If you’re visiting Busan, South Korea soon you have probably come across pictures of these fun bright Busan Sky Capsule pods and the Beach Train. You’re probably wondering whether you should add them to your itinerary and whether they are worth booking? Should you do one and not the other? Which one is better? Let me share my experience riding the Sky Capsule and Beach Train, which one you should book and help you decide on whether its worth it.
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What Is The Sky Capsule Train?
The sky capsule is a 4 seater capsule that starts off at Blueline Sky Park in Mipo. It runs from Mipo to Cheongsapo and Cheongsapo to Mipo. The Sky Capsule runs on a 2.3km elevated railway 7-10m above the ground. The Sky Capsules run fairly slow at 4km/h and one way takes approx 30 – 40 mins.
What is the Haeundae Beach Train?
The Haeundae beach train runs alongside the Sky capsule but is totally different from the Sky Capsule. It runs like a normal train but it is not elevated like the Sky Capsules. The Beach train is a lot faster than the Sky Capsules at 15km/hr but still not too fast. The beach train’s main stops are Mipo Station, Dalmaji Tunnel, Haewol Observatory, Cheongsapo Station, Daritdol Observatory, Gudeokpo, Songjeong Station. There is approximately 3 every hour but please check the official website for the times HERE.
Which One is Better & Which One Should I Book?
Which one you should book honestly depends on what you want to do and where you want to stop off at.
Option 1
If you want to do both the Sky Capsule and Beach Train it may be best to go from:
- Mipo(Haeundae) to Cheongsapo with the Sky Capsule and then continue on from Cheongsapo to Seongjeong Beach with the Haeundae Beach Train.
- Seongjeong Beach is a taxi ride away from Haedong Yonggungsa Temple so if you would like to visit the temple then this route might be better for you.
- On your way back to Mipo(Haeundae) you can use the Haeundae Beach train from Songjeong and get off at the different stops if you like depending on what you want to see.
Option 2
Another alternative is to do it backwards:
- So take the Haeundae Beach train to Songjeong Beach while getting on and off at different stops on the way there.
- On the way back from Seongjeong beach, take the beach train to Cheongsapo and then take the Sky Capsule from Cheongsapo to Mipo.
I rode the Sky Capsule from Cheongsapo to Mipo and loved the views coming back into Haeundae but practicality also matters if you don’t have a lot of time in Busan
Option 3
If you have no desire to head to Songjeong Beach or Haedong Yoggungsa temple you can take the Sky Capsule either way from Mipo or Cheongsapo and then the beach train on the return journey.
Option 4
If you have no desire to ride the sky capsule then beach train will work out cheaper and can also take you to Cheongsapo. If you love aesthetics and want a private capsule then the Sky capsule is for you.
Conclusion
It honestly depends on what you want to see and how much time you have that will determine if you should book both or just one of them.
How Do I Book My Tickets?
If you are not based in South Korea the official website may not work but you can try it first. If that is not working please use Trip.com HERE to book your tickets for the Sky Capsule or Beach Train. Prices vary depending on how many people are going to use the Sky Capsule and whether you want to be able to re-board using the Beach Train.
It’s important to note that for the Sky Capsule can only be bought for one way at a time. If you are alone you still need to pay for a two person ticket, there is no solo ticket and a sky capsule can hold 4 people (if a child is under 7 they can enter as a fifth person). The Haeundae Beach train can be bought as a single or round ticket and there is an all stops ticket.
How Do I Get There?
Both the Sky Capsule and Haeundae Beach Train are located at Blueline Park in Mipo,Haundae below:
Mipo
Google Maps: 13 Dalmaji-gil 62beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
Kakap Maps: https://place.map.kakao.com/188403018
Cheongsapo
Google Maps: South Korea, Busan, Haeundae-gu, Cheongsapo-ro, 116 청사포정거장 2F
Kako Maps: https://place.map.kakao.com/321220117
Is It Worth It?
I personally thought the Sky Capsule was a nice relaxing journey. I was solo and just ended up taking up lots of videos and pictures but with friends it might be a little more fun . You can play music, talk etc and have a good time together. So really it is up to you since the Sky capsule is a lot more expensive than the Beach train.
Overall I hope this guide is helpful to you and helps you choose whether you want to ride the Sky capsule, the beach train or both!
Other Posts
If you are interested in reading more of my Korea posts you can check them out HERE
Wondering if you should stay at Hauendae or Gwangalli Beach, while visiting Busan? This post will help you decide HERE
Here are things to do in Seoul and things to do in Busan for your next trip!
Looking to buy a gift for a loved one who loves Korea? Check out my 40+ Korean Gift Ideas HERE
