Collection
Domestic Travel
2026.10.30
Seoul Grand Park: A Day of Animals, Plants, and Lakeside Walks, Your Way
Animal Watching, the Botanical Garden, the Theme Garden, and the Lakeside Trail
If you're visiting Seoul Grand Park, start by deciding what kind of nature you want to see. We've included four options: the zoo for watching animals, the botanical garden for specimens and outdoor plants, the Theme Garden for enjoying garden scenery, and the Lakeside Trail for walking around Cheonggye Reservoir.
They're all within the same park area, but each is enjoyed differently. If you split your day between time for calmly observing animals and plants and time for relaxing with a walk through the gardens or by the lake, you can plan a day that suits your group's interests and energy.
This list isn't a course for covering all four places but a set of highlights to choose from based on the purpose of your visit. Don't lump together the paid admission areas, walking routes, and fares for separate transportation; check the official guide for the area you choose. The Exhibition Greenhouse is scheduled to be temporarily closed through October 31, 2026, so at the botanical garden, focus on the Specimen Exhibition Hall and the Outdoor Theme Gardens first.
They're all within the same park area, but each is enjoyed differently. If you split your day between time for calmly observing animals and plants and time for relaxing with a walk through the gardens or by the lake, you can plan a day that suits your group's interests and energy.
This list isn't a course for covering all four places but a set of highlights to choose from based on the purpose of your visit. Don't lump together the paid admission areas, walking routes, and fares for separate transportation; check the official guide for the area you choose. The Exhibition Greenhouse is scheduled to be temporarily closed through October 31, 2026, so at the botanical garden, focus on the Specimen Exhibition Hall and the Outdoor Theme Gardens first.
Watch Animals at Seoul Zoo
Seoul Zoo is a space within Seoul Grand Park for observing a variety of wild animals. The official description covers not only animal exhibits but also the zoo's role in conservation and education. On top of the fun of seeing familiar animals in person, add an interest in their appearance, movements, and surroundings.
Rather than rushing through the whole vast area, picking the animals you're curious about first gives your visit a focus. Animals aren't always in the same spot doing the same thing, so allow some time to wait and observe. The animals in the photos are representative images for introducing the facility, and viewing conditions on the day follow the on-site notices.
Rather than rushing through the whole vast area, picking the animals you're curious about first gives your visit a focus. Animals aren't always in the same spot doing the same thing, so allow some time to wait and observe. The animals in the photos are representative images for introducing the facility, and viewing conditions on the day follow the on-site notices.
장소 서울대공원 동물원 · 과천시 대공원광장로 102
즐길 거리 동물 관찰·생태와 보전
Explore Specimens and Outdoor Plants at the Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden
The Seoul Grand Park Botanical Garden introduces plants through the Exhibition Greenhouse, the Plant Specimen Exhibition Hall, and the Outdoor Theme Gardens. However, as of October 28, 2026, the Exhibition Greenhouse is scheduled to be temporarily closed from September 29 to October 31 for renovation of aging facilities. Plan your visit around the Plant Specimen Exhibition Hall and the Outdoor Theme Gardens, which are operating normally.
The Specimen Exhibition Hall is listed as normally open 10:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30, while the Outdoor Theme Gardens have hours that vary by season. The botanical garden in the zoo area is a facility you enter with a zoo admission ticket, so factor in the walk from the main gate. The closure period may change depending on construction progress, so even for a November visit, it's a good idea to check for a greenhouse reopening notice first.
The Specimen Exhibition Hall is listed as normally open 10:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30, while the Outdoor Theme Gardens have hours that vary by season. The botanical garden in the zoo area is a facility you enter with a zoo admission ticket, so factor in the walk from the main gate. The closure period may change depending on construction progress, so even for a November visit, it's a good idea to check for a greenhouse reopening notice first.
장소 서울대공원 식물원
즐길 거리 식물표본전시관·야외주제원 중심 관람
관람시간 표본전시관 10:00–17:00 · 입장 마감 16:30 / 전시온실 2026.9.29.–10.31. 임시휴관 예정
Stroll the Gardens at the Seoul Grand Park Theme Garden
The Theme Garden is a space that includes the Rose Garden, themed gardens, the Children's Zoo, and more. Because gardens like the Rest Garden and the Hometown Garden differ in name and layout, you can choose it for a visit to slowly wander the garden paths and resting spots rather than going just to see one kind of flower.
The scenery varies with the season and how far the flowers have bloomed. Rather than expecting a particular flower to be blooming exactly as in the photos, check the garden news for the time of your visit. The main zoo and the Theme Garden are separate facilities, so plan your schedule based on the admission information for the area you want to visit.
The scenery varies with the season and how far the flowers have bloomed. Rather than expecting a particular flower to be blooming exactly as in the photos, check the garden news for the time of your visit. The main zoo and the Theme Garden are separate facilities, so plan your schedule based on the admission information for the area you want to visit.
장소 서울대공원 테마가든
즐길 거리 장미원·모란작약원·휴정원·고향정원
Walk the Seoul Grand Park Lakeside Trail
The Lakeside Trail is a walking course that loops around Cheonggye Reservoir, with an official length of 2.8km. It's a good pick on days when you want to walk while taking in the waterside scenery and surrounding trees, or when you'd rather leave plenty of time to rest than pack your day with exhibitions.
The guide also mentions outdoor tables where you can rest while looking out over the lake, as well as the scenery along the embankment path. The zoo service road and the forest bathing trail are separate courses, so it's best not to assume they're the same length. Since the time it takes depends on your walking pace and breaks along the way, set out with time to spare.
The guide also mentions outdoor tables where you can rest while looking out over the lake, as well as the scenery along the embankment path. The zoo service road and the forest bathing trail are separate courses, so it's best not to assume they're the same length. Since the time it takes depends on your walking pace and breaks along the way, set out with time to spare.
장소 서울대공원 청계저수지 주변
즐길 거리 호숫가 산책·둑방길 풍경
코스 길이 공식 호숫가 둘레길 2.8km
If you want to spend a long time watching animals, decide which animals you're curious about at the zoo first; if you want to see plants, split your time between the Specimen Exhibition Hall and the Outdoor Theme Gardens. You can also add the Theme Garden for touring gardens and the Lakeside Trail for walking along the water, depending on your group's interests and energy.
For visits in late October 2026, keep the temporary closure of the Exhibition Greenhouse in mind. October 31 is the scheduled end date according to the notice, so if you really want to see the greenhouse, check whether it has reopened. Admission areas for the zoo and Theme Garden work differently from the lakeside walk, and the flowers and scenery in the featured photos also change with the seasons. It's best to focus on one or two chosen areas and leave plenty of time for getting around and resting.
For visits in late October 2026, keep the temporary closure of the Exhibition Greenhouse in mind. October 31 is the scheduled end date according to the notice, so if you really want to see the greenhouse, check whether it has reopened. Admission areas for the zoo and Theme Garden work differently from the lakeside walk, and the flowers and scenery in the featured photos also change with the seasons. It's best to focus on one or two chosen areas and leave plenty of time for getting around and resting.
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