GUIDE TO THE GARDEN OF THE MORNING CALM IN KOREA
WHAT TO SEE AT THE GARDEN OF THE MORNING CALM IN KOREA? HOW TO GET TO THERE?
The Garden of Morning Calm is a serene and picturesque botanical garden located in Gapyeong near Seoul.
The garden features over 5,000 species of plants
Founded in 1996, the garden showcases the natural beauty of Korea through its diverse plants, flowers, and tranquil landscapes. Named after Korea’s nickname, “the Land of Morning Calm,” it lives up to its name by offering a peaceful escape into nature.
READ ALSO: 22 Best Day Trips from Seoul
Key Takeaways from A Visit To the Garden of The Morning Calm in Korea:
The Garden of the Morning Calm is a 30,000m2 flower garden, open year-round. It is a paradise for nature lovers. The scent of thousands of plants and pines creates an unforgettable aroma that will make you forget all your worries.
Home to over 5,000 species of plants, the garden is a haven for plant enthusiasts and those looking to immerse themselves in nature.
Count at least half a day to visit the Garden!
Here is a glimpse of what to expect during a visit to the Garden of the Morning Calm during the light festival:
About the Garden of the Morning Calm
The garden was designed by Professor Han Sang-kyung (Department of Gardening, Sahmyook University) while teaching in the United States.
His vision was to create a garden that would become famous around the world and spread the Korean interpretation of beauty around the world.
He drew his inspiration from a poem by the great Indian poet Sir Tagore, who described Korea during the Joseon dynasty as “the land of the morning calm.”
It is the oldest private garden in Korea. It is an artistic space with a perfect balance between the concepts of Korean asymmetry, plants, and other elements of the garden. This garden attracts around 600,000 tourists per year.
The 20 different sections of the garden are connected by gorgeous paths, pristine grass, and flower beds. Sunken Garden is shaped like the Korean Peninsula, the flowers are just as beautiful on the north side as they are on the south side, symbolizing the desire for reunification.
This place is most famous thanks to its light festival in Winter, usually starting in December.
How to get to The Garden of the Morning Calm?
By train:
Take the Gyeongchun Line towards Chuncheon and get off at Cheongpyeong. Take exit 2 then Bus 31-17 (there is a bus every 30min) and get off at Sumokwon Jongcheom.
By bus:
Klook.comYou can join different organized tours. The advantage is that everything is included in the price (bus, entrance ticket) and sometimes it is linked with other attractions nearby.
We recommend the Garden of Morning Calm + Nami Island for less than KRW 40,000: BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE
By car:
If you have a car, going to the Garden of the Morning Calm will take you about 1.5h. There are many parking nearby.
So what are the main sites at the Garden of the Morning Calm?
Best things to see at the Garden of the Morning Calm in South Korea
1. The Suspension Bridge is one of the best things to see at the Garden of the Morning Calm
When entering the park, the first attraction is to cross the suspension bridge. The bridge is not too high, but the view and garden around the bridge are stunning. This sets the tone for the rest of the visit!
2. The Pond Garden, another scenic place at the Garden
One of our favorite parts is the pond garden.
There is a beautiful traditional pond in the middle of a small lake. The sight is simply gorgeous. We took a break there, sat down on a bench, and simply admired the surroundings for a few minutes.
Take your time to enjoy your visit to the Garden of the Morning Calm.
3. Hike up to the Green House for a great view
Hike to the top of the highest hill inside the Park and check out the greenhouse.
The view from the hill provides a stunning panorama. It’s beautiful up there! We went there in the early summer days. The garden was full of flowers. We loved it.
4. Next, visit the Wild Flower Garden
The wildflower garden is another amazing area inside the garden. When we went there, the garden was full of butterflies hovering over the stunning flowers. We also spotted some bees.
5. Check out the Hometown Garden
There you can see very typical Korean houses surrounded by plants and flowers. The perfect spot to take an Instagram shot! We love these kind of Korean houses. This is one of the best things to see at the Garden of the Morning Calm.
6. Sunken Garden
The Sunken Garden is one of the most popular parts of the Garden of the Morning Calm.
It’s full of bright colors with a great variety of flowers, plants, and trees. There are many vantage viewing platforms to get the perfect view of the garden.
7. Head to the Moonlight Garden and visit the cute little church
After going through the Sunken Garden, head to the Moonlight Garden. At the end of the path you will find a cute little church surrounded by the forest.
Useful information about the Garden of the Morning Calm
- ADMISSION FEE: 11,000 KRW for Adults, 8,500 KRW for Teenagers and 7,500 for children
- OPENING HOURS: 8:30AM–7PM
- OFFICIAL WEBSITE: here
When is the best time to visit the Garden of the Morning Calm?
The good thing about this place is that it can be visited all year round and there is always something beautiful to see!
IN SUMMER: the whole garden is much greener with lots of flowers! It’s a great time to enjoy the beauty of the garden
IN AUTUMN: our favorite season in Korea, the garden is an explosion of colors thanks to the fall foliage!
IN WINTER: in addition to being covered in snow sometimes, the garden is fully illuminated during the light festival starting in December! This is one of the most amazing things to see in Korea during winter!
IN SPRING: another amazing season to visit the Garden of the Morning Calm. Lots of flowers start to bloom including cherry trees! It’s absolutely stunning!
Other things to do near the Garden of the Morning Calm
1. Nami island
Nami Island (남이섬) is one of the most popular excursions near Seoul. It is well known for its row of picturesque trees, but also for being the location for the famous drama “Winter Sonata”.
The island is really beautiful in autumn when the rows of pines and maple trees turn red as well as when the Ginkos take on their golden robes.
Nami Island is one of our favorite day trips from Seoul.
READ: FULL GUIDE FOR A VISIT TO THE NAMI ISLAND
BOOK: DAY TRIP NAMI ISLAND + GARDEN OF THE MORNING CALM
2. Alpaca World
Around 2 hours from Seoul, you can visit the Alpaca World. It is the ideal place to spend good times surrounded by farm animals such as Alpaca, Sheep, Birds, Deer, camel,… Alpaca World is the largest forest farm in Korea.
Adults and children will have fond memories of this place.
READ: ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR VISITING THE ALPACA WORLD IN KOREA
BOOK: DAY TRIP NAMI ISLAND + ALPACA WORLD
3. La Petite France
La Petite France is a theme park located in South Korea near Seoul, where visitors can discover French culture. The whole village is focused on the concept of the “Little Prince”.
There are many decorations, and statues from the universe of the Little Prince, as well as an exhibition dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
In addition, the interior decoration, the building materials, the roof, the windows, and the floor are all French.
READ: BEST DAY TRIPS FROM SEOUL
BOOK: DAY TOUR LA PETITE FRANCE + NAMI ISLAND
Final thoughts – Is the Garden of the Morning Calm worth a visit?
The Garden of the Morning Calm in South Korea is a big bowl of fresh air.
We really recommend a visit in any season. Around Christmas, the park is also known for being decorated with lots of light a night. Plus, it’s not far from Seoul, so it’s easy to get to.
So in short, yes the Garden of the Morning Calm is 100% worth a visit!
We hope that we have made you travel with this relaxing walk in the heart of Gapyeong! Continue this escape through our photos and stories about South Korea!
