Taejongdae is about 50-60 minutes bus rides from Nampo-dong Subway Station or Busan Subway Station. There are several ways to explore this scenic yet rustic park located at the southern-most tip of Yeongdo-gu. The public bus stops at about 5 minutes away from the park. Visitors can either hike all the way up by themselves, hire private guides, taking a cruise tour according to their preference. One popular (and a much easier) way is to take the Danubi Train (다누비열차), which goes to 5 major destinations in the park. It cost KRW2,000 for an adult and KRW 1,000 for kids to board the train. The train goes to 5 major destinations within the park. English/Chinese/Japanese and Korean broadcast service are provided along the way so visitors can easily follow the itinerary.

Danubi Train Course

Platform→ Taejongsa Temple →Observatory →Yeongdo Lighthouse → Gumyeongsa Temple → Taewon Jagal Madang → Platform

Tips for the “Lazy Traveller”:

Taejongdae is one of the Must-Visits in Busan. However, if you are in short of time and really want to skim through this attraction, I suggest you to take the Danubi train and only alight at Yeongdo Lighthouse for the magnificent view at the cliff. The landscape at the Yeongdo Lighthouse station is so impressive that you can probably skip the rest of the stations. The Observatory Station is another good choice, but I’ll still prefer Yeongdo Lighthouse: Remember to sit at the edge of the cliff and have someone to snap a picture for you – So very Instagrammable.

Basically, visitors can hop on and off the train at these 5 stops mentioned above. However, the waiting time at each station can be long. Train frequency is about 20-30 minutes depending on the crowds. I spent about 35 minutes to board the train at the starting platform, alighted only at the lighthouse (just because I have been to the park so many times and decided to just hit the main destination straight away) and waited for another 60 minutes at the lighthouse to finally board the train towards the exit. FYI, it was a weekday in December. So be prepared to spend some time waiting if you opt for the train.

Once arrived at the Lighthouse station, visitors have to pass through a fairly long flight of staircase to reach the lighthouse. If you are doing a free and easy trip to Busan with your parents,  make sure you go really slow here. The picture above shows only part of the whole trail to the lighthouse. It is quite a long way down hill, and imagining after all the fun time and photo taking session, you have to climb all the way back to the Danubi train station — this is not going to be an easy trip for elderlies and for those with knee problems. But if you go slow, it is certainly doable (with the help of knee support of course).

Here we are on the platform towards the lighthouse. This is the place where you can have a bird’s eye view of what is going on at the rocky cliffs down there near the lighthouse. Two main attractions here at the Lighthouse station are: The lighthouse and the cliff — visitors are allowed to stand on the coastal cliff-top platform, which is at about 200m above sea level.

So basically this is what you’ll see from the wooden platform some hundreds of metres above the seaside cliff. I have to say it is quite intimidating watching from atop. However, once you get down there at the entrance to the cliff, it is another story. Albeit standing 200 meters to the sea below, the formation of the rock was, in fact, flat. Since it is flat, it is not so scary after all.

We spent a good 1.5 hours appreciating the beauty of nature at the cliff before we decided to move on to other areas. Tourist-y pictures is a must! Not a fan of Selfie stick, and due to my stubborn adherence to my funny ‘no silly Selfie stick’ principle, we pretty much depend on random travellers at times like this.

A solo one before we go! Pardon my messy bangs and squinting eye thanks to the bright sunlight at 3pm.

Concerning my mom’s knee condition, we did some brief touring back at the lighthouse area and decided to call it a day. Other than the cafe and the 360 degree panoramic view from the lighthouse, a trip down at the other end of the staircase will bring you to another pebble beach.

Along the beach (and the rocks) are some clam tents serving the weirdest (and nonetheless most interesting) fresh sea creatures. You get the common ones like abalone 전북, mussels 홍합, Sea cucumber 해삼, to the red and orange prickly plants (?) which they called sea pineapple (or sea squirts 멍게), or the penis looking fish 개불. I’d say it is an interesting open air dining experience by the sea. The rustic, on-the-go settings such as canvas tarps and rugs, together with the roar of the waves in the background is definitely one-of-a-kind. Food wise, I am sure it is memorable — it reminds me of the Fear Factor TV Series I used to watch when I was young.

The above picture of a fresh sashimi platter inclusive of sea cucumber, abalone and sea squirts was taken on my  first visit at Taejongdae in 2009 (so pardon me for the poor resolution). I am not going to tell you about the taste as I figured it is best for you to try it out yourself. It is an interesting and memorable experience for me, but I have concluded having the platter here by the sea is all that I need once in a lifetime. yeap, ONCE. lolx

Writer’s Note: The cliff is considerably the highlight of our visit to the Taejongdae Park. It is also the reason why I skipped the first few stations and ONLY alight at the lighthouse station. If you are short of time, this is the only station you need to visit out of all. Be sure to spend some time here at the lighthouse, (and maybe get some fresh and weird  sashimi for that local taste). Taejongdae park is also listed in my 2D1N Busan Itinerary booklet available for free download here.

 Directions:

Public transport is available from Nampo Station and Busan Station.

From Nampo Station남포역 : 
1. Coming out from Exit No.6 at Nampo Subway Station, walk straight for about half a minute, where you’ll see the bus stops roughly opposite Lotte Department Store.
2. Locate the 2nd nearest bus stop from exit no.6. Buses to Taejongdae are: No. 8, 30, 88, 88-A.
3. The journey is about 30-40 minutes. Alight at Taejongdae Station 태종대 정류장.

From Busan Station부산역: 
1. Coming out from Busan Station (the subway station, not the KTX station) exit no.7, walk straight until you reach the 3rd bus station. You’ll pass by CU convenient store, Bonjuk 본죽 Porridge, BBQ Chicken Restaurant and a pharmacy called Mibo미보 before reaching the bus stop.
2. Take bus 101. It will take about 45 minutes to reach Taejongdae Station 태종대 정류장.

To travel back to Nampo/ Busan Subway Station, simply take any bus from the above (8, 30, 88, 101) at the bus stop located opposite from where you alight your bus earlier.

This 2015 version of my 2D1N Busan Itinerary has helped thousands of travelers explore Korea over the years — thank you for loving it!

But as all good things evolve, I’ve since launched a brand-new, upgraded version in 2025 — now housed on my dedicated Korean travel blog: The Calm Chronicle.

Click here to explore the latest 2D1N Busan Itinerary — with 2 options:

• Free Basic Version
• Insider Version — Everything planned for you, including hidden gems, must-try eats, & travel hacks (just a cup of coffee to keep me going!)

P.S. If you found this post helpful in the past, you’re going to LOVE the latest upgrade — more beautiful, practical, and local than ever. 

Pampering yourself during summer vacation overseas is, of course, one of the best ways to soothe your soul after a taxing year. Imagine throwing everything behind and just unplugging yourself from the world and giving a little piece of yourself somewhere your boss/client can never reach you, is beyond words can describe. However, not all of us are granted this kind of luxury every summer holiday as you might have to stand by for certain events happening in the workplace. If this is your case, this secret hideout located just 25 minutes driveway from Seoul could be one great destination this summer.

There are two penthouses in South Korea now under The Ananti. Both newly opened last year, The Ananti Penthouses are located in the suburbs of Seoul and Busan Haeundae beach. These penthouses are built under the concept of “옥상 가옥” （屋上 架屋） which means “making a roof on a roof” kind of architecture concept that allows the guest to live in harmony with nature. Sounds Zen already?

The penthouses took a lengthy 5 years to complete. Be it the construction, the interior, the sufficient natural lighting and environmental planning, were all done by the professionals in each field. One best feature was its Eco-friendly IMTEC system that uses an automated cold/hot water running system throughout the resort to adjust the indoor temperature. To simplify, there is no air conditioner and heater in the penthouse be it summer or winter.

What is a “healing” retreat if one still needs an air-conditioner in the forest?

The Korean concept of a “healing trip”, it doesn’t necessarily relate to Dali Lama or a fasting trip in the western context. “Healing” trip in a Korean context means relieving yourself in some remote area where you can do stress management activities, basically just forget about your usual chores and relax. It is usually done in the woods, and the word “healing” is a very common phrase in the Summer. With the “no air cond / heater” concept in the penthouse, the guests will be able to enjoy the abundant green shower throughout their stay for total relaxation.

Since the Ananti Penthouse Seoul is located in between Mt. Yoomyung and Mt. Jung-Mi Natural Recreation Forest, you can start off the day on their semi-outdoor running treadmill in the morning, followed by a sumptuous meal and head out for a good 2-3 hours of jungle trekking. Then reward your skin and muscles by dipping in the hot spring overlooking the forest after a good walk in the jungle. Sounds like a plan!

Directions: 

The Ananti Penthouse Seoul is located in the outskirt of Seoul, at Ga-Pyung (가평).  Basically taking the Olympic Dae-ro then travel all the way up the highway towards Chun-cheon for about 20 minutes (28.5 KM). After passing Seol-rak IC, travel for another 5 minutes and you’ll reach the destination.

If a Sun, Sea and Beach Vacation is your kind of summer break, The Ananti Penthouse in Haeundae would be an excellent alternative. Although located at Busan Haeundae, a popular summer destination for the Seoulites, the Ananti Penthouse Haeundae, however, secured a prime location that stresses exclusivity. Great views from the hillside penthouse right beside the beaches, infinity pools and, of course, the white and earth tone interior, all contribute to a relaxing atmosphere that beckons one to stay longer.

I was blown away by the beautiful pictures featured on their site, especially their Haeundae penthouse. The walkway on the hill overlooking the breathtaking scenery of the beach totally nailed on certainty as one of the best domestic healing trip destinations in Korea, No? ^^

Direction: (THE ANANTI PENTHOUSE HAEUNDAE)

Contact Details: The Ananti Penthouse (Click to link to their web page)

Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

UPDATE (AUG 11th 2014) : 

I also did a project which includes arranging a 2D1N itinerary to Busan in my recent post and of course I included Gamcheon Cultural Village in the itinerary as well. It is a 6 pages fully coloured Busan travel brochure, including 9 Must-sees and some tips for foodies. All info humbly gathered by me. ; ) Check it out here.

Anyway, I visited Gamcheon Cultural Village (감천 문화 마을) during my holiday in Busan. It wasn’t that famous when I was there 5 years ago. Only until the recent 3-4 years it began to attract attention from the local press, filmmakers and photographers, and then the tourists began to flock in. I read an article from the local paper about the place some 3 years ago, been wanting to visit the place but always missed the chance. Since this was a free and easy trip back to Busan, I spared a day out for it — Good, fine 3 years. I am good at waiting!

KTX is usually my first choice for transportation from Seoul to Busan. It only takes about 2.5 hours to reach Busan by KTX. A big time saver compared to the usually 6++ hours road trip. Travelling during winter is a plus point as you get to see these breathtaking snow scenes along the journey.

Another pocket-friendly method to travel from Seoul to Busan without spending a penny is to hop onto the free shuttle bus made available for foreigners (and only foreigners). However, it has lesser bus frequency and definitely time-consuming. Not recommend if you are planning on a 2D1N trip or in short of time. However, you will be able to save up about KRW 140,000 (abt SGD 166) of KTX fares if you opt for free shuttle.

Famed as Korea’s Santorini, this little village in Busan Gamcheon 2-dong has its own artistic and historic charm that continues to lure its visitors. This village is originally called Taegukdo Village. Taegukdo is originally a religious community, or to be exact, a religion that was regarded as obscene during the political turmoil back in the 1990s. Their members believe in the philosophy of Yin and Yang, and how the principle rules the universe. The Taeguk symbol has been one important factor in Korean history — You can even see the symbol on the South Korean Flag today.

After the Korean war, this village was filled up with refugees and the followers of the Taegukdo Religion. They build houses along the steep hillsides, each house watching over the sea, since then the village has pretty much preserved its appearance for decades.

Alighting from the Maeul-Bus (Buses that commute within the community), you would find yourself surrounded by houses in lovely pastel hues. A few hal-moni (old grandmas) carrying huge baskets of vegetables, walking uphill with us then went into their own houses.

The long, long path, the mysterious ally that you won’t know where it leads to….everything is surreal here. Even time travels slower here in the village.

Beware of the crossing alleys, it is impossible not to lose your directions here in the village. These alleys lead to at least 3 or 4 separate intersections. One wrong turn will make you go one whole round the village or have an uphill route the entire journey instead of an easier downhill one. One tip is to follow the painted fishes that swim through the entire village. It brings you to the major or the more popular sites.

Continue walking until you reach the old hot spring building (the only building with the huge hot spring signboard), one of the best places for a panoramic view of the village. Here you see colourful homes stacking up rows by rows just like coloured matchboxes. The blue rooftop seems to blend well with the pastel pink, yellow or even green facade of each home under the turquoise blue sky in the background. The magical moment came when the sun shines. Sunlight falls through the clear sky onto the colourful walls, bathing the surroundings with its shimmering shades of gold, truly photogenic!

According to CNN’s article, this village has its unique and cleverly planned, multi-tiered communal layout thanks to Taegukdo teaching. By building the houses in tiers, no house blocks any house behind it, which adheres to the teaching of allowing others to prosper.

My Verdict:

I love the colourful surrounding and the quaint and mysterious atmosphere of the village. I would say it is a one-of-a-kind place in Busan due to its sharp contrast with the skyscrapers that stood along Haeundae beach and around Gwangan-li, also the hustle and bustle of the traditional markets. I love how the tiny green bus climbs up the steep hills just like a time traveller. Boarding the bus and finding yourself in a community of old folks is a different kind of experience. The humanity and artistic combination made the village stand in between the old and the new Busan. A refreshing getaway, I would say. Anticipate surprise at every turn here in the village : )

To the 1st Time Visitors:

Get a paid guide map at the community centre, where you can collect stamps around the village and exchange postcards at certain stations. The stamps are located at the more popular sites, so collecting all 8 stamps means you have all the must-see covered. 

Another romantic way of reminding you of the happiness in lalaland is to send out a postcard to yourself here at Gamcheon Cultural Village. Drop yours into the red postbox, which offers a slow mail service that the recipient will only receive the postcard approximately a year later after visiting the place.

To Prepare:

A good pair of walking shoes, be prepared to walk about 2-3 hrs at least if you want to complete the full beginner course. I finish mine in about 4 hours, including resting and taking endless pictures. Prepare sunblock in summer, and moisturising balm in winter.

Directions:

There are various ways to visit the village. I took their subway from Busan Station to Toseong Station (Line 1) and then get on to the community bus (Maeul bus 마을 버스). The bus goes directly to the destination, saving you from transiting. A much simple route I would say.
1. Taking Busan MRT line No. 1 to Toseong Station 토성역.
2. Coming out from Toseong Station Exit 6, walk straight and turn right (route in teal colour). Take note of the small bus station board in front of the Pusan National University Hospital building (Block C, Cancer Centre, aka the PNU Cancer Centre)

3. Take the buses 1-1 or 2 or  2-2 (green bus) and the bus driver will announce when you reach Gamcheon Cultural Village.