Walking along the Oryukdo skywalk glass platform
The Oryukdo Skywalk is a small touristic platform made of glass on the southeast coast of Busan. The clear platform allows you to see straight through the floor into the sea. The transparent attraction was built as a way to encourage tourists to visit the area and that’s exactly what happened.
This is a location with stunning views of miles of seemingly-endless Korean coastline and an array of natural islets. This is a place that happily showcases the natural landscape without visitors having to walk too far. You’ll be able to watch the waves crashing up against the rocks and watch the seabirds flying between the islands.
There’s a reason this is one of Busan’s top attractions!
Looking for other things to do in the local area? Check out the Igidae Coastal Walk! They both start in the same place so it’s easy to pair them together for an afternoon of sightseeing and enjoying nature.
It is quite a small space that certainly won’t take too long for you to see, but it is a great addition to a busy itinerary in Busan.
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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 |
How to get to the Oryukdo Skywalk
Planning on travelling by public transport? Don’t forget to top up your T Money card!
When travelling to the start of the Igidae Coastal Walk or Oryukdo Skywalk the easiest thing to do is get to the bus stop close by. This bus stop services popular bus routes including 24 and 27.
Let’s assume you’re travelling from Seomyeon station since it is a centrally recognised location, you can either take buses the entire way or take a mix of subway and bus. Here are two example routes below:
- Seomyeon station on Line 1 (orange line) to Beomil station then switch to the 27 bus at the Jayu Traditional Market
- Walk from Seomyeon station to Jeonpo station where you take the 24 bus all the way to the skywalk
If you are travelling from another part of the city, check out the popular map app Naver maps to get around. It’s one of the phone apps to help make your time in South Korea much easier.
The stop closest to the Skywalk is outside the gate of the residential housing complex – Oryukdo SK View Apartment
What is the Oryukdo Skywalk?
The Oryukdo Skywalk is a glass platform that overhangs above the sea connected to a cliffside. This attraction was built into a part of the land that was once known as the “saddle” due to the shape it formed over many years.
It’s a popular sight today due to the view across the water at the neighbouring islands. Not to mention it’s a great photo opportunity for Instagram! The glass platform allows visitors to look straight down into the ocean below as well as create the illusion of there being no floor at all.
Construction of the glass platform started in September 2012 and is located at the midway point between two seas: the East Sea and the South Sea. Construction on the floor was completed a year later and finally, in October 2013 the platform was unveiled to the public. The theme for the unveiling was known as walking through the skies.
Fun fact: The platform is 15 meters long and sticks out from the cliffs 35 meters high above the ocean.
The entire project is quite impressive. The platform consists of the following:
- Made up of 24 square glass panels
- Each panel is over 55 millimetres thick
- Created using bulletproof coatings
Costs & Opening times
The Oryukdo skywalk is a free attraction! You just need to make sure you follow the instructions regarding footwear in order to access the glass floor. It is
Visitors wanting to visit the Skywalk will find it is open between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm seven days a week. During the summer from June – September, the hours will instead be 9 am until 7 pm. The signs did not state any days throughout the year that they are closed so I would assume it is open every day.
However, due to safety precautions, if there is bad weather such as snow, ice, severe wind or rain warnings, the platform may be closed to the general public.
What to expect on the Oryukdo Skywalk
The platform stands at the end of the cliff and is a few minutes walk away from the information centre.
Once you walk up the small hill to reach the platform you will notice most of the Oryukdo Skywalk entrance is blocked off by a small fence. This is simply to make sure people have to go past the staff on duty so they can check no one enters without following the rules.
Due to the glass being easy to scratch, the staff have strict orders to only let people onto the glass if they cover their feet. In order to do this they have a box of shoe covers on the concrete before you get onto the glass. In some instances you may be asked to swap your footwear for some slippers first.
Everyone that plans to visit this site needs to be prepared to wear these shoe covers. They can go over the top of your shoes so you don’t have to take them off. But wearing these covers allows the glass to stay scratch free for longer. That way, people can enjoy the attraction in the future.
During busy periods, the staff sometimes limit the number of people on the platform at any one time. If there are a lot of people there when you arrive, be prepared that you may have to wait in line before stepping onto the platform.
Consider the time of day
Top tip: If you arrive in the morning you can stand in front of the islands and have the sun on your face. That might be uncomfortable, but it lights up your pictures in the best way.
If you arrive later in the day, the sun will be behind you, above the islands which will make you show up like a dark shadow in photos. If you don’t care which angle your photos are taken then it won’t matter which time of day you arrive. But since most people want the islands as their backdrop, it’s worth knowing so you can plan your route better.
Amenities available
There are no amenities at the skywalk itself, however, there are some toilets next to the tourist information centre. There are benches next to the entrance for those who need to take a few minutes to rest.
At the time we visited, pushchairs and buggies for children were not allowed on the glass. There is space for you to leave them near the benches and the shoe cover box.
Have you been to the Skywalk? What did you think?
