Is Busan Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Busan is generally considered a safe destination for solo female travelers. The crime rates are relatively low compared to other international cities of similar size. Violent crime is rare, and most locals are incredibly welcoming and helpful. There may be some instances of petty crime like pickpocketing in crowded places, so it is advised to stay vigilant and mindful of your belongings. The city is also equipped with largely effective public safety measures and a reliable public transportation system.

Safety rating

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How safe is Busan?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Busan is generally safe to travel at night. Criminal activities against foreigners are relatively low and public areas are often bustling with people. Bear in mind, though, to practice usual safety measures such as keeping your valuable items secure and avoiding poorly lit or deserted areas alone at late hours.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Busan, including the subway system, buses, and taxis, are generally considered to be safe and reliable. The city is known for its efficient and far-reaching subway network, ensuring you can get almost anywhere within city limits. Buses, too, are regularly used and are capable of reaching almost all corners of the city. Taxi services are readily available and generally run on honest and fair meters. However, some taxi drivers might not speak fluent English which can occasionally lead to misunderstandings. While all these public modes of transit are generally secure especially during the day, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of your surroundings, just as you would anywhere else.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

In Busan, street harassment is relatively low compared to other major cities around the world. Most locals are respectful and mind their own business. Of course, it is important to remain vigilant, especially at night, and avoid isolated areas. But overall, Busan is known for its safety and respectful culture.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Petty crimes such as pickpocketing and purse snatching are relatively low in Busan. It is a relatively safe city to travel alone. The city is generally safe at night with well-lit streets and helpful locals. However, it's always advised to remain vigilant and take common safety precautions.

Is Busan worth visiting?

Group travel

I visited with a group of friends (all women) at my host university here in Korea. We took the Mugunghwa train from Seoul to Busan, which was a long but beautiful ride. The locals in Busan are very friendly, and the food is nice but be warned that a lot of the seafood places near Haeundae Beach are on the expensive side. Gamcheon Culture Village was a wonderful place to visit with some beautiful women-owned local shops, but we did pass by a large group of boys late at night who cat-called us and put some of us on edge, though they left us alone after we passed by. The transport in Busan, just as in Seoul, is safe for women, though the bus drivers can be a little more reckless than those in Seoul. We also visited Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which was wonderful if you're someone interested in history or Buddhism or philosophy/theology in general. Haeundae Beach is busy at night in the warm months (when we went it was still hot during the days and warm and humid at nights), but in a cosy way. If you're into partying, Busan nightlife is extremely vibrant, but we didn't explore the nightlife so I can't comment on its safety. Where we stayed at Hotel Angel, it was mostly clean (though the AC was leaking), and a male member of staff entered our room without knocking, though he was very apologetic and did his best to explain to us that he was just putting a bowl under our leaking AC — nothing more happened, and it didn't feel at all malicious (we stayed and watched until he left just to make sure). The nightlife is very audible since our hotel was right near one of the main streets, and my roommate complained to me about men screaming through the night. However, if you use earphones/are a heavy sleeper, I can't see this being too much of an issue. I naturally like to stay on the budget side of travel, and since my roommate and I were staying for a shorter period than the others in our group due to her parents visiting Seoul, we decided not to buy the Visit Busan pass, so I can't comment on its value. If you want to travel back to Seoul on a late train, however, make sure to check when the last buses to the station are — the Naver Map app displays buses that may not even be running at whatever time as an option, so be careful. Overall, despite the short time I had, I loved visiting Busan and plan to go back to try and do more things, and just to experience the city again with its friendly locals.

Posted: February 12, 2024Experienced: September, 2023
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Couple travel

Busan is a beautiful city and not too crowd. There are several beaches that you can see beautiful sunset. The cost of hotel and transportation is acceptable. And you can find good food here. It is a safe city for women too.

Posted: January 10, 2024
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Solo travel

Busan is a really nice seaside city with plenty of places worth visiting. There are temples, cultural villages, amazing beaches, and really tasty food. I spent 3 days exploring main attractions, such as Gamcheon Culture Village, a few beaches (Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach), shopping (Sinsegae Centum City) and temples (Haedong Yonggungsa Temple) among others. I got there from Seoul by super fast train.

Posted: August 16, 2023
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Solo travel

I really recommend visiting Busan. I loved Seoul, but Busan holds a special place in my heart. I wandered through cultural villages and temples. I also visited Gwangalli and Haeundae beaches. It was beautiful.

Posted: July 15, 2023
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Is Busan safe for women?

I've only been here a few months but I feel very safe. Nothing has put me on edge or given me any reason to feel unsafe. There are cameras everywhere and the city is usually bustling in my area. It's never really dark and empty.

Posted: July 11, 2024
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Meet locals in Busan

Fatima

Fatima

About Me

My name is Fatima Am studying here in Busan since 5 months

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Safety in South Korea