The Best Hiking in Daegu, South Korea

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There are three mountain peaks in Daegu that offer fantastic hiking. This ultimate guide shares all you need to know to hike each of them.

Hiking in South Korea is a major national pastime. Every weekend, hundreds (if not thousands) of people flock to the various mountains around the country to enjoy the beautiful views and fresh air. And while Daegu isn’t a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the country, the hiking in Daegu is still pretttty fabulous! It’s probably one of the best things to do in Daegu in my opinion.

Hiking is pretty much the same everywhere you go in the world, but in Korea there is something that feels special about it. Entire families come for mountain top picnics, clubs walk the trails together and groups flock to enjoy the greenery and escape from the cities. Check out my best Korean hiking tips so you can make the most of your time hiking in Daegu, South Korea!

The Best Places to Go Hiking in Daegu, South Korea

As mentioned in the intro, there are three main mountain ranges/peaks in Daegu: Apsan, Palgongsan, and Bieseulsan. Here’s a breakdown of how to hike them.

1. Apsan Mountain

Apsan is a small (600 meter) mountain that is located near the city center. It’s a great hike for all levels and offers trails that are short or long depending on what you’re looking for. The best thing to do in Apsan is to come see the sunset while overlooking the entire city of Daegu. It really is a sight to see!

The short hike to the observation deck is essentially all incline with many stairs. It can take upwards of 45 – 60 minutes to reach the top. Make sure to come with enough time if you hope to see the sunset. At night, the stairs and pathway to/from the observation deck are lit up, which makes for a very nice night hike. It’s a wonderful and easy way for everyone to do some hiking in Daegu. 

For those looking for a longer hike, stop by the observation deck before continuing on your way along the ridge. There are trails that range up to 15km long.

Apsan Attractions

• Observation deck overlooking the city
• Cable car
• Great place to see the sunset
• Restaurant at the top (tip: you can go on the roof of the restaurant and see the city above the observation deck with less crowds!)

For more information and specific hiking trails, click here. 

How to get to Apsan:

Option 1: Blue 410-1 bus (picks up at Jungango Station) to Daegu Apsan Park bus stop

Option 2: Green dalseong 달서  bus 4 (picks up outside Duryu Station)

If you type in Apsan Park into Google Maps, Naver Maps or KakaoMap, it gives easy and more accurate directions based on your starting location. Apsan is a popular and small-ish park/mountain so getting there is fairly easy!

2. Palgongsan – Palgong Mountain

Palgongsan Provincial Park lies to the northeast of the city. It’s home to three peaks and numerous Buddhist temples and shrines. Not only is it famous for being one of the most sacred mountains in the country, but also a favorite place for hiking in Daegu.

In the spring, the mountainside blooms with bright purple and pink azaleas, and in the fall the leaves turn a fiery orange and red. It’s a stunning natural and historical hidden gem that lies so close to the city!

Palgongsan Attractions

• Seonbonsa Temple / Gatbawi Stone Buddha
• Donghwasa Temple
• Gyejeongsa Temple
• 용주암 Temple 
• 광덕사 Temple 
• Pagyesa temple
• Sutaegol Valley Waterfalls 
• Cable Car

↠ Read More: A Guide to Hiking Palgongsan, Daegu

How to get to Palgongsan

Option 1: Blue 401 Bus to Gatbawi (갓바위)

The 401 bus picks up at the Dongdaegu bus stop that’s behind the station and under the expressway. Take the 401 all the way to the last stop, which is aptly named Gatbawi (갓바위). When you get off of the bus, you’ll take a left out of the parking lot and make your way up the hill. There will be trail markers and sign posts to guide you from here. Just follow the flow of the hikers!

Option 2: 803 Bus to Palgongsan Gatbawi (갓바위종점)

This option takes you to a more direct entrance to the Gatbawi statue and cuts out a bit of hiking. From here, you can climb the stairs to the top to see the statue, and continue your hike along the ridge if you so choose.

Option 3: Red (Express) 1 Bus to Donghwasa (동화사입구앞)

The Express Bus 1 (급행1) also picks up at the Dongdaegu bus stop that’s behind the station and under the expressway. You’ll take this bus to the second last stop called Donghwasa Temple Entrance (동화사입구앞).

If you type in Gatbawi or Donghwasa into Google Maps, Naver Maps or KakaoMap, it gives easy and accurate directions! There are of course many points of interest for Palgongsan, so how to get there just depends on where you’re going.

3. Biseulsan – Biseul Mountain

Biseulsan is a county park that lies to the far south of the city of Daegu. It’s most famous for its absolutely wonderful azalea festival that takes place every spring when the flowers bloom. While it’s a bit far out of the way and there isn’t anything too special about it, it’s another option for hiking in Daegu.

Biseulsan Attractions

• Azalea festival every spring – usually sometime in May. Read more about it here!
• Ice festival every winter. Read more about it here!
• Twin peaks – Johwabong and Gwangibong
• Biseulsan Recreational Forest
• Yugasa Temple

For more information and specific hiking trails, click here.

How to get to Biseulsan

Biseulsan is a bit far away from downtown Daegu and can be difficult to get to. It can take about 2 hours to get there via public transportation and the buses aren’t always regular or dependable. We’ve found the best option to get there is a combo of the metro, bus and taxi.

Best option: 

• From Daegu, you’ll take the red metro line to Daegok Station.
• From here you’ll want to hop on the express/red 8 bus all the way to the Daegu National Science Museum bus stop.
• You can choose to take another bus or opt to take a taxi the short remaining duration to the trail head. I recommend a taxi. The buses this far out of the city are generally slow and do not pick up frequently. At this point you’re nearly close – a taxi shouldn’t cost more than 10,000 won. Ask to be taken to the recreational forest entrance of Biseulsan.

There you go! The best hiking in Daegu, South Korea. Happy adventuring 😀