Travel

A Guide To Huinnyeoul Culture Village: Photo-Worthy Attraction In Busan That Captured Our Hearts

4 min read

One of the main attractions in Busan is Gamcheon Culture Village, but today, we want to introduce a place that’s severely underrated, which is Huinnyeoul Culture Village.

Introduction to Huinnyeoul Culture Village

Nestled on the slopes of a hill overlooking the sea, Huinnyeoul Culture Village (흰여울문화마을) is sometimes referred to as the Santorini of Korea. With cute and brightly coloured houses and a gorgeous view of the sea, this spot in Busan lets you experience a different side of Korea.

Location & Getting There

The village is located in Yeongdo, which is a small island connected by bridges. Since Huinnyeoul Culture Village is perched on top of a hill, we highly recommend arriving near the top of the village before slowly making your way down to Jeoryeong Coastal Trail.

Due to various slopes and stairs, Huinnyeoul Culture Village might not be the most wheelchair-friendly place.

If you’re taking a taxi, we highly recommend getting off at Information Center, you can search for ‘흰여울문화마을거점센터’ on Naver Maps. The entrance to the village is right around the corner.

For those opting for public transport, there’s a bus stop named Huinnyeoul Culture Village (Naver Maps link here), and several buses make a stop here. Buses 6, 7, 9, 71, 82, 85, and 508 all pass by Nampo Station (Line 1, Exit 6), while Bus 1006 starts from the Haeundae area, crossing the famous Gwangan Bridge. The distance from Nampo Subway Station to the village is roughly 6 to 7 bus stops.

Must-Sees At Huinnyeoul Culture Village

Once you enter Huinnyeoul Culture Village, the first thing to explore are definitely the alleys and walkways of the village. Some corners are decorated in intricate paintings and designs, while some offer a gorgeous view of the ocean. No kidding, some really made us feel like we were in Santorini with the classic pairing of white and blue tones.

As you make your way to the Piano Stairs, you’ll pass by lots of shops selling intricate accessories and souvenirs, so don’t forget to pay these a visit. There are also lots of cafes hidden in between the houses/shops for a quick break. Read on as we’ll be sharing some of our favourite cafes in Huinnyeoul Culture Village right below!

If there’s one photo spot that you need to visit, it’s the one at the Isongdo observatory (이송도전망대) right before heading down the piano stairs. The photo spot has a beautiful backdrop of the ocean, framed beautifully by plants and the staircase.

Take some time to take in the view before walking down the coloured stairs to Jeoryeong Coastal Trail.

Before you make your stroll out of the area, make sure to make a slight detour to go through the Huinnyeoul Coastal Tunnel. The entrance of the tunnel is also a popular photo spot for both locals and tourists. If time permits, you can continue going through the tunnel and explore the rocky nature course and make your way to the Haenyeo village.

If not, turn back and enjoy a leisure stroll along the coast, while taking in the interesting sights along the way, such as stacked pebbles.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village Cafes

While cafes are aplenty here at Huinnyeoul, one of our favourite cafes is Sonmokseoga. The quaint cafe gives off a nice retro, old-school vibe with its well-decorated and furnished space.

The first floor is a bookstore, while the 2^nd floor offers an unobstructed view of the ocean. It’s the perfect spot to just stare at the ocean and enjoy a beverage. You can read more about Sonmokseoga here.

Another cafe we wanted to share is Aether (에테르), which offers a gorgeous view of the ocean through its glass windows. The huge cafe has a couple of floors, which include a rooftop and alfresco area as well! Apart from the usual coffee and bakes, Aether also offers brunch/lunch options, making it a great pitstop for those intending to stay around the area for the whole day.

Tips for Visitors

We highly recommend visiting Huinnyeoul Culture Village from 10am, which is slightly before the shops open. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the area without the crowd. After taking all your pictures, you can explore the shops and cafes from 11am.

Previously, Typhoon Hinnamnor caused pretty huge damage to the coastal attractions in Busan. The attraction has undergone repairs and is open to the public again. However, do note that anything can happen, so just do a quick search online to see if it’s closed before heading down.