Busan-Seoul Day 1: Jagalchi Market, Lotte Mall Gwangbok & Lotte Hotel Busan

I'd been looking out for good flight deals for our annual winter trip since the end of last year and could not find a good deal for Japan (the guys' first choice)! SQ & ANA tickets were at least $1000 each and no, I will not consider other airlines! 😔🫤

We had previously discussed the possibility of a flight to Busan and return flight from Seoul as we'd promised to bring my Mum-in-law for her first trip to South Korea. I found a good deal in January for multi-city (Busan-Seoul) tickets via Singapore Airlines at only $612 per adult and $606 per child (cheapest so far)! 🥳🎉 

We excitedly piled our luggage into our usual maxi cab (cost $60) and arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 9.15pm the day before. 

Disney decorations at Changi Airport

My son loves taking pictures of his avocado toy on his journey

We had plenty of time at transit so I managed to have my last cup of my favourite teh-c (I won't be able to drink it for the next 12 days! 😩). When we reached the gate, we discovered that our flight was slightly delayed by 30 minutes. We finally departed Singapore at 12 midnight.

Goodbye for now Singapore!

The Littlest's child meal

I decided to order a fruit platter instead of the regular meals as I can't eat a heavy meal after midnight

The journey was about 6 hours 15 minutes but it felt like a long time as we couldn't sleep at all! Due to multiple turbulences on our flight, we were awoken many times by the captain's announcement for passengers to fasten our seatbelts! We each had less than an hour's sleep on the plane! 🫩🥱😴

We finally arrived at Gimhae International Airport in Busan at 7am (Korea time, Korea is 1 hour ahead of Singapore).

Gimhae International Airport Terminal 1

Welcome to Busan!

Say hi to Busan's official mascot, Boogi, a friendly seagull ☺️

We could have taken the train to our hotel but we preferred the taxi as it was more convenient for our family of 6. We headed to the taxi queue and got a Jumbo Taxi for ₩50,000.

We got a friendly and helpful driver

The journey took about 45 minutes due to the morning peak hour traffic and we arrived at Lotte Hotel Busan at 9am. We chose to stay with the Lotte Group as we enjoyed our previous stay at Lotte Hotel World. Lotte Hotel Busan was also conveniently located in the heart of Busan, next to Seomyeon Station for easy commuting. It has many facilities including both indoor and outdoor heated pools, spa, gym and even a golf course!

Lotte Hotel Busan

We could only check in at 2pm hence we left our luggage at the hotel's concierge and headed to the nearest 7-Eleven to buy a T-money card for the Littlest. She had to pay for transportation as she had turned 6 this year. We bought a specially designed card for foreigners for ₩4,000 (see picture below). To ensure that the card would deduct the child fare, we produced the Littlest's passport so that the staff can programme the card with the Littlest's date of birth.

We then proceeded to Seomyeon Station where I topped up our existing T-money cards that we had bought from our previous trip at the recharge machines. The machines were not difficult to use once you get the hang of it.

Travelling on the subway with the newest T-money card we had bought

Waiting patiently for our train

We took Line 1 (orange) from Seomyeon Station to Nampo Station to visit Jagalchi Market, the biggest seafood market in South Korea!

To get there, exit from Exit 2 and walk away from Lotte Mall (which should be behind you) towards the Busan Tourist Information Center. At the junction, turn left and walk straight until you see Jagalchi Market.

Jagalchi Market

On arrival, we were shocked to find out that Jagalchi Market was not open that day!

Closed on the first, third and fifth Tuesday of every month! 😭😱

As we were starving, we had little choice but to look for a restaurant to have our lunch. We randomly picked one located opposite the market.

Many restaurants to choose from but we chose the one with the red signboard

Seafood was live and fresh but very expensive!

Clockwise from top left: We were the only ones in the restaurant;
Grilled prawns that we regretted ordering as the amount did not justify the price;
Fresh raw oysters and various sashimi.

Medium-sized abalone

The mixed seafood hotpot soup was probably the most value-for-money of our meal

The service was excellent but portion sizes were small and definitely not as worth it as eating at the seafood market itself (the sellers usually charge wholesale prices)! We will definitely not eat at the restaurants opposite the market again!

After our lunch, we explored the areas near the market. The wind was super strong and cold so make sure you're prepared with thick jackets!

I love Jagalchi Market! 😄

The Littlest was in the mood to pose for pictures!

We walked to nearby Lotte Mall Gwangbok to do some shopping and buy groceries.

Lotte Mall Gwangbok

The macarons at Nampodang looked so pretty and delicious that we bought a box!

We bought the famous walnut-shaped cakes from Jatpumun Geujip Hodu-gwaja, which according to Google means "that house's walnut cakes with pine nuts"

Food Avenue Supermarket

Got some of our groceries from this very atas supermarket

Bought fishcakes from Goraesa Eomuk Fishcake Shop, which was very well-known in South Korea

Eating the piping hot fishcakes on the spot

We were also happy to explore Lotte Mart, our favourite supermarket in Korea!

Lotte Mart

There were so many floors that we shopped so much, we had no energy left for the Observation Deck at the 13th floor! 😅

With our shopping bags full, we headed back via the subway to Lotte Hotel Busan to check in.

Special entrance from Lotte Department Store Seomyeon to Lotte Hotel

We booked two Deluxe Family Twin Rooms at S$201 per room per night (each room accommodates 3 adults), inclusive of spa and gym access but no pool access. We decided not to pay more to use the pools since it'll be too cold to swim at the outdoor pool. The hotels in Busan were definitely cheaper than the hotels in Seoul!

Good size bathroom with bathtub

Toiletries

Wardrobe, safe and bathroom slippers

One double bed and one single bed

Room has adequate amenities and a good view of Seomyeon

View of the golf course and outdoor pool from our room window

After unpacking our things, the whole family took a much needed 2-hour nap to recuperate from our lack of sleep on the plane! We woke up at around 6pm starving and ready for dinner!

The beautiful interior of the lifts

Beautiful Christmas decorations at the lobby

Avocado 🥑 and Christmas 🎄 

As we explored the Seomyeon area, looking for a restaurant for dinner, the Hubby spotted Dudong Chuksan just opposite our hotel.

Dudong Chuksan
(Disclaimer: I used Google Lens for the English translation of the signboard and have no idea if it's accurate 😅).

So ready for a good dinner after a good nap!

Ordered from a touchscreen with the help of Google Lens!
BBQ pork was their speciality! Super yummy!

Kimchi was good!
The steamed egg was also a staple for the younger kids; they each had one! We ordered three in total because they loved it so much! 😅

Love the bibimbap! It's so good! 😋

The total cost of our meal was ₩100,000, which was value-for-money given how much food we ordered! 

After a satisfying meal, we headed to the nearest 7-Eleven to grab snacks and drinks before returning to our hotel in time for the Sauna/Spa (which closes at 10pm). Unlike Japan, only guests above 14 years old could enter so only the Hubby, Eldest and I went as the Mum-in-law preferred to rest in the room with the younger kids.

Lotte Department Store and Hotel at night

Entrance to the Woman's Sauna/Spa 

The public hot baths in the Sauna/Spa;
it's a must to be naked and follow communal bath regulations.
Photo Credit: Lotte Hotel Busan

Products free for all to use after bath

The experience was very similar to Lotte Hotel World and the Eldest and I enjoyed our mother-daughter time every evening! My body was so relaxed! 😁

Eating the pretty macarons we bought for supper! So cute right! 🤩

After a long flight and first day in Busan, we were so ready to turn in early for the night! Can't wait to explore more of Busan! 😄

Continue to >> Busan-Seoul Day 2: Spa Land Centum City & Haeundae Blueline Park

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