Between Arrival and Goodbye: How Smart Planning Made Our Busan Trip Effortless

By Dhivyaa S. P. ||

What if your friend or a family member was coming to South Korea and you had to be their travel guide?! It sounds exciting, but it is not easy. With a limited stay and countless hidden gems across the country, choosing the perfect spots can feel overwhelming.

Last year, I found myself in exactly this situation. My best friend from India came to Korea. It was her first international trip and, more importantly, someone was finally visiting me in what has become my second home. I was beyond excited to show her around. Instead of getting into a detailed itinerary, I want to talk about the part where planning became easier, smarter, and far less time consuming.

According to her schedule, we had three days and two nights in Busan. Is that enough for someone who traveled over 4,700 kilometers to truly experience the city?! Probably not, but I wanted her to experience as much as possible without overspending. While checking travel packages on Klook, my go-to travel and experience platform, we came across the Visit Busan Pass. And honestly, it changed everything.

The Visit Busan Pass is a sightseeing pass designed for travelers who want to explore Busan efficiently. It allows free or discounted entry to major attractions across the city, helping visitors save both time and money. The pass comes in different formats, including time-based passes and a selection-based option. We chose the Big 5 Pass, which allows entry to five attractions in total. This pass lets you select two attractions from the Purple category, also known as Group A, and three attractions from the Blue category, or Group B. The Purple category includes premium experiences and landmark attractions, while the Blue category focuses on popular cultural spots, museums, and scenic activities.

We took an early morning KTX from Seoul to Busan and dropped our luggage at our accommodation near Nampo Station. That area is wonderful, and this was my second time staying there. After settling in, we started our trip with a visit to the iconic Haedong Yonggung Temple. From that moment on, the Visit Busan Pass proved its value.

We paid 62,250 won for the Big 5 Pass and were able to visit five attractions without any additional cost. From the Purple category, we chose “Busan X the Sky” and “Busan Diamond Yacht Tour.” From the Blue category, we selected Haeundae Blue Line Park, Songdo Marine Cable Car, and Arte Museum Busan.

This pass helped me show her a wide range of Busan experiences in just two days. On the third day, she explored Gamcheon Culture Village, visited popular cafés, and wandered around the city at her own pace. Meanwhile, I stayed back at the hotel trying to finish my research article.

This is my friend’s honest opinion on the pass: “The Visit Busan Big 5 Pass made everything seamless and stress-free. Buying this pass online saved us a lot of time, letting us focus on experiences rather than waiting in queues for the tickets and the hassle of using credit cards or cash as a foreigner. As a tourist, it felt like the smartest and most memorable way to explore the highlights of Busan. From the calm noon ride on the Haeundae Blue Line Park train, watching the vast sealine, and sceneries, and walking between a couple of stops; to watching the sky turn orange and gold at Busan X the Sky at sunset; to riding the yacht at night, mesmerized by the fireworks near the bridge adding a magical touch; every moment felt perfectly timed.

“The best part was that the pass was valid for 180 days, so there was no rush to squeeze everything into a tight schedule. We could plan Busan for just two to three days and still cover all five attractions at a relaxed, leisurely pace and also include other destinations of interest. Having that flexibility made the experience far more enjoyable, letting us slow down and truly soak in each place instead of hopping from one spot to another.”

If we had visited all these places without the pass, it would have cost us 127,000 won. Using the Visit Busan Pass, we saved almost 51 percent.

So, the next time a friend or family member visits you in Korea, I would 100 percent recommend taking advantage of the Visit Busan Pass. It makes traveling easier, more affordable, and much more enjoyable when time is limited.

Cover Photo: Me. My best friend. And the yacht. (Dhivyaa S. P.)