Let’s Go to Gamcheon Culture Village
Artsy and beautiful: The view over the colorful buildings of Gamcheon Culture Village.
Address: 203, Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, Busan (부산광역시 사하구 감내2로 203)
Gamcheon Culture Village is one of Busan's most popular tourist attractions. This is thanks to the colorful murals, artistic installations, picturesque alleyways and panoramic views - makes it the nickname "Machu Picchu of Busan" obviously well deserved. And visitors from around the world appreciate its uniqueness.
From Decline to Revitalization
But the village hasn’t always been so popular. There was a time when Busan lived through a period of very quick urbanization and modernization - and Gamcheon Culture Village kinda fell down behind. The population declined, younger residents moved closer to the city. Aging residents and a bad infrastructure were left behind. But then a revitalization project was started to transform Gamcheon Culture Village into something, that could attract tourists just as well as the rest of Busan. The village's historic buildings were restored and with that came the public artwork and vibrant murals.
Today: Beloved Touristy Favourite
All the efforts paid off and the small village gradually became one of Busan's most popular tourist attractions. Today it’s a thriving cultural space that points out the history, creativity, and resilience of its locals. The vibrant street art, cultural events and much, much more make it a must-visit destination for all of us while exploring Busan.
The Essentials: Artworks and Views
Gamcheon Culture Village is a living, pulsating art installation in itself that you can experience in every corner of the countless alleys. I think, it’s particularly great, that many artworks are a collaboration between local artists and residents, which shows the community's efforts for creativity even more. No matter where you’re turning, theres something to be explored just everywhere. :)
And if you lift your eyes from the colorful house walls and murals, then they’ll meet some breathtaking views from the surrounding landscape. The hillside village offers panoramic photo motives of Busan's coastline. The mix of the colorful buildings and the blue, shimmering ocean is one os the prettiest things I’ve ever seen. :)
I recommend you to really take your time to soak in the beauty of those views, because nature around Gamcheon Culture Village is no less gorgeous than its many artworks.
For now, here are 7 quick take-away tips for you to make the best out of your Gamcheon Culture Village tour:
Respect Locals' Privacy: Don’t get into private homes, please.
Still: Interact with them: Very friendly with tips for alleys worth exploring.
Come on Weekdays: It’s more relaxed, because lesser crowds.
And Come Early: Lesser people in the background of your photos. ^^
Get Yourself a Map: (at the information center) For navigation and finding the key landmarks.
Explore Smaller Paths: Many hidden alleys with small cafés, galeries, etc.
Go for the Observatories: Panoramic views on the village's rooftops.
I hope, that just like me you can make the most of your own visit to Gamcheon Culture Village. Make some beautiful memories and just wander around this artsy, colorful hillside community in Busan.