Enjoying the Igidae Coastal Walk in Busan

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If you’re looking for a scenic trail that showcases the best views of Busan, the Igidae Coastal Walk is one of the best options.

It’s a relatively easy trail so most athletic abilities can enjoy it and you’ll get to see the stunning rocky coastline. The trail starts near the Oryukdo Islets and travels north to the famous Gwangandaeyo Bridge (also known as the Diamond Bridge).

Originally, the Igidae Park and surrounding area were closed off to the public due to military operations, but since 1993 this has reopened and become a popular place for enjoying coastal strolls. You can enjoy almost every type of terrain in this area including dense forest, lush parks, jagged coastal bedrock and clear blue water.

The entire route takes locals and tourists along a trail that is dramatic in every way. It’s one of the best trails in all of Busan and it is now treated as a protected habitat area for wildlife to enjoy.

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Want to check out some more challenging hikes outside of the city?

• Jirisan mountain, Cheonwangbong peak: Biggest on the Korean mainland
• Gwaneumsa Trail: Hiking the Steepest trail of Mt.Hallasan
• Taking the Seongpanak trail to the Hallasan peak

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Trail stats for the Igidae Coastal Walk in Busan

Length of Trail:

4.7 km / 2.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

112 m

Time to Complete:

2 hours on average

The Igidae Coastal Walk is a scenic trail in Busan that takes you from near the Oryukdo Skywalk to Gwangan Bridge. This trail is listed as one of the top 10 hiking trails in all of Busan and once you see the views you’ll likely agree.

Unlike many of the other popular trails in Busan, the Igidae Coastal Walk offers views immediately. This means you don’t have to hike to a peak or for hours before seeing a great scenic view.

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

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Costs & Opening times

You’ll be pleased to know that as this is just an outdoor walking trail, it is free to access. Also, it is open and accessible 24 hours a day, although the path does not have lights or lampposts, which means it will be dark and potentially dangerous if you visit during the night.

If you do choose to walk along this coastal route after hours, please use caution.

What to check out some other hikes in Busan?

• Jangsan Mountain, Busan’s popular city hike
• Exploring viewpoints on the Hwangnyeongsan Mountain hike
• Geumjeongsan Mountain, Hiking the highest peak in Busan
• Bongnaesan Mountain: A short hike with great views
• Seunghaksan Mountain: Completing the Loop Trail

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What to expect on the Igidae coastal walk?

Igidae Park

One end of the trail begins opposite the Oryukdo Skywalk and up a long yellow ramp next to a flower garden. This ramp takes you up to a high viewpoint and park. Behind you, you’ll see a stunning birds-eye view of the islets and some of the western coast of Busan.

As you head through the Igidae Park you’ll see many bright flower beds and a wide variety of plants to welcome you to the start of the trail. During the spring and summer months, this park is brightly coloured and blooming with life. Walking through this park you will eventually head up a few tall staircases which get your thighs burning before joining back onto the official trail.

The forest

After leaving the Igidae Park which is overlooked by residential apartment blocks, you will make your way along the path making sure to follow signs in the right direction. There are a few different trails that intersect so you want to make sure to follow the correct one.

You will eventually reach a large wooden sign with a map of the entire park. Have a look and see which trail you’d like to complete. Don’t worry if it seems confusing, there are colour-coded signs along each route so you’ll struggle to get lost.

If you want to stay close to the coast for as long as possible, I’d recommend staying along the red route as pictured on the sign below.

The coastal views

After a short time in the forest, you will find that the trail makes its way back out into the open where you will be walking close to the shoreline. When travelling from the Oryukdo direction the coast will stay on your right-hand side for the entire journey. Each time you turn a corner and meet the sea, you’ll be met by a view even more spectacular than the last.

Some parts of the trail along the coast are much more narrow than others and it can be difficult to walk without being in a single file line. However, when you get back onto the boardwalk it is a much wider walkway so it’s easy to walk next to the people in your group.

When you need to cross paths with people heading in the opposite direction, you will likely need to find a section of the trail that is wide enough to do so, don’t be alarmed if you need to wait a short while for people to pass when the path is at it’s most narrow like below.

Lots of stairs

Just when you think you’ve finished going up and down stairs along the Igidae Coastal Walk, you will be met with, yes, more stairs. The truth is because this trail hugs close to the cliffs and coastline, not much of the trail is flat.

If you’re concerned about your physical ability, I would 100% recommend sticking with the route I have described rather than the other way around. It is definitely easier going from the Oryukdo direction towards Gwangan because the majority of the staircases take you down in this direction meaning there are not as many climbing up.

Close to the sea

As I mentioned already, some parts of the trail get really, really close to the shoreline so you might get splashed on windy days. There are also two areas (like those shown below) which are actually part of a natural disaster hazard area. These include tsunami and flood risks. These sections of the path are both clearly signposted so you’ll know when you’re in the designated areas.

When the waves hit the trail it can become slippy. Walk with care.

Suspension bridges

You’ll know you’re getting near the end of the trail when you reach the suspension bridges. Each of them is reinforced with metal so they don’t move too much (which is a good thing if suspension bridges make you nervous). You’ll start to notice a few different buildings cropping up on your left side too for the first time along the path which signals that you’re nearing civilisation.

After completing the final suspension bridge you will find a public restroom and a large viewpoint with an outdoor staircase looking at the sea. You should also see a close-up view of the Gwangan Bridge and Gwangalli Beach to your left side and Haeundae Beach directly ahead of you.

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How to get there?

It’s easy to navigate around Busan (and Korea) using Naver Maps or Kakao Maps. Both of these apps – when you’re connected – can give you directions for subways, buses as well as walking. To stay connected, consider getting an eSIM through Airalo. They let you select your travel region, number of days and you can download the sim directly onto your handset.

Since the Igidae Coastal Walk can be completed in either direction there are 2 ways to reach the trailheads at either end.

Don’t forget your T-Money card if you are travelling by public transport. If you’d rather drive, consider getting a rental car here.

Oryukdo starting point

The closest subway station to the Oryukdo end of the trailhead is Kyungsung University Station on Line 2 (Green Line). From outside the station, you can get either the 131, 24 or 27 bus which will drop you off outside the “Oryukdo Sky Apartment” residential block. From here it is just a 3-minute walk to the trailhead.

Yongho starting point (Gwangan Bridge)

The Kyungsung University station is the closest subway to the Yongho end of the trailhead too. Although this end of the coastal walk is much closer to the subway than the Oryukdo end, it is still quite far to walk.

This means you can opt to take the 20, 24, 27 or 39 bus. The bus stop will drop you off opposite the “Jimseu Kids Sports Centre Busan Head Office” and you will have a 7-minute walk to the trail itself.

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The Igidae Coastal Walk is a fantastic way to kill a few hours while taking in the beautiful views of the rocky coastline and the city of Busan. It’s suitable for all ages, relatively accessible and should definitely be considered for a half day excursion during your Busan itinerary.

Have you visited the coastal walk yet?

Hanging around the city and want some more Busan travel inspiration? Check these out:

• Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan: Is it the most beautiful?
• The Rainbow Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan
• Themed cafes Busan: Checking out some of the best
• Cherry blossoms in Busan: The best places to see them