7 Best Parks in Seoul to Visit - Don’t Skip These!

Visiting parks is one of my favorite things to do in South Korea, and there are an incredible amount of green spaces and beautiful parks in Seoul.

I’ll go over the 7 best parks in Seoul.

The parks in Seoul are accessible by public transit, safe, and have lots of benches for people to unwind and be surrounded by nature.

As busy as life in Seoul may get for locals, there was a calmness and sense of community once I stepped inside Seoul parks.

I’ve been to Seoul six times now, and visit parks each time.

Here were my 7 favorite parks in Seoul during my visit.

If you’re new to South Korea, make sure to read my travel guide to South Korea.

Map of Best Parks in Seoul:

Table of Contents

1. Namsan Seoul Tower & Park

Namsan Park Path, Seoul, South Korea: A scenic view of a tree-lined path in Namsan Park, with vibrant green leaves creating a lush canopy overhead. The path winds gently alongside a low stone wall adorned with blooming orange flowers, offering a peaceful and refreshing retreat within the bustling city of Seoul. The bright, partly cloudy sky adds to the tranquil atmosphere of the scene.

You cannot leave Seoul without visiting Namsan Park! It’s the most famous park in Seoul.

This park is best known for the Namsan Tower (aka Seoul Tower) and Observatory at the top, and the famous Locks of Love, where visitors express their love for their partner, a loved one, or themselves by attaching a lock and throwing out the key.

What many don’t realize before visiting Seoul Tower is that Seoul Tower is actually part of Namsan Park, which is the biggest park in Seoul.

Namsan Seoul Tower Locks of Love, Seoul, South Korea: A close-up view of colorful heart-shaped locks, known as "Locks of Love," attached to a railing at Namsan Seoul Tower. The locks are inscribed with personal messages and are a symbol of everlasting love. In the background, the sprawling cityscape of Seoul is visible under a partly cloudy sky, providing a contrast between the intimate foreground and the vast urban landscape.

Besides the Observatory area at the top, you can hike and picnic at Namsan Park too.

Get to Namsan Park by bus, taxi, cable car, or by walking.

There are multiple trails going up to Seoul Tower and take around 30 minutes. These are uphill but do make for a great workout! Bring water with you!

If you don’t want to walk up, I highly recommend walking back down if you can. There’s viewing decks on the way down, plus some benches for a quick rest.

🎫 Skip the lines: Pre-book your Namsan Tower cable car ticket online

2. Seoul Forest Park

Water Lake in Summer Seoul Forest Park South Korea

This park is more locally-known, but one of the most scenic parks I’ve been to.

Seoul Forest Park is located in the eastern part of Seoul and has its own subway stop, Seoul Forest Station.

The park is divided into four different areas: Culture & Art Park, Eco-Forest, Education Park, and Riverside Park.

Pathway in Seoul Forest during autumn with a mix of green and yellow foliage, and a person sitting on a bench in the distance.

Besides the beautiful tall trees throughout the park, there’s also a lake and butterfly garden. Many locals also have picnics at Seoul Forest.

There’s benches to sit everywhere. You can also rent a bike to explore the park.

I visited Seoul Forest during summer in Seoul and towards the end of autumn in Seoul, and there were still lots of fall foliage here!

Seoul tours to book:

🔹 Seoul royal palaces tours

🔹 Day trips from Seoul tours

🔹 Cultural experiences in Seoul

3. Yeouido Hangang Park

I Seoul You Sign Courtyard at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul Korea

Yeouido Hangang Park, or Yeouido Han River Park, is another beloved local park in Seoul, and one of the many parks located along the Han or Hangang River.

You’ll often see Yeouido Hangang Park featured in kdramas.

You can sit on one of the many cement steps or grass areas, or have a picnic. Some people even bring tents. You can rent a bike and bike along the river.

Yeouido Hangang Park Summer View - Seoul, South Korea

The waterside view here is incredible and peaceful, though I did visit during summertime when the cicadas’ buzzes are extra loud.

You can visit Yeouido Hangang Park during the day or night.

⛴ Join a sunset or moonlight Han River cruise for only $10 USD

Nearby is also Haneul Park, which is famous for its silver grass during autumn:

A field of pampas grass with wind turbines in the background, captured at sunset at Haneul Park in Seoul, Korea.

4. Banpo Hangang Park

Banpo Hangang Park Light Show with purple lights with water spraying out of bridge at night. Top parks in Seoul.

Banpo Hangang Park is one of the most popular sites and famous parks in Seoul to visit at night. It’s open 24 hours.

You can bike, picnic, jog, or attend a market with food stalls on the famous Some Sevit, the artificial floating island.

Banpo Hangang Park at Night, Some Sevit, Seoul, South Korea: A vibrant night scene at Banpo Hangang Park featuring Some Sevit, an illuminated floating building with colorful light displays reflecting off the Han River. The walkway leading to the building is adorned with string lights, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere as visitors stroll along the path. The modern architecture and lively colors contrast with the calm waters and darkening sky.

You can catch the light show daily at 12pm, and every half hour from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

I highly recommend walking through the bridge at night for an amazing view of the light show. The light show would be directly above you.

A lot of people run on the bridge during the day and night.

5. Olympic Park

Olympic Park Statue Building_Seoul South Korea

Olympic Park was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. It’s massive at over 1.4 million square meters and is one of the biggest parks in Seoul.

Walking through the park’s greenery was so nice and you’ll see elderly locals sitting peacefully on the benches.

Big Thumb Sculpture, Olympic Park, Seoul, South Korea: A striking and large-scale sculpture of a human thumb, prominently displayed in Olympic Park. The realistic details of the thumb, including its texture and nail, create a surreal and imposing presence in the open space. The sculpture stands on a small grassy mound, surrounded by a simple rope barrier, with trees and pathways visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

At the west end is also the Flag Plaza and World Peace Gate where you’ll see the flags of countries that participated in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.

There are also concert halls and arenas like Olympic Hall where concerts and games are held, so if you’re going to an event at Olympic Park, you can head a bit early to explore the rest of the park.

6. Seokchon Lake Park

Walking Trail - Seokchon Lake Park_Seoul South Korea

Seokchon Lake, or Songpa Naru Park, is an artificial lake surrounded by jogging and walking trails and beautiful trees. It’s located in the Songpa district in eastern Seoul.

It’s one of the best areas in Seoul for cherry blossom season, especially during the annual Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival.

Lotte World Tower at Seokchon Lake Park, Seoul, South Korea: A towering view of the Lotte World Tower, framed by the lush greenery of Seokchon Lake Park. The sleek, modern skyscraper rises dramatically into the sky, reflecting light off its glass facade. The serene lake in the foreground and the surrounding trees provide a natural contrast to the towering urban structure, creating a harmonious blend of nature and modern architecture.

Seokchon Lake is located next to Lotte World. I recommend visiting if you’re already in the area.

During the summer, the water shows a beautiful teal color.

7. Cheonggyecheon Stream

Cheonggyecheon Stream during the Day, Seoul, South Korea: A bright daytime view of Cheonggyecheon Stream, an urban waterway running through downtown Seoul. People stroll along the stream's well-maintained paths, with some sitting on the steps by the water, enjoying the sunny weather. The scene is framed by tall modern buildings on either side, while trees and greenery add a natural touch to the bustling city environment. The clear blue sky enhances the vibrant atmosphere of the area.

This public recreational space is a 7-mile (12 km) stream across downtown and is open 24 hours (Unless it’s raining – they close the stream for safety).

Cheonggyecheon Stream is one of my top places to visit in Seoul. The stream is beautiful to walk and sit by during the day.

They also have light shows at night and the pathways are also lit up.

Cheonggyecheon Stream night view - Seoul, South Korea

Sit by the water on the steps and enjoy the free wifi!

Cheonggyecheon Stream is a long park, and the nearest subway stations are Gwanghwamun, Jonggak and Euljiro subway stations depending on where you’re coming from.

The subway stop closest to the Cheonggye Plaza where most of the light shows take place is the Gwanghwamun station.

🌌 Experience Seoul at night: Join a night tour of Cheonggyecheon Stream, Royal Palace, & Naksan Park

Best Times to Visit Parks in Seoul

The parks in Seoul will look different every season, and each season is worth visiting.

In summer, parks in Seoul will be covered in incredible greenery.

During winter, you’ll see trees covered in snow.

In spring the trees bloom with white and pink flowers and cherry blossoms.

During autumn, parks are at its most colorful with green, orange, yellow, and red leaves. Lucky us! Each visit will be beautiful.

Here’s the top parks to visit during autumn in Seoul.

View of wooden stairs leading up to Haneul Park entrance, surrounded by autumn foliage in Seoul, Korea, with a cityscape visible in the background.

What Time Do Parks Close in Seoul?

Most parks in Seoul are open 24 hours a day!

They are generally safe to wander at night in Seoul (but always be careful in any country).

What is the Most Famous Park in Seoul?

Namsan Park Staircase at Night, Seoul, South Korea: A nighttime view of a scenic staircase in Namsan Park, leading to a small observation deck. The deck, softly lit, overlooks the vast cityscape of Seoul, sparkling with lights in the distance. The red steps are inscribed with words like "TOGETHER" and "I LOVE," adding a romantic touch to the peaceful setting. The dark silhouette of the surrounding trees contrasts with the brightly illuminated city below.

If you only had time to visit one park in Seoul, visit Namsan Park. Namsan Park is the most famous park in Seoul and is famous for the Seoul Tower Observatory, Locks of Love, and incredible views of Seoul.

Have a great time visiting the parks in Seoul!

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