The Best Things to do in Haeundae Beach Busan

Last Updated on November 8, 2024 by Alex

After visiting Busan a few times, we have concluded that Haeundae might just be one of our favorite areas. Because we know how hard it is to plan for a trip to someplace new, we have decided to put together this ultimate list of the best things to do in Haeundae.

Whether you are visiting Busan for only a long weekend or are planning to stay for a more extended period, we are sure you will end up in this part of town.

Laid back, vibrant, packed with food stalls or luxury restaurants, the home to many of the most luxurious hotels in Busan, and the place to be for fun after the sun goes down, Haeundae is the place to be no matter the time of day.

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The Absolute Best Things To Do In Haeundae

The Absolute Best Things To Do In Haeundae

Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea and has many things to offer, including Haeundae Beach, the largest and most popular beach in the port city.

How to get to Haeundae Beach

Getting there is easy by public transportation, no matter how you choose to travel to the city:

From Busan Station on the orange line number 1, take the train towards Nopo. At Seomyon station, change to green line number 2 and move towards Jangsan. Get off at the Haeundae subway station.
From Namhae International Airport, take the purple subway line to the last stop, Sasang. Then change the train to green line number 2 towards Jangsan. Get off at the Haeundae subway station.

We probably loved Haeundae so much because it reminded us of Repulse Bay Beach in Hong Kong, our previous city of residence. It has impressive skyscrapers, fancy hotels, cool cafes with sea views, good coffee, and a long sandy beach.

After spending one week here, we came to love Haeundae even more than Repulse Bay. The place offers so many things to do, the food is delicious and incredibly diverse, and there is food for all budgets. Staying here puts you in the perfect location for day trips from Busan.

Whether you visit Haeundae only for a day or choose it as your base camp for your trip to Busan, this is your complete guide to what to expect and what to do.

Where to stay in Haeundae, Busan

The first time we visited Busan, we chose to stay further away from the beach area on Yeongdo island. However, after that visit, we were convinced that the next time we visit Busan, we will definitely choose to stay close to Haeundae.

Regarding accommodation options at the beach, you can find something for any pocket and requirements.

If you are traveling for a special occasion or want to go all-in and choose luxury hotels, here are my hotel suggestions:

Paradise Hotel is one of the fanciest and most Instagrammable hotels in the region,

Grand Josun Busan has rooms with stunning sea views and a great infinity pool,
and Shilla Stay doesn’t disappoint, either.

If you are looking for a mid-range hotel in a great place, only minutes away from the beach, I strongly recommend the hotel we stayed in, Hotel Hyggelig.

The hotel has a nice cafe with a stunning rooftop terrace. The rooms are spacious and come with a balcony. We had a sea view from our room, and we were less than 5 minutes away from the beach.

Nearby, we had restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, and most of the main attractions of Haeundae.

Because we traveled from Seoul by car, parking was free at the hotel.

See availability and prices here!

UH Suite Haeundae is another great option to pamper yourself with a sea view from your jacuzzi. The SPA room is perfect for a couple, a group of friends, or someone traveling with one child. See more here!

Top things to do in Haeundae

Spend some time at the beach

Obvious, right? Well, not really.

Korean people, and Asians in general, don’t spend much time under the sun. They would either come to the beach fully dressed and enjoy the sea breeze with a coffee in hand, or they would come for surfing.

That said, we haven’t seen many people surfing at Haeundae (Songjeong Beach is a popular surfing destination in Busan, and you can rent a board and book surf lessons here).

If you love beaching like we do, you should bring a bathsuite. Just check the weather forecast beforehand: they may not allow people to go in on windy days.

During the peak season, mainly from June to September, you can book sun loungers and umbrellas and spend the whole day in the sun.

Visit SEA LIFE Aquarium Busan

The Sea Life Aquarium is one of the main attractions in Haeundae and Busan. It is within walking distance from the subway station and is located in the middle of the 1.5-kilometer-long beach.

Come here to learn about hundreds of sea life creatures, walk below the tunnel that will make you feel underwater, and plan your visit so that you can participate in shark feeding.

Visiting here is perfect for children and adults alike, and you can easily spend half of the day inside.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday between 10 and 20, Friday to Sunday between 9 and 22.

Address for Naver: 부산광역시 해운대구 해운대해변로 266 (중동)

Book your entrance ticket here!

Eat at Haeundae Market – Haeundae Beach restaurants

Going up and down the beach, we’ve noticed there are basically three areas where you can eat from the food stalls or local restaurants packed with fresh fish and seafood.

As you walk from the subway station towards the beach, the main Haeundae Food Market is on the lefthand side of the road. Here, you will find street food trolleys and local restaurants with fish and seafood in aquariums in front.

Koreans like eels, and that’s considered a delicacy in Busan, but you can also try other types of fish, clams, oysters, and much more.

The second option is the covered food trucks in the small park behind the beach area as you walk towards the Westin Chosun Hotel.

Here, you can have an authentic experience, eat freshly cooked food, and talk to a Korean fortune teller (if, unlike us, you do speak Korean).

From what we’ve noticed, this area is mostly frequented by the locals and not so much by foreigners or tourists.

The third option is the local fish market on the beach’s easternmost point. In addition to the market, plenty of local restaurants offer different types of fish dishes and traditional Korean BBQ.

We strongly recommend Don Blanc BBQ, which is set by the sea, the seafood restaurant next door, or the 미포할매복국본가 restaurant where we had the most delicious fish soup.

Take part in a cooking class at Haeundae Beach

After you have tasted all the delicious Korean dishes at the food market, take part in a cooking class and learn how to make some of your favorites.

Cooking classes are always a great idea and a way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Once you get back home, you can impress your friends and family with your newly acquired skills.

Book your spot in advance here!

Go on a walk on the Dongbaek Island

Even though this place is called an island, it is actually a small peninsula turned into a beautiful park. It is the perfect place to stroll before dinner or early in the morning.

The wooden stairs and bridges will take you up and down along the sea to the other side of the peninsula.

Go for a sunset cruise from Mipo or by a private yacht

Whether we talk about the sea, ocean, or river, we love boats and boat trips. And we couldn’t resist hopping on a cruise along the coastline in Busan.

The public boat leaves from Mipo and has a different timetable depending on the season.

We absolutely loved the sunset cruise, and I strongly believe this is the best time of day to go. While the next boat was much more crowded because people wanted to see the night lights, by choosing the sunset time, we got to see the pink sky AND the night lights.

Another option for when you want a bit more privacy is to choose a private yacht cruise. While the trip is not 100% private, you will share the boat with fewer people and enjoy luxury facilities.

The yacht cruise departs from the yachting center at Suyeong Bay, which is 15 minutes away from Haeundae.

Book your cruise here!

See the Busan Sand Sculpture Festival

We saw the Busan Sand Sculpture Festival on our first trip to Busan in May.

Apparently, the festival takes place every year at the end of May, and if you are around, you can walk by and admire the precision of these sculptures made in the sand.

We’ve seen mostly different types of dinosaurs, and as you can see from the picture, the festival is extremely popular with kids.

Take the Blue Train or Sky Capsule from Mipo Station

The hottest tourist attractions of 2022, the Blue Train and the Sky Capsule attract thousands of people daily.

You have probably seen videos of the colorful small capsules floating above the sea, offering breathtaking views.

On our first trip, finding the departure point wasn’t easy since all the information and addresses were in Korean only. Since we don’t speak or read Korean, we got lost somewhere at the other end of the train line.

Fast-forward a few months. Our hotel was minutes away from the Mipo station, so we could plan our ride accordingly.

Go for a walk in the BlueLine Park

If you have already been with the capsule and the train, or you don’t want to pay and prefer walking, you can walk from Mipo Station to the end of the line.

During our stay in Busan, we enjoyed strolling on the wooden platform above the sea, and it was a nice way to exercise a little.

Every now and then, you can find stairs leading to the sea, where you will discover small, secluded stone beaches.

Come here in the morning or before sunset for some of the best views of Haeundae Beach and its skyline.

Go for a SPA Treatment

Korean beauty is known worldwide for a good reason, and you cannot skip a pampering treatment at one of the country’s best SPAs.

SPA 1899, near Haeundae Beach, is one of the few branches around South Korea where you can enjoy massages, face treatments, and much more.

Book your treatment here!

Go shopping

You will find plenty of shops close to the beach selling everything.

Go inside one of the Olive Young branches and buy K-beauty to take home as a souvenir, or buy clothing from the many shops around.

The Bay 101 (더베이101)

Set on Dongbaek Island, with the sumptuous skyscrapers behind it, this is a fancy hot spot close to Haeundae and Gangwalli beaches.

Come here after sunset and enjoy a stunning view, shop for souvenirs at the fancy 101 Gallery, enjoy dinner at the Daedo Restaurant, or grab a bite from one of the pubs and enjoy it with a view.

Have a coffee at one of the many cafes along the beach

South Korea is passionate about cafes, and Busan won’t disappoint with its selection.

Around Haeundae, you will find plenty of cafes to choose from, whether you want specialty coffee or just a view.

Aslan Coffee is set inside the Hotel Hyggelig and has a rooftop terrace with a view. The coffee is not bad, but I would go here mainly for the view.

Rendejavous_Haeundae is set on the corner of the beach and has a photo spot that draws many people passionate about Instagram and photogenic places.

Montee104 (몽떼104) is another small cute cafe above the Sky Capsule entrance at Mipo Station. It is popular for its view of the sea and the small, colorful train cars.

Haeundae X the Sky

Admire Haeundae and Busan from above, take stunning pictures, and climb to the top of the second-tallest building in Busan.

For the best experience, go there at sunset!

Apart from the great view, you can access cafes and gift shops.

Book your entrance ticket here!

Haeundae River Cruise

Board a luxurious boat and admire the beauty of Busan during the day or at sunset.

The cruise starts at Suyeonggang River in Centum City, Haeundae, and will take you under bridges such as Suyeonggyo Bridge and Gajeonggyo Bridge to the front of Gwangandaegyo Bridge.

You get to see the APEC Naru Park, Busan Cinema Center with its unique architecture, all the cool bridges, the Marine City – impressive especially once night falls, and the Gwangan Bridge.

Book your cruise here!

Other things to do near Haeundae Beach

Try beach paddle boarding (SUP) from Gwangalli Beach, just 15 minutes from Haeundae. Admire the Gwangan Bridge in the background, refresh yourself, and have fun underwater. See more here!

Want to take some unforgettable pictures? Book a local photographer in Busan and explore some of the most photogenic locations in Haeundae, but not only. Trust the photographer to introduce you to some popular places and hidden gems.

Or go for an Eastern Busan photography tour that will take you to some of the most Instagram-worthy places at Haeundae and nearby. Come prepared with your camera and best outfits! See more here!

FAQ about Haeunda Beach

Is it allowed to swim at Haeunda Beach?

Yes, you are allowed to swim at Haeundae Beach. However, even though the beach was packed with people during the day, most Koreans did not wear swimsuits every time we visited. That being said, people are swimming (whenever it is allowed based on the weather and sea conditions).

What is Haeunda Beach known for?

Haeundae Beach is a popular travel destination known for its golden sand beaches and breathtaking coastal views. It features several tourist attractions, such as the Haeundae Grand Aquarium.

The beach also offers plenty of water sports activities, such as jet skiing and parasailing.

During the summer, Haeundae Beach is filled with tourists worldwide, enjoying its beautiful scenery.

What do you wear to the beach in Busan?

As mentioned before, Korean women don’t wear two-piece swimsuits to the beach. You would see most covering up and hiding from the sun. They would usually wear shorts and a t-shirt or long-sleeve UV protection suits.

However, I have seen many foreigners dressed in normal swimsuits, and nobody was looking at them at Haeunda Beach (a beach popular with tourists worldwide).

Can you drink alcohol on the beach in Korea?

You might see people having coffee or picnics on the beach; however, I wouldn’t drink alcohol. There are plenty of bars along Haeunda Beach, where you can enjoy a drink with an ocean view.