4 Best Sights in Busan, South Korea

This 1.5-km (.9 mile) expanse of white sand is the most popular in the country, which means there are parasols as far as the eye can see during the busiest weeks of the summer. Still, the beach is home to events year-round, including the Polar Bear Swim and the Jeongwol Daeborum Fire Festival in the winter; it also plays partial host to the Busan International Film Festival in October. Whatever the season, this gorgeous inner-city beach is a destination unto itself and, for most Koreans, is synonymous with "Busan." Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; fee parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

Even though it attracts fewer tourists and more locals than the neighboring Haeundae Beach, the sands here are equally beautiful and the views much better, especially with the Gwangan Diamond Bridge spanning the bay. The area is packed with cafés and bars overlooking the water, so it's an excellent place for a sunset or late night stroll. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Created in in 1913, Songdo was Busan's first official beach. Once a neglected, shabby piece of sand, in recent years the little cove has undergone a remarkable transformation, making it a terrific place to spend an afternoon or evening. While some sunbathe or swim during the furnace blast of the Korean summer, most head to Songdo to stroll along its glass-bottomed skywalk, or better yet, catch ride in the cable car that glides over the waves to the rugged splendor of nearby Amnam Park. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; fee parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

While this 1.2-km (.75-mile) expanse of sand sees its share of visitors in the summer, Songjeong tends to be the quieter of Busan's "big three" beaches. The surrounding waters are shallow, making it popular with families with young kids, though a decent break off its northern shore also attracts scores of surfers who bob on the surface in hope of catching that next wave. The neighborhood surrounding the beach is home to a lot of nice hoe (raw fish) restaurants, good cafes, and no shortage of places to stay. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.