Things to do in Sagi

Gwangalli Beach is an urban beach well-known for its fine sand and clean, swimmable water. It sits in an attractive bay while looking out across the Sea of Japan to a famous bridge. Gwangalli Beach is a hive of activity from early in the morning until long into the night. Find traditional Korean barbecue restaurants, a fish market, amusement park and concert stage.

On sunny days in July and August, Haeundae Beach is the most popular spot in Busan. Fields of colorful umbrellas line the entire 0.9-mile (1.5-kilometer) stretch. Masses of visitors float on bright yellow tubes. Regularly, more than 100,000 people come here each day during the summer. On particularly hot days, the beach has hosted up to a million sun worshipers, making it as much a place to people-watch as a place to swim.

Join the city residents and tourists that escape the sweltering summer heat of downtown Busan at Songdo Beach. Created in 1913 and upgraded in the 2000s, Songdo Beach is Korea’s first public beach. The name Songdo means pine island and is a reference to pine forests that were once thought to flourish in the area. It presents a quieter coastal experience to Busan’s other beaches such as Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae Beach.

Shinsegae means “new world,” an appropriate description for this 14-floor, all-encompassing department store. Officially the largest department store in the world, Shinsegae Centum City offers the hottest brands, the finest foods and numerous entertainment and relaxation options.

Whether you’re in the mood for seafood or not, a walk through the Jagalchi Market is an enjoyable sensory experience. Visiting the sprawling multistory market is like exploring an aquarium without the glass walls. Octopi splash from buckets. Escaped fish flip on the pavement. However, there’s one important difference; everything at Jagalchi Market is destined to be someone’s meal. Jagalchi Market is the largest seafood market in South Korea. It will take an afternoon to fully explore. Be sure to tour both the outdoor section along the port and the indoor section in the massive market hall.

Prepare yourself for a sensory overload at Gukje Market. This vast street market has hundreds of shops packed tightly together along a network of both covered and open-air lanes. Browse for electronics, fashion trends and sundry household goods. Enjoy the traditional flavors of Korean snacks. Gukje Market began during the Korean War of the early 1950s when refugees sold their wares as a way to make a living.

Discover a relaxed coastal atmosphere at Songjeong Beach. Join the hordes of local families that come to relish in the beach’s calm water and gorgeous sand. Dabble in watersports, go fishing and be part of vibrant festivals. Songjeong Beach is the quieter and less commercial option to the nearby, developed resort of Haeundae Beach.