Wonder-Filled Things To Do at Haeundae Beach, Busan, South Korea
At Haeundae Beach, Busan’s most beloved shoreline, all things to do and all things happening betray the pure, understated happiness and simple delights of Korean life. There, where the city meets the sea and the mountains. There, where Busan’s skyscrapers cast reflections in hues of green and blue.
And sunsets steal the hearts of many.
Busan is South Korea’s second-biggest city, right at the south-eastern tip of the country. If you’ve already seen Seoul and are thinking about Busan, you’ll find it’s a whole different universe, with its own food, art, fun, and history and places to explore.
This city is wrapped up in mountains and bordered by sea, housing incredible temples, modern tall buildings and busy shopping areas, along with traditional old markets or cultural villages. But what Busan is actually known for is its seafood specialties and its awesome beaches, like Haeundae and Gwangalli. These beaches are super popular, drawing crowds of both locals and tourists, especially in the summer. So today is all about the many things to do at Haeundae Beach.
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Why is Haeundae Beach famous?
Haeundae Beach in June, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
I spent in Busan around 3 weeks, end of May, beginning of June. And Haeundae was by far my favorite spot in the city: plenty of restaurants and cafes where I could work from while watching the sea; modern, tall buildings and old markets sitting side by side; nature trails with breath-taking sunsets. Serene, and still so alive, either daytime or by night.
Haeundae Beach or as the locals call it, 해운대해변 (Haewundae Haebyeon) is a white sand, urban beach, with a 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) long shoreline. On one side, you’ve got some crystal-clear waters. On the other side, there’s the stunning Busan city skyline, with all these shiny skyscrapers. To make it picture-perfect, nature wraps itself around both ends of the beach with the forested promenades of Dalmaji Hill to the East and Dongbaek Island to the west.
What actually make Haeundae Beach so famous is its gigantic diversity of things to do. No matter the age, no matter the season or the time of the day.
Summer at Haeundae is an absolute haven for those who crave sun and water activities. But there are some features that make the beach an all year-round destination.
One is its close proximity to several iconic Busan landmarks, like Busan X in the Sky, Sky Capsule or even the famous Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Added to that, the nearby hills are ideal for hiking and reflection, with water views and dramatic sunsets.
When hunger strikes, whether you’re craving fresh seafood, international flavors, upscale dining experiences, or the nostalgic charm of old-market style eateries, all are there to choose from. Same Haeundae is also the perfect place for enjoying a vibrant nightlife with the so many live performance clubs in the area.
Plus, from time to time, the beach itself becomes the main stage for different cultural events.
How to Get to Haeundae Beach?
Haeundae Beach Sign, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
For reaching Haeundae Beach, I do recommend public transport. Line 2 (Green Line) by subway. Or one of the bus lines available in the area: 100, 1003, 141 and 307. 307 is actually the bus route connecting the Gimhae International Airport to Haeundae .
To be honest, my whole time in South Korea, I used taxi only to get from the airport or train station to the accommodation and back. Because the public transport is cheap, clean, fast and well organized. You need nothing else than metro tickets and some spare change for the bus.
By Subway:
- Take Line 2 (Green Line) of the Busan Metro to “Haeundae Station” (해운대역).
- From Haeundae Station, it’s a short walk to the beach. Just follow the signs, and you’ll reach Haeundae Beach within minutes.
By Bus:
- Several bus routes (100, 1003, 141 and 307) connect various parts of Busan to Haeundae Beach.
- Look for buses heading to “Haeundae” or “해운대” and check the bus schedules and routes at the local bus terminals or online.
By Taxi:
- Taxis are readily available throughout Busan.
- Simply tell the driver you want to go to “Haeundae Beach” or show them the Korean characters “해운대해변.” They’ll take you directly to the beach.
By Bicycle:
- In Busan, even as a foreigner, you can rent a bike for one or two hours totally free of charge. You just need to show an ID and a contact number. Check the locations for renting a bike.
📌 Getting around Busan: As Google Maps does not fully work in South Korea, you will want to download either KakaoMap or Naver Map. Both provide reliable navigation on the streets of Busan.
Things to do on & around Haeundae Beach
Most activities on Haeundae Beach are family friendly, from joining public bathhouses to visiting the underwater world or spending a day at the beach.
The tour I’ve prepared for you starts on the left side of Haeundae Beach, close to Mipo station. Here, the scenic coastal train, the Sky Capsule, finishes its journey. Then we’ll be heading towards the right side, towards Dongbaek Island and the 101 Bay Yacht Club. Ready?
Things you might need:
- Busan Pass – access to 30 tourist spots;
- Prepaid SIM card – pick from airport;
- Universal Travel Adapter.
Best tours near Haeundae:
🏖️ Try All-Beach Fun Stuff
People on Haeundae Beach beginning of June, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
The Haeundae beach itself is just lovely. Not so commercial, but with clear waters and a fine sand just right for swimming and sunbathing. You can bring your own umbrella and mat, and no one will mind. But you can also rent everything you need near the beach directly. The adventurous ones can try different water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides and paddleboarding, which is quite popular around here. Although snorkelling and diving are not so common at Haeundae, there are nearby locations where you could do that.
Still, Haeundae Beach is only open for swimming just from late June until end of August. Sometimes, swimming at night is also allowed. In July, tourists from across Korea flock to Busan for their vacations and it can become really crowded.
Even if I was in Busan before the summer season started, but the beach was already full and alive. People were jogging, admiring the view, walking hand in hand along the beach, having picnics near the water, taking cute pictures or even fishing towards the right end of the sand stretch. Hard to not fall in love!
🚃 Ride Busan Sky Capsule
Sky Capsule Haeundae Beach, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
My first time at Haeundae Beach was right after visiting the famous seaside Yonggungsa Temple. I love to walk a lot, so I had planned to walk all the way to Haeundae. No bus, no train in my itinerary.
But in Songjeong, I ran into this overly cute, sightseeing beach train from Blueline Park. It was going towards Cheongsapo. And I had to try it!!
I remember there are a few stops and things to see on the way, but at Cheongsapo Station you can switch from this beach train to a Sky Capsule, raising you up in the air about 7 meters. The capsule took me directly from here to Mipo Station, next to Haeundae Beach.
It’s more like a hop on, hop off, in one direction. But if you don’t make a stop, the whole ride (beach train, plus sky capsule) lasts about 30 minutes, the two together taking you along the East Busan coastline for almost 5 km.
The train is for groups and the seats are positioned towards the windows so everyone can enjoy the panorama, while the Sky Capsule is a small, private ride cabin just for 2-4 people. We were just the two of us, Dragos and I.
Honestly, I had a lot of fun, took hundreds of pictures with the cabins in the air, in the woods, flower vases in the train stations, sea views, but none is as incredible as the real thing. If you’ve experienced all that Haeundae Beach has to offer, you should definitely try the Sky Capsule.
🚤 Go Cruising Near Haeundae
Cruise Boat at Haeundae Beach, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
The Haeundae Cruise Terminal is close to Mipo Station for the Sky Capsule, on the very left end of the beach.
There are only two tours available: Oryukdo Sea Day Tour and Gwangandaegyo Bridge Night Tour. For those planning to embark, it’s important to note that tickets cannot be purchased in advance. The schedule varies monthly and daily. Timetable for the daily cruises are usually available available on the day itself, at the entrance, depending on the weather.
- Oryukdo Sea Tour (Day): It’s a 70-minute journey departing from the Haeundae Cruise Terminal and takes passengers past Dongbaekseom Island (Nurimaru APEC House), the Gwangandaegyo Bridge, Igidae, and the Oryukdo Islets before returning to the terminal.
- Gwangandaegyo Bridge Night Tour: Lasting 50 minutes, this tour also begins and ends at the Haeundae Cruise Terminal. The route includes Dongbaekseom Island (Nurimaru APEC House), the Gwangandaegyo Bridge, and Gwangalli Beach. This one is pretty amazing! The city lights are glittering against the backdrop of the ocean. Haeundae Beach, Dongbaekseom Island, and the Marine City are a wonder at late hours.
🦐 Feeding the seagulls: have a small bag of shrimp crackers with you!!
- ⏰ Duration: 50-70 minutes;
- 📌 Location: 33-1 Dalmaji-gil 62beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea (Google)
- 🎟️ Admission fee: 28,000 WON
☁️ Climb to the top at Busan X The Sky
Busan X The Sky Observatory, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Busan X the Sky is one of the most iconic silhouettes of Haeundae Beach skyline. Definitely, a must see. It is the observatory of one of the first skyscrapers to greet you in Haeundae, as you leave Blueline Park at Mipo Station of the Sky Capsule. At 411.6m, LCT The Sharp Landmark Tower is also among Korea’s tallest ones.
On a clear day, this is the best place from where you see the whole stretch of the Haeundae Beach, as well as most of the city of Busan: sea, mountains and helipad buildings that dot the view.
Busan X The Sky Starbucks & Skywalk, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
But the all-glass observatory spanning 3 floors (98th to 100th) can be so much more than that. We had a lot of fun for more than two hours talking to robots, stepping on glass walkways above the beach, checking art exhibitions, and interact with the Sky Letter feature to create our own constellations or clouds. Plus, you can get coffee from the highest Starbucks in the world or enjoy fine dining at Sky 99 while overlooking the city.
And last, but not least, the journey to the top is an adventure in itself. The Sky Cruize elevator is taking you up 100 floors in under a minute, surrounded by screens creating the illusion of an air balloon raising beyond clouds.
📌 Photography tips: avoid the bright sun hours in the afternoon, because of strong glass panels reflections. In the morning might be cloudy, but it’s worth a try. Afternoon until night might give you some spectacular views.
📌 Book tickets in advance: sometimes people wait in queues for up to 3 hours.
🍤 Visit Haeundae Traditional Market
Haeundae Traditional Market, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Right next to Busan X The Sky and the breezy beach, there’s a cool spot you’ve got to check out if you’re feeling hungry – the Haeundae Traditional Market.
It’s a neat little market where you can find all sorts of food stalls and small restaurants, especially ones with seafood that’s super fresh. I stopped here for lunch, but a walk around is fascinating. All along the street, there is all the seafood you can think of floating and waiting for its turn to be cooked: lobsters, Alaska king crabs, small octopuses, flatfish, clams, eels.
Too few shops scattered around the eateries have things for home, clothes, crafts, and some yummy spices and herbs to call it a souvenir stop pit. But if you’re a foodie like me, then this is actually a haven for Korean street food staples such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), hotteok (sweet pancakes), heamul-pajeon (seafood green onion pancake), sundae (blood sausage), hweori gamja (twisted potatoes on a stick), and eomuk (fishcake).
- ⏰ Opening hours: 9:00 AM–10:00 PM;
- 📌 Location: 22-1 Gunam-ro 41beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
♨️ Relax at the Hot Springs
Haeundae Beach Hot Springs Tourist Map
Busan is famous for its “jjimjilbang” or Korean bathhouses and hot springs. Believe it or not, there are about 450 spas in the city (link),, ranging from public footbaths to luxurious wellness centers. Some of these are actually located within the beautiful coastal setting of Haeundae Beach. While Haeundae is primarily known for its beach, it also attracts tourists year-round for its spa culture.
Plus, these are the only hot springs bordering the sea, allowing tourists to enjoy bathing in the sea and the hot springs in one visit. And they have been here for quite a while.
They’ve been known as “Gunam Hot Spring” since hot spring water was discovered from a puddle in Gunambeol, Haeundae during Silla Dinasty. At that time, they were frequented by nobility and were (and still are) believed to have medicinal properties. The legends speak about the 51st Queen Jinseong healing from smallpox as a child and a 20th century group of lepers from the seaside village of Cheongsapo recovering after bathing.
The springs were modernized by the Japanese, but after liberation this area was incorporated into Busan City and was urbanized. Since Haeundae Beach officially opened in 1965 and the area was designated as a Hot Spring Protection Zone in 1982, it has been hailed as a globally renowned tourist resort.
📌 The hot springs water: Low alkaline saline water without color or smell, a bit salty pH 7.7 and 32-59 °C. High radium content helping to prevent rheumatism, arthritis, poor peripheral blood circulation, muscle pain, skin disease, anaemia and more.
🦈 Go Underground at Sea Life Busan Aquarium
Sea Life Busan Aquarium Entrance on Haeundae Beach, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Next Haeundae attraction in line, the Sea Life Busan Aquarium, sits right on the beach and is more than just a really cute building with blue and white, candy-cane like pillars. Though the aquarium has this spectacular beachfront setting, the actual magic happens in the underground.
The whole place seems like a labyrinth of exhibition halls, underwater glass tunnels, transparent walkways giving the opportunity for what I would call a multi-sensory experience. And a glimpse into the world of rare sea creatures, sharks, turtles, whales, and even South African Jackass penguins. You can see, touch, hear, smell, feel the sea!!
There are lots of opportunities to take amazing pictures through out the exhibition themed setups like standing inside a huge water globe or getting a friendly hug from a life-sized polar bear. If you click the big red button below, you can get your skip-the-line ticket and have also a photoshoot included. Ready to join the fun at Haeundae beach?
📌 Not to miss at Busan Aquarium: fish feeding, mermaid show and the glass-bottom boat gliding over the main 3000-ton water tank.
- ⏰ Opening hours: 10:00 AM–07:00 PM, daily;
- 📌 Location: 266 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
🖼️ Visit a Korean Art Gallery
Art Exhibition at BMW / Mini Store, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
As an art lover, you would have plenty to see around Haeundae Beach. There are multiple art galleries in the area, independent or as part of car showrooms like Audi or BMW, LCT towers and some hotels. Most of them are free to visit and exhibit contemporary Korean artworks including delicate paintings, innovative media art, and bold experimental installations, each telling a unique story of Korea’s past, present, and future.
Best art galleries at Haeundae Beach:
- Gallery Mare, inside Paradise Hotel New Building B1;
- OKNP, Free gallery in Grand Josun hotel, 4th floor;
- Gallery Rae, in the Audi Haeundae Showroom;
Plus:
- Radium Art Center, minutes away from Haeundae;
- Goeun Museum of Photography & Cultural Foundation;
- Lyrical Art Busan, 3rd floor, LCT Podium Building.
🎞️ Make Memories at the Selfie Studios
Photo Spot at Busan X the Sky, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Koreans love taking pictures and making memories. The is why inside of the Aquarium is not the only place where you can have a photoshoot. But also at the selfie studios in the Haeundae Beach area, many fully equipped with all kinds of funny and cute props.
Theater Self Studio is the closest, like 2 minutes away, but you can also try Photo Signature or Photo Drink.
🌳 Take a Walk in Songrim Park
Haeundae Beach Park
Following the beach line towards the Westing Josun Hotel, there is a small pine-tree park right by the sea called Songrim Park. The alleys are all dressed up in gigantic, colourful hydrangeas. There are so so many pretty ones, especially in June.
🌊 The Bay 101 Yacht Club
Bay 101 Yacht Club Waterfront, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Bay 101 is a must-visit destination in Busan, especially for those exploring the vibrant area of Haeundae Beach. It’s a waterfront complex, a dining and socializing hub, just a street crossing away from Songrim Park. They have a yacht club and plenty of bars and eateries offering dishes like sandwiches, fish’n’chips, and soups, with amazing views of Busan skyscrapers.
It is the perfect place for night shots when the dazzling cityscape lights up and mirrors in the bay waters!
If you feel like, from here, you can also go on a short cruise around the coast with a catamaran.
🥾 Go Hiking at Dongbaek Island
Dongbaekseom (Dongbaek Island) Hiking Trail in Busan, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Towards the very right end of Haeundae Beach, next to Westing Josun Hotel, starts this scenic hiking trail across Dongbaekseom, a lush area, once an island, now part of the mainland.
The walking path is a made of multiple wooden decks raised above rocks, where you can hear the water crashing in. It goes up and down along the coastline, seamlessly connected by stairways and bridges, making the island even more charming than it is.
There are a few stops on the way. The first one is the statue of a mermaid, a piece of folklore about Princess Hwangok, who came here to marry, but was still longing for home. Not far from it, on the sharp rocks there is a perfect fishing spot.
Mermaid Statue near Haeundae Beach in Busan, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Going further, there are also a Lighthouse Observatory, Nurimaru APEC House, and on the highest point, a Korean-architecture octagonal Pavilion, plus the statue of Choi Chi-Won, a scholar and writer from the Shilla Kingdom. Closer to the water, an ancient stone bears an engraving of the same Choi Chi-Won: three Chinese characters meaning ‘sea cloud platform‘, which is also the direct translation of ‘Haeundae‘.
Still, Dongbaekseom is famous mainly for its gorgeous camelia flowers that bloom only in winter and spring, sometime between December and March. You shouldn’t miss this time of the year!
🧨 Visit During Festivals
And not right after like me – Busan Sand Festival on Haeundae Beach, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
The two most amazing annual events happening on the beach are the Sand Festival and Lights Festival.
Each May, for a week or so, Sand Festival takes over Haeundae beach. Imagination and human hands turn a small stretch of the Sea of Japan’s coastline into a giant playground and an open air museum of sand sculptures. Artists shape ethereal heroes, sea creatures, and architectural marvels echoing the castles of our lost childhood.
Then, from middle of November to end of January, as the old year waves goodbye and the new year kicks in, the whole area on and near the beach becomes a dreamland for Lights Festival. The beach itself, the hot springs road, the square, and even the old market sparkle with colorful light sculptures. It’s like all the stars have fallen from the sky in Haeundae.
Both festivals usually start with this big show of fireworks over the sea.
💅🏻 For All Ladies Out There in Need of a Manicure
Manicure Salon next to Haeundae Beach, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
I know this is something that you don’t usually see in the usual to do lists. But in Busan, beyond the usual tourist attractions, I found myself in desperate need of a nail salon. As someone who has struggled with nail-biting since childhood, maintaining gel nails is very important to me.
After more than a month of travel, my nails were starting to break. I needed to change because my fingers literally hurt. This is how I discovered ChocoBusy Nail, conveniently located just five minutes from Haeundae. I loved the fact that I could just walk in without an appointment. It’s a well-known salon, and fortunately, they speak English, which made things easier for me, though a bit pricey.
The cost for gel nail removal and rebuilding was about 120 USD. Which seemed astronomically high to me considering that in Romania I pay around 40 USD. But, in the end, they really managed to do a really nice manicure my way, which I could not get in Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia. They do have an offer for gel nails on Klook if you want to check it out.
Next to the nails salon, there is also a Hanbok rental store, another pretty way to feel even more connected to the beauty and tradition of Busan.
- ⏰ Opening hours: 09:30 AM–10:00 PM, daily;
- 📌 Location: South Korea, Busan, Haeundae-gu, 중제1동 1378-29 초코비지네일 (Google Maps)
- 🎟️ Make a reservation: Klook.
Haeundae Beach Hotels & Accommodation
Grand Josun Hotel in Busan, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
Budget Hotels (2⭐)
If you’re traveling to Busan on a budget and you’re just looking for a bed to crash. but still want to be close to Haeundae Beach, some good options are: Mama Guesthouse Haeundae (Klook/Booking) (basic rooms, clean, with private bathroom, close to beach and subway), Haeundae Blue Story Hotel (Klook/Booking) (newer hotel, local visitors, mostly for solo travellers, balconies towards the sea) and Toyoko Inn Busan (Klook/Booking) (beach view, confortable rooms, breakfast included), which seems the most popular in this range.
Mid-range Hotels (3-4⭐)
For a bit more, among the mid range hotels some of the best rated are Shilla Stay Haeundae (Klook/Booking) (big rooms, fantastic sea views), Baymond Hotel (Klook/Booking) (beachfront hotel, modern rooms, rooftop pool) and Ramada Encore by Wyndham (Klook/Booking) (a bit further away from the beach, but right next to the metro station, decent, simple hotel).
Luxury Hotels (5⭐)
Going up-scale on Haeundae Beach is not hard at all. The number of 5-star hotels is quite high in the area, with Grand Josun Busan (Klook/Booking) (classy interiors, generous rooms, infinite pool) and Paradise Hotel (Klook/Booking) (outdoor saunas looking out into the ocean, casino and cozy lounge) near Mipo Station, plus Westin Josun located at the opposite end of the beachfront.
While the first three sit conveniently right by the beach, among visitors’ favourites is also Park Hyatt (Klook/Booking) in the Yachting Club area. A 20-min walk to Haeundae beach taking you past Dongbaek Island, but worth it.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I earn a small commission from that website at no extra cost to you. Learn more: Disclosure policy.
Where to Eat Near Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach Lounge in front of Paradise Hotel, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
In terms of food and restaurants, the whole area near Haeundae Beach has such an incredible variety of dining experiences, from street food to upscale cuisine, Korean and international, including Brazilian, Japanese, and Indian.
For quick snacks, Haeundae Traditional Market is the go-to spot, serving up tasty street food and homestyle dishes. Bay 101 also serves some sandwiches, seafood and soups, so also right for a fast meal.
Sea Food Soup, Fried Fish & Kimchi at Haeundae Traditional Market, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
But for a more proper meal, you’ve got some great choices. If it were me, I would start with Hanwoo Saeng Galbi (Fresh Beef Short Ribs) and yukhoe (Korean steak tartare) at Haeundae Ilpum Hanwoo (해운대일품한우), renowned as one of South Korea’s top 3 destinations for Korean Hanwoo beef.
Schedule Haeundae (스케줄해운대) is another trendy restaurant serving dishes like Iberico Bone-In Ribeye Steak, alongside an assortment of nuts, creamy mashed potatoes, and grilled green onions and Black Truffle White Ragù, pasta grated right before your eyes.
For Japanese-style seafood rice bowls (Donburi), head to Giyohang Haeundae in the Shilla Stay hotel, while Galmegi Brewing (갈매기브루잉 해운대점) is the place to be for American Buffalo Wings and a refreshing beer.
Hollys Bingsu & Working Space, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
And, last but not least, if you are looking for some Korean desserts, try the gigantic bingsu at Hollys Coffee. They also have a great sea view and working space with sockets for laptops!
The list of best restaurants at Haeundae Beach can continue literally for ever. And one trip is not enough even for checking even a fraction of them.
Attractions Beyond Haeundae
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com
The most beautiful part about the things to do in Busan is that they never end. Thinking of some other activities that you can enjoy within a 30-minute drive from Haeundae Beach, these could be related to art, cinema, spirituality, relaxation. For further exploration, I do recommend:
- Museum 1: Located in the heart of Busan’s cultural district, the museum is quite impressive as it blends contemporary art, technology, and interactive media. It’s known for its cutting-edge exhibitions that often incorporate digital and multimedia art. And it’s also very close to Busan Museum of Art. Exhibition tickets >>
- Haeundae Cinema Street: More like a tribute to Busan’s rich cinematic history, this one is a themed street that celebrates the city’s status as a film capital: chance to explore movie sets, view handprints of famous movie stars, and learn about the history of Korean cinema.
- Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory: a beautiful skywalk extending over the waves, with panoramic views over the East Sea.
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: spread along the coast, unlike most temples in Korea, which are located in mountains. Actually a really stunning spiritual place with statues and pagodas against the backdrop of the sea and waves hitting the shores.
