Haeundae Beach, Blueline Park Sky Capsule and Gwangalli Bridge

East Busan (reached via Metro Line 2) is the modern, ocean-facing half of the city, where three sandy bays curve between pine-covered headlands: Gwangalli Beach framed by its two-level suspension bridge, Haeundae Beach backed by skyscrapers and hot-spring hotels, and the surfers' cove of Songjeong Beach linked along the cliffs by the repurposed Donghae Nambu railway track.

Haeundae Beach, Dongbaekseom Island and BUSAN X the SKY

Start at Haeundae Beach (Metro Line 2, Haeundae Station Exit 3 or 5), a one-and-a-half-kilometre crescent of pale sand that serves as Busan's year-round seaside promenade. At the western end of the sand rises Dongbaekseom, a camellia-covered headland; follow its shaded wooden coastal boardwalk past the bronze mermaid statue on the rocks and the circular glass Nurimaru APEC House out to the yacht marina views of The Bay 101. At the eastern end of Haeundae Beach stands the 411-metre LCT Landmark Tower, housing the 98th-to-100th-floor BUSAN X the SKY observatory.

Haeundae Blueline Park: Sky Capsule vs Beach Train

Just past the LCT towers at the eastern tip of Haeundae sits Mipo Station, the western terminal of Haeundae Blueline Park, a 4.8-kilometre scenic coastal corridor to Cheongsapo and Songjeong:

• The Sky Capsule (Mipo to Cheongsapo, 2 km): colourful retro pods for 2 to 4 passengers that glide slowly along an elevated monorail track 7 to 10 metres above the pines and ocean surf. Book the Mipo-to-Cheongsapo direction online weeks ahead on the official Blueline Park site, as it puts your capsule on the seaward outer track.
• The Haeundae Beach Train (Mipo to Cheongsapo and Songjeong, 4.8 km): a coastal tram with bench seats facing out toward the ocean window. Ride the Sky Capsule one way from Mipo to Cheongsapo, walk onto the curved glass-floored Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk, eat grilled scallops by the twin lighthouses, and return or continue to Songjeong on the Beach Train. Pair an eastern day with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple just north of Songjeong.

Gwangalli Beach, Gwangan Bridge and Spa Land Centum City

Between Haeundae and Gwangalli sits Centum City Station, home to Shinsegae Centum City and Spa Land, an upscale Korean bathhouse (jjimjilbang) fed by natural hot-spring wells. For the evening, ride three stops west to Gwangan Station and walk down to Gwangalli Beach, which looks straight at the 7.4-kilometre Gwangan Bridge (Diamond Bridge), illuminated after dark with LED shows and Saturday evening drone displays. Compare staying at these two beaches in where to stay in Busan.