Private Busan Tour with Tongdosa Temple: Customize Your Day

Eight hours, four temples and a market: build the Busan day you want

A private tour of Busan with your own English-speaking guide and vehicle, centered on Tongdosa temple: Korea's most sacred Buddhist site, where Buddha's relics stand in place of a statue. The itinerary is yours to shape: add Haedong Yonggungsa temple overlooking the sea, walk through Gamcheon Culture Village's stacked pastel houses, ride the Blue Line train along the coast, or venture into Gyeongju's ancient temples and villages. Hotel pickup and dropoff included.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 260 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Private Busan Tour 10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00 Guide in English After seeing Tongdosa Temple, explore Busan. Total duration: 8 to 9 hours. Pickup is included.

Private Gyeongju Tour 10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00 Guide in English Following Tongdosa Temple, you can tour the UNESCO sites of Gyeongju. Total tour time: 8 to 9 hours. Includes pickup.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tongdosa and Busan highlights

• Visit Tongdosa Temple
• Walk in bamboo forest
• Visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
• Ride Beach train or Sky capsule
• Explore Gamcheon Culture Village
• Visit Busan International Film Festival area
• Shop at Jagalchi Fish Market

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple 40m
2. Gamcheon Culture Village 1h
3. Jagalchi Fish Market 30m

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and dropoff.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• cost for the vehicle itself.

Times

• Every day 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00

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Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 2d before

Ages Adult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby

Operated by Here Korea Travel

Prices and times updated today

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Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 1 verified traveler review

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The experience

Tongdosa temple sits between Busan and Gyeongju, far enough from the city center that most visitors miss it, but it's one of Korea's five great Buddhist temples, and the only one without a statue of Buddha. Instead, relics brought from China in 646 CE are enshrined there, making it the country's most precious temple. Your guide will walk you through the grounds and explain what makes this place different from every other temple you might visit in Korea.

The rest of the day is yours to plan. Haedong Yonggungsa temple sits on a cliff above the sea and is considered Busan's most beautiful. Gamcheon Culture Village stacks thousands of brightly painted houses down a steep mountainside. It's been a filming location for Korean TV and film, and the streets fill with souvenir shops and food vendors. Jagalchi Fish Market, Korea's largest, lets you walk through rows of seafood vendors and buy fish to cook at the restaurants inside. The Blue Line train or sky capsule runs along the coast and is the most popular activity in Busan right now. You choose which stops matter to you, and your guide builds the day around them.

Hotel pickup and dropoff are included, along with private air-conditioned transportation and an English-speaking guide. The tour runs eight to nine hours. Once you book, the operator helps you finalize the itinerary and can arrange bookings for any paid attractions you want to add.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What makes Tongdosa temple different from other temples in Korea?

Tongdosa has no Buddha statue inside. Instead, relics of the Buddha, including part of his robes, brought from China in 646 CE are enshrined there. It's one of Korea's five great "Palace of the Jewel of Nirvana" temples and represents the Buddha in Korea's three Jewel Temples.

Can I visit both Busan and Gyeongju on the same tour?

Yes. Tongdosa temple sits between the two cities, so you can visit the temple and then proceed to Gyeongju sites like Bulguksa temple, Seokguram, Yangdong village, or Donggung and Wolji pond. The itinerary is customizable once you book.

What are the main attractions I can visit in Busan on this tour?

Haedong Yonggungsa temple, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Fish Market, the Blue Line train or sky capsule along the coast, and the bamboo forest are all options. You can also add BIFF street (the Busan International Film Festival location), Taejongdae, or Songdo beach and gondola depending on what interests you.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and dropoff are included, along with private air-conditioned transportation and an English-speaking guide throughout the tour.

How long does the tour last?

The tour runs eight to nine hours, depending on which attractions you choose to visit and how much time you spend at each stop.