A Coastal Tour of Busan, from Jagalchi to the Night View of Gwangalli

Busan is a city where the urban landscape and the sea come together in a single view. This coastal route takes you from Jagalchi, where you can taste freshly prepared sashimi and grilled dishes, to the cliffside alleys of the Yeongdo Huinnyeoul Cultural Village, then across the glass deck surrounding Songdo Turtle Island, and finally, to the illuminated Gwangan Bridge at night.

Although the distance is not long, the route offers a series of distinct experiences: the vibrant atmosphere of the market, a walk along the cliffs, a bridge over the sea, and stunning night views.

This article is organized as a series of reviews by location, rather than a day-by-day itinerary. For each location, it highlights the best places to visit, the details to look out for, and nearby attractions that can be easily combined.

Jagalchi Market Seafood Alley

Jagalchi Market is Busan's largest seafood market, stretching along the coast of Jung-gu, Nampo-dong, and Chungmu-dong. It is a place where you can experience the essence of Busan's food culture, from freshly caught live fish and seasonal shellfish to grilled eel and fish cooked over charcoal.

Instead of deciding on a menu right away, it is best to take a walk around the alley first. Along the seaside, you will find stalls selling grilled eel over charcoal, and further inside, the market is divided into sections for live fish and dried seafood.

The adjacent Shindong-a Seafood Market is divided into four floors: the first floor for live fish and shellfish, the second floor for dried seafood, the third floor for sashimi, and the basement for restaurants. It has become common to choose live fish on the first floor and have it prepared as sashimi on the third floor.

The criteria for choosing a restaurant are simple:

• A restaurant where local customers stay for a long time.
• A stall with clear water in the tank and lively live fish.
• A restaurant that starts preparing the food immediately after the order is placed, indicating a fast turnover.

The popularity of Jagalchi comes from the experience it offers. Choosing live fish yourself, having it prepared as sashimi and grilled dishes, and sharing it with your companions is an experience in itself. After the meal, you can easily continue your journey to BIFF Square, Nampo-dong Street, and the Yeongdo Bridge, which raises its center section.

Yeongdo Huinnyeoul Cultural Village Coastal Walk

Huinnyeoul Cultural Village is a village of alleys built on the cliffs of Yeongdo. During the Korean War, refugees settled on the steep hillside, and around 2011, the village was transformed into a cultural and artistic village through the renovation of vacant houses and the creation of murals. The white-walled alleys and the sea create a picturesque landscape that has been featured in many films and dramas.

The upper and lower sections of the village have different characteristics. The upper section, Huinnyeul-gil, offers views between the white walls, narrow stairs, and alleys that open towards the sea. The lower section, the Jeolyeong Coastal Walk, is a coastal deck where waves crash at your feet. The two sections are connected by steep stairs, and by focusing on the main points, you can easily plan your route.

• Piano Stairs (Rainbow Stairs) – A section that connects the upper village and the coast along colorful stairs.
• Isongdo Observatory – A small observatory on top of the stairs, offering panoramic views of the Jeolyeong Coastal Walk and Yeongdo Island.
• Huinnyeul Coastal Tunnel – A tunnel that was created in 2018 by drilling through the coastal cliffs, about 70 meters long. It connects the coastal path, avoiding the steep slope, and serves as a photo spot.

Jeolyeong Coastal Trail is part of the 10.6km course, which is considered one of the top five coastal trails in South Korea. It features mosaic murals, rocky shores, and fishermen. Even those visiting for the first time can quickly get a feel for the village by walking around the upper path and through the coastal tunnel, making it a great place to include in the middle of the course.

Songdo Beach Cloud Trail

Songdo Beach is known as the first public beach in Korea, which opened in 1913. The Songdo Cloud Trail is a curved deck that stretches along Turtle Island, which juts out into the sea at the western end of the sandy beach. The approximately 365m long section of tempered glass deck allows you to see the waves and rocky shores below.

The order in which you walk will enhance the experience. Starting from the sandy beach and following the curved deck that goes around Turtle Island, you will see the open sea on one side and the waves crashing against the rocky shores on the other.

The glass-bottomed section is a good place to stop for a moment and look down.

If you include the surrounding areas, Songdo can be explored in half a day.

• Songdo Marine Cable Car (Air Cruise) – A cable car that runs for about 1.62km over the sea, connecting Songdo Beach and Amnam Park.
• Songdo Yonggung Cloud Bridge – A 127m long marine pedestrian bridge connecting Amnam Park and a small island, with a section where you can see the sea through the glass floor.
• Amnam Park – A walking course with coastal cliffs and forest trails.

It is a place where you can clearly see the sights on the spot, so it is not a problem to visit for the purpose of taking photos, walking on the deck, or taking a short break.

Gwangalli Beach Night View Plaza

Gwangalli is a famous night view spot in Busan, with the Gwangandaegyo Bridge stretching across the front of the beach. As the nickname "Diamond Bridge" suggests, at night, LED lights on the bridge change colors and shine, and the light is reflected on the calm sea.

Even the same Gwangandaegyo Bridge looks different depending on where you are standing.

• Center of the sandy beach – A spot where you can capture the bridge head-on and the lights reflected on the sea in one frame.
• Minrak Waterfront Park – A spot where you can get close to the breakwater and see the bridge and night view head-on.
• The Bay 101 and Dongbaek Island direction – A spot where you can see the lights of the Marine City buildings and the bridge together.

On weekend evenings, the Gwangalli M Drone Light Show is held above the beach. Hundreds of drones paint a picture against the backdrop of the Gwangandaegyo Bridge night view, and you can see it from anywhere on the beach, so it is a good idea to check the schedule for that day before visiting. After enjoying the night view, it is also natural to have sashimi and seafood at the Minrak Alley Market and have a late-night snack at the beach cafe street.