The rainbow city: Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Gamcheon Culture Village Busan is a spectacularly colourful village in South Korea and should not be left off your bucket list! There are thousands of homes which are decorated in pastel colours up and down the side of a mountain, making for arguably the most picturesque place in all of South Korea.
Gamcheon Culture Village has actually been dubbed ‘The Machu Picchu of Korea‘ thanks to it’s beautiful similarities! Walk through narrow streets and admire the pastel ice cream coloured artworks & murals on the walls. There are 1000 picture spots, if not more, and photographers, and tourists will find this town to be the ultimate dream.
Walking through the narrow warrens of Gamcheon Culture Village Busan is full of South Korean charm, there’s not a corner that’s not beautiful. And, if that wasn’t enough, there are plenty of cafes dotted around, usually with huge windows and incredible views. Many of the cafes have unusual quirks, with butterfly themed seating or the ‘crazy cafe’ with exceedingly unique decor from pictures of Ron Weasley to crazy dinosaurs hanging from the ceiling.
Whatever your choice, you’re going to have an incredible time in Gamcheon Culture Village Busan. The houses in Gamcheon are built in a staircase fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain giving it the most spectacular views.
Going to South Korea? Read my article on the Sky Capsule at Haeundae Blueline Park! It’s an incredible experience that can’t be missed! There are also tours that go from Gamcheon Culture Village to Haeundae beach, if you’re doing a day tour.
It’s worth booking a day tour to Gamcheon Village for the full experience, and sightseeing trips around Busan, especially if you’re limited for time! I always compare tour prices and itineraries on Get Your Guide and Viator.
Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Gamcheon Culture Village Busan was not always as beautiful and brightly coloured as it is today. Actually, it’s thanks to the refugees that settled in the area and made the village the bright and vibrant rainbow coloured spectacle it is today.
Some time ago, this town was part of Busan’s sad history. People came here as refugees during the Korean War and worked hard on the land to make a living.
But then, in 2009, there was a huge overhaul to bring colour and life to their village thanks to the numerous students, artists and volunteers. They turned it into an art project! Since then, this place has become the rainbow district of Busan, a spot you absolutely cannot miss. Right by the entrance you’ll find the visitors information center that gives you all the information on Gamcheon Culture Village History & this wonderfully colourful village.
The Gamcheon Culture Village Busan is like a star in west Busan. Tourists love it because you don’t just look at things; you experience them too, whether it’s the 3D portait printing on wood, the art murals, the odd and whacky cafes, the statues and figurines, painted stairs, or even the mini ice cream shops.
Everywhere you turn, there’s art and paintings that make the narrow streets look like a lively village. And there are shops where you can buy interesting souvenirs, from postage stamps, paper art and even workshops where you can make your own souvenirs.
Lots of tourists who come here try on different outfits, like the traditional hanbok, but I skipped this option as it was extremely hot during the day and adding another layer of thick, long clothes was simply not an option – I was hot enough as it was!
You can rent them for a small fee, usually from £4 or $5 USD. Don’t miss the fun photo spot where the Little Prince and his fox friend watch over the village. There’s also some great street food; I had an incredibly unusual bubble ice cream, which I would totally recommend!
Gamcheon Culture Village Busan Photos
If you want a picture with Gamcheon Culture Village Busan in the background, there’s literally hundreds of viewpoints along the roads, you won’t be limited for choice, but in my opinion the best photo viewpoints are on the south side by the Avant Garde Cafe. The artistic feeling continues in the alleys, where houses in soft pastel colours line up like a maze, the best place to photograph is clearly Gamcheon Busan.
It’s amazing to see how art, colour and culture can transform Gamcheon Culture Village Busan; with a sad and difficult history to one of South Korea’s most beautiful places and extremely popular too!
The name “Gamcheon“ means a village with “sweet, tasty water.” It is said that many ships used to drop anchor in Gamnaepo Port (currently, Gamcheonman Bay) to stock up on the sweet, tasty water of Gamcheon.
How to get to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Honestly, we just walked to the top of the hill. It wasn’t too far from our hotel. But if you’re not staying in the area, it’s best to get the metro and the bus.
Take the Metro to Seogucheong / Jagalchi Station. From the station, go out of Exit 1 and wait at the bus stop for the Number 2 Bus (Seogu 2) OR 2-2 Bus to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan. If you don’t get the bus, bear in mind you’ll be walking up a hill! The travel time is about 11 minutes whereas the cost is approximately 1,050 won (60p or 80 cents).
We bought a travel card (costing 4,000 won) which lasted the whole trip and was very easy to navigate around the whole of Korea with. Remember to tap on and tap off when using buses, as your fare is calculated this way! I kept forgetting as I’m so used to the Oyster card system in London with buses!
You can also get off at Toseong Station and walk up, or get the following buses: Bus 1-1, Bus 2 and Bus 2-2.
Gamcheon Culture Village Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee for Gamcheon Culture Village Busan; it’s completely free! Even the museum is free to the public, it’s definitely worth a visit to this incredible place. The only money you’ll need here is for food and drink at the many cafes in the area.
Best Tours to Gamcheon Culture Village South Korea
There are plenty of tours to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan that you can book onto, and they will normally combine it with some other sights around Busan as part of their itinerary. I can recommend the tours that visit the local nearby temples like Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Haeundae Beach and the observatory viewpoint! They will also be able to give you a full recommendation on the best spots within Gamcheon Culture Village Busan, so that’s a win too!
You can also book on tours from Seoul too!
It’s worth booking a day tour to Gamcheon Village for the full experience, and sightseeing trips around Busan, especially if you’re limited for time! I always compare tour prices and itineraries on Get Your Guide and Viator.
This is the viewpoint from the northern side of Gamcheon Culture Village Busan, near GamCheon Moonlight Donuts.
Hotels near Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan
We stayed in a guesthouse (which was honestly just like a hotel), but there are plenty in the area.
Budget option with a view: I can recommend K Guesthouse, which has stunning views of the city, and you can even get a glimpse of Gamcheon Culture Village in the distance too! Prices start from £20 / $25 USD.
Avani Central Busan: This is a great mid tier option, with prices starting from £70 or $88 USD, excellent views and great decor.
Lotte Hotel Busan: This is a lovely incredible hotel, with tonnes of reviews and great views of the city. It comes with great reviews too!
Best Viewpoints in Gamcheon Culture Village
If you’re worried about trying to find a viewpoint in Gamcheon Culture Village Busan, don’t sweat it. There are hundreds of viewpoints at EVERY turn. I felt like every 5 meters there was a new viewpoint, and there are plenty of shops, cafes and stalls with huge windows displaying the colourful village.
In my opinion the best photo viewpoints are on the south side, facing north by the Avant Garde Cafe or Coffee IT Cafe – you don’t have to go inside the cafes for this view; you can quite simply enjoy the views from the road and nooks and crannies of every turn in this amazing rabbit warren that is Gamcheon Culture Village Busan. This is where we bumped into a local older man that told us the best view was from the front of his house. And to be honest, I agree! The artistic feeling continues in the alleys, where houses in soft pastel ice cream colours line up like a maze.
Best Cafes in Gamcheon Culture Village with a View
Some of the best cafes in Gamcheon Culture Village Busan; it can be hard to pick a few thanks to the ridiculous views, but here’s a summary, there’s a number of cafes to choose from! The Gamcheon Culture Village Busan food is rather unusual and spectacular! Expect bubble ice creams, unusual shaped waffles and the weird and wonderful!
Head to Coffee IT House Cafe, they have a great coffee and choco-latte! They have the biggest, widest windows which are perfect for viewing the cultural village that is Gamcheon Culture Village Busan.
It’s also worth checking out GamCheon Moonlight Donuts, Avant Garde Café or DUF Coffee for excellent views across Gamcheon Culture Village Busan.
DUF Coffee is the ‘mad café‘, as I like to think of it, thanks to their exceedingly unique decor. Ron Weasley photos are pinned up on the wall alongside bizarre mannequins with unusual headdresses, sequins, and funny little green aliens hanging from the ceiling, when you squeeze, their eyes pop out (don’t ask me how I found out about this!).
I also had an ice cream on the other side of the village in an unnamed cafe with lovely windows, but you will find plenty of view points to stop at no matter where you are.
The Little Prince Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
What is the Little Prince in Gamcheon Culture Village Busan?
Gamcheon cultural village might seem like an unusual spot to find the kid from that famous French kid’s story, The Little Prince. But guess what? He and his fox pal are right here, sitting high up on a wall, looking down at the village. There wasn’t too much of a queue to take a pic with the statue, it only took 5 minutes for us on a Sunday afternoon, but I hear it can get very long! It’s definitely an excellent tourist attraction for any fans who have read this magical story.
It’s worth booking a tour to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan for the full experience, and sightseeing around Busan, especially if you’re limited for time! I always compare tour prices and itineraries on Get Your Guide and Viator.
What is the significance of The Little Prince in Gamcheon Culture Village?
In Gamcheon Culture Village Busan Korea, you’ll find the statue of “The Little Prince” and his fox pal! He’s a character from a famous French story written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and he brings something important to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan:
- Artistic Flair: You know how Gamcheon is all about colourful street art, murals, and cool sculptures? Well, the Little Prince and his art buddies join the party. They make the village even more artsy and fun, and it’s the perfect little spot to take a quick snap – there are queues sometimes, but I didn’t have to wait more than 4-5 minutes for a picture! Colour, vibrance, spectacular sights, art and joy! It rings true in Gamcheon and is the perfect fit.
- Big Ideas, Simple Words: “The Little Prince” is like a story that talks about things everyone understands. Like friendship, seeing the beauty in simple things, and keeping your imagination alive – that’s what the Little Prince is all about. These ideas make sense to people from all over the world, no matter where they come from and fits in simplistically here.
- Making Friends, No Matter What: The Little Prince isn’t just a local thing. He’s known all over the world, like a friendly traveller. It’s a lovely sign of unity for people all over.. It’s quite cute, really.
- Something Cool to See: The Little Prince statue and the art around him are like a magnet for tourists. They can’t help but be drawn to it; it’s ‘Insta Famous’. This extra tourism to Gamcheon can only be a huge positive influence on the local community that had a difficult reason to move here in the first place. Winning.
- Inspiring Talk: Besides looking cool, the Little Prince makes people talk about something a little different; books, art, and being creative. So, it’s not just about looking pretty, it’s reminiscent of own childhood memories, listening to stories, and can hopefully inspire us too.
Gamcheon Culture Village Map
It’s definitely worth a little stop to the Little Prince and his foxxy friend! They are located here, but take a look at all the other photo points and murals marked on the map.
It’s worth booking a tour to Gamcheon Culture Village Busan for the full experience, and sightseeing around Busan, especially if you’re limited for time! I always compare tour prices and itineraries on Get Your Guide and Viator.
The traditional businesses of Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Gamcheon Culture Village today is known for tourism, with lots of shops, souvenirs, cafes littered along the streets, but it hasn’t always pulled in a crowd of visitors! It’s been a traditional village with many working in the fishing industry.
This has been taken from the museum at Gamcheon Culture village Busan:
Gamcheon Culture Village Busan is known for its beautiful natural surrounding environment including Cheonmasan Mountain, Amisan Mountain, and Ongnyeobong Peak. Gamcheonman Bay, which handles a large volume of tradeable goods, once served as the passage between Busanpo Port and Dadaepo Port, and still acts as an auxiliary port for Busanpo Port today.
Gamcheon Culture Village’s major fishing grounds include Madangdeogi, Jogeummol, and Hosuam, which are located in front of Gamnaepo Port (currently, Gamcheonman Bay). Gamcheon’s inhabitants have traditionally worked in the fishing industry, including anchovy fishing, and the trading of local products and daily necessities in Gamcheonman Bay.
Weather in Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Weather in January in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 3°C (37°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 5
- Daylight Hours: 10 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 7:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM
Weather in February in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 4°C (39°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 6
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 7:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM
Weather in March in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 8°C (46°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 6
- Daylight Hours: 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Weather in April in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 12°C (54°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 7
- Daylight Hours: 13 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Weather in May in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 16°C (61°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 9
- Daylight Hours: 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 7:15 PM
Weather in June in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 20°C (68°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 12
- Daylight Hours: 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 7:30 PM
Weather in July in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 24°C (75°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 17
- Daylight Hours: 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 7:30 PM
Weather in August in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 25°C (77°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 15
- Daylight Hours: 13 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 7:15 PM
Weather in September in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 22°C (72°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 9
- Daylight Hours: 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Weather in October in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 17°C (63°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 7
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Weather in November in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 11°C (52°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 6
- Daylight Hours: 10 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 7:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM
Weather in December in Busan:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 5°C (41°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 6
- Daylight Hours: 10 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 7:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM
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Going to South Korea? Read my article on the Sky Capsule at Haeundae Blueline Park! It’s an incredible experience that can’t be missed!
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