Getting Around Busan: Subway, Cards and Buses
The Busan subway lines
Busan has a clean, well-signed subway with four main numbered lines plus the Donghae line along the coast. For most visitors Line 2 does the heavy lifting, connecting Haeundae, Gwangalli and Seomyeon, while Line 1 runs down to Nampo-dong, Jagalchi and Busan Station. Trains are frequent, announcements are in English and every station is numbered, so navigation is simple even on a first visit. Keep a map handy and note that Seomyeon is the key interchange between the two main lines.
The T-money and Cashbee cards
The simplest way to pay is a rechargeable transit card, either T-money or the locally issued Cashbee. You tap it on the subway, on city buses and even in many convenience stores, and it gives you a small discount plus free transfers between bus and train. Buy one at any station machine or convenience store and top it up with cash whenever it runs low. The same card works on the airport light rail, so a single card covers almost every journey of your trip.
Reaching Gamcheon and the temple by bus
A few of Busan best sights sit away from the subway, so buses fill the gap. For Gamcheon Culture Village, ride the subway to Toseong Station and then take a short local bus up the hill, since the village sits high above the metro. For Haedong Yonggungsa temple on the northeast coast, take a bus from Haeundae or the Osiria area, as it is beyond the subway network. Your T-money card works on all of these, so you never need exact change.
Day-trip transport to Gyeongju
For the ancient Silla capital of Gyeongju, you have two easy options. Intercity buses leave regularly from Busan bus terminals and take a little over an hour, dropping you near the town center. Trains also run from Busan, with the high-speed service reaching Singyeongju station in around 30 minutes, though that station sits outside town and needs a short bus or taxi onward. Either way, start early so you have a full day for the temples, tombs and observatory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get around Busan?
The subway is the fastest way around Busan, with Line 2 linking Haeundae, Gwangalli and Seomyeon. Pay with a rechargeable T-money or Cashbee card and use buses for hillside spots.
What card do I use for public transport in Busan?
Use a rechargeable T-money or Cashbee card. You tap it on subways, buses and the airport light rail, get free transfers and a small discount, and buy or top it up at any station.
How do I get to Gamcheon Culture Village?
Take the subway to Toseong Station on Line 1, then a short local bus up the hill to the village, since it sits high above the metro line.