Visit Haeundae Beach on a warm July or August day to see Busan’s most popular beach destination in action. Lines of multicoloured sun umbrellas cover the 1.5-kilometre (0.9-mile) stretch of beach. Crowds of beachgoers float on bright yellow tubes on the shore. This beach often sees over 100,000 visitors per warm summer day. When it is particularly hot, sometimes up to a million sun worshippers flock to this beach, making this stretch of beach a fantastic spot to people-watch.
Spot some of the women who wear high heels despite the soft sand. Public displays of affection not often seen in other parts of South Korea are quite common here.Look out across the sea to the horizon to see one of Busan’s most beautiful vistas.
Face east to see the tree-covered Dalmaji Hill along the curve of the beach. Turn west to see the metropolitan towers of Busan’s city skyline. If the sky is especially clear, look out to sea and spot the Japanese island of Tsushima.
If you want to purchase some lunch or dinner, order from one of the numerous pizza places and request your pizza is sent to your umbrella. Enjoy your cold drinks or sip a refreshing Korean beer, as it is legal to drink alcohol on the beach. Despite the relaxed atmosphere at the beach and the many revellers, the local government keeps Haeundae Beach exceptionally clean. Teams of employees regularly tidy the beach throughout the day.
To enjoy the beach in relative solitude, arrive early in the morning. Bigger crowds tend to arrive by 9 or 10am. If you feel like exploring, discover the beach’s surrounding attractions. Many restaurants line the seafront and the Busan Aquarium, the largest in South Korea, can also be found overlooking the beach.
It’s free to enter Haeundae Beach. Hire out a tube and beach umbrellas from the stands and vending machines on the beach.
Find a large car park at Haeundae Beach, but arrive early to secure your spot. You can also reach the beach with buses that travel directly from the main Busan train station.
