(File photo)
The Hangang River, a piece of nature within the city, is a popular recreational area for Seoulites. There are a total of 11 Hangang Parks along the river, making it an ideal place for a picnic, as well as other activities such as watching the fountain show. Why not spend a day like a local and enjoy everything by the river?
The Hanagang River, a recreational spot for Seoulites (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Hangang park picnic
The Hangang River is a representative picnic spot in Seoul. There are many rental shops that offer tents, mats, tables, speakers and more, so you don’t have to prepare too much in advance. Convenience stores within the park also offer picnic essentials for sale. You can freely use picnic mats in the parks. Small sunshade tents (up to 2mX2m) are allowed in 14 designated areas. You can set up tents between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to May and September to October, and between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June to August.
Seoul Map (Map by Stripes Korea)
1. Yeouido Hangang Park
Address: 330, Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 330)
2. Banpo Hangang Park
Address: 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 신반포로11길 40)
3. Mangwon Hangang Park
Address: 67, Maponaru-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 마포나루길 467)
4. Ttukseom Hangang Park
Address: 112, Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 자양동 112)
Picnic on the water
Tubester (Photo by Lee Song-eun, Travel Leader 13th)
Enjoy a special picnic on the water on a Tubester at Some Sevit in Banpo Hangang Park. A Tubester is a circular boat which you can steer it yourself in an exclusive zone for maximum fun. There is a table inside the Tubester for a cozy picnic, but no alcohol is allowed.
5. Tubester
Address: 2085-14, Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 올림픽대로 2085-14)
Hours: Monday-Friday 4 p.m. - midnight / Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m. - midnight
TEL: +82-70-4288-1363
6. Waikiki Market
Address: 332, Maponaru-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 마포나루길 332)
Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
TEL: +82-2-854-8000
7. Arisu Manchan
Address: 111 Nodeul-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 노들로 111)
Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
TEL: +82-2-2632-2100
8. Jamdubong The Nine
Address: 582 Maponaru-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 마포나루길 582)
Hours: Noon - 10 p.m.
TEL: +82-507-1385-8903
Must-eats at Hangang
One of Koreans’ favorite combos, chicken and beer is a must-eat menu for an ideal picnic at a Hangang Park. You can find various chicken franchise within Hangang parks for a quick pick-up. Ordering a boneless chicken will make cleaning up after easier as all you need is a fork for to enjoy the savory taste.
Instant ramyeon is another must-eat at a Hangang Park. It is easy to find ramyeon anywhere in Korea, but the clear view of the river makes the meal all the more special. A special ramyeon cooking machine makes cooking ramyeon in Hangang Park even more unique. The instructions with pictures are easy follow, so be sure to try this tasty meal.
Ddareungi Seoul Bike (Photo courtesy of Clip Art Korea)
Bike trail along the river makes it easy for anyone to go on a fun bike ride. There are many bike rental shops within the Hangang Parks. Just put your ID or passport on deposit and rent your choice of bike, available in single, double, or kids-friendly seats.
Ddareungi or Ttareungyi, a public bike rental offered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, can be rented and returned using a mobile application. An exclusive foreigner rate is available on the official website where travelers can purchase the ticket online and use it in any of the rental shops.
Ddareungi Seoul Bike
Activities to cool off the summer heat is always welcoming. To experience various water activities, head to Jamwon Hangang Park. Water sports including waterskiing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, and windsurfing as well as other activities such as banana boats and peanut boats are available with lessons for beginners. Ttukseom Hangang Park also offers paddle board, windsurf and kayak rentals. If you’d prefer a yacht tour, head to Banpo Hangang Park or Yeouido Hangang Park.
The Hangang Park outdoor swimming pools located in the city are not only easy to get to, but also affordable. Currently, there are three outdoor swimming pools (Yeouido, Ttukseom, Jamwon) and three water playgrounds (Nanji, Yanghwa, Jamsil) that offer their own unique theme and atmosphere. Yeouido outdoor swimming pool is the representative pool of Hangang Park with a capacity of 3,600 people, while Ttukseom outdoor swimming pool offers a lazy river pool. Nanji water playground has an infinity pool designed to look as if it’s connected to the Hangang River. Swimming pools and water playgrounds only operate during summer season, with pools open at night from mid-July.
Outdoor swimming pool. (Photo courtesy of Clip Art Korea)
9. Yeouido Hangang Park Outdoor Swimming Pool
Address: 82-3, Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 여의도동 82-3)
TEL: +82-2-785-0478
10. Ttukseom Hangang Park Outdoor Swimming Pool
Address: 112, Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 자양동 112)
TEL: +82-2-452-5999
11. Jamwon Hangang Park Outdoor Swimming Pool
Address: 145-57, Jamwon-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 잠원로 145-57)
TEL: +82-2-536-8263
12. Nanji Hangang Park Water Playground
Address: 162, Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 한강난지로 162)
TEL: +82-2-3151-0256
13. Yanghwa Hangang Park Water Playground
Address: 99, Nodeul-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 노들로 99)
TEL: +82-70-8805-3117
14. Jamsil Hangang Park Water Playground
Address: 65 Hangaram-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 한가람로 65)
TEL: +82-2-3431-8475
*Operating hours are same for the outdoor swimming pools and water playgrounds
*Opening period: June-August, 2025. (Exact schedule to be confirmed)
The most well-known nightscape spot among the many Hangang Parks is the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain by Banpodaegyo Bridge. The colorfully lit water dancing to fun music will leave spectators in awe. The fountain nozzles are installed in a row on a 1,140 meter-long bridge and was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain in 2008.
Moonlight Rainbow Fountain by Banpodaegyo Bridge (File photo)
15. Moonlight Rainbow Fountain
Address: 649-1, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 반포동 649-1)
Hours: April-October Noon, 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m. (20 min per session) / July-August Noon, 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. (20 min per session)
TEL: +82-2-3780-0578
The view of Seoul on a cruise is a sight to behold. There are three main options available: Sunset Cruise, for viewing sunset that colors Seoul in a hue of red; Starlight Cruise, for soaking up the evening atmosphere by the river; and Moonlight Music Cruise, where you can enjoy the nightscape with live music. Cafeteria within the cruise provides food and drinks for sale for those looking for a grub. You can get on the cruise at the dock within Yeouido Hangang Park or Jamsil Hangang Park.
16. Yeouido E-land Cruise
Address: 280 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 280)
TEL: +82-2-6291-6900
17. Jamsil E-land Cruise
Address: 2 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 백제고분로 2)
TEL: +82-2-6291-6900
-----
COPYRIGHTS ©KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED