- Watching street performers
- Visiting local & pop-up events
- Going to the Sea Life Aquarium
- Enjoy Live Bands and singers
After Haeundae Beach, the Haeundae Traditional Market is close by, which is a nice area to try some street food. Roasted marshmallows with ice cream inside turned out to be pretty good!
Is Haedong Yonggungsa a good place to visit with a toddler?
I’ve been to the temple with our son, and while I can definitely recommend visiting Haedong Yonggungsa, it’s a pretty amazing area! With our son who’s 1,5 years old, it was a bit less enjoyable for him.
It was so crowded that he could barely walk around, some pathways were narrow and steep, and the fences at the cliffs were not that great… I carried or kept him in the stroller most of the time.
If your kids are a bit older, it’s a great place to explore and I can definitely recommend visiting it.
My son seen here below on the right making new friends at the temple.
So, depending on your preferences, you might exchange one of the activities with the Haedong Yonggungsa temple.
Haedong Yonggungsa temple opening times: Every day, including weekends, from 4am(!) to 8 pm.
Day 2: Weather Plan B 🌧️
If it rains a lot on the second day, visiting Pororo Park (Pororo is a penguin who is very famous in Korea!) might be a good option.
Other activities for kids in Busan
- Lotte World Adventure Busan (although I haven’t been there with our son)
- SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium ( I haven’t been there with our son)
- Shinsegae Centum City Department Store: The Biggest department store in the world!
- The (Songdo) Busan Air Cruise cable car, which is a thrilling ride over the coastline for epic views.
Busan Travel Tips
- Pack sunscreen! You’ll notice that the air is much cleaner and clear compared to Seoul, which is refreshing! But you can get sunburned much more easily.
- Bring a hat: Same reason as the sunscreen! 🙂
- Reusable snack containers
- Swimsuit & beach toys
- Swimming diapers for in the pool
- Extra clothes (for playgrounds or sand)
Language tips: Papago is a great translator app, but many Koreans in Busan speak English well. It is a tourist destination (maybe more than Seoul somehow?), so servers and other folks can speak English.
Make sure to book tickets for the Beach Train or Sky Capsule upfront, especially during peak season starting from the end of April!
Tip: If you're looking for some specific toddler or baby toys, equipment, food. There is a four-story shop here (close to The Coolest Hotel in Busan). They sell a lot of different international brands.
Tip: Most restaurants in Busan have baby seats. I always ask when we walk in. From my experience, when our kid made a mess in the restaurant, it was no issue at all. I always help to clean it, but almost every time, they insist on cleaning it themselves, saying it is not a problem at all.
Getting Around Busan with a Toddler
Taxis work similarly in Seoul. The best way to get a taxi is by ordering one through an app. You can use several apps:
- K-ride
- Kakao Taxi
You can connect foreign cards but you can also pay in cash after the ride.
I’ve read online that taxi drivers in Busan drive “faster/less customer friendly” than in Seoul, sorta say, but from my experience, this isn’t the case. It’s similar to how they drive in Seoul.
We kept our son on our lap in the seatbelt, this worked fine.
Conclusion Busan with Kids
Traveling with a toddler isn’t always the easiest thing; between naps, snacks, and the occasional meltdown, it can feel like a lot. But honestly, Busan made it feel easy!
The beaches were clean and wide, the sidewalks had space for our stroller, and the whole city just felt more relaxed compared to Seoul. The ocean air was fresh, and everything moved at a slower pace, which was just what we needed.
What really stood out was how kind and helpful everyone was. People offered help with our stroller and gave our son little smiles and waves, and nobody minded when we made a bit of a mess in a restaurant (which, let’s be real, always happens with a toddler).
Busan is definitely one of those places we’d come back to as a family.
Moreover, the train ride from Seoul is perfectly doable and not too long if you take the fast one (about 2,5 hours).
Share your favorite toddler-friendly spot in Busan in the comments below, and I’ll add it to the list!
FAQ Busan With a Toddler
Is the train to Busan family-friendly?
Yes, the KTX train from Seoul to Busan is fast, clean, and very family-friendly. Book a 4-seater booth so your toddler has room to move, and you can sit face-to-face. What I love about the train (and most trains in Asia) is that you need to book seats up front.
This way, you’ll be 100% sure that you have a seat and don’t have to worry about whether there will be enough space on the train. There is also plenty of room to store your luggage and stroller, and it’s perfectly safe to leave it in the luggage rack.
Get your train tickets with Trip.com
Is Busan good for kids?
Busan is great for kids thanks to the clean beaches, spacious sidewalks, fun attractions, and generally relaxed pace.
What to do in Busan when it rains with kids?
Visit SEA LIFE Aquarium, explore the Shinsegae Kids Zone, try an indoor kids café, or check out the Arte Museum and the surrounding area. The beach train and sky capsule are also nice options when it rains.
Is Busan worth visiting?
Definitely, Busan is a nice coastal city with a relaxed vibe and lots to offer both adults and kids. If you’re visiting South Korea for, let’s say, two weeks, it’s worth the train ride to check out Busan.
