The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show: Is It Worth It?
I once had a goal to walk across every bridge that crosses the Han River in Seoul, Korea. I’m still trying to accomplish that feat, though have crossed quite a few now. The reason I had this goal was that the Han River bridges can each be quite unique similar to the Han River Parks.
Banpo Bridge, for example, hosts the oft touted Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show (반포대교 달빛무지개분수). It’s talked about often on Korean tourist websites and showcased on Korean dramas from time to time as well. Is it really all that and a bag of chips though? I’ll let you decide.
Get ready to learn more about the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show:
- How To Get There
- Interesting Facts about Banpo Bridge
- What is the Banpo Bridge Light Show?
- What time is the Banpo Bridge Light Show?
- Best places to sit to see the Banpo Bridge Light Show
- Is there anything else to see or do near Banpo Bridge?
- Is it worth it?
- FAQ
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How To Get There
Address: 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 신반포로11길 40)
By public transportation: Head to Sinbanpo Subway Station and take exit 2. Walk straight to the first corner, turn left. You’ll walk for just under 20 minutes to reach the Han River. You could also head out from Express Bus Terminal Subway Station, exit 8-1 . Walk straight and turn right at the first intersection and walk straight to the river. Alternatively, if you could take a bus to the Banpo Hangang Park – Sevit Island stop (반포한강공원.세빛섬) and you’ll be right there when you disembark.
By car: While you can, and I have, drive to Banpo Bridge, be aware that though there is parking, at peak times it can fill up fast. If you plan to see the light show on a weekend in the evening in the summer, consider taking public transport so you don’t have to watch the show from your car window as your stuck in traffic.
Interesting Facts about Banpo Bridge
- Banpo Bridge is a double-decker bridge, the first double-decker bridge in Korea.
- The top bridge is called Banpodaegyo, or Banpo Bridge (반포대교), while the bottom bridge is actually called Jamsugyo (잠수교) which means submerged bridge because it was designed to be under water. You can find photos of Jamsugyo Bridge underwater just about every year during monsoon season when the Han River water rises and Jamsuyo disappears completely.
- The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest bridge fountain in the world and measures 1,140 meters long.
- 60 tons of water is sprayed out into the Han River every minute that the Rainbow Fountain is operating.
- The fountains are NOT small by any means. The water jets out 43 meters from the bridge before falling 20 meters back down to to the river.
- The fountain is programmed to play different shows during the day and the night. The program during the day shows a hundred different configurations to evoke waving willow branches and leaves while the program during the night features rainbow colored jets of water synchronized with music, which is why the bridge is the most famous.
What is the Banpo Bridge Light Show?
You’ll see the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show pop up on almost every list of things to do at night in Seoul. The large-scale installation features rainbow-colored jets overstretched across the 1,495 meter long bridge. The fountain itself was even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain.
The water that shoots out and then falls to the river is synchronized with music creating a display that everyone in the area stops to enjoy at some point. On top of that, this dazzling show is one of the great free things to do in Seoul, Korea as well. The show incorporates music along with a colorful spectacle that lasts for 20 minutes at a time.
From spring through autumn, the Han Riverside becomes one of the major hot spots for everyone to cool off, have fun, jog, bike, have a picnic, and more. Numerous weekends and evenings are spent by the massive river that cuts through Seoul. Each park is different and the Banpo Light Show is what makes the Banpo Han River Park most unique.
What time is the Banpo Bridge Light Show?
If you’re looking for the Hangang River Light Show, Han River Light Show, or Banpo Bridge Light Show, this is the info you need. It goes by many names at this point, but is all the same event. From April through October, the light show runs between four and six times per day.
The light show itself runs for 20 minutes but does vary from season to season and by day of the week so prepare to hang out a bit and just see what you see when you see it. The show is the most popular during the summer in Korea so be prepared for crowds during that time especially if you’ll be visiting on a weekend.
The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show spring and autumn show times
April 1st – June 30th & September 1st – October 31st: Weekdays: 12:00pm; 8:00pm; 8:30pm; 9:00pm; Weekends and holidays: 12:00pm; 7:30pm; 8:00pm; 8:30pm; 9:00pm
The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show summer show times
July 1st – August 31st: Weekdays: 12:00pm; 7:30pm; 8:00pm; 8:30pm; 9:00pm; Weekends: 12:00pm; 7:30pm; 8:00pm; 8:30pm; 9:00pm; 9:30pm
*Inclement weather
It should be noted that the operation of the fountains can be suspended due to inclement weather. When it rains more than 2mm per hour or when winds are 7m/s or more and when the opacity of the Han River is 15NTU or more like during bad monsoon weather, the fountain show will not go on.
Best places to sit to see the Banpo Bridge Light Show
There are a few divided opinions on this so let us dive into the options. The southern end of Banpo Bridge is the most popular place to view the light show from so most directions will lead you there directly. Whether you want to sit right beneath Banpo Bridge, or take a perch at a nearby cafe or from a ship, there are actually more options than you might realize to see the Banpo Bridge Light Show though.
From the Banpo Han River Park
You can get there any time during the day and set up your own picnic area on the riverside. Many people will go earlier in the day to just enjoy the surroundings. The park is where locals go to jog, bike, and enjoy quiet time from the bustling city. Come evening, you’ll see more people getting food delivered for dinner and a show. There are staggered bleacher steps that you can sit upon to get the best views of the show. Find a spot, sit down, and enjoy the show.
During the summer, Banpo Han River Park also hosts the Bamdokkaebi Night Market which makes this area even more popular. You can get great food and drinks from the vendors and then hang out for a nice picnic. The night market can be super busy though so if you don’t want to wait in lines, take food with you.
Personally, the Banpo Han River Park is a bit too busy for my family’s liking so rather than sitting here, we usually enjoy the lights and water and then continue on a walk to a quieter section of the park to sit.
From a cruise ship
ELand offers quite a few cruises along the Han River that we’ve enjoyed over the years and one of them is the Moonlight Cruise which goes from Yeouido Han River Park to Banpo Bridge. The cruise has been timed so that you can see the Banpo Bridge Light Show as you ride it. This is a great option if you want to see what there it to see on Yeouido Island and tack on Banpo Bridge to the end of your day.
Banpo Bridge can be a bit out of the way for most tourists who are staying downtown and this makes it a bit more convenient to see though it does cost money to take the cruise.
Another option would be to hop on a yacht which you can get right near Banpo Bridge at the Some Sevit Floating Islands. If you want to spend the afternoon or entire evening at Banpo Bridge, take advantage of all of the fun they are offering there to get out on the water.
- Book a Han River Cruise: You can book a Han River Cruise easily on Klook and take advantage of the discounts they offer. The Moonlight Cruise option is the best one for seeing Banpo Bridge lit up.
- Book a yacht tour from Some Sevit: If you’re not starting from Yeouido but want to do everything right near Banpo Bridge, you can also book a yacht ride from Some Sevit with Klook as well.
From Dongjak Bridge
As I mentioned earlier, I had a goal to walk across every bridge that crosses the Han River in Seoul at one time because the bridges are all different and unique. While Banpo Bridge has a light and water show, Dongjak Bridge features two convenience stores that are way cooler than your average convenience store.
These bridge shops are five floors that feature the convenience store goods, a cafe, snack zones, lounge, rooftop, and more. On top of that, they have beer ON TAP! All of that excitement to say, you can also pop a squat and enjoy a view of the Banpo Bridge light show from a different vantage point. Don’t be afraid to go for a wander and walk across the bridges in the area.
Is there anything else to see or do near Banpo Bridge?
Yes, you can see the pretty cool Some Sevit Floating Islands.
The Some Sevit Floating Islands are three islands that were created to look like the three stages of life for a flower. Some Solvit is the smallest and is the seed. Some Chavit is middle-sized and is a flower bud and then Some Gravit is the largest and is a flower in bloom. The floating islands house restaurants, cafes, and various activities that may change throughout the year. At night, the floating islands can also look pretty cool as they light up in vibrant colors too.
Also, look down when you’re visiting the Banpo Bridge because there was a panoramic shot camera added to Banpo Bridge a few years back. I got to try it out when it was first installed. Basically, you’ll stand on the spot, scan the QR code on the ground and then look up. A camera up on the bridge will take both a close up and a panoramic shot of you standing there and you can get the pictures right on your phone. It’s pretty cool… when it works. I did have some issues with it, but I’ve heard it’s working better now.
That’s me trying to figure out how it works with some friendly people who totally got how it worked above hahaha.
If you want to learn more about Some Sevit and see what they currently have inside each building, check out the Some Sevit website. We’ve visited a few times over the years and sat in a restaurant there, played in an awesome kid’s cafe which isn’t there any longer unfortunately. But see what they have because it’s a lovely place to sit and see and then go outside and enjoy the colorful façade.
Get out on the water
There are a variety of water sports hosted in the area like kayaking and boating. If you want to go from land to water and back again, this is a great thing to do. Get there early to have some fun out on the waves before you take in the show perhaps.
Is it worth it?
The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show (반포대교 달빛무지개분수) is a unique thing to do in Seoul and once you see it, you can see you’ve born witness to a Guiness World Record. More than that, take it as an opportunity to have a picnic in Seoul by the Han River. It’s a necessary experience to have in my opinion. Whether you stay in the Banpo Han River Park for the picnic or just bike by, enjoy the show, and then head to another part of the Han River, it’s a great spot to check out. It’s colorful, fun, and there are often events and things happening there. Yes, I’d say it’s worth a stop if you have time in your Seoul itinerary.
FAQ
What makes Banpo Bridge unique?
There isn’t bridge in the city that has the spectacle that Banpo Bridge has that is for sure. On top of that, Banpo Bridge is in the Guinness Book of World Records for featuring the longest bridge fountain in the world and measures 1,140 meters long. And it’s a double decker bridge which you don’t see many of in Seoul either.
Is the Banpo Bridge Light Show eco-friendly?
It is important to note that the Seoul City Government has aimed to highlight that this bridge utilizes river water and does not harm the local ecology of the Han River.
Can you walk on Banpo Bridge?
You can indeed. If you’re visiting Banpo Bridge to watch the light show, you can also walk beneath the jets and cross the bridge while you’re watching. There is pedestrian, bicycle, and car lanes on the bottom bridge which makes for a fun place to traverse the water.
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