South Korea’s most famous and most visited beach lies along the east side of Busan. Haeundae beach has been a top place for visitors to Busan for a long time, and it hasn’t disappointed its visitors.
On This Post
- Information about Haeundae Beach
- South Korea’s Most Visited Beach
- Festivals on Haeundae Beach
- Gunam-ro & Other Parts in the area
- More Things To Do near Haeundae Beach
- Haeundae Beach in Korean Movies and Kdramas
Information about Haeundae Beach
Location & Map
264, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
How to get to Haeundae Beach
- Take Busan Metro (Subway) Line 2 (Green Line) and get off at Haeundae Station (해운대/209), Exit 3 or 5 > Walk to Haeundae Beach about 550 meters (1,800 feet).
- Take bus No. 139, 307, or 1003, and take off at Haeundae Beach (해운대 해수욕장) bus station.
- Paid parking lot available
How to pronounce the name
해운대 해수욕장 /hae-un-dae hae-soo-yok-jang/: Haeundae is the name of the area. Haesooyokjang means a beach, especially where people can swim. Haeundae could mean the beach, the administrational district, and the area around the beach.
Admission (Entrance Fee)
Free
Contact
- Phone: +82-51-749-7611
- Website: Haeundae District Office Site
Haeundae Beach, South Korea’s Most Visited Beach
Once considered one of the eight most beautiful places in the Korean Peninsula during Joseon Dynasty, Haeundae Beach has been always the place to visit not only in Busan but in South Korea. The white sandy beach has attracted people who have appreciated the beauty of nature for a long, long time, but now this destination offers much more than the natural beauty.
The area around Haeundae Beach offers almost everything beachgoers are looking for: marine sports, shopping, top-notch restaurants, and even a casino (only for international visitors.) As for accommodations, it wouldn’t be too much exaggeration to say that Haeundae Beach is the most luxurious area in Busan. Among eight five-star hotels in Busan, half of them are located on the beach.
Haeundae Beach in Summer
Every year, Haeundae beach attracts more than 10 million visitors. The beach shines its different charms in each season, but summer is definitely the season to enjoy the beach one hundred percent. It usually opens longer than other beaches in South Korea. It begins at the beginning of June and closes at the end of August. The schedule can change due to weather, pandemic, and other issues, though.
You can rent beach umbrellas, tubes, beach beds, life jackets, and more at the ticket booth. Although it says “ticket booth,” there is no entrance fee to visit and swim at the beach.
These are air pressure foot cleaners. You wash out sand from your feet after strolling on the beach. Of course, it’s free to use.
There is always something going on in the area. Hotel Grand Joseon was holding Ryan Holiday in Busan event on the day I visited.
Gunamro and Other Parts of Haeundae Beach
Gunam-ro (or Gunamro) is a central street connecting Haeundae Beach and the subway stations. The road is dotted with restaurants, hotels, cafes, and shops (recently the road has added several selfie studios.) Visitors can enjoy a variety of busking and other performances on Gunamro street on weekends. By simply making a turn from Gunamro, Haeundae Jeontongsijang (해운대 전통시장/ Haeundae Traditional Market) welcomes visitors with a full list of retail shops and local restaurants.
The City of Busan installed two breakwater constructures under the sea one near Mipo port and the other near Dongbaekseom Island. To guide boats to avoid crashing into these breakwaters, the city put special marks, which is an artwork by Min Gwangsik (one in the picture above.) Mipo area is filled with seafood restaurants where you can have fresh seafood from hoe (raw fish) to codfish soup with deep broth while looking at the full horizon of the ocean.
At the western end of the beach, the opposite side of Mipo, Haeundae Pojangmachchon (해운대 포장마차촌/ Food Stall Town) offers fresh seasonal seafood and an upbeat atmosphere for having a drink with good company.
Festivals on Haeundae Beach
The beach hosts several festivals throughout the year: In January, The Polar Bear Club event challenges a large group of daredevils to swim in the freezing winter ocean. From May to June, Haeundae Sand Festival pleases visitors with awe-inspiring sand artworks by sand artists from all over the world. In July, The Busan Sea Festival is another event where all participants enjoy music and exciting activities. And, finally, at the end of the year, Haeundae Light Festival fills the white sand beach and Gunam-ro street with seasonal lights.
Related Post: Haeundae Sand Festival in Busan
Related Post: Haeundae Light Festival in Busan
More Things To Do near Haeundae Beach
If you want to do more than a walk on the beach, no worries. It has more to offer. You can walk on the transparent glass bridge on the 100th floor or enjoy a cup of java at the world’s highest Startbucks at Busan X the SKY. On the opposite side of Busan X the SKY lies Dongbaekseom Island, a perfect place to stroll while enjoying the view of Gwangan Bridge. Although it has “island” in its name, you can walk to the place from the beach. It’s also home to Nurimaru, a place to host APEC Summit in 2005.
In case the weather is not perfect to enjoy the blue sky and sandy beach, visit Busan Sea Life Aquarium. Haeundae Beach is also home to Busan’s top-tier hotels and restaurants. You can find luxury dining here more than anywhere else in Busan (for example, restaurants in Paradise Hotel Busan). Or, if you want to try a good burger, you can find one right across from Paradise Hotel Busan.
Shinsegae Department Store in Centum City, the world’s largest department store, and Dalmaji Hill are reachable within a short drive or a simple ride on public transportation. Here is a post to review restaurants at Shinsegae Department Store.
Haeundae Beach in Korean Movies and Dramas
As one of the top destinations in Busan, it is not hard to find Korean movies and K-dramas that were filmed in Haeundae Beach and its area. The list includes the mega-hit movie with the same title, Haeudae, Hearty Paws, Hard Hit, Perfect Man, Cinema Street, and Burning. K-dramas such as The King: Eternal Monarch, Now, We Are Breaking Up, and Shopaholic Louis, are all filmed in the area as well.
- Planning a trip to South Korea? Click here to find more destinations here.
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