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During my recent trip to Busan, I stayed for three nights at Gwanganli Hotel 1, a capsule-style hotel directly opposite Gwangalli Beach.
I already knew I wanted to stay around Gwangalli because it’s my favourite area in Busan, and, location-wise, Gwanganli Hotel 1 was as perfect as it gets. Right at Gwangalli Beach!
I paid around 198,000 KRW (€123) for three nights in a Luxury Capsule. That’s more than you’d pay for a basic hostel in Busan, but Hotel 1 doesn’t really feel like a typical hostel. The capsules are very private, the facilities are nice and you get quite a few little extras included with your stay. And of course, you absolutely also pay for the location!
Overall, I really enjoyed staying here and would absolutely consider coming back.
→ Check current prices for Gwanganli Hotel 1 on Booking.com
Where Is Gwanganli Hotel 1?
Hotel 1 is located directly opposite Gwangalli Beach. You basically walk out of the hotel, cross the road and you’re at the beach.
For me, this is one of the biggest reasons to stay here.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Busan, as I used to study there, and Gwangalli is still my favourite area to stay whenever I return. You have the beach right outside, plenty of restaurants and cafés, bars in the evening and convenience stores within a few minutes’ walk. And it still feels a lot more authentic than Haeundae Beach, which just gets more and more touristy every time I visit.
There is no metro station directly at Gwangalli Beach, but Geumnyeonsan Station is about a 10–15-minute walk from Hotel 1. You can also walk to Gwangan Station, which isn’t much further.
Both are on Line 2, which is particularly convenient for exploring Haeundae and the eastern side of Busan.
Haeundae Beach is only around five metro stops away, while Centum City is even closer. This is where you’ll find Shinsegae Centum City and Spa Land Centum City, if you want to experience a Korean jjimjilbang during your trip.
You’re also not far from the harbour, where many of the Gwangalli sightseeing yacht cruises around Gwangan Bridge depart.
What Are the Capsules Like?
I stayed in one of the Luxury Capsules on the female-only floors.
I’ve stayed in capsule-style accommodation before, and these were definitely some of the nicest capsules I’ve stayed in.
You get your own enclosed sleeping space, so there is much more privacy than you’d have in a standard hostel dorm. My capsule had a little fan as well as a small safe where I could keep valuables overnight.
You also get your own larger locker outside the capsule, which you can open using your key card.
I liked that quite a few small amenities were included as well. During my stay, I received:
- Fresh towels every day
- Pyjamas
- Slippers
- Bottled water
- Orange juice
- A small towel
- A pen
Those all add to the feeling that you’re staying somewhere a little nicer than a standard hostel. And I really loved the pyjamas; they were so comfortable!
The entire place is also very aesthetic. If you like capsule hotels but don’t necessarily want the ultra-basic capsule experience, I think Hotel 1 is a really nice middle ground.
Which Capsule Should You Choose?
Gwanganli Hotel 1 has quite a few different capsule types, and I’ll be honest, the naming can be a little confusing.
I booked one of the cheapest capsule options, which had no sea view. It was still very comfortable and private, and for me, it was completely fine for a three-night stay.
However, there are also capsules with different views, including sea-facing and mountain-view options, as well as larger capsules with wider beds. Some of the capsules are also located higher up in the building.
The sea-view capsules are probably the most tempting upgrade because they look directly over Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge. I got to see some of them while I was there, and the view is really impressive.
If the price difference wasn’t too big for my dates, I would probably choose a sea-view capsule next time. That being said, I don’t think you need to upgrade to enjoy staying here. The cheaper capsule I booked still gave me all the privacy and facilities I wanted.
There are also proper hotel rooms and suites if you don’t want to stay in a capsule at all, including rooms with larger beds and ocean views. I didn’t stay in any of those myself, so my review is mainly based on the capsule experience.
Bathrooms and Showers
The bathrooms were another part of Hotel 1 that I was really happy with.
They’re shared, but everything was very clean and modern, and there were plenty of facilities available.
The showers have toiletries such as shampoo and shower gel provided, and there are hairdryers available as well.
I never really felt like I was sacrificing much by having a shared bathroom here. It definitely felt more like a premium capsule hotel than a cheap hostel bathroom setup.
Common Areas
Downstairs, there’s also a really nice chill area overlooking Gwangalli Beach.
I liked sitting here for a bit during my stay because you have the sea right in front of you, and the space itself is very aesthetically pleasing.
However, I wouldn’t choose Hotel 1 if your main reason for staying in a hostel is meeting other travellers.
The capsules give you a lot of privacy, which I personally liked, but that naturally makes the accommodation less social. During my stay, it wasn’t really the kind of place where everyone was hanging out and meeting each other. People barely interacted.
For me, that wasn’t a problem. I wanted somewhere comfortable in Gwangalli rather than a party or backpacker hostel.
What’s Near Hotel 1?
One of the reasons I recommend staying in this part of Busan is how much there is to do nearby.
You have Gwangalli Beach directly outside, so you can easily go for a walk along the beach in the morning or see Gwangan Bridge lit up at night.
If you’re staying on a Saturday, you can watch the Gwangalli Drone Show without having to travel anywhere afterwards.
Haeundae Beach is also only a few metro stops away. From there, you can continue towards attractions such as Haeundae Blue Line Park, Spa Land, Busan X the Sky and Songjeong Beach.
And if you want to see Gwangalli from the water, the nearby yacht harbour is where you can take one of the sightseeing cruises around Gwangan Bridge. I did one during this trip and especially liked seeing the bridge and skyline from the water.
So although Busan is very spread out, Gwanganli Hotel 1 is in a really convenient position for exploring quite a lot of the places around Gwangalli, Centum City and Haeundae.
How Much Does Hotel 1 Cost?
I paid approximately 198,000 KRW (€123) for three nights in one of the cheapest capsule options.
I stayed during the week rather than over a weekend, which definitely helped with the price.
Prices vary quite a lot depending on the capsule or room you choose. The basic capsules are naturally the cheapest, while larger capsules, higher-floor options, sea-view capsules and private rooms cost more.
Weekend prices can also be considerably higher. This is especially worth keeping in mind during the summer because the Gwangalli Drone Show takes place every Saturday evening, making Saturday nights around Gwangalli particularly popular.
Gwanganli Hotel 1 isn’t the cheapest place to stay in Busan, particularly if you start looking at the upgraded capsules or private rooms. There are definitely cheaper hostels if your main priority is keeping accommodation costs as low as possible.
But I also don’t think Hotel 1 is really competing with a basic backpacker hostel. You’re paying for the beachfront location, nicer facilities, the privacy of your own capsule and, depending on what you book, some pretty incredible views.
For me, the price I paid was absolutely worth it.
→ Check current prices for Hotel 1 on Booking.com
Is Hotel 1 Good for Solo Female Travellers?
I think this is actually one of the types of travellers Hotel 1 makes the most sense for.
The capsule floors I stayed on were female-only, and having my own capsule meant I had much more privacy than I would in a normal hostel dorm.
At the same time, I didn’t have to pay for an entire hotel room by myself.
That’s often the annoying thing about travelling solo: private rooms can become expensive when you don’t have anyone to split the cost with.
Hotel 1 sits somewhere between a hostel and a hotel. You still share facilities such as the bathrooms, but you get your own private sleeping space and quite a few hotel-like amenities. At least if we are talking about the capsules where I stayed. There are also private rooms.
The trade-off is that it’s not especially social. So if you’re travelling alone specifically to meet other backpackers, I’d probably look elsewhere. I’d check here for social hostels in Busan!
But if you want somewhere clean, private and comfortable in an amazing location, I think it’s a great option.
More Busan & South Korea Travel Guides
If you’re planning the rest of your trip to Busan, I have quite a few other guides that might help:
- Best Things to Do in Busan – my full guide to what to see and do in the city.
- One Day in Busan – if you only have a short amount of time in Busan.
- 3-Day Busan itinerary – My itinerary for 3 days in Busan
- Gamcheon Culture Village Guide – everything you need to know before visiting one of Busan’s most colourful neighbourhoods.
- Best Areas to Stay in Busan – a comparison of the different areas, including why I personally prefer Gwangalli.
- How to Travel from Seoul to Busan – including the KTX, buses and other transport options.
- ARTE MUSEUM Busan Review – my experience visiting the immersive art museum in Busan.
- Lotte Giants Baseball Game in Busan – what it’s like attending a baseball game in Busan and how to plan your visit.
- Day trip from Busan to Gyeongju – an absolute must-do tour when in Busan
- Best Apps for South Korea – the apps I recommend downloading for your South Korea trip.
- 10-Day South Korea Itinerary – a full itinerary combining Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju.
- 7 Days in South Korea – if you only have a week to spend in Korea.
Would I Stay at Gwanganli Hotel 1 Again?
Yes, I would definitely stay at Gwanganli Hotel 1 in Busan again. At least for a shorter trip to Busan, where I want to be in my favourite area, Gwangalli Beach.
For me, the combination of the location and the capsule itself made Hotel 1 worth paying a little more for.
I loved being able to walk straight out onto Gwangalli Beach, while still being close enough to the metro to easily get around Busan. The capsule was comfortable, the bathrooms were very clean, and I appreciated all the little amenities included.
The main downsides are that it’s more expensive than a typical hostel and isn’t particularly social.
But neither of those would stop me from staying here again.
And next time, I think I’d be tempted to upgrade to one of the sea-view capsules so I could wake up with a view directly over Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge.
→ Check availability at Gwanganli Hotel 1 on Booking.com
Let me know if you have any questions
