A Guide To The Sky Capsule Busan: Booking and More!
In the bustling South Korean city of Busan, what was once an abandoned railway along the picturesque coast has undergone a remarkable transformation into a popular tourist destination. The Haeundae Blueline Park is breathing new life into what was once the Donghae Nambu Railway Line and if you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok searching Busan at all, you’ve undoubtedly seen these little retro looking mini train cars that are now a must-ride in the city. Those are indeed part of the Haeundae Sky Capsule, or Sky Capsule Busan, as many people seem to be searching online.
If you’re wondering, like we were, where the Sky Capsule Busan is, there are directions below to the stations. Wondering how much the Sky Capsule Busan costs? We’ve got your covered. Read it all because there are a number of ways to fit a visit to the Haeundae Sky Capsule in your Busan itinerary.
Just a note if you plan to visit Busan, this awesome tourist destination is on the eastern side of the city so if you’re staying on the western side, you’ll spend a lot of time on public transportation. Consider where you want to stay in Busan before you go to make the most of your time there.
Are you looking to take what is fast becoming an iconic experience in Busan, Korea? Get ready to ride on the Sky Capsule Busan:
- The History
- Haeundae Sky Capsule (해운대스카이캡슐)
- Haeundae Beach Train (해운대해변열차)
- Haeundae Blueline Park (해운대블루라인파크)
- Busan Green Railway (부산그린레일웨이)
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The History
The Donghae Nambu Line first opened in 1935 during the Japanese colonial period that was from 1910 to 1945. The line ran along the east coast and connected Busan to Ulsan, Gyeongju, and Pohang. In 2013, the Donghae Nambu Line was closed after it was decided an electrified double-tracked railway would be constructed.
The park, inaugurated in October 2020, has become a sought-after attraction in Busan, featuring two distinct railways known as the Haeundae Beach Train, the world’s first battery-charged eco-friendly train, and the Sky Capsule, which runs 2km and is elevated 7 to 10 meters above the ground.
Additionally, a delightful coastal walking trail known as the Busan Green Railway weaves its way through the park, leading visitors to observatories and more. This wooden walkway serves as an excellent complement to the two railways, offering a place to take in the natural beauty of the area with a leisurely stroll.
Haeundae Sky Capsule (해운대스카이캡슐)
For those seeking a unique experience, the Sky Capsule ride offers a cute and memorable journey along the coastline. Travelers can opt for a one-way or round-trip adventure, with routes stretching from Mipo Station closest to popular Haeundae Beach and head to to Cheongsapo Station, or vice versa. Even if you opt for a one-way ticket, there’s the convenience of taking the Haeundae Beach Train back to your starting point, or even further down the line. Suffice to say, there are a number of ways to fit this into your trip to Busan so let’s see how it all works.
The Experience
The Sky Capsule train cars are impossible to miss, adorned in vibrant colors of red, blue, yellow, and green. The track itself covers the stretch from Mipo Station to Songjeong Station, treating passengers to calming coastal views out over the ocean. As you ride in the capsule, the adjacent Green Railway walking trail unfolds below, offering a unique perspective of the area’s natural beauty. When it’s not the hottest point of the summer like when we went, it would make for a beautiful return trip option.
Traveling at a leisurely pace of 5 kilometers per hour, the Sky Capsule Busan allows passengers ample time to savor the stunning vistas along the 2-kilometer track from Mipo to Cheongsapo. What makes this 30 minute journey even more special is that each capsule is private, ensuring a personalized experience. It’s sort of like a Ferris Wheel pod but instead of going around and around, you’re on a flat train line. There are two-seater, three-seater, and four-seater options.
Because it’s private, you can turn on some romantic or fun music on your phone if you like and make the whole thing feel like you’ve just stepped into a movie scene. We passed by cars where people had taken drinks and some snacks, too. You can expand the experience if you’re prepared. Oh, and don’t be afraid to wave to the people in the other cars. Everyone’s just out there having fun and chuckling at each other on the rails.
Each capsule can only accommodate up to four people, so larger groups will need to split up. And if you’re solo, it means you have to pay for at least a two-seater car. However, this arrangement means you’ll share the experience exclusively with those you know, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
Station Locations
Make sure you know where you’re starting from. Most guides I’ve seen only have the Mipo Station in Haeundae’s Blueline Park listed assuming everyone starts there. You don’t have to start there! Yes, you could walk or take the train from Mipo to Cheongsapo and then the Sky Capsule Busan back from Cheongsapo Station to Mipo Station, or you could just start from Cheongsapo Station like we did. You could also start by taking the Beach Train from Songjeong Station and then taking the Sky Capsule from Cheongsapo that way too. There are options! Either way, here are both stations and their addresses to make it easier and you have to do less internet sleuthing than I did.
Mipo Station (해운대블루라인파크 미포정거장)
- Address: 13 Dalmagi-gil 62 beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan (부산 해운대구 달맞이길62번길 13)
- Directions: From Haeundae Station, exit 7, you can walk along the beach to the park entrance.
Cheongsapo Station (해운대블루라인파크 청사포정거장)
- Address: 116 Cheongsapo-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan (부산 해운대구 청사포로 116)
- Directions: Take bus #2 from exit 5 of Mipo or Jangsan station or take a 10-minute walk from exit 7 of Jungdong station on Metro Line 2
Operating Hours
How To Book Tickets
To book your tickets, here’s what you need to know:
- Booking Site: Blueline Park Website
- One-Way Tickets: The capsule tickets are sold as one-way tickets only so if you want to do it round-trip, you need to purchase one-way tickets for each leg.
- Prices: Ticket prices for the Sky Capsule Busan start at W35,000 for 2 passengers, W45,000 for 3 passengers, and W50,000 for 4 passengers. Solo travelers may find it a bit pricey, but you’ll have the capsule all to yourself.
- Return Options: You have several options for your return journey which is why they only sell one-way tickets for the Sky Capsule. You can:
- Walk to Mipo Station/Cheongsapo Station using the Busan Green Railway.
- Take the Sky Capsule back and forth for a round-trip experience.
- Hop on the Heaundae Beach Train for the return journey.
- Extend your adventure by taking the Haeundae Beach Train to Songjeong Station further down the line.
- Join a Tour: If you don’t want to worry about booking at all,
- Join the East Busan Course Tour. The tour starts from Seomyeon Station and visits the Busan Sky Capsule, the Cheongsapo Skywalk Observatory, stops for lunch at the Cheongsapo Grilled Shellfish Alley, heads to the Jukseong Cathedral, the beatiful Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and then takes the Haeundae Blueline Beach Train.
- Join this Busan tour to take the Sky Capsule, see Oryukdo, Huinnyeoul Culture Village, and Gamcheon.
Tips and Tricks
- Choose The Direction Wisely: It’s more popular for tourists to start from Mipo Station and go to Cheongsapo Station so if that route is booked up, fear not! Look at the Cheongsapo Station to Mipo Station direction, you can still get lucky as this direction seems to book up later. I booked my tickets the day before and Mipo to Cheongsapo was full but Cheongsapo to Mipo still had plent of options.
- Book in Advance: Due to its popularity, it’s advisable to book your Sky Capsule tickets in advance, especially during peak periods. This ensures you secure your preferred time slot. While I was able to book ours the day before, if you want a specific time and date, do it as early as you can just to be sure you can get a capsule.
- Sunset Views: If you want to catch a stunning sunset, book a slot at least 30 minutes to an hour before the actual sunset time. Queues can be long, and boarding may not happen exactly at your booked time. We arrived about 15 minutes before our actual booked time and the staff let us go in early, too. Something good to know.
- Explore the Area: While at Cheongsapo Station, make sure you walk around and explore a bit. There are cafes, restaurants, and a great boardwalk area to get out over the water.
- Beach Train Adventure: For a leisurely return trip, take the Beach Train all the way to Songjeong Station and walk back to explore various attractions along the way, such as Gudeockpo Village and the Dalmaji Tunnel.
- Package Deals: Consider package deals that combine a Sky Capsule ride with a Beach Train journey for a more comprehensive experience. These are available for two to four people and offer great value.
- 2-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W59,000 (Saves W8,000)
- 3-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W78,000 (Saves W15,000)
- 4-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W94,000 (Saves W20,000)
Haeundae Beach Train (해운대해변열차)
For those seeking a faster-paced adventure or couldn’t manage to get tickets for the Sky Capsule Busan, the Haeundae Beach Train is a fantastic choice. Operating at 15 kilometers per hour, this train offers ocean-facing seats, ensuring that passengers enjoy an equally stunning view. While some views may be partially obstructed by trees or ground-level tracks, you’ll still get plenty of ocean blues touching the horizon.
The beach train makes 6 stops: Mipo Station, Dalmaji Tunnel, Cheongsapo Station, Daritdol Skywalk, Gudeokpo and finally Songjeong Station, covering a total distance of 4.8km.
Operating Hours
How To Book Tickets
- Booking Site: Blueline Park Website
- Admission: There are a few different options depending how much you want to hop on and off of the train so make sure you consider your entire journey before purchasing.
- One-time boarding pass: W7,000 (Note that there is no re-entry after getting off so it’s important to plan out your entire journey in advance.)
- 2-ride boarding pass: W12,000 (Re-entry is allowed once after getting off.)
- Boarding Pass for all stations: W16,000 (You can get off at all of the stops.)
- Package Deals: Consider package deals that combine a Sky Capsule ride with a Beach Train journey for a more comprehensive experience. These are available for two to four people and offer great value.
- 2-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W59,000 (Saves W8,000)
- 3-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W78,000 (Saves W15,000)
- 4-Person Sky Capsule (one-way) and Beach Train (all-stations): W94,000 (Saves W20,000)
What To Know
- Seats are non-reserved which means standing might be required if the train is crowded.
- Mipo & Songjeong stops are the last stations. All passengers must alight upon arrival at these two stations. If you have an all station boarding pass, getting off at the final station is included in the number.
- The train cars are air-conditioned which is good to know if you’re visiting during high season in the summer.
- There are 3 trains that depart per hour.
- There are in-person ticket offices at Mipo Station, Cheongsapo Station, and Songjeong Station while there are only automated ticketing machines at Dalmaji Tunnel, Daritol Skywalk and Gudeokpo.
Haeundae Blueline Park (해운대블루라인파크)
Beyond the fun Sky Capsule ride, the Haeundae Blueline Park itself has great views, makes for a lovely walk, and has scenic stop-offs much like Taejongdae, one of our other favorite seaside parks to take a walk in while visiting Busan.
The Haeundae Blueline Park is located in the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone, a key destination in Busan’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as an international tourist city. It’s a great example of eco-friendly redevelopment, breathing new life into the old railway facility of the Donghae Nambu Line. The park encompasses both the Haeundae Beach Train and the Haeundae Sky Capsule, offering a 4.8-kilometer journey along the stunning coastal scenery.
Must-See Attractions Along the Route
There are plenty of reasons and things to see in the area so you could spend as little as a hour just going back and forth on the Sky Capsule or you could spend the better part of a day. Here are some things to see along the way whether from train windows or by walking along the boardwalk.
- Dalmaji Tunnel Station: In 1985, a North Korean spy ship infiltrated the country at this spot and the beach was closed to public access for 30 years. Mongdol Beaech at this stop was only opened to the public in recent times.
- Daritdol Observatory: A short walk from Cheongsapo Station, this glass pier that is made in the shape of a dragon, the guardian deity of Cheongsapo Village, extends out into the sea, providing daring visitors with the opportunity to walk on glass sections and peer down at the ocean below. Binoculars are available for spotting sea life and observing the crashing waves along the rocky coastline.
- Red Lighthouse: Cheongsapo Twin Lighthouse: You can’t miss the vibrant red lighthouse, a landmark worth visiting as you make your way towards the Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory. Cheongsapo is considered one of the eight scenic views of Busan and is especially popular for sunrise.
- Dalmaji Tunnel: The colorful Dalmaji Tunnel offers a fantastic photo opportunity, with its rainbow hues coming to life at night. If your visit coincides with sunset, consider sticking around to witness this mesmerizing transformation.
- Songjeong Beach: The water is shallow and the slope is gentle here. It’s a great beach to spend time at in the summer when the more central beaches are filled to the brim in Busan.
- Haeundae Beach: Adjacent to Mipo Station, Haeundae Beach is a must-visit for its incredible sunset views. The golden hues reflecting on the water create a sight to behold.
Busan Green Railway (부산그린레일웨이)
Open 24 hours a day, this 9.8km long coastal walking course runs from Haeundae Olympic Junction – Busan National Mechanical Technical High School – Former Haeundae Station – Mipo Port – Dalmaji Park – Cheongsapo Port – Gudeokpo Port – Former Songjeong Station – East Busan Tourism Complex. Enjoy the natural views of the ocean and forests at your own pace. The Green Railway also won the ‘Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award’ in 2021 at the 11th Korea Landscaping Awards.
The Busan Green Railway has a number of sections and the section between Mipo and Songjeong is 4.8km long.
Things to remember while on this course:
- There are no trash cans along the trail so keep everything with you.
- Smoking and drinking are prohibited on the trail.
- Bicycles and motorcycles are prohibited on the trail.
You can have an amazing adventure in Busan whether you visit for a day or a weekend. Make sure you know where you want to stay in Busan because if you’re on the west side of the city, it’ll take a lot of time to get out to this area. Have fun on the southern coast of Korea when you get there though!
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