Rising 120 metres above the rooftops of Nampo-dong, Busan Tower (부산타워)—rebranded a few years ago as the Busan Diamond Tower—is the city’s most recognisable landmark, and the green hilltop it crowns, Yongdusan Park (용두산공원, Yongdusan Gongwon), is one of the few genuinely free, genuinely central things to do in Busan. The pairing is unusually convenient: a leafy public park you can wander for nothing, capped by a paid observation deck for the days when the harbour view is worth the won. Here’s exactly how to do both, with current hours and prices, the fastest way in, and the things worth lingering over once you’re up top.
How to get there
The easiest approach is from Nampo Station (남포역) on Subway Line 1. Take Exit 7, walk straight along Gwangbok-ro (광복로) for roughly 300 metres, and you’ll see a covered outdoor escalator on your right that carries you most of the way up the hill—a small mercy, since Yongdusan sits on an actual peak. From the top of the escalator it’s a short walk through the park to the tower; budget about 7–10 minutes total from the turnstile.
Jagalchi Station (자갈치역), also on Line 1 and one stop further, works just as well if you’re coming from the seafood market—it’s a similar 8–10 minute walk uphill. Whichever you choose, you’ll be threading through the Nampo shopping streets, so it’s easy to fold the park into a half-day of eating and browsing rather than a dedicated trip.
Hours & tickets
Yongdusan Park is free and open 24 hours, year-round. You only pay if you go up the tower’s observation deck.
As of 2026, Busan Tower is open 10:00–22:00, with last admission at 21:30. Standard observation-deck admission is around ₩12,000 for adults and ₩9,000 for children and seniors (65+). Prices and hours do shift, and the operator periodically bundles the deck with on-site exhibits or media attractions, so confirm the current rate and any combo packages on the official site before you go. Tip: third-party platforms (Klook, Trip.com, etc.) often sell the same ticket at a small discount, which is worth a glance if you’re set on going up.
One common mix-up worth clearing up: the Busan Air Cruise is the Songdo Marine Cable Car, a completely separate attraction on the coast a fair way west of here. There is no combined Busan Tower + Air Cruise ticket, and the cable car is nowhere near Yongdusan—don’t plan to walk between them.
What to see
From the deck, the payoff is a 360-degree sweep over Busan Port, the South Port, and Yeongdo (영도) island across the water—a working harbour studded with cranes and container ships, framed by the city’s ridgelines. On a clear day you can trace the Namhang Bridge and pick out the rooftops of Nampo directly below.
The park itself rewards a slow loop even if you skip the tower. Look for:
- The statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (이순신), the Joseon-era naval commander, standing watch over the plaza.
- The Busan Citizens’ Bell in its pavilion—a large bronze bell rung on civic occasions.
- The flower clock and a dragon sculpture nodding to the hill’s name (Yongdusan means “dragon’s head mountain”).
- Plenty of pigeons and shaded benches—this is a real neighbourhood park where locals come to sit, not just a viewpoint.
Best time to visit
Busan Tower is a classic night view, and for good reason—arrive around dusk and you get the harbour in daylight, then watch the city lights switch on as the sky goes blue. Because the deck stays open until 22:00, an evening visit also pairs neatly with dinner and the night-market stalls below. If you’d rather have the clearest possible long-distance views of Yeongdo and the bridges, come on a crisp, dry afternoon—Busan’s coastal haze can soften the horizon in humid months. The park is pleasant any time and especially atmospheric in spring when the plantings around the flower clock are in bloom.
Practical tips
- Free vs paid: the park, the escalators, the statues, and the views from the hilltop plaza cost nothing. Only the enclosed observation deck is ticketed—decide on the day whether visibility justifies it.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Even with the escalator, there are steps and slopes around the park.
- Combine it. You’re a two-minute walk from Gukje Market and the Nampo night-market streets, and a short stroll from Jagalchi—this is the natural anchor for a Nampo afternoon-into-evening.
- Restrooms and parking are available on site, but the area is best reached by subway; driving into Nampo’s tight streets is more hassle than it’s worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Busan Tower from Nampo Station?
Exit at Nampo Station Line 1, Exit 7, and walk straight along Gwangbok-ro for about 300 metres. Look for a covered outdoor escalator on your right that carries you most of the way up the hill. From there it's a short walk through the park to the tower, totalling around 7-10 minutes.
How much does it cost to visit Yongdusan Park and the tower?
Yongdusan Park itself is completely free and open 24 hours. The observation deck costs around ₩12,000 for adults and ₩9,000 for children and seniors (65+), though prices do shift—check the official site before visiting. Third-party platforms like Klook sometimes offer small discounts on tickets.
What's the best time of day to visit Busan Tower?
Evening is ideal—arrive around dusk to see the harbour in daylight and then watch the city lights switch on as the sky darkens. The tower stays open until 22:00, which works well if you want to combine it with dinner and night-market stalls in the area below.
Is Busan Tower the same as the Busan Air Cruise I've heard about?
No—they are completely separate attractions. The Busan Air Cruise is actually the Songdo Marine Cable Car, located several kilometres west on the coast. There is no combined ticket, and they're too far apart to walk between, so don't plan them as one stop.
What can I see from the observation deck and around the park?
From the deck you get 360-degree views of Busan Port, the South Port, and Yeongdo island, with clear sight of the Namhang Bridge on a good day. The park itself features the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Busan Citizens' Bell, a flower clock, and a dragon sculpture—it's a working neighbourhood park with shaded benches, worth exploring even if you skip the paid deck.
Explore more Busan guides
- Gukje Market & Nampo Night Market guide — right next door.
- Jagalchi Market guide — Korea’s biggest seafood market, a short walk away.
- The best night views in Busan.
- How to use the Busan subway: a tourist’s guide.