16 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

Often likened to New York City’s High Line, the Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a narrow green space that stretches 6.3 km (3.9 miles) over train tracks that once led to North Korea. Train service was suspended in 1951 after the two Koreas divided and the area was mostly urbanized until 2009, when the idea to build the park was greenlit. Today, the park is divided into four main sections, with the section outside Hongdae Station Exit 3 being the most popular. In summer, buskers play guitar on one of the many benches and picnickers laze on the grass with drinks from nearby convenience stores, but the park is busy year-round as it’s surrounded by trendy restaurants and cafes. Venture outside the Hongdae Station area (further outside Exit 3 or Exit 2) for pleasant, little surprises: a row of bookshops, remnants of the old tracks, and meet-ups of neighborhood dogs.

Seoul's largest park once anchored the southern end of the city. As Seoul grew southward, however, it soon became the city's most central park. Encompassing Mt. Namsan and the surrounding area, Namsan Park is crisscrossed with rubberized walking trails and full of trees, wildflowers, and—in the warmer months—swarms of pedestrians. Still, it is worth a visit to see some of the greenery and sites such as the old Fortress Wall, the botanical gardens, and the science museum. The highlight is definitely N Seoul Tower, a needle-like tower with excellent night views of the entire city.

The most popular park in Yeouido, and indeed perhaps all of Seoul, is Yeouido Hangang Park. Running parallel to the Han River for the full length of the island, the park is dotted with picnic areas, stages, bike paths, and convenience stores for grabbing a Hite beer on a hot summer’s day. Other highlights include a public pool with prime city skyline views and whimsical paddleboats shaped like ducks, but it's the statue of letters spelling out “I SEOUL U”  with a background of the river, the skyline, and N Seoul Tower that draw daily flocks of eager Instagrammers.

Though technically in neighboring Seocho District rather Gangnam proper, this large riverside park is close enough to warrant a visit. Lazily stroll along the river walk, check out the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (which, at 570 meters/1,870 feet long is the largest bridge fountain in the world), rent a bicycle, or picnic on the grass. In the warmer months (April through October) the park hosts the Bamdokkgaebi Moonlight Market every Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 11 pm. This popular event attracts people from all over the city to browse the artist's stalls and graze on food truck fare, featuring Korean classics such as tteokbokki (rice cakes in sweet spicy sauce), along with foreign favorites like tacos, hot dogs, and Cuban sandwiches. The trio of man-made floating islands known as Some Sebit are also not to be missed. Each features a building lit-up at night by multi-chromatic LED lights and are constructed to represent the three stages of the life of a flower. Inside you can find two restaurants, a cafe, and an outfit renting six-person "Tubester" boats.

It seems anachronistic that the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park is directly adjacent to the ultra-modern Dongdaemun Design Plaza, but there it is: the new juxtaposed with the old. They were both constructed at the same time as part of one massive project, and it was all of the ancient relics unearthed that led to the establishment of the park as a historical destination. The park houses remnants of Hanyangdoseong (Seoul City Wall) and the Yigansumun Water Gate, as well as the Dongdaemun History Museum.

Established in 1973, this cool little park is dedicated to the memory of Ahn Chang-ho (pen name "Dosan"), a key figure in Korea's independence movement against the Japanese occupation. The park contains his statue, as well as the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Memorial Hall, a kind of mini-museum dedicated to the life and times of this man dear to the hearts of so many Koreans. The park is a perfect place to take a break from the bustle of the city while also reflecting on figures like Dosan who sacrificed it all to help pave the way for a prosperous and free Korea.

More commonly referred to as the Hongdae Playground, this seemingly ordinary park wears many different hats. Its prime location facing the entrance of Hongik University has made it an outdoor performance space, a silent disco stage, a BYOB watering hole, and a marketplace for reasonably priced local art. For this reason, it’s a place that symbolizes youth and individuality for many Seoulites. To catch an event or interesting happening here, try visiting the park on a Friday or Saturday night when crowds of college students are out on the town. Korean drama fanatics may recognize it from popular shows such as Coffee Prince, Bel Ami, and My Golden Life, among others.

This pleasant riverside park is a great place to unwind in the midst of Seoul's hustle and bustle. It's home to a swimming pool, inline skating rink, soccer field, ice rink, volleyball courts, bicycle paths, and more. In the warmer months it's an ideal spot to sit down for a picnic, a favorite pastime of Seoulites. 

This small park right outside Hyehwa Station Exit 2 is the heart of Hyehwa-dong. Named after the Marronnier (horse chestnut) trees that are planted there, it was once a part of Seoul National University’s former campus. Today it’s where people come to stroll around before performances or to watch street performances. The park transforms into an open-air stage in the evenings and on weekends during the warmer months. Unlike the street performances in Hongdae that lean more toward the K-Pop genre, here you’ll find mimes, magicians, and acoustic guitar performances. 

Despite its size, there are a handful of landmarks within the park, including ARKO Arts Theater, ARKO Art Center, and sculptures, including a large statue of Kim Sang-ok, a political activist who died fighting for Korean independence. At the center of the park, there’s a Seoul National University monument, a miniature recreation of the university that once occupied the area. From May to June, the Marrionner trees are in bloom, showing off vibrant red and white flowers while offering much needed shade and in the fall, the foliage turns amber. It’s an excellent place to sit within nature and people-watch any time of year.

Located on Naksan, one of the four guardian mountains of Seoul, Naksan Park is perched on top of the hill and offers stunning views of the city. The park and mountain are named after the camel’s hump, nakta (Korean for camel), and san (Korean for mountain). The natural area, including the solid granite bedrock of Naksan, was destroyed during the developments made under Japanese occupation. To restore and preserve the remaining green belt, the Seoul Metropolitan Government established Naksan Park in 2002. Today, Naksan Park features a traditional Korean pagoda with colorful, ornate painted details, several observation decks, badminton and basketball courts, an exhibition hall, and a small convenience store.

Built for the 1988 Seoul Summer Games, this expansive park is still home to a handball gymnasium, a gymnastics arena, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and a velodrome. It's most impressive as a destination for strolling, walking, or cycling, however, with acres of paths winding through some beautiful nature. At the entrance you are greeted by the winged World Peace Gate, an impressive structure designed by architect Kim Chung-up to promote international harmony and cooperation. The park is definitely worth an hour or two of your time.

This little park behind Lotte World Tower and Mall is a perfect spot to slow down and enjoy a breath of relatively fresh air. There are actually two lakes (East Seokchon Lake and West Seokchon Lake), both of which are ringed by walking and cycling paths. In spring the park hosts the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, which includes performances by singing and dance groups.

Modeled after New York’s High Line, Seoullo 7017 is a park constructed from an overpass. Built in 1970, the overpass was shut down after being deemed unsafe for cars and after some renovation, opened to the public as a green space in 2017. A little over half a mile, the park is the perfect place for visitors to stroll, taking in panoramic views overlooking Seoul Station and admiring the 20,000 plants that grow here. In the summer, there are a range of events and a dozen public pianos stationed along the way.

Located in Sangam-dong, World Cup Park is a large green space divided into five different parks. Of these, Noeul Park and Haneul Park are considered two of the most picturesque in the city. Both parks are accessible via a climb of nearly 300 steps or a winding, uphill trail but those looking for a less strenuous path can opt for the electric shuttle bus. The maeng-kkongi bus, named after a regional digging frog, departs from the entrance every thirty minutes and is a convenient alternative for those with small children. While the ride is only ten minutes long, it’s a mesmerizing way to take in all the sights at once. Noeul (meaning sunset) Park offers stunning views of the Han River to its West while Haneul (meaning sky) Park is best known as the site of the Seoul Silver Grass Festival every autumn.

Yeouido Park bisects the island straight down the middle, creating a welcome pocket of tranquility amid the surrounding high-rises. All backdropped by the Yeouido skyline are walking trails, graceful pagodas, ponds, and cherry trees, as well as more unique features such as a rock acupressure trail, a bronze statue of the 15th-century King Sejong, and a display C-47 plane nodding back to Yeouido’s days as an airfield.

Running along the diminutive Saet River on the opposite side of the island from the larger Han River, this park is much less crowded than others on Yeouido and is an ideal spot for a peaceful jog or bike ride. The park also serves as a nature reserve for the area’s native wetland plants and offers year-round ecology programs. A popular walking route is across the futuristic Yeouido Saetgang Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the park and a major highway before depositing pedestrians in the Singil neighborhood across the Saet River.