The Most Rewarding Hikes in Busan for the Active Tourist •

Today we are going to discuss my favourite hikes in Busan! If you didn’t know already, Korea is a fantastic destination to go hiking because the country is home to 7846 named mountains. And Busan is home to 108 of them.

That’s a lot for one city! So it’s no surprise that there are so many hikes and walking trails around Busan and it’s one of the most “outdoorsy” cities in the entire country.

Since I moved here on my H1 work visa, I have LOVED experiencing all the different hikes available. The views around this bustling metropolitan city really stand out next to the mountainous peaks and calm coastline.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you might see that I am a big fan of hiking and try to do it in every country that I visit. It’s a great form of exercise, costs practically nothing to do and can feel like a great accomplishment – especially if it was difficult to do.

That’s why I wanted to create this in-depth list of the various hikes around Busan for you to (hopefully) use as inspiration for your own city visit!

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Country:	South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Currency:	South Korean Won / KRW
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

If travelling around Busan, don’t forget to download useful apps to get around the city as well as top up your T Money card.

Hwangnyeongsan

Rating: 8/10

The Hwangnyeongsan hike is one of the most popular hikes in Busan due to it being so easily accessible. By that I mean this is one mountain you can drive 3/4 of the way up! It’s the perfect mix of being a short hike with fantastic views spread across 4 viewpoints.

Most people can complete the trail from north to south in 2 hours and 45 minutes without too much trouble. This time is much quicker if you drive to the car park and walk the rest of the way. Not to mention that this hike can be combined or split into two depending on your fitness or energy levels on the day.

Great views in the day and even better nighttime views. This is definitely one of my favourites — a big reward for little effort.

Start of trail: City Hall station / Kyungsung U station

End of trail: Kyungsung U station / City Hall station

me sitting on a rock looking over south Busan on one of the best hikes in the area

Seunghaksan

8/10

The Seunghaksan Mountain Loop trail takes you from Dong-A University to the peak of Seunghak Mountain. This trail takes an average of 3 and a half hours to complete. What’s great about this trail is although it gains elevation quite quickly, the majority of the trail is rather flat so you won’t break too much of a sweat!

After you reach the peak (which has 3 summit stones for multiple photo opportunities) you’ll get to see stunning views of west Busan along with bright pink flower beds during the spring and summer months. This is an easy hike suitable for most physical abilities and has some of the best views early on in the trail so you don’t need to reach the peak in order to see the first city views.

Start of trail: Dong-A University

End of trail: Dong-A University

Coastal trail of Igidae with Haeundae beach i nthe far distance

Igidae Coastal Walk

9/10

The Igidae Coastal Walk is a fantastic trail that’s slightly different from the rest on our list. Instead of only giving you views from a summit or peak, you’ll get views the entire way along the coast. You’ll get a little bit of everything with this trail including forest, rocky shoreline, fantastic city views and parks with brightly coloured flowers at both ends.

It’s significantly easier to complete both timewise and due to fitness levels so pretty much everyone can enjoy this trail. There are some stairs to climb up and down along to cliff faces but there are plenty of places to take breaks along to way and take in the views. Overall, probably my favourite hike in all of Busan!

Start of trail: Oryukdo SK View apartment (bus stop)

End of trail: Busan Environment Corporation Southern Office Park

Me standing with my back to the camera looking at the city in the distance surrounded by trees and rocks — One viewpoint along the trail of Jangsan Mountain

Jangsan Mountain

7/10

The Jangsan hike is another very popular hike in the south of the city that overlooks much of Gwangalli and Haeundae beaches. This is a loop trail that takes you all the way from Daecheon Park up to the peak of Jangsan for a great (although slightly obstructed) view of downtown Busan.

This hike takes people an average of 4-5 hours to complete in a loop and takes you almost the entire way around the mountain before climbing to the summit rock. There is a large rock slide area which offers a distant view of Haeundae-gu followed by a great panoramic close-up of the cityscape from the observation deck.

This is a fantastic way to spend a morning enjoying one of the city’s favourite long hikes.

Start of trail: Jangsan Station

End of trail: Jangsan Station

Bongnaesan

6/10

Bongnaesan is a short trail that can be completed in just one hour. It’s much more accessible for different fitness levels and doesn’t take up an entire day like our longer trails! You can take a shortcut that is steep and shaves around 15 off of your journey to the top. Or, if you prefer you can take the gradual boardwalk trail that brings you the long, but scenic way to the viewpoint.

With incredible panoramic views across the south of the city and Busan port, this is an easy and well-maintained walking route. Whether you head up to the viewing platform for sunrise, sunset or the middle of the day, the sights are stunning no matter which you choose.

Start of trail: Bongnaesan Entrance

End of trail: Bongnaesan Entrance

Geumjeongsan Mountain

8/10

The Geumjeongsan Mountain hike reaches the highest peak in all of Busan so of course it’s on our list of hikes in the city. It’s surprisingly a shorter hike than some others on our list, but of course, the height of the mountain is higher.

It’s a trail that starts at the Beomeosa train station and takes you up to the highest point in the city, but the views of the city are not as visible from here compared to the likes of Hwangnyeongsan and Jangsan. The primary purpose of this hike is to tick it off and say you’ve done it and on a clear day you can see for miles.

If it’s windy, you’ll definitely feel it from the peak compared to some other mountains in the area.

Start of trail: Beomeosa Station

End of trail: Beomeosa Station

Day Hike Essentials	Why?
Appropriate footwear & socks	Less likely to injure yourself & more comfortable
Portable battery pack & wire	To charge your electronic devices
Water (0.5L per hour roughly)	To keep yourself hydrated throughout the hike
Food	Preferably lightweight but healthy snacks
Trail Directions	Phone/GPS device, compass or paper map
Mobile OR satellite phone	Helpful in emergencies to call for help
Clothing layers	To put on or remove based on changes in weather
Hat	To prevent sunstroke or keep warm
Sunglasses	To see better without squinting all-day
First aid kit	To solve minor injuries along the way
Multi-tool	Multiple uses for multiple problems
Illumination	Torch or phone light to navigate in the dark

Want more hikes but not staying in Busan? Check out these amazing hikes around Korea:

Final thoughts on the hikes in Busan

One of the best things about Busan is how many walking trails and hikes are in and around the city. It’s a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts and has become a paradise for avid hikers.

If you’re spending some time in the city you should make sure to complete a few hikes while you’re here. Korea is home to such mountainous terrain and there is no shortage of amazing trails to help you enjoy your time out in nature.