If you’re visiting Busan and planning to go to Centum Spa Land, here’s how I actually use it as a local.
Before You Go
I usually try to arrive right when it opens.
Opening hours can change, so I always check Naver Map before leaving.
I also buy my ticket in advance. These days, the cheapest option for me is usually Naver Reservation, mainly because I have Naver Plus Membership.
Centum Spa Land (센텀 스파랜드)
Address: 35 Centum-namdae-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan (부산광역시 해운대구 센텀남대로 35)
Naver Map: Centum Spa Land on Naver Map
Naver Reservation: Book Centum Spa Land on Naver
If you don’t read Korean, just open this link instead of searching for the Korean name yourself.
Once you have your ticket, just show the barcode at the counter. They’ll ask how many people are in your group and how many are using the men’s and women’s locker rooms.
If they ask about parking, just answer accordingly. Most international travelers probably won’t need to worry about this.
The standard admission is for 4 hours.
If you spend more than 10,000 won inside, your stay is extended to 6 hours. Your parking time is extended as well.
If you stay longer than your allowed time, you’ll be charged an overtime fee.
Entering
At the counter, you’ll receive a small paper slip with a number on it.
Don’t throw it away yet.
Take the escalator upstairs and you’ll see the shoe lockers.
Take off your shoes before going any farther and put them in the locker that matches the number on your paper slip.
Lock the shoe locker, take the key, and scan it at the entrance gate.
Right after you enter, there’s usually a staff member on the right handing out clothes and towels.
Give them your paper slip. They’ll roughly estimate your size and give you a set of jjimjilbang clothes and two towels.
Locker Room & Bath Area
Go into the gender-separated locker room and find the locker with the same number.
Leave all your clothes and belongings there.
Before you put on the jjimjilbang clothes, head to the public bath area first.
This is important.
In Korea, showering before entering the baths or changing into jjimjilbang clothes is considered basic public-bath etiquette.
You’re expected to wash your hair, remove your makeup, and clean your body first.
So don’t just change into the clothes and head straight to the jjimjilbang.
At the Public Bath
Take one towel with you into the bath area and leave the other one in your locker.
Near the automatic door, there’s a stack of small washcloths on the left. Grab one.
Most people use them to wash their bodies, but if you don’t feel comfortable using one, you can just use your hands.
Then head to one of the shower booths.
The water turns on when you press the button and shuts off automatically after a short time, so yes — you’ll probably need to keep pressing it.
It’s designed to save water.
There’s usually a towel hook on the right side of the mirror. Hang your towel there so it stays dry.
Shampoo, body wash, and conditioner are provided.
Only after a proper shower should you enter the baths or put on the jjimjilbang clothes.
If you’re planning to use the baths, wash from head to toe.
And yes, that includes your hair.
Even if you don’t plan to put your head underwater, you’re still expected to wash your hair before entering the bath.
This is one of those Korean public-bath rules that locals take pretty seriously, and skipping it may get you a comment from staff or another visitor.
After you finish showering, put the small washcloth into the collection basket near the trash can.
There are usually two baskets nearby. The smaller one is for trash, while the larger one is for used washcloths.
Using the Baths
If you have long hair, tie it up before getting into the water.
And don’t put your towel into the bath.
If you have small personal items with you, don’t leave them sitting inside the shower booth.
Use one of the small plastic basins instead. Locals often call these darai, a word you’ll hear quite a lot in Busan.
You can put your things inside and leave the basin beside the bath while you soak.
When you’re finished, I recommend giving yourself a quick rinse again.
Then dry your body properly before going back into the locker room.
Try not to walk back while dripping water everywhere.
And if you somehow forgot your towel, just ask a staff member for one rather than walking all the way back soaking wet.
That’s it for Part 1. In Part 2, I’ll cover the jjimjilbang area, the facilities, what to eat, and how locals actually spend their time once they’re inside.
If you’re exploring more of Busan, I also wrote about Busan Beyond Haeundae, which covers other spots locals actually go to.