Looking for a cool combo of city vibes and beach bliss? You couldn’t pick a better place than Busan. Located on the south-east coast of South Korea, Busan combines urban energy with serene mountains and stunning beaches. And amazing Haeundae Sky Capsules redefine how we soak in the coastal vibes!
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You probably already know (that’s why you’re here), that one of the must-do things in Busan is taking a ride in those sky capsules. They offer panoramic views of the city’s beautiful coastline and bustling urban landscape, providing an unforgettable experience. Plus, how pretty are they?
Looking for other things to do in Busan? Check out my one day in Busan blog post to find out how to make the most of Korea’s most dynamic and scenic city.
In this blog post, we’re diving into the details of the Haeundae Sky Capsules – the views, the magic, but also the route and the price, so the only worry during your ride would be cuteness overload.
So, buckle up for a memorable journey that brings the beach and the blue sky together in the most spectacular way!
How to take Haeundae Sky Capsules in Busan?
The process of taking the cute capsules is not overly complicated, but there are a few things worth knowing and being prepared for.
Tip 1. Get a little background info.
The Haeundae Blueline Park (where the sky capsules are located) used to be called Donghae Nambu Railway Line. The line was first opened in 1935 and ran along South Korea’s east coast connecting Busan to Ulsan, Gyeongju and Pohang. In 2013, the Donghae Nambu Line was closed after the decision to build a an electrified double-tracked railway. But since the railroad was close to the stunning coastline, Busan Metropolitan City decided to construct Busan Green Railway and Haeundae Blueline Park using the abandoned railway to do so. So the sky capsules, apart from being cute are also eco-friendly! The park was opened to the public in October 2020 and since then it has become a massive tourist hot spot.
Speaking of being eco-friendly, since traveling causes our planet a lot of stress, learn how to be an eco-friendly traveller in 5 simple steps! It’s easier than you think!
Tip 2. Start your ride at Cheongsapo Station.
The capsules cover a 2 km route from Haeundae Mipo Station to Cheongsapo Station. Traveling at a leisurely pace of 5 km per hour, the journey takes about 20-30 min. You can opt for a one-way or round-trip adventure, but in my opinion one way would be enough to make your ride an unforgettable experience.
Now, most people will probably tell you to get on at Mipo Station. Well, I won’t. I think it’s a better idea to begin your capsule journey from the other end, which is Cheongsapo Station. There are 3 reasons for that.
Firstly, you can treat your eyes with this lovely view from the photo below. And if you’re patient enough you can even catch the Haeundae Beach Train crossing the street.
Secondly, if you start your day by taking the capsule ride from Cheongsapo Station and ending at Mipo Station, you can continue sightseeing Busan by strolling Haeundae Beach, shopping at Haeundae promenade, having coffee at Raw&Sweet. You can check out my “one day in Busan” reel for a little Busan inspiration.
Thirdly, it’s usually easier to book the tickets from Cheongsapo Station than from Mipo Station. Because yes, you should…
Tip 3. Book the tickets in advance!
Since Haeundae Sky Capsules have become a superior tourist attraction in Busan, the tickets sell out fast. So save yourself unnecessary stress and book your capsule adventure in advance. The process of buying tickets online is fairly easy and you’ll have your capsule guaranteed. Just read the “reservation guide” carefully, so that you don’t miss your boarding window.
One sky capsule fits 4 people, so if you’re a larger group you’ll have to split. But if there’s only 3 or 2 of you – no worries – you’ll still get your own capsule, you won’t have to share it with anybody else.
The ticket for sky capsule is currently (November 2023) 35000 won (£22, $27) for 2 people one way.
But please check the fares on the official sky capsule website, since they might change. You can also mix and match with the Busan Beach Train. There are a few packages to choose from.
Tip 4. Go during the week.
As with all the popular tourist attractions, I’d avoid riding the capsules during weekends. Even though you have your capsule booked, you might still have to wait a bit, and from what I saw, the queue can get a bit long.
And if you decided to wing it and you didn’t book tickets in advance, you have a better chance of getting a capsule on a weekday.
I was actually super lucky with my ride. I went to Cheongsapo Station mainly for the photos and then spontaneously decided to try to take a ride. How happy I was when they said they actually had a few free spots in around 30 minutes. So now you know why I’m recommending to make your starting point at Cheongsapo Station.
Tip 5. Enjoy your experience!
Riding Haeundae Sky Capsules was actually one of my favourite travel experiences. How can’t it be? Just look at them! You can play some retro music inside the capsule. Some people are even having little picnics in there But no matter what you choose to do or not to do, make sure to be in the moment, admire the views and soak it all in.
Tip 6. VISIT Dongbaek dessert cafe.
If you follow my plan and finish your ride at Mipo Station, you can visit Dongbaek Dessert Cafe for a drink and one last view of the Haeundae Sky Capsules. This cafe is perfectly placed for a couple of photos too as it has a roof terrace that is level with the raised track.
Tip 7. Don’t bother with the beach train.
While easier to book and definitely cheaper than the Haeundae Sky Capsules, I wouldn’t recommend taking the Beach Train. It’s perfectly pleasant, but there are several reasons why I don’t think it’s worth it.
It doesn’t give you such magnificent views as the capsules. While it’s an interesting carriage, all passengers sit facing one side (the sea, duh!) and the views can get a bit repetetive over the 30min journey.
You have to take a return otherwise you’re stuck in Songjeong where there isn’t really much to do. There is a metro station nearby, but the town itself is really just a beachfront and when I was there in April there wasn’t anything to do other than go back to Busan.
Tip 8. Walk to the Haeundae Beach.
Instead walk towards Haeundae Beach. You can continue your day by strolling along this beautiful beach or even sunbathing a bit if it’s summer. You can also head towards the promenade and do a little shopping. No matter what you choose, I can guarantee you, that this side of town has definitely more to offer than Songjeong.
Hope you enjoyed my tips and recommendations for taking Haeundae Sky Capsules in Busan. I’m sure you’ll have a great time and riding the sky capsules will be an unforgettable experience!
Drop a comment below and let me know if it was. Or message me on Instagram.
And if you’re looking for Busan inspo, check out my other Busan blog post. Beautiful views guaranteed!
Enjoy!
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Thanks for sharing! Will definitely try the starting point in Cheongsapo instead of Mipo Station. Very good idea!
Thanks for the comment :) yes, definitely try from Cheongsapo station. Hope you’ll enjoy your ride :)
Which direction should we start if we want to be on the beach side of the ride the entire time. We want to go for Sunset. We are visiting in May.
Hey Holly, in this case I’d start from Mipo Station, this way your capsule will be closest to the waterfront and the other capsules won’t block your view.
Hi Holly, thank you for the information! Found your page too late and now I can’t get any tickets for the sky capsule for early April online :( Do you have any idea if I would be able to purchase ticket for the Cheongsapo to Mipo route at the Mipo Station/Songjeong ticket office? Or I would need to head down to Cheongsapo Station to get the ticket instead?
hey! Sorry to hear you couldn’t get the tickets :( I think you could get them from both, but I’d really recommend going to Cheongsapo Station. This is how I did it – just showed up there, asked for availability and luckily they has some free capsules in the next 30 min. I’d also try it during the week, during the morning hours. But you know, that’s just my experience, I can’t guarantee it will work. Good luck though! Enjoy Busan!
Hi Aga, thank you for this post timely for my visit this weekend. It’ll be my first time in Busan.
Would I be able to do the capsule from Cheongsapo to Mipo and double back with the beach train just for the experience sake? Does it run in the same direction as the capsule?
that’s great! Hope you’ll enjoy Busan! Ok, in this case, if you want to take both on the same day, I’d suggest that you take a capsule from Mipo station. The capsule route finishes at Cheongsapo station and from there you can take the train. The train will finish at Songjeong Station and since it’s not much there, you have to take the train back either to Cheongsapo Station or (the best) to Mipo Station. The train runs the same direction as capsules, it just runs a bit further. It goes like that: Mipo Station – Cheongsapo Station – Songjeong Station. And back. The train has 6 stops all together.