Destination: Haeundae Spa Center (Haeundae Beach, Busan)
Note: I actually visited the Haeundae Spa Center during my recent trip to Busan, but haven’t had the time to write about the experience until today. Without further ado, here it is!
It’s time to clean off the salt, sand, and tanning lotion, but you don’t want to pay for a hotel room just to take a shower. Alternatively, you’ve been out in the sun and want to clean up before getting dressed up for a night on the town, Busan-style. Either are decent reasons to check out one of the local hot springs / jimjilbang around Busan. Enter 해운대 온천 센터 (Haeundae oncheon senteo, or Haeundae Spa Center) as a great way to unwind.
A 24 hour spa / sauna awaits for a decent price – 5,000 won for just the hot springs bath, 7,000 won for the spa and sauna, and a bit more to check out the gym / health center another floor up.
After arriving at the building, go up to the 4th floor to check in and pay your admission fee. The female-only area is just around the corner, while the male-area only area is the next floor (take the stairs – it’s faster and easier). Once inside, show your receipt to get a uniform, then find a locker and stash your stuff. From there, get naked, take a shower, and slip into a bath.
Like Hurshimchung in Busan, the layout is very open on the gender-segregated floors – jump into one bath and out just as easily. They range from lukewarm to borderline-too-hot-but-I-think-I-can-get-used-to-it. I enjoyed what I’ll call the ‘downpour’ shower – hit the button and a flood of water comes pouring down from the ceiling – like the hardest rain shower you’ve ever been caught in.
Once showered, bathed, and otherwise cleaned, find your way to the 6th floor using the elevator and enjoy the common area. Most jimjilbang offer very similar services in the common areas. Haeundae Spa Center offered big-screen TV’s, usually showing a Korean drama or movie; plenty of sleeping rooms; and a DVD bang to put in your own movie from their selection. I should note that Haeundae Spa Center had no other foreigners on the Sunday afternoon we went. While fairly easy to find and get around, you’re walking away from the beach; the random tourist isn’t likely to stumble in.
If you’re on your way to this or any other jimjilbang, check out the ten-step guide I wrote to enjoying your stay at a jimjilbang awhile back. While completely enjoyable and very relaxing, there’s little to differentiate between jimjilbang thus far.
What else is there to see in Busan / Gyeongsangnam-do? Let’s find out.
Directions to Haeundae Spa Center: Take line 2 of the Busan subway system to the Haeundae Beach station. Take exit 1 to street level, then walk straight for about 300 meters. At the five-way intersection, take the 90-degree right (not the hard right), then cross the street to walk along the other side. After another 100 meters it will be on your left.