It’s summer, the weather outside is hot, sunny and beautiful, and it’s time to plan your vacation. However, you may still be wondering where are the best beaches in Korea.

We’ve put together this list to get you started on ideas on where to go to get your tan and water fun at. Mind you that during the peak time of the year, these beaches tend to get very crowded. Therefore, the earlier in the day you get there the better the available spots will be.

Pack your sunscreen and your coolers, because it’s beach time in Korea!

Korean Beach #1: Haeundae, Busan

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The first one on the list is naturally the most famous one in all of Korea: Haeundae. It’s located in the southeastern side of Busan, and packed with lots of other activities to do besides tanning and swimming. Some of the famous spots include great places to eat, comfortable guesthouses, Busan Aquarium, and even a spa! It’s perhaps also the busiest beach on the peninsula. It gets quieter towards the end of August, and the water still remains warm enough to swim in. Sometimes the tide gets too strong for swimming, so keep that in mind when planning your summer fun!

Korean Beach #2: Jungmun, Jeju

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This southernmost beach is located on the grounds of Jungmun Resort in the southern part of Jeju Island. It’s a bit of a walk to get there, especially if you’re not staying right at Jungmun Resort, but it’s worth the effort! It’s a nice beach with beautiful water.

While it’s quite a popular beach, due to its lack of accessibility compared to other beaches on the island, it doesn’t get excessively crowded. Be prepared for some additional cardio once you leave the beach as it’s all uphill to get back and out of the resort.

Korean Beach #3: Daecheon, Boryeong

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Easily accessible from the city of Boryeong, and famous for its yearly mud festival, this beach is especially popular among families and groups of friends. If you get there early enough in the morning, the beach will be practically all yours. However, as the tide gets higher and lunch time passes, it will suddenly get packed with people ready for summer beach fun. Even though it can get crowded, it’s still an excellent spot for an afternoon of swimming, tanning, and people watching!

Korean Beach #4: Jumunjin, Gangneung

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When the topic of beaches in Gangneung is being discussed, usually you’ll be recommended to go to Gyeongpo Beach. Jumunjin definitely is smaller and further from the center in comparison. However, it’s an excellent location for those who would rather go to a quieter and less crowded beach, while still enjoying nice sand and clean water. Right in the vicinity of the beach there are also rooms available for rent if one wants to stay overnight.

Korean Beach #5: Myeongsashimni, Shinji

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The trip to Myeongsashimnie may be long and perhaps even gruesome, but simply the arrival to the beach will be reward enough! This four kilometer long beach not only allows great spots for tanning, but also an awesome space for swimming all the way until early October. This is rare, as it can’t be said for many of the other beaches Korea houses. To get to the island for this beach, first head to Wando, and then take a ferry from there.

Korean Beach #6: Seonyudo, Gunsan

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From Gunsan, you can take a ferry to this archipelago housing some twenty islands, of which four are connected with foot and bike bridges. This area is especially popular for its biking and walking routes. The beach is top quality, making Seonyudo a fantastic spot for a weekend trip.

Korean Beach #7: Hyeopjae, Jeju

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Although it’s a bit of a way from Jeju City, the clear and shallow water is particularly appealing for families. It’s a great place to stay late into the evening, and perhaps even until the next morning, as the sunset here is incredibly stunning. The nearby Hallim Park is also good for an afternoon stroll when staying under the sun gets to be too much.

Korean Beach #8: Deokjeokdo, Incheon

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To reach the ultimate levels of remoteness among beaches you visit, Deokjokdo is the place to go to. During low tide, one can walk far from the shoreline before reaching waters that are beyond ankle deep. However, just staying on the beach for some tanning is a fun activity all the same.

To get to the beach, you’ll likely want to rent a bike, although walking is also an option. And for those wanting to get the most out of their visit to the beach, on the same island lies a 300-meter high Bijong Peak that will provide great views of the whole island for those who are willing to hike it up.

Korean Beach #9: Hanagae, Muuido

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This is another incredibly hard to reach but fun beach to visit off the coast of Incheon. In the mornings the tide is so low you can walk at least a kilometer into where you’d just seen water the previous day and not even get wet. Because of how tough it is to get there, it’s recommended to stay there overnight. The good thing is that it’s actually half the fun as there are pensions and lodges right by the beach. There are also several restaurants, one of which is right on the sand with a nice view of the sunset.

Korean Beach #10: Woljeongri, Jeju

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If you’re looking for a quiet beach with clean sand and crystal clear water while on Jeju, Woljeongri Beach is the place to go! The scenery of the beach and its surroundings is stunning, with a street of cafes nearby. As it’s not officially registered as a beach, not many people know of it or go there. That means that you get lots of space for yourself to enjoy and cool down during the sunny summer days.

Those are some of the best beaches in Korea. Which one’s the first on your bucket list to visit?