Beaches · Busan · South Korea
The best beaches in and near Busan
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mobius6, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Haeundae Beach (Haeundae subway station, line 2). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in July–October.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 5
- Swimming season
- July–October
- Warmest sea
- 26°C (79°F)
The beaches
Haeundae subway station, line 2 · Families and first-timers
1.Haeundae Beach
Busan's main 1.5-km beach with lifeguards in summer, a promenade, the aquarium and a food market behind it.
Gwangan or Geumnyeonsan subway stations, line 2 · Evenings and couples
2.Gwangalli Beach
A 1.4-km beach facing the lit-up Gwangan Bridge, lined with cafés, bars and raw-fish restaurants.
About 10 minutes by taxi from Nampo-dong · Families wanting a quieter beach
3.Songdo Beach
Korea's first public beach, with calmer water, a skywalk and the Busan Air Cruise cable car.
About 15 minutes by train or taxi from Haeundae · Surfing lessons and space
4.Songjeong Beach
A long, shallow beach east of Haeundae, popular with beginner surfers and at the end of the Blueline Park beach train.
Dadaepo Beach subway station, line 1 · Sunsets and paddling
5.Dadaepo Beach
A wide, shallow beach in the far southwest of the city at the mouth of the Nakdong River, known for sunsets and a musical fountain.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| February | 14°C (57°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| March | 14°C (57°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| April | 15°C (59°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| June | 20°C (68°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| July | 23°C (73°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| August | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| October | 21°C (70°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| November | 19°C (66°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| December | 16°C (61°F) | 11°C (52°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, beach and luxury
Haeundae
Haeundae's 1.5-km beach is backed by large hotels and the towers of Marine City, with Dongbaek Island's coastal path at the western end and the Blueline Park coastal train at the eastern end. Haeundae Market's food alley, Sea Life Busan Aquarium and subway line 2 make it the most popular base for first-time and family visitors.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Wide choice of hotels; Subway line 2 to the city centre
- Watch out
- Very crowded in July and August; About an hour from the old port sights
- Nearby
- Haeundae Beach, Dongbaek Island, Haeundae Blueline Park, Sea Life Busan Aquarium
Getting to the beaches
- Metro — Line 1 runs through Nampo-dong, Busan Station and Seomyeon, and line 2 runs from Seomyeon to Gwangalli and Haeundae.
- Bus — City buses reach places the subway misses, including Gamcheon Culture Village, Taejongdae and Haedong Yonggungsa; stops are announced in English and Korean.
- Train — KTX high-speed trains connect Busan Station with Seoul in about 2.5 hours and Gyeongju in about 30 minutes; the Donghae Line commuter trains run from Bujeon via Centum and Haeundae to Osiria and Gijang.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in September. None of them is peak season, so beaches stay manageable.
Beach safety
Busan is generally safe for visitors, with low street crime. Take care with rip currents and follow lifeguard flags on beaches, especially after storms, and stay off rocky shorelines in high waves during typhoon warnings. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Busan have beaches?
Yes: Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Songdo Beach, Songjeong Beach and Dadaepo Beach.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Busan?
Usually July–October, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Busan?
Haeundae Beach: Busan's main 1.5-km beach with lifeguards in summer, a promenade, the aquarium and a food market behind it.