Refresh Yourself in Beautiful Busan!

• Get settled into your hotel, then head to Haeundae to catch the Blue Line Train up the coast!

• Enjoy amazing sea views from Haewol Observatory, then have a lunch of grilled clams, eel and abalone overlooking the sea at Cheongsapo (if seafood isn't your thing, there are other options!).

• Watch the surfers (or have a go, yourself!), have an ice cream and take a dip in the ocean at nearby Songjeong Beach — if you're still hungry, try the original Moon's Toast (think a Korean grilled cheese sandwich)!

• Head up to Haedong yonggungsa, or the Temple by the Sea, for some breathtaking views of a centuries-old Buddhist temple right on the ocean. A must-see in Busan!

• Enjoy a hearty traditional Korean dinner near your hotel, soft tofu soup or Korean chicken (for those who drink, pair it with beer and/or somaek, a mixture of beer and soju!).

• If there are singers in your group, hit up a local noraebang to sing your heart out! If you don't speak Korean, don't worry! There are tons of both classic and contemporary songs in English, and you'll have a private room so don't be shy!

• After breakfast, head to Nampodong to wander through the massive traditional markets — Gukje and Bupyeong Kkangtong will delight the shopper and there is plenty for the street food lover in this area.

• Explore all the treasures of the sea at the famous Jagalchi seafood market, then dig into the freshest raw and grilled seafood lunch! In the market, you can pick out your own fish to be prepared sashimi-style and/or grilled, and they will serve it to you in a restaurant above the market. If you're ready to try sea squirt, live baby octopus or other exotic delicacies, this is your chance! If seafood is not your cup of tea, try a bowl of delicious hot (kalguksu) or cold (milmyeon) noodles! The latter is a Busan specialty, and is especially refreshing on a hot day.

• After lunch, head to Taejongdae to take a tour of this historical site along the coast. Enjoy the stunning views with ease as you hop on and off the cute tour bus.

• Wrap things up with a sunset cable car ride at nearby Songdo Beach. Pro tip: reserve one of the glass-bottomed cars if you want a little more excitement!

• Anyone craving more seafood can enjoy dinner at Songdo. Otherwise, stop by Chinatown on the way back to your hotel to enjoy some fantastic dumplings (or Russian, Central Asian and even Filipino food, if that's what you're looking for!). Otherwise, explore one of the countless other Korean restaurants in the city!

• After breakfast, take a morning walk along Igidae, an absolutely gorgeous coastal trail. It isn't too steep or long, so perfect for the casual hiker. If you're looking for a bigger challenge.

• Head back to your hotel for a shower and a quick rest if you need to before grabbing a delicious and traditional pork and rice soup lunch (doejigukbap, perhaps Busan's most iconic dish).

• Next, find a coffee shop or teahouse to relax and enjoy Korean cafe culture! Whether you're looking for a hip place for the 'Gram, a quiet place for coffee aficionados or various themed cafes of all types, you can find them all in Busan. A little extra caffeine boost will get you ready for tonight!

• If cafes aren't your thing, spend the afternoon doing some shopping in one of the biggest malls in Asia. Or pick up some souvenirs for your friends and family at Art Box.

• Catch a baseball game at Sajik Stadium! Even if you don't know anything about baseball, the fan experience here is extremely fun. Sing, dance and cheer your heart out while enjoying fried chicken, pizza, fishcakes and cold drinks (at a fraction of the cost of an MLB stadium).

• (If baseball is not your thing, a Busan cooking class or a makgeolli [Korean rice wine] making class would be great alternatives!)

• For those looking for some more fun after the game, head to Seomyeon to experience Korean pojangmatcha, or outdoor drinking tents. Eat traditional Korean anju (drinking food), try some Korean alcohol and make some new friends! If you don't drink, you can still enjoy the food and atmosphere. Or visit a tent serving up various Korean street foods (ramyeon, fishcakes, tteokbokki and deep fried snacks) where the focus is not on drinking.

• Alternatively, a Japanese izakaya is a great place to enjoy meats, soups, sashimi and all sorts of Japanese drinks in a traditional Japanese-style restaurant.

• After a light breakfast, head to one of the terrific saunas/spas in Busan. Spaland gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but there are many different options. Sweat it out in the steam rooms and dry saunas, cool off in the ice baths/cold rooms, enjoy traditional snacks and drinks (sweetened rice drinks and baked eggs are my go-tos) and for the adventurous, enjoy a full-body scrub, Korean-style! The more upscale saunas will have massages, facials, mani-pedis and other spa services available, so don't be surprised if you end up spending 4+ hours there!

• Have some healthy traditional Korean food like miyeok guk (seaweed soup with beef or seafood, packed full of flavor and iron) or dolsot bibimbap (hot stone rice mixed with vegetables, very traditional) to continue the cleanse. Spaland has a good restaurant. Otherwise, I'd recommend good places near your sauna of choice.

• Spend the afternoon enjoying beautiful Gwangan Beach, either swimming, sunbathing, and/or enjoying a nice iced coffee with a sea view!

• If you've managed to hold off for this many days, finally treat yourself to an indulgent Korean BBQ dinner! Your restaurant choice will depend on what you want. Choose your protein (beef, pork, lamb, duck, chicken, seafood and organ meats for the more adventurous), fuel source (charcoal or gas) and grilling preference (DIY is most common, but many places will grill for you) and I will find a place that suits your needs. Learn how to make a proper ssam (lettuce wrap), and if you're a drinker, soju and beer are the typical drinks of choice.

• The day culminates in an evening harbor cruise under the iconic Gwangan Diamond Bridge. Enjoy a gorgeous view of the bridge and city, complete with drinks and snacks. There are smaller, more private yachts as well as larger options for bigger groups. Tours typically last around one hour, and you can shoot fireworks off the bow at the end!

Ran out of time for something? Need a couple more hours back at the sauna, or perhaps another couple of songs at Noraebang? Last-minute shopping before flying out? This is a perfect day to do what you missed or need more of.

If you want some more ideas:

• Food tour: If you still haven't gotten enough Korean food (and it would take a lifetime to explore everything), visit a local market with a chef and try different local foods!

• Cooking Class: Learn how to make some of the most iconic, traditional Korean dishes with the freshest ingredients. Soups, sides, mains, tea and dessert are all included! You'll get recipes and a certificate of completion. The host is a Busan native, and you'll be cooking in a beautiful place in upscale Haeundae!

• Hiking: More serious hikers can go for Jangsan (a personal favorite of mine), Geumjeongsan (there's a great temple up there, as well as a short but beautiful cable car) or Hwamyeongsan (amazing views of the ocean) for some great hikes. Many more recommendations available upon request!

• Korean alcohol tasting: South Korea has a strong drinking culture, and there are some great places to taste both traditional and contemporary new takes on Korean wines and liquors.

• Fortune-telling: Many people even today are strong believers in 'saju' and will have their fortune told annually and/or before making important life decisions (before starting a relationship, switching jobs, buying property, etc). You will either need a local guide or to go to one of the English-speaking booths.

• Gamcheon Cultural Village: Get all of the cute photos you need in this traditional mountain village-turned tourist destination! Try various snacks while posing for pictures overlooking the mountains. Very popular destination with plenty of charm, but one that I only recommend for certain types of travelers.

• Huinnyeol Cultural Village: Sometimes referred to as the 'Santorini of Busan,' it is another coastal attraction with numerous photo-op sites, cafes and cute shops. Quite popular, but like Gamcheon, it is for a specific type of traveler.

• Eat more! Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki and K-BBQ are getting plenty of love these days. I will give you a list of amazing Korean foods and restaurants you may not know but must try!

• On a related note, you must visit a Korean convenience store! If you love snacks and unique beverages of all kinds, spend a little time wandering through one (or several!) There are constantly new trendy products popping up, and with microwaves and ramyeon cooking machines available for free, it's a great place to stop for a meal, snack or an ice cream!

• If you have more time, a day trip up to historic Gyeongju could be a great option! Dress up in traditional Korean clothing for photoshoots in front of UNESCO heritage sites, enjoy some amazing local food and relax in trendy, beautiful cafes. Renting golf carts for the day is a super fun way to explore the town! Just a 1-hour drive from Busan.

• If you come at the right time in the spring, you can enjoy cherry blossom season! There are various festivals around Busan and neighboring cities.

• If you have time, Jeju Island is a scant 1-hour flight from Busan (Gimhae) airport, and it is truly an incredible place to visit. Hike the tallest mountain in (South) Korea, enjoy one of the countless gorgeous beaches and visit the haenyeo (female traditional divers) and try some of their fresh catch! Pick local tangerines fresh off the tree, enjoy fresh seafood and visit one of the thousands of cute cafes dotted around the island.

• Get outside the city! Camping, glamping or enjoying a night at a traditional Korean home or farm near the ocean or out in the mountains is a unique experience that few tourists are lucky enough to have. You'll need a car, but if you are craving some peace and quiet amidst some absolutely gorgeous scenery, I simply cannot recommend this enough! Lush valley rivers for swimming, grilling delicious meals under the stars, sunsets over the mountains, sunrises over the ocean. I could go on and on about some of my favorite memories. Just a few hours away from Busan.