The best beaches in Busan, beyond Haeundae Beach, with videos so you can make up your own mind which is the best! With tips for senior travellers to Busan.
South Korea's second city, Busan, is a coastal city well-known for having some of its most beautiful beaches- at least one of them should be on your itinerary even if you only have 1 day in Busan. The most famous, of course, is Haeundae. (Other places such as Jeju Island also have great beaches, but the surrounding amenities aren't as well developed.)
If you have enough time in Korea, Busan is definitely worth including in your South Korean itinerary- especially if you enjoy experiencing a more traditional way of life in Korea (compared to Seoul.)
But what if you want to go somewhere less crowded? Read on to find out which of Busan's beaches would suit you best! And if you're visiting in spring, here's a Korean packing list to help you!
Tip: download these free apps to help you get the most of your Korean trip!
List of Busan Beaches
Here is a list of the various beaches in Busan, with a short summary of each. To find out more about a specific spot, scroll down!
- Haeundae Beach: Perhaps the most popular beach in Korea, Haeundae boasts wide stretches of sand, a large promenade to walk on besides the beach, and luxurious hotels, such as Signiel Hotel Busan. It is known for events such as the Heaundae Sand Festival and Christmas Light Show. If you're looking for a beach that caters more to foreign tourists and offers luxury accommodation, Haeundae would be your best bet.
- Gwangalli Beach: Not too far from Haeundae is Gwangalli Beach which is amous for its views of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge (Diamond Bridge.) It also offers water sports and hosts the Gwangalli Drone Show on Saturday nights.
- Songdo Beach: South Korea’s first public beach, where you can take a cable car ride and walk along the Songdo Cloud Trails, or the Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge. This is a popular beach, but mainly with locals. Note that it's close to downtown Busan but there is NO subway station nearby, and that there is only 1 5-star hotel here.
- Dadaepo Beach: Known for its vast sand areas and spectacular sunsets, it’s adjacent to ecological trails and the Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream.
- Songjeong Beach: Beloved by locals for surfing, it has consistent waves as well as surf schools and equipment rentals to allow you to make the best of them.
- Ilgwang Beach: Favored by families for its shallower waters and quieter waves, it offers various marine sports and is surrounded by cafes.
- Imrang Beach: Less crowded and quite a distance from downtown Busan, it features Korean-style vacation stays and numerous restaurants and cafes.
Haeundae
Location: Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
We obviously have to start with Korea's most famous beach, which gets around 10 million visitors in the summer. If you want posh, Haeundae is the place to go!
Recommended For
- Those who want to say they went to THE beach in Busan- as one of the iconic landmarks, Haeundae is almost always featured in a Busan itinerary
- Most-senior friendly beach
- Looking for Instagrammable eateries and hotels
- Who need luxury
- Want to party
- People watch in summer
Getting There
It's very easy to get to, as there is a subway stop here. (However, it is a fair distance from Seomyeon.)
The Subway/ Metro is usually faster than the bus so take Subway Line 2 to Haeundae Station, then use:
- Exits 3 or 5 for the beach
- Exit 4 for the market or Haeundae-gil
Note: the beach and market are located within walking distance of each other.
Things to Do
- Take the Haeundae Blue Line Beach Train (or Sky Capsule.) This coastal train ride is so fun, cute, and offers you a fantastic view! You can also walk the route.
- Busan X The Sky: with an observation deck on the 100th floor - it's Busan's highest buildikng with the world's highest Starbucks- it offers amazing views of the beach and coast.
- Or walk the Coastal walk.
- You can also walk along the beach: The white sands stretch for over 1.8km with a width of 50m. There's also a very nice pavement which makes it easy to get around.
- The waters are shallow, so many people enjoy seabathing here. It's good for watersports and swimming too.
- Have tea at one of the luxury hotels: There are many skyscrapers, and high-rise 5-star hotels, such as Signiel Busan, Grand Josun Busan, Paradise Busan, and more.
- Haeundae is kind of like a city-meets-beach, so the nightlife here is decent
- The Haeundae Traditional Market is open at night too. If you've never been to a Korean market, definitely check it out. (But if you have, don't expect anything unique at Haeundae Market, although I did like the fairy lights that were strung above the shops/ restaurants.)
- Visit Haeundae-gil, a cool neighbourhood near Haeundae Station with lots of good restaurants
- Take a boat tour
- Walk up Dalmaji Hill on a clear day and see all the way to Japan (Busan is closer to Japan than Seoul!)
- Enjoy the buskers and dance performances in the summer, along the beach promenade
- Haeundae has been known for its hot springs since the Silla Dynasty. Paradise Hotel (a local luxury hotel by the beach) has hot springs, but it's only open to guests staying with them.
Eateries
Haeundae is FULL of good eateries, offering both Korean and international food. There are also several restaurants in Haeundae Traditional Market.
Festivals
- May/ June: Haeundae Sand Festival
- December: Polar Bear Swim Festival
- Winter: Haeundae Lights Festival
Rating for Seniors
Cliche as it may be, Haeundae is, in my opinion, the best beach for foreign seniors as you'll be able to find a hotel with English-speaking staff, it's convenient to get to and from, and there's lots of amenities. It's a place where you can get good local Korean food, but also decent international food when you're missing home.
I consider it one of the best areas to stay in Busan!
It does, however, get VERY crowded during the summer season. (Not to bad in May but from June onwards the crowds pour in.)
Gwangalli
Location: Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea
Another famous Busan beach is Gwangalli Beach, which is famous for its stunning night view but slightly more quaint than Haeundae. It's less visited by foreign tourists compared to Haeundae.
Recommended for
- nightlife
- seeing the famous Diamond Bridge (Gwangandaegyo Bridge), a Busan landmark that was on Marvel's Black Panther
- if you like drone shows
Getting There
Take the Metro line 2 to Gwangan station, walk out by exit 3 or 5, then stroll less than 1km to the beach.
Alternatively, go to Geumnyeosan station (exit 3.)smaller but
Things to Do
- See the Gwangandaegyo Bridge, an iconic landmark of Busan- especially beautiful at night when the lights turn on Gwangandaegyo Bridge
- Sunbathing or watersports (sometimes people surf here but not often
- Have a Picnic
- The nearby Hoe Town is also worth visiting. You can choose tasty fresh seasonal seafood to be eaten on the spot.
- Watch the Gwangalli M drone show held every Sunday night
- Check out the trendy cafes and restaurants
- See Millak Waterside Park, Korea's first waterside park
- Listen to live music at Millac the market on the weekends
- Visit Okryeonseonwon Temple which has no admission charge and has large statues
- Like Haeundae, you can find live music and street performances here during the summer
Eateries
There are many independent coffee shops and restaurants where you can enjoy seafood and raw fish. You'll be able to find several stylish eateries here.
Songdo
Location: Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, Korea
As the first public beach in Korea, opened in 1913, Songdo Beach is also pretty famous. However, it's mainly visited by local Koreans. (Around 5 million people visit it every year.)
It went downhill for a bit, but has since been regenerated.
Getting There
Songdo is actually pretty close to the city center of Busan, but you can only get there by bus or car. (There is no subway station within walking distance.)
And the walk from many of the bus stops to the main area of the beach (where you see the hotels and eateries) have a steep slope... If you insist, you can take bus number 17, 26, or 61 from Jagalchi Metro Station (Exit 2) and stop at Songdo entrance.
Things to Do
- Walk along the suspension bridge “Songdo Yonggungdari” which will give you good views of the coast. At night, the bridge is illuminated in different colors. If you stay in one of the hotels along the beach (with a sea-facing view), you won't be able to miss it! You'll also be able to see the local lifestyle here: when the weather is good, old ahjumma-s and ahjusshi-s (old ladies and gentlemen) walk out to pick shellfish during low tide.
- Take the Songdo Marine Cable Car from Songnim Park to Amnam Park. You'll be able to have a view of the sea and oddly shaped cliffs through the floor- it's transparent! (The cable car's arrival station is linked to the entrance to Songdo Sky Park which has attractions such as Dino Adventure (dinosaur models) and the Sky Harbour Observatory (where you can make time capsules.)
- Eat fresh seafood
Eateries
There are many eateries in the area, but most don't have a good rating on Google Maps. They tend to be traditional places to eat, so don't expect trendy interiors and what not.
Most are Mom and Pop shops, with a few cafe chains, but nothing terribly exciting. Don't expect too much foreign fare here.
Ask your hotel for a recommendation or check out my reviews of the Songo Beach eateries.
Accommodation
You don't get a good selection of international hotels at Korea's first beach (public.) The most international one is Fairfield (by Marriott.)
Definitely no 5-star places! However, you do get a stunning view from the beach-facing hotel rooms. (See above.)
Things to note for Seniors
Most of the restaurants are hotels are separated from the beach by a small but busy road, which can be a bit difficult to cross. (Not many traffic lights.)
Only for seniors who are fit and alert enough to cross a busy road AND don't mind buying for taxi rides every day. (Or have rented a car- Korea's a tough place to drive in though!)
Dadaepo
Location: Dadae-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea
If you enjoy nature, Dadaepo is the off-the-beaten-track beach for you. It's quite secluded and far away, and you'll be able to enjoy the natural ecology of the coast. The sand was formed by sediment from the Nakdonggang River and there's even a tidal flat inhabited by crabs, conches, and clams.
Recommended For
- Those who don't like crowds and are looking to spend a more relaxing day
- Those who like Nature
Getting There
Take metro line 1 to Dadaepo Beach station.
OR take either bus 2 or 98 from Busan Station. Buses in Busan can be a wild ride though- they jerk and turn quite violently- so I recommend the train!
Things to Do
- At the entrace, there is seaside park with the “the Sunset Fountain of Dreams.”
- During late April to October, there is a colorful fountain show at night which spouts water up to 55m high.
- You can also walk along the Gowooni Ecological Trail to spot the flora and fauna of Dadaepo Wetland- it's a great place to catch the sunset!
Songjeong Beach
Location: Songjeong-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Korea
In its own way, Songjeong is almost as famous as Gwangalli and Haeundae- but for surfing! With its big waves and shallow waters, it's where surfing took root in Korea, and is suitable for both beginners- you can take lessons- and more advanced surfers.
Recommended For
- Surfing
- If you're looking for nice cafes
- Looking for a quieter beach
Getting There
If you walk down Dalmaji-gil eastwards from Haeundae, you'll reach this beach with shallow waters that is popular with Korean families.
Alternatively, take buses 100, 139, or 142 from Haeundae Metro Station Exit 7 to Seongjeong.
Things to Do
- Surf or try watersports
- Many people like to watch the first sunrise of the New Year here (because the sun rises slightly earlier here, since it's to the east!)
- Walk to one of Korea's prettiest temples, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
- Walk Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory- the glass floor offers beautiful views of the waters.
- Fish
- Take a boat trip
Festivals
- Songjeong Beach Festival
- Harvest Full Moon Seaweed Festival.
Leave a Reply