Yongkung Temple – apparently the most beautiful temple in South Korea

Busan really seems to have a lot to offer. Yesterday I visited what is probably the most beautiful beach in South Korea, and today I visited what is likely one of the most beautiful temples in the country (it says so right there, so I didn't make it up).

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Today's plan was to visit a coastal temple: the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in eastern Busan. This meant getting up a little earlier than usual.

Not only because of the journey, but also because we received a small breakfast in our room at our current hotel. So, we had breakfast at eight o'clock, then slowly got ready and set off. Around ten o'clock we headed towards the subway, then continued by bus – and about an hour later we finally stood in front of the temple.

A Buddhist temple right by the sea: beautiful weather, stunning views, and fresh sea air. A combination that works instantly.

Within the temple grounds, besides the incredibly beautiful view of the sea, there were several Buddhist shrines, a huge Buddha, and also a smaller Buddha over which water is poured with a ladle. This ritual symbolizes purification and letting go of negative thoughts or worries – a small gesture with great meaning.

In addition, there were various ways to express wishes: firstly, via coins in a wishing well, and secondly, via colorful lanterns to which small golden leaves with personal wishes were attached and which were then hung there.

Thus, a kind of entire "forest" of wishes has emerged. The colors of the lanterns each represent different types of wishes – red, for example, for passionate, goal-oriented wishes, while light blue is more for those associated with responsibility and trust.

After visiting the temple, we treated ourselves to a homemade coffee right by the sea. Beans, grinder, and Aeropress were of course in our bags – the coffee nerd was prepared. Coffee somehow tastes even better with a view of the sea.

Then we went back a little way through a small bamboo forest and from there back towards the bus.

Back in the city, we had lunch first: gimbap – basically like Korean sushi, but the size of a small dürüm. Afterwards, the obligatory coffee visit was a must, this time at a very specific roaster who apparently has already won a roasting championship. Bonus point: From there, we had a beautiful view of one of Busan's harbors from above in the evening.

Back at the hotel, a little surprise awaited us. We hadn't actually requested room service that day – why would we, since we were traveling on the next day anyway? Nevertheless, a small bag containing two cookies and a kind note had suddenly appeared in the room. A truly lovely gesture.

That's a great way to end the day. All that was left to do was pack our backpacks properly, prepare everything for the flight the next day – and then the day was done. And so were we.