Day 10 – Discovering Busan with a Private Tour

 

Day 10 brought us to vibrant Busan, where we signed up for a Tripadvisor tour for the day—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. It ended up being just the four of us (only one other couple from the ship), which meant a more personalized experience.

Travel tip #1: If there’s something you really want to see, write it down ahead of time. These tours can be customized on the spot, and it’s easy to forget what was on your must-see list!

We asked for a mix of popular highlights and a few unique spots, and our guide delivered. Our morning started just outside the city with a peaceful stroll through a bamboo forest. We paid a small entrance fee (in Korean won—we had exchanged money beforehand), and since we were the first ones there, we had the entire place to ourselves. Quiet, serene, and a perfect way to start the day.

These are the burial grounds.

Next up was the stunning Haedong Yonggungsa, also known as the Korean Dragon Palace Temple. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple With Buddha's Birthday approaching, the temple was adorned with hundreds of colorful lanterns—it was absolutely breathtaking. We had fun finding our zodiac animals for photos (I’m Year of the Pig, Johnny is Year of the Horse), and everywhere you turned felt like a postcard moment. There were also plenty of spots to make wishes and offerings, adding to the peaceful energy of the place.

Lunch came a little early for our taste, but it turned into a fun cultural experience. Our guide ordered a variety of dishes for the table and showed us how to build lettuce wraps filled with spicy noodles, kimchi, and other local flavors. Delicious—but definitely more food than we could handle!

After lunch, we walked through the local fish market… which, honestly, wasn’t my favorite. Seeing fresh seafood up close—especially fish staring back at you or octopus being prepared—was a bit much for me. The nearby farmers market was similar; interesting to see, but not ideal when you can’t bring anything back on the ship. Also I hate to see the live crabs and fish in tanks.

From there, we headed to one of Busan’s most iconic neighborhoods: Gamcheon Culture Village, often called the “Santorini of Korea” or even the “Machu Picchu of Korea.” Once a struggling hillside community, it’s now a vibrant artistic village filled with colorful houses, murals, and winding alleyways. Despite the rain, we wandered through the maze of streets snapping photos of the bright, whimsical scenery. Gamcheon Culture Village

Our final stop was the Busan Air Cruise—a gondola ride over the ocean with incredible views of the coastline and city. You can choose between a regular cabin or one with a glass floor (our co- travelers were nervous about it so we opted out and got the non-see through). At the top, there are scenic viewpoints and fun photo spots, including the famous  The Little Prince statue that everyone lines up to see. Songdo Bay Station (Songdo Cable Car)

By the end of the day, we were so glad we booked this tour—there’s no way we could have covered all that ground on our own. It involved a lot of driving between locations, and at around $100 per person, it felt totally worth it.

Back on the ship, we met up with friends at the bar to swap stories from the day. Dinner was sushi (always a win), followed by an evening of music and entertainment with the talented Seabourn Six—the perfect way to wrap up another unforgettable day.