11 Han River Parks in Seoul: Which Hangang Park Should You Visit?

Last Updated on March 10, 2026

The Han River, or Hangang (한강), is a symbol of Seoul, Korea and a popular place to spend a day for most Seoulites. The parks that line the river are some of the best places to walk, bike, picnic, or just take a breather from the fast pace of the city.

The Seoul City Government has done a lot to make the parks that line the river all the more visitor friendly in the past decade with art installations, skateboard parks, outdoor concert venues, museums and fantastic swimming pools.

Some parks are best for cherry blossoms and fireworks, some are better for families, some are great for biking and watersports, and some feel like quiet escapes. This guide breaks down all 11 Hangang parks in Seoul, what each one is known for, and how to get there so you can figure out which park suits your trip best.

Want to skip around? Here are the different parks to check out in this guide:

• Han River Parks in Seoul: Quick Guide
• What To Know Before You Go
• Han River Parks North of the River
  • Ttukseom Han River Park (뚝섬한강공원)
  • Ichon Han River Park (이촌한강공원)
  • Mangwon Han River Park (망원한강공원)
  • Nanji Han River Park (난지한강공원)
• Han River Parks South of the River
  • Gangseo Han River Park (강서한강공원)
  • Yanghwa Han River Park (양화한강공원)
  • Yeouido Han River Park (여의도한강공원)
  • Banpo Han River Park (반포한강공원)
  • Jamwon Han River Park (잠원한강공원)
  • Jamsil Han River Park (잠실한강공원)
  • Gwangnaru Han River Park (광나루한강공원)
• Bonus Han River Stops
  • Seonyudo Island (선유도)
  • Hangang Museum (한강뮤지엄)

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If you’re short on time, Yeouido, Banpo, and Ttukseom are usually the easiest parks for visitors to start with. If you want a quieter local feel, Mangwon, Nanji, and Gangseo are better choices. Want ideas for what to actually do once you get there? Check out my guide to the best things to do at the Han River in Seoul.

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What To Know Before You Go

• Best park: The Hangang parks stretch across Seoul from west to east, so the best one to visit often depends on which neighborhood you are staying in.
• Transportation: It’s pretty easy to get to most of the Han River parks using public transportation in Seoul.
• Food/Drinks: Most of the parks are now equipped with convenience stores every so often that are stocked with drinks and fast food/snack options. If you’ll want something different, bring your own or go the Korean way and look out for the guys passing out menus. You can order and get delivery straight to your tent/picnic blanket.
• Public Restrooms: There are restrooms usually nearby the convenience stores or in the vicinity. Plenty to find every so often so you won’t need to go far if you’ve gotta go.

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Han River Parks North of the River

Ttukseom Han River Park (뚝섬한강공원)

• Best for: Watersports, biking, Seongsu day trips
• Closest subway: Ttukseom Resort Station
• Why go: One of the best Hangang parks for active travelers and one of the easiest to pair with a day in Seongsu-dong.

The Ttukseom Han River Park has some definite highlights especially for the flower hunters and the architecture lovers. This park is also near the Brooklyn of Seoul, aka Seongsu-dong which features a ton of cool murals and cafes and restaurants so it’s easy to make a day of it in the area.

Head to exit 3 of Ttukseom Resort Station and before you’ve gone down, there are doors that lead to the J-Bug Culture Complex which is both interesting from the inside and out. Having shown up in multiple K-dramas like The Liar and His Lover and Rooftop Prince, the spot isn’t unknown, but is definitely rather quiet at most times.

Another highlight of the park is the massive wall that is covered in trumpet vines in the summer. While trumpet vines are growing throughout the city of Seoul, this is by far the biggest wall of them to find. The flowers are stunning and despite the summer heat, it’s worth the walk to see them.

Local Tip: The trumpet vines can be found at the westernmost point of the park, it’s about a 15 minute walk from the station. The flowers can be rather fragile and should the monsoon rains begin, they’ll be gone before you know it.

Ttukseom Park is also home to some awesome amenities and water sports. If you’re interested in getting on the water and kayaking or paddle boarding, check out the fun to be had with awesome instructors that will help you get suited up and out on the water in no time. Get some fun photos in this safe atmosphere perfect for adults and children.

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Ichon Han River Park (이촌한강공원)

• Best for: Families, art walks, central access
• Closest subway: Ichon Station
• Why go: This is a great park for visitors who want an easy riverside walk with family-friendly spaces, public art, and a very central location in Seoul.

Located between Jungnyang Stream Bridge and Wonhyo Bridge and south of popular spots like the National Museum of Korea and the National Hangeul Museum, the park is home to playgrounds for children, basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, gateball courts and more for recreation as well as water sport rental facilities.

The highlight for me was visiting the artworks which were added under the Han River Art Project. Keep an eye out for pink penguins, bright yellow snails, and hot pink flamingos among other eye-catching pieces at the westernmost end of this park.

Local Tip: Most visitors stick to the eastern end of this long park which is where most of the recreational facilities are, but head to the westernmost end and you’ll find where these awesome artworks and more have been installed.

If you visit, also head over to Hangang Bridge and go up to the observatory for a great view from above. This end of the park also features a great sandy kids playground so perfect for families that want to play, take a stroll, and maybe have a picnic.

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Mangwon Han River Park (망원한강공원)

• Best for: Picnics, sunsets, local neighborhood vibes
• Closest subway: Mangwon Station
• Why go: Mangwon is one of the best Hangang parks if you want a more local feel, easy picnic access, and a great pairing with Mangwon Market and cafes in the area.

Visit the numerous cafes, restaurants, or the local farmer’s market in Mangwon-dong to pick up food for a picnic and then head through a tunnel to this awesome park.

Situated between Wonhyo Bridge and Seongsan Bridge, this park features one of the riverside swimming pools that is super popular in the summer. There is bike rental and if you want something unique to this park to check out, do NOT miss the gigantic ship and submarine that have been permanently parked alongside the riverside in the Seoul Battleship Park.

Mangwon Han River Park is quite long and thin so you could easily rent a bike and ride around the entire thing to see what there is to see here. It’s not the biggest of parks on the Han River but has always been one of our favorites for picnics and sunsets.

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Nanji Han River Park (난지한강공원)

• Best for: Camping, quieter escapes, family summer outings
• Closest subway: Mapo-gu Office Station or access via bus from Dangsan Station
• Why go: Nanji is ideal if you want more space, fewer crowds, camping facilities, and one of the best kid-friendly riverside pool areas in Seoul.

There are some awesome hidden gems in this area and tons of space to have more of a quiet escape. While some parks along the Han River can be utterly packed in the summer, this one is only busy when hosting a music festival, but generally you can see the cherry blossoms, canola fields, and nature reserve all quietly on your own whether weekend or weekday.

Situated between Hongjecheon Bridge and Nanjicheon Bridge, the park backs up to and has access to the gigantic World Cup Park which means you could go for a wander from forests and metasequoia trees to riverside all in one day.

Local Tip: There is an amazing budget friendly infinity pool in this park that is our go-to in the summers. It doesn’t get deep enough for laps so people looking for that and easier access often head to Mangwon swimming pool, but if you want some more shallow fun with awesome views, Nanji Water Playground is the spot.

Nanji Han River Park also features a campgrounds, the only official campgrounds on the Han riverside, that is next to an ecological wetland with awesome huge reeds and a perfectly circular path that looks pretty cool when seen from above. Head to the park in the spring and autumn and you can also find fields of cosmos and other flowers in bloom.

This park is really long and to see it all, you really need to have a bike but not to worry, there are bike rental facilities in Mangwon Han River park as well.

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Han River Parks South of the River

Gangseo Han River Park (강서한강공원)

• Best for: Nature lovers, birdwatching, off-the-beaten-path walks
• Closest subway: Banghwa Station
• Why go: This is the Hangang park to visit if you want wetlands, reeds, and a more natural riverside experience rather than a busy picnic scene or curated gardens.

Gangseo Han River Park is primarily a wetland eco park. Set between Gayang Bridge and the Seoul-Gimpo border, the park is one of 30 top ecotourism attractions in Seoul. Because it is meant to be eco-friendly and natural, aside from the bike path, much of the paths in and out have been left as soil.

There are times throughout the year that the paths are actually closed to protect the wildlife that comes in as they’re moving north or south so be conscious of signs and heed all warnings. Respect the nature as much as you can whenever you visit this and any other park.

This is a great park to visit if you’re looking for a more off the beaten path adventure. The paths were empty when we visited and bicyclists zoomed by without stopping. We enjoyed the adventure through the tall reeds to find the platforms to sit on and the benches to eat on.

This is something a bit different from the other more curated parks around the city. Since you’re so close though, the more curated and huge Seoul Botanic Park is just up the road from here so visit both in the same day!

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Yanghwa Han River Park (양화한강공원)

• Best for: Seonyudo access, riverside walks, quiet stopovers
• Closest subway: Dangsan Station
• Why go: Yanghwa is a good choice if you want easy access to Seonyudo Island and a less crowded riverside walk without the intensity of the more famous parks nearby.

To be honest I haven’t spent much time in this park because one of the best things about it is the direct access it provides via a walking bridge to Seonyudo Island (more info about Seonyudo Island later in this post).

This park sits between Yeouido Saetgang Tributary and the Gayang Bridge. One of the things that looks the most interesting are the old fashioned Korean boats that you can take from the park to Seonyudo Island which are free every July and August during the Hangang Summer Festival.

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Yeouido Han River Park (여의도한강공원)

• Best for: First-time visitors, festivals, cherry blossoms, river cruises
• Closest subway: Yeouinaru Station
• Why go: Yeouido is the most famous Hangang park in Seoul and the easiest one for many travelers to visit for the classic Han River experience, especially in spring and autumn.

The Yeouido Han River Park is the most promoted of the parks but to be perfectly honest, it’s not my favorite. I’ll explain why, and certainly don’t let my sentiments detract if it’s a spot you truly want to see, but do know what you’re in for.

Because this park is so trafficked, it’s really just not as nice as the others with spacious green lawns, activities and forests to get lost in. So many picnickers each weekend mean the grass can really be brown and downtrodden in some areas by mid-summer and there is a lot more trash in this park than I have noticed in other parks.

Let’s get to the good points of Yeouido Han River Park though… Like the Ichon Han Riverside, this park also holds some art installations under the Han River Art Project. There are murals and installations to find.

It’s from this park that you can also take a Han River Cruise which I highly recommend. It’s a different way to experience the city and see the cityscape. I love being on the water so if you’re like me, head to the river and get your cruise on!

The ELand Han River Cruise company is the only company operating these tours. We took the dinner cruise which includes a buffet dinner and I’ve also been on the lunch buffet cruise. Personally, I thought the ones without food were just too short, so I opted for the ones with a meal to make it more of a trip worth getting out for.

Yeouido is a good park to pass through to get to some of the awesome water activity spots on the river. If I were to take people to the park myself, I’d walk through briskly seeing the highlights in order to get to the Eland Cruise Port or to the yacht cruise docks.

Local Tip: When would I spend a bit more time here? In the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. Yeouido is definitely at its most beautiful when it’s hosting the Yeouido cherry blossom festival. When you go there, also make sure you stop into nearby Sky Farm for a beautiful view from above and don’t miss a ride on SEOULDAL, a balloon ride up into the air!

Another great time to visit the park? The autumn. Each year the Seoul International Fireworks Festival attracts visitors from all over the city to come to this park to sit and watch as the fire flowers (as they would be literally translated from Korean) light up the sky.

Just a tip if you’re interested in seeing the fireworks, DO NOT go to Yeouido or Yeouinaru subway stations unless you want to be packed in like sardines. If you want more tips and tricks for seeing the ‘works, check out my post from our visit to see the massive Yeouido fireworks festival.

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Banpo Han River Park (반포한강공원)

• Best for: Night views, the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, evening picnics
• Closest subway: Express Bus Terminal Station plus bus connection, or nearby bus stops to Sebitseom
• Why go: Banpo is one of the most iconic Han River parks for evening visits thanks to the bridge fountain show, Some Sevit, and one of the best night atmospheres along the river.

This park is especially popular because the bridge seen from the park lights up and is the longest fountain in the world. The Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain performance is something that many seek out when they come to Seoul. If you’ve got time for only one picnic by the Han River, you might want to make it here. Most popular in the summer in Korea, but running from spring through autumn, head there for a show, a night market for good eats, and more.

After the show, explore Some Sevit, 3 manmade islands on the Han River, or take a walk along the boardwalk like the locals do. From Some Sevit (also known as Sebitseom), you can get out onto the water if you want to add more fun to the day. Drift out atop the Han River on Tubester. If you’ve already seen the city from the shore, take advantage of the time to see it from this iconic river.

Another great event hosted in Banpo Han River Park each summer is Bamdokkaebi Night Market where you can find a ton of food and souvenir vendors. Get your eats from the many food trucks that offer a huge range of options. Do be prepared for lines though. This night market can get super popular in the summer. It’s fun though. 

Jamwon Han River Park (잠원한강공원)

• Best for: Flower fields, Gangnam access, riverside walks
• Closest subway: Sinsa Station, or Apgujeong Station
• Why go: Jamwon is a strong pick for visitors staying in Gangnam who want quick river access, seasonal flowers, and a less tourist-heavy riverside stop.

Located between Youngdong Bridge and Banpo Bridge, this park is accessible from popular places in the city like Sinsa-dong and Apgujeong-dong in Gangnam. There is a large grassy field here that features beautiful pink muhly in the autumn and other flowers throughout the spring and summer that is an attractive draw to most visitors to this park.

Stop into the “Jamwon Nature Learning Center” to learn more about the silkworm and wildflowers they’re drawn to. This park is famous for attracting a lot of butterflies, so if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot some!

Jamsil Han River Park (잠실한강공원)

• Best for: Families, swimming pools, Lotte World area trips
• Closest subway: Jamsillaru Station or Jamsilsaenae Station
• Why go: Jamsil is a practical choice for families and anyone already sightseeingin the Lotte World area who wants to add a big, activity-filled Han River park to the day.

This park is popular with families due to the large swimming pool as well as the numerous recreational facilities in the area. There are 279 species and 50,000 different plants in this park as well as pinwheel gardens, an aquatic plant island, and a walking trail near the river that attracts visitors during breeding season when fish suddenly swarm the river.

The park is in the area of Lotte Amusement Park and the Seoul Sky Observatory and you can see a gorgeous view of this Han River park and all the rest from the tallest building in Korea, Sky Tower. Make a day of it if you go here because there are plenty of things to do in Jamsil that are awesome. If you’re looking for the tallest place to stay in the country, don’t miss the Signiel Hotel.

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Gwangnaru Han River Park (광나루한강공원)

• Best for: Cyclists, RC hobbyists, quieter eastern Seoul visits
• Closest subway: Cheonho Station
• Why go: Gwangnaru is one of the quieter Hangang parks and a good choice for cyclists and visitors who want more space and unique recreation facilities on the eastern edge of Seoul.

This park is the furthest east of the parks and heading toward it, visitors will likely feel as if they’ve just left Seoul city limits. The park features special amenities like a remote controller airplane strip. If you’re an RC aircraft flyer, there is a sizable runway in the park that is free to use. While there aren’t planes to rent, if you bring your own, you can use the airstrip. This park is especially popular with cyclists who are following the 4 Rivers Trail along the Han River.

There is also a BMX track that is free to use if you want to practice some tricks and dips. If you’ve got children, this park also features a biking ‘fun zone’ that has all sorts of bikes, trikes, and more that kids can play around an test out. There is even a bike with square wheels… so maybe a good spot for a little experimentation and discussion on movement.

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Bonus Han River Stops

There are also islands on the Han River that you can visit. While Yeouido is an island on the Han River, it is so connected by streets and transportation that makes it rather unnoticeable that you’re on an island. There is one island that really feel like an island on the river that you can visit and that’s Seonyudo Island.

Seonyudo Island (선유도)

While Seonyudo is not considered a Han River Park, I think it’s worth mentioning because it is an island that is in the middle of the Han River. The entire island, which was once home to a water treatment plant, has now been given back to nature and is an awesomely big park that is only accessible by walking, biking, or bus.

The aqueducts are still there but instead of bringing water to be cleaned, they are water features that are home to lily pads and other water loving plants. The park features a beautiful greenhouse as well as the Seoul Design Gallery and has a playground area as well.

Hangang Museum (한강뮤지엄)

While the name says “museum”, it’s more of an art gallery and cafe with an epic rooftop. Purchase an entrance ticket on the first floor and walk through a gallery floor and then head up to another gallery floor and cafe to purchase drinks.

Go up one more floor to chic seating in a modern white interior and then if you want to find this Hangang sign and get all of the views, keep going on more floor up to the rooftop. It’s a great stop if you’re headed in or out of the city or if you want to hang out on the Han Riverside in the area.

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FAQ

Which Han River park is best in Seoul?

There isn’t one single best Han River park in Seoul. Yeouido is popular for festivals, Banpo is best for night views, Ttukseom is great for watersports, and Mangwon is a favorite for picnics and sunsets.

Which Han River park is best for first-time visitors?

Yeouido Hangang Park or Banpo Hangang Park are usually the easiest for first-time visitors because they are well known, easy to reach, and have major attractions nearby.

Which Han River park is best for a picnic?

Mangwon Hangang Park, Yeouido Hangang Park, and Banpo Hangang Park are some of the most popular picnic spots along the river, but every park has convenience stores and restrooms making them all picnic-friendly.

Are all Han River parks in Seoul free to visit?

Yes, the parks themselves are free to enter, though certain facilities like swimming pools, camping grounds, bike rentals, and cruises have fees.

Which Hangang park is best for families?

Jamsil, Nanji, and Ichon Hangang Park are especially good for families thanks to playgrounds, open space, and kid-friendly facilities, but all of the parks have different facilities and cater to families in different ways.

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There is a ton to see and on the banks of the Han River. From adventure and biking to learning and fun, there’s something for everyone. Find the park closest to you… or the one that speaks to your needs and go go go!

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