South Korea
Busan in December
🧥 WinterCool and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.8
- !Cool (10°C highs / 2°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 3°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~34 mm rain)
- Air quality8.3
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~15 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Oct | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 10° / 2° | 23° / 15° |
| Rain | 34 mm | 80 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 3° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 15 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Busan weather-station normals. Rainfall: Busan weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Busan
- 2026 forecast: autumn leaves (southern Korea)2026 forecastPeak ~5–13 Nov 2026
Forecast for Jirisan and the southern region; first colour 22 Oct–5 Nov.
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~28 Mar, full bloom about a week later
Typical first-bloom date at the Busan weather-station tree (KMA 1991–2020 normal). In 2025 the first blooms came on 28 Mar; recent years have mostly been earlier than the normal. Weather i and KMA publish the next year's outlook in late February.
Source: Weather i 2026 cherry blossom outlook (KMA normals and 2025 dates)
Explore BusanEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallySouth Korea's second city and largest port, known for beaches, seafood markets, hillside villages and temples on the coast.
Busan Fireworks FestivalDate variesUsually autumn; date varies
A large fireworks show over Gwangan Bridge.
Why go: Crowds are huge; arrive very early or book a viewing spot.
Where: Gwangalli Beach
Coming up later
Haeundae Sand FestivalDate variesUsually late May or early June
Large sand sculptures and activities on the beach.
Why go: Free to visit.
Where: Haeundae Beach
Busan International Film FestivalDate variesUsually early October
One of Asia's most important film festivals.
Why go: Hotels near Haeundae are busy during the festival.
Where: Centum City and Haeundae
Haeundae Beach
The city's most famous beach, backed by high-rises and busy in summer.
Gamcheon Culture Village
A hillside neighbourhood of pastel houses, murals and small galleries.
Jagalchi Fish Market
Korea's largest seafood market, where you can buy fish and have it prepared upstairs.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
A Buddhist temple set on rocks right by the sea.
Gwangalli Beach
A beach facing the Gwangan Bridge, which is lit up at night.
Beomeosa Temple
A large mountain temple on Geumjeongsan, founded over a thousand years ago.
Dwaeji gukbap
Pork and rice soup, Busan's signature comfort dish.
Milmyeon
Cold wheat noodles in a chilled broth, a Busan creation.
Ssiat hotteok
Sweet fried pancakes stuffed with seeds and nuts.
💡 Street stalls around BIFF Square in Nampo-dong
Eomuk (fish cake)
Busan is famous for its fish cakes, sold on skewers and in broth.
Hoe (raw fish)
Fresh sliced raw fish.
💡 Jagalchi Fish Market and Millak area
Busan fish cake gift sets
Packaged fish cakes, a well-known Busan product.
💡 Busan Station and department stores
Gamcheon art goods
Postcards and small crafts by local artists.
💡 Shops in Gamcheon Culture Village