Haeundae Green Railway (Mipo–Songjeong)

From Mipo at the eastern end of Haeundae Beach to Songjeong Beach, 4.8 km of the old Donghae Nambu Line, where trains once ran right along the shore, has become a seaside promenade. The path follows the old track through a tunnel under Dalmaji Hill, past the red lighthouse of Cheongsapo and out onto skywalks over the sea. Walking is free at any time, and the Beach Train runs on the same track while the Sky Capsule glides on an elevated rail above it, so you can mix walking and riding as you like.

History: a coastal railway without trains

The Haeundae stretch of the Donghae Nambu Line hugged the coast so closely that it was known for the views from the carriage window. When trains stopped running on this section in December 2013, locals turned the old line into an informal walking route. That same year the Korea National Railway and Busan City agreed to reuse the former railway assets, and the city built a walking path and an eco-park on the surplus railway land.

Haeundae Blue Line Park, which ties together the old stations and track, opened on 6 October 2020. Planners consulted academics, experts and civic groups and chose to limit commercial development and environmental damage. That is why most of the route is still just sea, pine trees and old rails, with hardly any shops.

What to see along the way (Mipo → Songjeong)

• Mipo: a small harbour at the eastern end of Haeundae Beach and the start of both the path and the Beach Train.
• Dalmaji Tunnel: the old railway tunnel under Dalmaji Road, a hillside road known as a place to watch both sunrise and moonrise.
• Haewol Observatory: a 137 m skywalk opened in July 2024, with a crescent-shaped tower and a 15 m circular plaza whose LED glass floor lights up at night.
• Cheongsapo: a small fishing village with a red lighthouse at the end of its breakwater, plus a cluster of grilled-shellfish and raw-fish restaurants by the harbour.
• Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk: opened in August 2017 as a 72.5 m deck 20 m above the sea, it was extended in 2024 into a 191 m U-shaped walkway. A half-moon glass floor at the end lets you look straight down at the water. Around 3.08 million people have visited since it opened.
• Gudeokpo and Songjeong: the last section passes the small harbour of Gudeokpo and ends at the old Songjeong Station by Songjeong Beach.

Beach Train and Sky Capsule

The Haeundae Beach Train stops at seven stations (Mipo, Dalmaji Tunnel, Haewol Observatory, Cheongsapo, Daritdol Skywalk, Gudeokpo and Songjeong) at an average of 15 km/h. A one-way trip takes about 25 minutes, with roughly three trains an hour. Mipo and Songjeong are terminals where everyone must get off, and getting off counts as one ride.

The Sky Capsule is a small pod running about 2.0 km between Mipo and Cheongsapo on an elevated rail 7–10 m above the ground at 4 km/h. A one-way trip takes about 30 minutes.

Tripto tips

• Walking time: walking one way from Mipo to Songjeong takes about 1.5–2 hours at an easy pace; allow half a day if you stop at the skywalks and in Cheongsapo. The easiest plan is to walk one way and take the train back.
• The path: open all year round at any hour and free of charge. Public parking is available nearby.
• Beach Train fares (adults): a single ride costs KRW 10,000 from Mipo or Songjeong and KRW 8,000 from the intermediate stations. A two-ride ticket is KRW 14,000, and an all-stations ticket with hop-on, hop-off use is KRW 16,000. For a return trip you need one of the last two.
• Sky Capsule fares: sold per capsule, not per person: KRW 50,000 for two, KRW 55,000 for three and KRW 60,000 for four. You can book ahead on the official website.
• Getting there: for Mipo, take Busan Metro Line 2 to Jung-dong Station, Exit 7, then walk about 15 minutes. For Songjeong, take the Donghae Line to Songjeong Station, Exit 2, then walk about 12 minutes. Buses 39, 100, 141 and 200 from Haeundae Station Exit 7 reach both ends.
• Photo timing: the Daritdol Skywalk is known for sunrise and sunset views, and many people come to the Haewol Observatory after dark, when the glass floor lights up.