Beachday in Busan: Gwangalli and Haeundae

Hey, I’m Yul Schuhmacher! In August 2024, I moved to Korea for a one-year working holiday. While I’m here, I’m learning the ins and outs of life in Korea and discovering what it takes to settle in as a foreigner. In this article, I will tell you all about the two most famous beaches in Busan.

Introduction to Busan's Beaches

Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, is renowned for its breathtaking coastal scenery and vibrant culture. Nestled on the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, this bustling metropolis is a unique blend of urban sophistication and idyllic seaside charm. The city's strategic location along the coast offers residents and visitors alike access to stunning waterfronts, making Busan a popular destination for beach enthusiasts.

Among the notable attractions that Busan is celebrated for are its beautiful beaches. Gwangalli and Haeundae stand out as two of the most iconic coastal spots in the area. Gwangalli Beach is particularly famous for its picturesque views of the Gwangan Bridge, beautifully illuminated at night. The beach's fine sand and gentle waves provide a perfect setting for both relaxation and various water sports. Furthermore, Gwangalli is lined with cafes and restaurants, enhancing its appeal as a social hub.

On the other hand, Haeundae Beach boasts a more expansive shoreline and deeper waters, attracting both locals and tourists seeking sun, sand, and surf. Known for hosting numerous festivals and events throughout the year, Haeundae embodies the lively spirit of Busan and offers an array of activities, from beachside yoga sessions to watersports and nightlife. The beach is also surrounded by a variety of accommodations and dining options, catering to countless visitors who flock to experience its vibrant atmosphere.

In this blog post, I will delve deeper into the unique features of Gwangalli and Haeundae Beaches, exploring what makes these locations must-visit destinations on Busan's coastline.

Exploring Gwangalli Beach

When I went to Gwangalli Beach for the first time, I went to the weekly drone show. This is a must see for anyone visiting Busan. There are two drone shows every saturday, the schedule is as follows:

Summer (March to September): At 20:00 and 22:00
Winter (October to February): At 19:00 and 21:00

The show is often themed around current events or festivals. These pictures I took were during Chuseok this year (14.09-18.09):

The show takes around 10 minutes and it's cancelled if it's too windy. So if you are visiting and feeling like it's windy outside, it's best to look for something else to do. If you want to find out about the timing of festivals in Busan, I recommend visiting Busan's official event calendar.

Around Gwangalli Beach there are many restaurants. However, many of them may turn out to be more of a tourist trap than an actual good place dine and have fun. If you are looking for a foreigner friendly bar that serves western comfort food, I can wholeheartedly recommend the HQ Bar. The people here are very friendly and you can even play boardgames or listen to live music. They post about upcoming events on their instagram regularly.

Generally though, I would recommend to avoid any of the flashy bars right at the beach as you will most likely just overpay on watery drinks and pay full price on appetizer sized dishes.

A Guide to Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach is widely recognized as one of the most famous beaches in South Korea, attracting both local and international visitors alike. Spanning over 1.5 kilometers, this expansive beach features soft, golden sands that offer ample space for sunbathing and relaxation. The picturesque coastline, combined with its stunning views of the ocean, makes Haeundae a prime destination for beach lovers.

My appartment is actually quite close to Haeundae Beach, so I'm there often. However, I do think the beach itself is kind of disappointing considering it's the most famous one. The beach is relatively boring with no shade options and no cool constant lighting show as you can see on Gwangalli Beach every evening. Also, during night time the spotlights illuminate the beach in a bright white light, which in my opinion looks a little ugly. However, as you approach the water, the harsh contrast can actually be quite nice and I learned to love this beach. (More pictures in the gallery at the end of this post)

All of that being said, I 100% recommend visiting Haeundae beach for tourists, and I'd recommend to plan in a full day. Reason is that there is a lot to explore AROUND the beach. For example you can go for a short walk around Dongbeaksom Island, which connects right to the beach.

You might also want to visit the Blue Line Park, which is a long walk around the coast. Here, you can also the beach train which will have you seated perfectly to view the ocean, or ride one of the capsules which are far above the ground. Personally, I would recommend taking the capsules and then walking back, as there are many interesting points of interest you can only reach on foot. Keep in mind that you need to reserve a ticket for the capsules in order to ride them, you can do so by going to the Blue Line Park and reserving one at one of the ticket machines.

To finish the day off, I would recommend going to right to Haendae station and walk around the street. There you can find plenty of fun activities, like arcades, lots of bars, korean and western restaurants, amazing street food and even tennis and pool. Right next to the station, you can also find my favorite cinema in Korea so far.

My personal recommendation is to end the day by getting some street food and then buying drinks and snacks at a convinience store and just relax at the beach.

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