Busan

Busan is South Korea's second-largest city, a sprawling port town where skyscrapers back onto beaches and Buddhist temples sit in the hills above. The International Cruise Terminal is central, and Busan sometimes welcomes ships with a traditional Korean dance performance at the dock. Jagalchi Fish Market, the country's biggest, is a short taxi ride away and sells everything from live octopus to grilled shellfish you can eat on the spot. Beomeosa Temple, one of Korea's Great Five Temples, sits in the forested mountains a 40-minute bus ride from the centre. Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside cluster of pastel houses covered in street art, is another popular stop. The city's subway is clean and well-signed in English, making it easy to reach Haeundae Beach and the Gwangalli Bridge area. Try milmyeon, Busan's cold wheat noodle dish, at any of the no-frills restaurants near Nampodong station.