Haeundae Beach 해운대해수욕장

Haeundae Beach is free and open all year. Lifeguarded swimming, however, runs only in the official season: 26 June to 15 September in 2026, 09:00–18:00. Outside it, come for the walk, the coastal paths at either end and the night lights. The sand starts about 8 minutes on foot from Haeundae Station Exit 5 on Line 2.

Haeundae is the beach most Koreans picture when they think of Busan: a 1.5 km arc of fine sand, 70–90 m wide, backed by hotels and towers. The water is shallow and the tidal range small, which suits paddling and families. In summer 2026 it became the first beach in Korea to pass 10 million visitors in a single season, so expect it to be packed in July and August. Allow one to two hours for the beach itself, or half a day with Dongbaekseom and the Blueline Park.

What to do at Haeundae out of season

From mid-September to late June there are no lifeguards, no marked swimming zones and no rentals. Busan’s city government keeps safety staff on patrol after closing day and asks visitors not to go in the water. The beach is still worth a visit for these reasons:

• Walk the length of the sand. The promenade runs the full 1.5 km. At the west end, the Dongbaekseom shoreline path loops round a wooded islet with views back over the bay.
• Ride the coast. At the east end, Mipo is the start of the Haeundae Blueline Park beach train and sky capsules toward Cheongsapo and Songjeong.
• Look down on it. The Busan X the Sky observatory sits high in the LCT tower beside the beach.
• Stay after dark. The beach lighting runs from sunset to midnight all year (to 02:00 in summer). Dalmaji Hill above the east end is one of the district’s official night-view spots.

When	What happens on the beach
Mid-May	Haeundae Sand Festival: large sand sculptures on the beach (2026 ran 15–18 May; sculptures stayed to 14 June)
Late June–mid-September	Official swimming season with lifeguards, swimming zones and rentals (2026: 26 June–15 September)
July–August	Peak crowds; parasol, tube and beach-bed rental (2026: 1 July–31 August only)
Late November–mid-January	Haeundae Light Festival on the sand and Gunam-ro (last edition 29 November 2025–18 January 2026, lights 18:00–23:00)

Haeundae’s year, from Haeundae-gu and Busan city pages and Korean press, checked 7 October 2026. The 2026–27 Light Festival dates had not been announced by 7 October 2026. Check the Haeundae-gu festival page from November.

Getting to Haeundae Beach

Take Busan Metro Line 2 to Haeundae Station and leave by Exit 5. Walk down Gunam-ro, a broad pedestrian street of cafes and restaurants, and you reach the beach in about 8 minutes. City buses 139 and 307 and express bus 1003 stop at the Haeundae Beach stop.

From Busan Station, where the KTX from Seoul arrives, ride Line 1 to Seomyeon and change to Line 2 toward Jangsan. From Gimhae Airport, take the light rail to Sasang and change to Line 2. Haeundae is far from the old harbour, so plan Jagalchi Market and Gamcheon for a different half of the day. A T-money card works on the metro, light rail and buses. For taxis, show the address 부산 해운대구 해운대해변로 264.

Swimming season, hours and prices (2026)

	2026	Notes
Swimming season	26 June–15 September	Longest of Busan’s beaches; most others ran 1 July–31 August
Swimming hours	09:00–18:00	Lifeguards: 10 watchtowers and two patrol teams
Parasol with mat	₩10,000	Rentals 1 July–31 August only
Tube / beach bed	₩10,000 each	Life jacket ₩5,000; tube inflation ₩2,000–4,000
Shower	₩1,000 per 60 seconds	Lockers ₩1,000 / ₩3,000 / ₩4,000 by size

Prices fixed by Haeundae-gu for the 2026 season and dates from Busan Metropolitan City, checked 7 October 2026. Prices are set again each year, so treat them as a guide for summer 2027.

Haeundae opens a few days ahead of most Busan beaches and stays open two weeks longer. For a guaranteed swim, aim for July or August. Busan installs jellyfish-blocking nets at Haeundae for the season.

Tips for visiting

• Go early in midsummer. Haeundae drew more than 10 million visitors in the 2026 season, and weekends in July and August are the busiest.
• Swim only inside the marked swimming zone, in season. Lifeguards work 09:00–18:00. Outside those hours and dates, stay out of the water.
• Combine it with the east coast. Haeundae is a natural start or end point for a day with the Blueline Park and Haedong Yonggungsa, as in the Busan two-day plan.
• Stay nearby for beach mornings. Hotels line the beachfront; see where to stay in Busan.

Around Haeundae Beach

The Haeundae district holds Dongbaekseom and the APEC House at the west end, the Blueline Park and Dalmaji Hill to the east, and the Busan X the Sky observatory above the beach. Gwangalli Beach, with its bridge views and Saturday drone show, is a short ride west on Line 2. For the wider area and day trips, see the Busan region page.