Busan/Haeundae

Haeundae is one of the country's main tourist destinations. It offers Korea's most famous beach, upmarket hotels, the newest shops and luxury apartments. Due to the relatively recent development of the area, it lacks the tradition and history that can be found in the rest of the city.

Many Koreans have happy memories of traveling to Busan to spend a hot summer's day on the packed beach in Haeundae.

Although a little distance away to the east, the Songjeong area with its impressive beach is also part of the Haeundae-gu district.

• 🌍 Haeundae Beach (해운대) (Haeundae Metro Station, exit 5.). One of the most popular summer destinations in South Korea. Haeundae beach attracts tourists from all around the country and gets really overcrowded in late July and early August. Deck chairs and parasols are available to rent for ₩10,000. Hotels including international chains are nearby, and the Busan Aquarium is on the beach front. On a clear day, Tsushima Island (Japan) can be seen. In winter the beach is much more quiet, although various events such as the Pusan Film Festival and the new year Polar Bear Swim are held here. Away from the beach in Haeundae town there are some excellent restaurants and a wide variety of shops, although many are hidden away. Explore the streets behind the beach front boulevard. The Haeundae Tourist Information Center is directly on the beach. Surfing and jetskiing is available, although most people seem happy to float in yellow inflatable rings (they can be rented). (updated Feb 2015)
• 🌍 Busan Aquarium (부산 아쿠아리움), Heaundae Beach (Line 2 - Haeundae station; walk directly to the beach from the station), ☏ +82 51 740-1700. This is the largest aquarium in Korea with great facilities and excellent displays. There is also a 3D ride that is worth checking out. There are larger aquariums in Asia, and outside the facility looks rather underwhelming, but inside the displays are high quality and the tanks well maintained. Easy to spend a couple of hours with kids. The price is ₩23,000 but you can get various discount like birthday dc. ₩23,000. 
• 🌍 Dongbaek Island (Dongbaekseom), Haeundae Beach, next to Westin Hotel (at Haeundae Beach turn right and walk to the Westin Hotel; the walk around the island starts from there). Dongbaekseom is not a real island, but a forested area with Camellia and pine trees past the Westin hotel. It offers a pleasant and short coastal walk, and the APEC Conference Center (with great views of the Gwangali area in Busan) can be visited here as well. 
• 🌍 Dalmaji Hill, Haeundae (from Haeundae station (Line 2) it is probably easiest to take a short taxi ride; otherwise you can walk to the eastern end of Haeundae Beach (Mipo) and climb the small hill to arrive at the start of Dalmaji). This is regarded as Busan's 'romantic road', and climbs a hill overlooking the sea. It is often called the Montmartre of Busan by locals, although the two locations only share the attributes of being romantic and on a hill. The majority of visitors are couples of all ages looking for a romantic experience. Along the way there are many galleries and at the top there are viewing areas, cafes, as well as an amphitheater with a dramatic ocean background. 

• 🌍 MoonTan Road (문탠로드), Haeundae (half way up Dalmaji Hill (above)). This is a nice forested walk along the sea coast on Dalmaji Hill with an impressive lookout in the middle. At night time the path is lit up. 
• 🌍 Busan Museum of Art, 40 APEC Road (Line 2, Busan Museum of Art station), ☏ +82 51 7402602. 10:00 to 20:00. Contains three art galleries of modern art (one being for children). You can probably feel pretty good about spending 2-3 hours here and feel like you've seen it all. Closed every Monday and January 1st. In case Monday is a national holiday then the museum is closed on the next day instead. Free. 
• 🌍 Busan Cinema Center, 1467 Woo-Dong (Line 2 - Centum City Station). The Busan International Film Festival has had this impressive open cinema built for the October 2011 festival. Go at night time to appreciate the light show displayed on the ceiling. To get there take the subway/bus to Centum City. The building is behind Shinsigae Centum City. 

• 🌍 Songjeong Beach (송정해수욕장) (from Haeundae Station, take bus 100, 100-1, 139, 142, or 181 to Songjeong Station, with 181 taking one directly to the main street section and just meters away from the beach or Jangsan Station and a taxi ride). Far out to the very east of Busan, Songjeong is a sandy cove-beach that is about 1.2 km long. There are many hotels and restaurants directly on the beach or within an easy walk. Since it is less crowded, this beach van be a better option than Haeundae beach in summer. Song Jeong offers a lot of Korean restaurants (especially Sundae), specialty coffee houses and a great deal of surf boarding in the Autumn and Winter. 

• 🌍 Yonggungsa Temple (OSIRIA Station is the closest, but you can also take bus 181 from outside Centum City or Haeundae subway stations, or just take a taxi from Haeundae for around ₩6,000). This Buddhist temple complex is situated on top of a large rock along the ocean. Since most Korean temples are in the mountains this is an unusual location with sweeping ocean views. You need to walk through a market from the car park to the complex itself. (updated Jan 2024)
• 🌍 Sengbulsa Temple (성불사) (walk up a steep hill from Busan Museum of Art, or take a taxi). Buddhist temple and monastery located up Jangsan mountain. Good scenic views over Haeundae. 

• 🌍 Cheongsapo Fishing Village (Number 2 minibus directly outside Jangsan station (direction Cheongsapo) - 15 minutes). Although not particularly remarkable compared to Heaundae and Songjeong beaches on eigher side, this village is remote and away from the crowds with some cafes and restaurants by the sea. You can walk here either along the Moontan Road (hilly), along the disused rail tracks (flat) or the Number 2 Orange/Blue minibus outside Jangsan station. 
• 🌍 Jucheonjogakbo Museum (주천조각보박물관) (near Jungdong Metro Station). 10:00 - 16:00. Museum of Korean traditional art. 

• 🌍 Spaland Centum City, U2-dong Shinsegae Centum City 1F-3F (take subway to Centum City). 06:00-24:00. Part of the Shinsigae mall, this spa is probably the most friendly/accessible spa for foreigners in Busan. It is directly on the Centum City subway station, making it very easy to get to. Signs and an Instruction leaflet are also provided in English. Unlike many other spas, there is a time limit of 4 hours here after which you would need to pay again. The quality of the spa facilities as well as the hot rooms are very high (which helps explain the relative high price to other spas), and the Korean restaurant inside serves good food. Entry price is cheaper before 08:00. Children age 12 and under are not permitted, and under the age of 18 must be under parental supervision after 22:00. ₩12,000 (weekdays), ₩14,000 (weekends) (discount for students). 
• 🌍 Haeundae Cruise Boat, Haeundae (Line 2-Haeundae station; walk to Haeundae beach, turn left and walk to the end). 09:00 ~ 22:00. This boat trip starts off at Haeundae’s Mipo Ferry Terminal and heads towards Oryuk-do Islets and the Igidae area. The shores of Igidae are composed of breathtaking views of fantastically shaped cliffs. This 1-hour boat trip offers great views of Busan Harbor. The boat ride can be very bumpy and there is no way off, so check the weather conditions if you feel sea sick easily! ₩18,000. 

• 🌍 BEXCO, Subway Line 2 - Centum City. BEXCO is a large exhibition center with many halls, and although most of the events are rather dry (i.e. Industrial Marine technology) there may be something of interest whilst you're in town such as computer gaming or coffee making expositions. Check out the schedule on the website. Many cafes in Busan have promotional leaflets for upcoming events held in BEXCO and sometimes offer a discount. The Busan International Motor Show is held here every year. 

• 🌍 Hiking up Jangsan Mountain (a good starting point is Daecheon Park in Jangsan). If you are near Haeundae, then Jangsan mountain can provide a good day's hiking. There are military bases at the summit complete with minefields (Clearly marked and fenced off), and great views over Busan and on a clear day to Japan. A hike to the summit and back should take 3-4 hours. Hiking trails are not really well marked, even if you can read Korean script. 

• 🌍 Blueline Park. An old mainline trainline has been repurposed into two types of tourist train - a 'sky capsule' (an elevated small tram) as well a coastal train. Free. 
• 🌍 Club 101 (Across the road from the Westin hotel), ☏ +82 51 726 8855. A yachting club with a variety of boats for the public to try out, including tours with a yacht (₩60,000+), a dash around the harbor on a jet boat (₩40,000), Glass bottom boat (₩60,000) and jet skis (₩250,000+) 
• 🌍 Vesta Spa, 1509-6 Joong-dong (near the beginning of Dalmaji Road), ☏ +82 51 743-5705. Korean sauna with separate levels for men and women. Very nice water and views over Haeundae beach. Somewhat out of the way, but if you are visiting Dalmaji road anyway then worth visiting. ₩6,000 (sauna only). 

• 🌍 Bay 101 Yacht, 52 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu. Provides trips around Gwangan Bridge and beach in the neighboring area. (updated Jan 2024)

• 🌍 Haeundae Market (walk from Haeundae metro station to the beach, and the market street will be on your left). A pedestrian street full of fresh food to buy and small restaurants to try out. (updated Jan 2024)

• 🌍 Shinsegae Department Store (신세계), Subway Line 2 - Centum City (in Centum City), ☏ +82 2-2026-9000. 10:30-20:00. A department store with an interesting (albeit expensive) food hall in the basement. The Kyobo book store is very large and has a large variety of Korean and English books. It has two cinemas, an ice rink and a large public spa. It is also the biggest department store in the world according to the Guinness World Book of Records. (updated Jan 2024)
• 🌍 Lotte Department Store, Subway Line 2 - Centum City (in Centum City). 10:30-20:00. A smaller department store right next to the Shinsegae Department Store. Has a decent cinema as well as a small animal zoo (free) on the top floor. (updated Jan 2024)

Most of the bars that appeal to westerners are on the main street (Gunam-ro) between Heundae subway station (exit 5) and the beach. Below is a small selection.

• 🌍 Boracay (in between Haeundae and the Apec Center). In the basement of a hotel, this is an expensive Korean style booking club. 
• 🌍 Starface Bar (Dalmaji Hill). Pool table and cool Americans aplenty on the weekends. Pretty sleepy during most weeknights. 
• 🌍 Thursday Party (on Gunam-ro near the station.). A chain of bars in Busan and a popular place for Koreans and Westerners to intermingle. 
• 🌍 U2 Bar (across from the Novotel Ambassador Busan). Has live DJs and occasional live bands on weekends. Plays requests during the weekdays. Darts, pool and Hookahs available. Though not busy on most weeknights, there are usually a good mix of foreigners and Koreans inside. 
• 🌍 Wolfhound Irish Pub & Restaurant, Haeundae (walk out exit 5 from Haeundae Stn for about 300 m and its on your right on the second floor just inside the fifth alley), ☏ +82 51-746-7913. From 17:00 weekdays, 11:00 weekends. A proper pub serving a large variety of premium draft beers and western food. Great place for a mid week dinner and pint or to party on the weekends. Good mix of Koreans and westerners. from ₩4900. 

Haeundae is, like Busan and South Korea in general, very safe. Refer to the Busan article for details.

There is a Tsunami warning system and signs on the beaches, although the risk of a Tsunami is far less than in nearby Japan. In the unlikely event a tsunami warning is issued for Busan or the South Korean coastline, head for the top of a tall building or higher ground. (Higher ground is not easily accessible from Haeundae Beach.)

Traffic can be hectic with a lot of tourists unfamiliar with the area trying to find their way around whilst driving. It is worth checking carefully before trying to cross the road even if you think that you have the right of way.

Along the beachfront there is government provided free Wi-Fi. Most coffee shops around the area also seem to offer.