From Cheongsapo to Mipo: Riding Haeundae Blueline Park’s 4.8 km Historic Railway

How the 4.8 km of the Donghae Nambu Line, discontinued in 2013, became a tourist railway

Haeundae Blueline Park reuses the former railway facilities of the Donghae Nambu Line, which once connected Mipo, Cheongsapo, and Songjeong. The Haeundae section of the Donghae Nambu Line was discontinued in 2013 following double-track electrification, and the 4.8 km section from Mipo to Songjeong was transformed into a tourist route served by the Beach Train and Sky Capsule.

The Beach Train currently runs back and forth between Mipo, Cheongsapo, and Songjeong, and the official route length is 4.8 km. Since the railway itself runs between coastal cliffs and the sea, the main attraction is less a single destination than traveling along the former railway alignment, connecting Dalmaji-gil, Cheongsapo, and Songjeong.

If departing from Cheongsapo Station, budget from 8,000 won for the Beach Train

Cheongsapo Station is located at 116 Cheongsapo-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan. A single-ride Beach Train ticket costs 8,000 won for an adult departing from Cheongsapo; it is a one-way ticket and cannot be used again after getting off. A two-ride ticket, allowing one ride at each of two stations, costs 14,000 won, while an all-stations ticket, allowing one ride at each of the seven stations, costs 16,000 won.

The Beach Train passes seven points: Mipo, Dalmaji Tunnel, Haewol Observatory, Cheongsapo, Daritdol Observatory, Gudeokpo, and Songjeong. Mipo and Songjeong are terminal stations, so passengers must get off there. To make a round trip, you need either a two-ride ticket or an all-stations ticket. A one-way ride takes about 25 minutes, the average speed is 15 km/h, and trains normally run three times per hour.

• Cheongsapo → Daritdol Observatory: The route is short at approximately 600 m, making it easy to add a seaside walk after getting off.
• Cheongsapo → Mipo: The route is 2.3 km, and you should allow about 25 minutes by Beach Train.
• Cheongsapo → Songjeong: The route is approximately 2.5 km, and all passengers get off at Songjeong Terminal.

Why the 2 km Mipo–Cheongsapo Sky Capsule, with 80 cars, requires a separate reservation

The Sky Capsule is an automated capsule that operates one-way in each direction along the 2.0 km route between Mipo and Cheongsapo. It travels on an elevated rail 7–10 m above the coast, with 80 four-person capsules installed on double tracks. The average speed is 4 km/h, and a one-way ride takes about 30 minutes.

The fare is the total price for one car, not a per-person price. The current one-way fares are 50,000 won for a two-person car, 55,000 won for a three-person car, and 60,000 won for a four-person car; for four people, this works out to 15,000 won per person. Packages combining a one-way Sky Capsule ride with an all-stations Beach Train ticket cost 65,000 won for two people, 78,000 won for three, and 94,000 won for four.

The reservation time is an admission window, not an arrival time. For example, the 11:00–11:30 session means entering and waiting during that 30-minute period, and actual boarding may be delayed on weekends and public holidays. You may board only at the station specified in your reservation, and a group of five must reserve a two-person and a three-person car separately. However, a group of five including one child aged seven or younger may use a four-person car.

Operating from 09:00 to 20:30 in August, but ending before 18:00 in winter

The Sky Capsule operates from 09:00 to 20:30 during the peak season in July and August, from 09:00 to 19:30 during the high season in May, June, and September, from 09:00 to 18:30 during the shoulder season in March, April, and October, and from 09:00 to 18:00 during the winter season from November to February. During winter, the Beach Train operates from Mipo from 09:30 to 19:00 and from Songjeong from 09:30 to 18:30. In July and August, hours are extended to 09:30–21:30 from Mipo and 09:30–21:00 from Songjeong.

No regular closing days have been separately announced, but services may be suspended in the event of natural disasters such as torrential rain or typhoons, and operating hours may also be adjusted for safety reasons. The facilities are not automatically canceled just because it rains, but if a summer typhoon is forecast, it is safest to check the official announcement and service status before departing.

Boarding waiting for the Beach Train closes 10 minutes before the initial reservation time. Boarding may be restricted if you are more than 30 minutes late, and refunds may be difficult. Passengers reboarding are admitted sequentially after passengers boarding for the first time, so when using intermediate stations multiple times with an all-stations ticket, allow extra time in your schedule.

Reaching Cheongsapo Station from Haeundae Station or Jangsan Station by buses 2 or 10

The stop directly in front of Cheongsapo Station is “Haeundae Blueline Park,” served by Haeundae-gu village buses 2, 7, and 10. From Exit 1 of Haeundae Station, you can take Haeundae-gu Bus 2 and get off at “Haeundae Blueline Park,” or take Haeundae-gu Bus 10 and get off at “In Front of the Supermarket” to approach the station.

From Exit 5 of Jangsan Station, Haeundae-gu Bus 2 also connects to “Haeundae Blueline Park,” while Haeundae-gu Bus 10 connects to “In Front of the Supermarket.” According to the official information, a taxi from Jangsan Station costs approximately 4,000 won and takes about 10 minutes. If you want to start from the Songjeong side, it takes about 12 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Donghae Line Songjeong Station to Songjeong Station.

For those arriving by car, parking availability and fees near Cheongsapo Station may vary depending on conditions on the day, so check before departing. The three major stations with parking lots are Mipo, Cheongsapo, and Songjeong. During the high season, taking public transportation into Cheongsapo and leaving from Mipo or Songjeong reduces the need to return to your original parking location.

A 2.5-hour itinerary adding the 600 m walk from Cheongsapo to Daritdol Observatory

From Cheongsapo Station, you can take the Beach Train and get off near Daritdol Observatory, or connect the approximately 600 m section on foot. Gudeokpo and Songjeong Station follow Daritdol Observatory, so the route from Cheongsapo to Songjeong remains continuous even when combining the train with walking.

For first-time visitors, it is easier to choose a two-ride ticket or an all-stations ticket than to travel from Cheongsapo to either Songjeong or Mipo on one Beach Train ride and then arrange a separate way back to Cheongsapo. If you want to include the Sky Capsule, allow at least 2.5–3 hours for a 30-minute Cheongsapo → Mipo or Mipo → Cheongsapo capsule ride, 25 minutes of Beach Train travel, station waiting, and a walk at Daritdol Observatory.

• Short itinerary: Approximately 1 hour, including one 25-minute Beach Train ride from Cheongsapo and transfers at the station.
• Cheongsapo and Daritdol Observatory focus: Approximately 1.5–2 hours combining the train and walking.
• Sky Capsule + Beach Train package: Approximately 2.5–3 hours, allowing for waiting time.

Pets are allowed in carriers, but wheelchair users should inquire in advance

Pets may board the Beach Train and Sky Capsule if placed in a carrier. Drinking and smoking are prohibited inside the facilities, and children and elderly passengers must ride with a guardian. The Beach Train does not use assigned seating, so standing may be required; this is an important consideration for travelers who have difficulty standing for long periods.

The official website provides menus in Korean, English, and Chinese. However, the detailed conditions for boarding and getting off with wheelchairs or strollers at each platform, as well as whether they can be taken on the Sky Capsule, are difficult to confirm from the online information alone. Travelers using mobility aids should therefore call 051-701-5548 before boarding.

The official website is https://www.bluelinepark.com/. The inquiry phone number is 051-701-5548, and the address is 116 Cheongsapo-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan (Jung-dong). Operating hours, fares, and weather-related service policies may change depending on the season and conditions on site, so check the official page’s timetable for the relevant month again immediately before making a reservation.