SEOUL FOREST: WHAT TO SEE? [FULL GUIDE]
What To See in Seoul Forest?
Seoul Forest (서울숲) is a large park located in the Seongsu-dong district in Seoul. It is a great place to spend a relaxing time in a peaceful environment away from the city.
People love to walk or cycle there, but there are many other activities! For us, Seoul Forest is simply one of the best parks in Seoul.
Read: 10 Best Parks in Seoul
Visit Seoul Forest
Highlights of a Visit to Seoul Forest:
– In spring, Seoul Forest is one of the best places to admire the gorgeous cherry blossoms.
– In Autumn it is a fantastic place to see the trees changing colors. Especially the sharp yellow ginkgo trees.
– You will also see some deer, a butterfly garden, beautiful trees, a small lake, plenty of spaces to chill, fun kids areas, a skatepark, and a lot more activities
– In Seoul Forest, make sure to also visit the very cute neighborhood just behind, called Seongdong. They have very cute shops, with many delicious brunch, great restaurants and gorgeous cafes.
What to do and see in Seoul Forest?
1. Feed the deer at the Eco Park
As surprising as it sounds, Seoul Forest has many deer. Now, of course, they do not run freely in the wild, but they have a pretty big enclosure and you can see them up close in the park. Before Covid, it was possible to feed them, but it seems that they added another layer of fence, so people can’t touch them anymore. Nonetheless, it is still one of the highlights of Seoul Forest.
To get there, you will have to cross the footbridge on the opposite side of the main road. Indeed, Seoul Forest is divided into different parks, the deer are located in the Eco park closer to the Han River.
2. Check out the cherry blossoms
The Eco Park is also famous for its gorgeous Cherry Blossoms. If you continue straight after visiting the deer, you will reach one of the most popular paths in Seoul to see the Cherry Blossoms. It’s absolutely stunning during the peak season. Make sure to check it out in Spring.
3. Take a look at the cute rabbits
After crossing the alley of Cherry Trees, on your right, you will find a small entrance to the rabbit house. Seoul forest has tonnes of very cute rabbits.
4. Chill at the Culture and Art Park
This is the main area of the Seoul forest. It is located at the main entrance of the park. If you take public transport, you will most likely start your visit here.
At the entrance, you will see an impressive sculpture representing horse racing. They refer to Seoul Forest’s past. Indeed, in 1954 this space was a racecourse for horses.
5. Have fun at the children’s garden
A little further after the main entrance, you will see the Children’s park. There, you will see little wooden houses, small tunnels, and fun activities for kids.
6. Ride a bike
It is very pleasant to ride your bicycle in Seoul Forest. If you do not have a bicycle, you can rent one inside the park (located here), or from Seoul Bike, the bike-sharing company. There is a station right at the entrance of the park. Simply download the app on your phone (here).
There is a path that goes all around the forest. From there, you can also access the Han River, and continue your journey by the cycling track along the river.
7. Eat a picnic with your friend
In the middle of Seoul Forest, there is a big open space, famous for picnics but also for coming and playing with doggies. Around Seoul Forest, there are lots of convenience stores, so you can simply buy some snacks there.
8. Relax by the lake
Beside the picnic area, there is a beautiful lake where you can enjoy a peaceful moment. There are even some wooden long chairs by the lake if you want to lie down to sunbathe.
9. Visit the Butterfly Garden
In this garden, you’ll discover many varieties of butterflies. Among other things, you can see the different stages of the metamorphosis of butterflies! This part of the park is open from 10:00 to 17:00.
10. Insect garden
Located right next to the Butterfly garden, you can enjoy another part of the park to observe insects of all kinds. Perfect for kids.
11. Get some adrenaline at the Seoul Forest Skate Park
Recently Seoul Forest added a skate park near the main entrance. If you have your own skateboard or scooter, it’s a beautiful place to practice and learn new tricks.
12. Have a Brunch at BimBom
BimBom in Seoul Forest is one of the best brunch cafes in town (best brunches in Seoul here).
The location facing the forest with a terrace if you want to eat outside is the perfect setting for brunch. BimBom is famous for its 3 layer brunch set, including not 3 but 4 dishes in total. The egg benedicts and French crepes are so delicious.
13. Enjoy a healthy lunch at Cheddar and Oil
Chedda and Oli is one of our favorite places to eat while visiting Seoul Forest. We love sitting in their outdoor area and ordering their delicious tartine and 2 coffees. It’s the perfect meal or mid-afternoon snack.
How to get to Seoul Forest and other important information
Address: 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Corée du Sud (서울 성동구 뚝섬로 273)
How to get there by public transportation:
Take the Suin – Bundang line (수인 분당) and stop at Seoul Forest Station (서울 숲역). Then take exit 3 and walk for about 5 minutes.
Or take line 2 and stop at Ttukseom Station (뚝섬역). Take exit 8 and walk for about 10 minutes.
Get there by car: if you drive to Seoul Forest, then we recommend parking here. It is the most convenient parking lot near the park.
- Entrance to Seoul Forest: Free
- Opening Hours: The main park is open 24 hours. However, some parts of the park close during the night.
Other things to do nearby
1. Ttukseom Park
Ttukseom Park is one of our favorite parks in Korea. If like us, you enjoy water sports this is the ultimate place to go in Seoul. Windsurf, Foil, Kiteboard, wakeboard, waterski, paddle boat, SUP, you can do pretty much anything. Here you can book your SUP rental + lesson.
On top of that, Ttukseom has one of the biggest skateparks in Seoul. In winter you can enjoy sledding on fake snow, and in summer there is also one of the biggest outdoor swimming pools.
But that’s not it, Ttukseom park also offers crickets, basketball courts, flower parks, water fountains and so much more. If you are staying in Seoul, make sure to check out this awesome park.
2. Common Ground
Common Ground is the largest container shopping mall in the world. If you are visiting Seoul, make sure to check out this unique place. There, you can find many cool shops and restaurants. We really enjoy this place and it’s relatively close to Seoul Forest.
In conclusion about Seoul Forest
Seoul Forest is a very pleasant place to visit in Seoul. If you are looking for a place to stroll as well as relax, make sure to check it out.
If you enjoy visiting parks in Seoul, we list all the best parks here.
We lived in Korea for 3 years and wrote many posts about things to do in this country. You can check them all here.
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Hello. And Bye.