The Blue Line Park near the popular Haeundae Beach is a coastal walking path that runs through some of my favorite small towns. It is conveniently close to the city and perfectly suited for an hour stroll or a day long excursion! Keep reading to learn about the walk, the towns, and the views!
What is the Blue Line Park?
While the name may be misleading, the Blue Line is not really a park but a designated walking trail with a tourist train track running next to it. According, the Haeundae Blue Line website the park was part of a project to renovate an old train track to increase tourism in the Haeundae area. The park stretches from the Haeundae Beach area to Songjeong Beach and consists of a walking path, a beach train, and the sky capsule.
The path is about 4.8km long, which is roughly 3 miles one way. Depending on how fast you walk this can take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours. The train and sky capsule take around 25 minutes with frequent stops.
Personally, I prefer walking since I think the train and capsule are a bit pricy. The train is around $6 and the capsule is closer to $14. The train has nice views along the coast but it is often full of tourists during the summer months and is a bit underwhelming. I have yet to try the sky capsule, which is essentially small capsules above the train private groups. This may be a nicer, though more expensive option, if you want some privacy and even better views.
The Route
Mipo Station is the starting point for the Blue Line, located at the east end of Haeundae Beach. The train runs through the colorful Dalmaji Tunnel and then stops at the small fishing town of Cheongsapo. The next stop is the Daritdol Skywalk, a pier that is popular for its clear walkway. Then there is a short stop at Gudeockpo right before Songjeong station, at the northern end of Songjeong beach.
I will be mainly talking about walking the Blue Line, so if you are interested in buying tickets for the train or sky capsule I would recommend checking out the Haeundae Blue Line Website where you can check prices and make reservations.
First Stop: Cheongsapo (1.5miles)
While the train technically stops at the Dalmaji Tunnel the first stop with sights is Cheongsapo, a small fishing town. Cheongsapo feels like a traditional fishing town that has just started gaining tourism due to its proximity to popular beaches. Technically called Cheongsapo Port, the town is an interesting mixture of traditional fishing and gardening alongside new cafes and donut shops. For this reason, I think the town has retained a sense of authenticity and charm that has not yet been overrun by tourism. Unlike other areas, it is a sleepy town and very peaceful if you go early enough in the morning. The town is known for seafood restaurants, its cute lighthouses, and being recently featured in a movie.
Next Stop: Daritdol Skywalk (1.8 miles)
The next stop is the aptly named Skywalk, essentially a glorified pier. You can walk on the Skywalk for free during the day as long as you put on large, stylish slipper socks over your shoes (pictured below). The Skywalk derives its name from the small glass path in the middle of the pier that is supposed to give the illusion that you are walking in the sky. Personally, I thought it was cute but that the views from the pier are more impressive than the Skywalk itself. Regardless, it is still worth checking out and is a great picture opportunity for Instagram if that’s your thing.
Gudeokpo (2 miles)
According to a plaque that I translated, Gudeokpo is an inlet port that has also historically been a fishing village but has seen an influx of tourism due to Songjeong Beach. The area was originally named Gaepo due to the many reeds that grew there. The village is still known for fishing, seaweed, and anchovies, though there has also been an increase in sushi restaurants in recent years.
This stop is right before the beach and is the best way to get off if you want to walk the length of the beach from the south to the north end.
Last: Songjeong Beach (3 miles)
Lastly is Songjeong Beach, my favorite spot so far to swim and surf! Songjeong is a much “chiller” beach than Haeundae and Gwangali, often full of surfers and coffee food trucks. During a day with good waves, the ocean is full of surfers, many of which are newbies giving it their all. Even if you are not a surfer it is also just fun to watch, and everyone generally seems to be having a lot of fun.
While I spend most of my time on the beach, there are also a lot of restaurants and surf shops around Songjeong that are cool to check out! My favorite so far is the Twosome Place Cafe, which has great views of the ocean and some delicious cake.
If you are interested in surfing check out my previous blogpost on Surfing in Songjeong, to find out about board rentals, costs, and shops!
Quick Tips
- Start off walking and then you can always ride the train back later
- Go in the morning if you want to avoid crowds
- The line for tickets is often long on weekends so I would recommend reserving online
- Check out the beaches along the path! There are random stairs that lead down to rocky outcroppings where few people venture
Resources!
Mipo Station: The Start of the Blue Line
Hello! I am a expat from the US living in South Korea to teach for a year. While I have traveled quite a bit in the past this will be the first time I live abroad for a an extended amount of time so I decided to document it! Through my blog I hope to share my personal experiences as well as helpful tips/information. I hope to cover topics such as Hiking, Food, and what it is like to live in Korea during Covid-19!