Gamcheon Culture Village

감천문화마을

Layers of colorful houses cascade down a hillside, earning it the nickname “Machu Picchu of Busan.” Murals and small shops line its maze-like alleys, and a Little Prince statue sits among them.

Gamcheon Culture Village sits on a hillside in Saha-gu, western Busan. It grew out of a shantytown built on the slope by war refugees during the Korean War and by followers of Taegukdo. Houses are stacked in step-like rows along the contours, so no house blocks the view of those behind it. Since 2009, artists and residents have worked together to paint the houses in bright colors and install murals and art pieces, making it Busan's hottest photo spot. It is nicknamed the “Machu Picchu of Busan” and the “Santorini of Busan.” To enjoy it, buy a map at the entrance visitor center (2,000 won; it comes with a stamp challenge, and collecting all the stamps earns a postcard). Walk the main street and the maze of alleys, looking for murals and sculptures. The most famous is the Little Prince and the Desert Fox statue. Sit on the railing and gaze out over the village, but expect a 20 to 40 minute wait for photos. Other highlights include the fish mural “Fish of Gamcheon,” the Haneulmaru Sky Road observation deck with 360-degree views of the village and Busan Port, the colorful staircases, and the “lighthouse.” The village has many cafés with terrace views, hanbok and school uniform rental shops (dressing up for photos is a popular pastime), handicraft workshops, capsule toy machines, and street stalls selling Gamcheon's specialty fish-shaped cakes and sugar pancakes. There are also small galleries and resident-run bookshops. The village is free to visit, and shops generally open from about 10:00 to 18:00. Getting there: take Subway Line 1 to Toseong Station, exit 6, then transfer to Saha-gu village bus 1-1, 2, or 2-2. The ride takes about 10 minutes; get off at the Gamjeong Elementary School stop, right by the entrance. Buses are crowded, and a taxi costs about 5,000 won. From Nampo-dong, a taxi takes about 15 minutes. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Notes: more than 2,000 households live here. Keep your voice down, don't enter private homes, and don't photograph residents' front doors. The alleys have many steps and steep slopes, so wear comfortable walking shoes. After dusk, shops close and street lights are sparse, so visit during the day. The sightseeing bus stop near the observation deck is the best place to catch a ride back.

Gamcheon Culture Village

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