Busan PASS: The Difference Between BIG3 and BIG5

The deciding factor is how many Group A (purple) facilities you'll use. If one Group A facility is enough, BIG3 (45,000 won) is the right choice; if you'll use two, go with BIG5 (65,000 won). The price difference is 20,000 won, which gets you one more Group A and one more Group B facility.

Busan's travel pass "VISIT BUSAN PASS" comes in count-based BIG3 and BIG5 versions, as well as time-based 24-hour and 48-hour versions. This article walks through the differences between the four plans, how to choose based on your itinerary, and where to buy and pick up the pass.

Four plans — the difference is "time" vs. "count"

The VISIT BUSAN PASS comes in two main types: a time-based pass that lets you visit as many eligible facilities as you like within a set time, and a count-based pass with a fixed number of facilities you can choose.

Plan	Price	Validity	Facilities
24 hours	55,000 won	24 hours from first use	All Group A & B (one visit per facility)
48 hours	85,000 won	48 hours from first use	All Group A & B (one visit per facility)
BIG3	45,000 won	180 days from first use	1 Group A + 2 Group B
BIG5	65,000 won	180 days from first use	2 Group A + 3 Group B

With the count-based passes, you choose from Group A (purple), which features pricier facilities, and Group B (blue), which features more affordable ones. Per facility, BIG3 works out to 15,000 won and BIG5 to 13,000 won. By the numbers alone BIG5 looks cheaper, but the real difference is whether you get one or two Group A slots.

What's in Group A and Group B?

Group A includes higher-priced attractions such as observation decks, theme parks, spas, and yacht tours. Group B centers on towers, museums, hanbok rentals, and experience-based facilities. Here are some of the main ones.

Main Group A (purple) facilities

• Busan X the SKY — an observation deck on the 100th floor. There's also a Starbucks with view seating on the 99th floor
• Lotte World Adventure Busan — a theme park with 6 zones and 24 attractions
• Spa Land Centum City — a spa inside the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City branch
• Skyline Luge Busan, Busan City Tour Bus, various yacht tours, surfing experiences

Main Group B (blue) facilities

• Busan Tower, Arte Museum Busan, National Maritime Museum
• Songdo Yonggung Cloud Bridge, Taejongdae Danubi Train
• Gijang Gudusan Bamboo Forest, Running Man Experience Hall
• Hanbok rental shops in areas like Gamcheon

Editor's note: According to on-site information, both the Songdo Marine Cable Car and the Sky Capsule at Haeundae Blueline Park are classified as Group A. If you want to ride both, you'll need BIG5 with its two Group A slots. However, some information sites classify the cable car as Group B. Since group assignments can change, it's safest to check the latest list on the official VISIT BUSAN PASS website before purchasing.

BIG3 for this itinerary, BIG5 for that one

Choosing is simple: just sort the facilities you want to visit into Group A and Group B and count them. Let's look at three common patterns.

One Group A facility plus mostly city strolling → BIG3

For example, going up Busan X the SKY in Haeundae, then combining Busan Tower in Nampo with a hanbok rental. That fits perfectly into 1 Group A + 2 Group B, so BIG3 at 45,000 won is enough. This suits people who are happy with one observation deck and want to spend the rest of their time wandering markets and cafés.

Want both rides and a theme park → BIG5

If you want two Group A facilities — like Lotte World Adventure Busan and Busan X the SKY, or the Sky Capsule and the cable car — BIG5 is your only option. You also get three Group B slots, so you can fit in the Songdo Yonggung Cloud Bridge and the Taejongdae Danubi Train too. Two Group A facilities means BIG5. Remember just that and you can't go wrong.

Packing everything into one day → the 24-hour pass

If you plan to hit five or more spots in one go during a short stay, the 24-hour pass (55,000 won) is also worth considering. Its strength is that you can use all eligible facilities with no distinction between Group A and B. However, each facility can only be used once, and the clock starts the moment you use your first facility.

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180 days valid, or a continuous 24/48 hours?

The other dividing line between count-based and time-based passes is the validity period. Count-based passes are valid for 180 days from first use, so you can space out your schedule — say, Haeundae on day 1 and Songdo on day 3 — without losing any slots. It's fine to reshuffle plans on a rainy day, too.

Time-based passes count 24 or 48 continuous hours. The clock doesn't stop even when you take a break, so they're best for people with a tightly planned itinerary. For repeat visitors to Busan or those who prefer a relaxed pace, the count-based passes are a better fit ☺️

The pass does more than just admission. You can get discounts at Olive Young, duty-free shops, hotels, cafés, and more, and the physical card works as a transit card just like T-money. Top it up and you can ride the subway and buses directly.

How to buy and where to pick up

The pass comes in two forms: a physical card and a mobile pass. Online, you can buy it via the official website or the "VISIT BUSAN PASS" app. The mobile pass works directly in the app with no pickup needed. For the physical card, show the confirmation email you receive after purchase at a designated pickup location.

There are 10 locations for pickup and in-person purchase:

• Official VISIT BUSAN PASS counter at Busan Station
• Gimhae Airport International Terminal tourist information center
• 7 city hotels (Commodore Hotel Busan, Aqua Palace Hotel, Crown Harbor Hotel Busan, Avani Central Busan, and others)
• A café in Huinnyeoul Culture Village

If you pick it up at the airport or Busan Station, you can start using it as a transit card the moment you arrive ✈️

Summary

The deciding factor between BIG3 and BIG5 is how many Group A facilities you'll use. As a rule of thumb: one Group A facility → BIG3 at 45,000 won; two → BIG5 at 65,000 won; packing everything into one day → the 24-hour pass at 55,000 won. The quickest route is to write out the facilities you want to visit, sort them into Group A and B using the latest list on the official site, and then choose.

FAQ

Which Busan PASS is a better deal, BIG3 or BIG5?

BIG5 if you'll use two Group A (purple) facilities; BIG3 if one is enough. BIG3 gives you 1 Group A + 2 Group B for 45,000 won, and BIG5 gives you 2 Group A + 3 Group B for 65,000 won.

How long is the count-based Busan PASS valid?

Both BIG3 and BIG5 are valid for 180 days from the day you first use a facility. The 24-hour and 48-hour time-based passes are counted continuously from first use, so the clock never stops.

Where can I pick up the physical Busan PASS card?

At 10 locations in total, including the official counter at Busan Station and the Gimhae Airport International Terminal tourist information center. Just show the confirmation email you receive after purchase. If you use the mobile pass, it works in the app and no pickup is needed.