Taejongdae

Dense evergreen forest opening onto sheer cliffs and open sea — this is Taejongdae.

Sitting at the southern tip of Yeongdo Island, this natural park takes its name from King Taejong Muyeol of Silla, who is said to have come here to practice archery after unifying the Three Kingdoms.

Follow the cliffside path down from the observatory and you'll reach a lighthouse built in 1906 — Busan's oldest — from which, on a clear day, you can reportedly see all the way to Tsushima Island. Deeper into the park sits Taejongsa Temple, said to have been built at the king's order.

For locals, Taejongdae is a go-to spot for an open-horizon escape close to the city, and a boat tour that lets you look up at the cliffs from below is a popular way to see the whole park from the water.

Honestly, though, walking from the entrance to the observatory and back covers nearly 4km of uphill and downhill path, which can be a real workout.

The Danubi road train loops between the observatory, lighthouse, and Taejongsa stops without the walk, so if you're short on time, it's worth taking.

Park entry is free, and a round-trip Danubi ticket costs about ₩4,000 for adults. There's no subway station nearby — take a bus from Busan Station or Nampo-dong to the Taejongdae Resort Park terminus.