The Best Parks For Relaxing In Bustling Seoul

Tired of the noise and crowds that make a capital city both attractive and often tiring? Head to one of these seven parks and enjoy a breath of fresh air and a moment of pure relaxation in the city that never really sleeps: Seoul.

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1. Haneul Park (하늘공원)

Best for a lovely walk and autumn flowers

Address: 482-49 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: 05:00-20:30
How to get there: from Sicheong station (City Hall), you can take the 172 or 602 bus for 2 stops, get off at Ahyeon station and transfer to the 271 bus for 16 stops and get off at World Cup Park Entrance. It’ll then take you around 15-20 minutes to reach the park.

Once a landfill, Haneul Park is the best example of what an abandonned place can become when care and effort are put into revitalizing and giving new meaning to what is now a beloved and popular spot.

Whether you’d like to explore the park and its thousands of flowers, take a break from life or simply enjoy beautiful views of the city, a visit to this ecological park is a must!

For a more comprehensive guide on Haneul Park, click here!

2. Waryong Park (와룡공원)

Best for a serene escape from the capital and city views

Address: 192 Waryonggongwon-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: all day
How to get there: an hour’s walk from Changdeokgung Palace OR 15mn by taking bus n°2 from Jungang station YMCA stop

One of the parks where you’ll have the opportunity to walk along the city walls, Waryong Park is also a great choice if you’re looking for one of the best views of the city, day or night.

Plus, its location on the outskirts of the city and its proximity to one of the beautiful palaces (Changdeokgung) makes it the perfect spot to start or end a relaxing day in Seoul while forgetting about the crowds in the center.

So if you want to combine history and relaxation in the same day, look no further!

3. Olympic Park (올림픽공원)

Best for exercise, art and healing walks

Address: 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa District, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: 05:00-00:00
How to get there: you can take line 8 (pink), 9 (gold) or 5 (purple)

Built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Olympic Park is a place you’ll keep coming back to, thanks to its various attractions.

From its many art installations to its refreshing walking paths and flower gardens, the place won’t stop surprising you! And let’s not forget our fitness friends, who will have plenty of facilities to get their hearts pumping.

Not to mention that its location close to the charming Seokchon lake as well as the neighborhood of Jamsil makes it one of the best parks to enjoy some shopping, fun at the theme park or a stroll along the Han river afterwards.

Bored this weekend? Check out Olympic Park!

4. Seoul Forest (서울숲)

Best for its distance from the main attractions and its large surface area

Address: 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: 05:30-21:30 for the Ecological Forest (check the official website for other facilities’ opening hours)
How to get there: you can take the Suin-Bundang line (yellow) and get off at Seoul Forest station

Spanning more than 450,000 square meters, Seoul Forest is the very definition of an urban forest. Filled with lush trees, four different thematic parks, an outdoor stage, a large lawn ideal for picnics, as well as ecological facilities and gardens, it’s probably one of the most appreciated parks in Seoul, by locals and tourists alike.

Offering a well-deserved breath of fresh air in a city as crowded as Seoul, this is the place to visit if you’re looking for a healing walk in nature and a change of scenery while still in the city.

5. Ttukseom Hangang Park (뚝섬한강공원)

Best alternative to the popular Yeouido Hangang Park

Address: 139 Gangbyeonbuk-ro, Gwangjin District, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: all day
How to get there: you can take line 2 (green) and get off at Gangbyeon station

Want to take a bicycle ride along the Han river, enjoy ramen and night views, or simply escape the craziness of the center and enjoy the fresh breeze? Then, there’s no better place than Ttukseom Hangang Park!

Much less crowded than Yeouido Hangang Park, it’s one of the best alternatives if you still want to spend some relaxing time by the Han river.

Worth checking out: another nice alternative is Mangwon Hangang Park!

6. Dalmaji Neighborhood Park (달맞이근린공원)

Best for night views

Address: 산27 Geumho-dong 4(sa)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: all day
How to get there: you can take line 3 (orange) and get off at Oksu station

Night views over the Han river and the city of Seoul await you at Dalmaji Neighborhood Park. Increasingly popular and no surprise thanks to its breathtaking panorama, this park is nonetheless one of the best parks in Seoul for admiring the illuminated city and its magnificent scenery.

Originally known as the spot to greet the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, today it’s the place to go for urban nightscape, sunsets and sunrises.

7. Naksan Park (낙산공원)

Best for an easy walk along the city walls

Address: 41 Naksan-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
Admission fee: free
Opening hours: all day
How to get there: you can take line 4 (light blue) and get off at Hyehwa station

Let’s end this post with the lovely, smaller but beautiful Naksan park. Offering panoramic views over the city and a tranquil walk along the city walls, the park is the ideal place to take a break and a green oasis in the city.

For more Seoul city wall trails, follow this link!

Tired of busy streets, subways and attractions? Unwind in one of these parks and enjoy a moment of outdoor relaxation in Seoul!

For more free things to do in South Korea’s capital, here are 20 ideas!