Join the city residents and tourists that escape the sweltering summer heat of downtown Busan at Songdo Beach. Created in 1913 and upgraded in the 2000s, Songdo Beach is Korea’s first public beach. The name Songdo means pine island and is a reference to pine forests that were once thought to flourish in the area. It presents a quieter coastal experience to Busan’s other beaches such as Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae Beach.
The beach itself is a wide, curving strip of soft sand set around a sheltered bay. Even during the high season you can find space to set up your beach camp, soak up the sun and enjoy a picnic. The sea here is calm and safe for swimming. For some fun, swim out to a floating platform and plunge into the water from the diving boards.
Go to the northern end of the beach and explore the Songdo Skywalk. This 1,198-feet (365-meter) long raised walkway travels above the sea and a rocky island. See sculptures of dolphins, mermaids and seafarers in addition to a small lighthouse. Step onboard a cable car at nearby Songnim Park and cruise high up over the bay to Amnam Park.
In August, the beach is one of several coastal venues for the Busan Sea Festival. Be part of a program of concerts, dance classes, fashion parades and yacht regattas.
A wide avenue runs parallel to the beach, framed on one side by a paved promenade and the other by bars and restaurants. Dine on seafood dishes and traditional Korean barbecued meats. There are convenience stores, too, if you want to purchase items to eat and drink on the beach.
Get here by taking a bus to the Songdo Entrance stop, from where the beach is about a 10-minute walk. Buses depart regularly from downtown Busan. Limited parking is available along the beach road. A hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus also stops here.
Songdo Beach is usually open to the public from June until September. There is a fee for the cable car.
