Last week, I visited Seoul Forest Park! It is a beautiful forest embedded into the bustling city of Seoul. Shockingly, there is a green forest in the middle of the metropolitan city with various animals and plants. This post will outline my experience on how to get there and what to expect when you are at Seoul Forest!
What is Seoul Forest?
Seoul Forest is located in Seoul and is split into four different parks. It is a free tour site, depending on what you plan to do there.
Arriving at Seoul Forest Station
It is pretty easy to get to Seoul Forest Park; I arrived there by subway and stopped a bit before to grab some coffee at Blue Bottle Cafe (really great coffee, but a bit more expensive than your usual in Seoul – but I guess it’s artisan). I took subway line 2 until Ttukseom station exit 8.
Additionally, Seoul Forest is a FREE entrance!
Insect and Butterfly Garden
Depending on where you enter, you can start at the insect and butterfly garden. The whole park is accessible through the Seoul Forest Map, available on the Naver App. The garden is open weekdays from 10 AM – 5 PM but closed on Mondays. This is a fun activity to do, especially if you are with younger children (but I enjoyed it myself!). Depending on the season, you can see many butterflies, I believe they had around seven or eight different species. The garden is open from May to October.
We only saw two species with our eyes, but that’s probably because it’s October. We also saw the caterpillars in their cocoons, which was very sweet! It reminded me of when we learned about metamorphosis in elementary school. We had our own butterflies in our classroom and watched them grow. (Did anyone else have this? Leave a comment below if you did!).
The insect garden is adjacent to the butterfly garden and includes plenty of plants. It’s stunning with all the different kinds of plants, including some citrus plants, orchids, cacti and more! You can walk through the entire path, and there is even a second floor with plant-eaters.
Bunny Village (Rabbit House)
There are also rabbits in the Seoul Forest! These were by far my favourite animals to watch. There are a great deal of them, maybe around 12 or so. Ranging from different colours, from black to white. Unfortunately, you can’t pet them – but they’re just as cute to look at!
Deer Village
The most hyped-up part of Seoul Forest is the deer that are in the Eco forest. I was shocked when we ran into them, and luckily, we saw them during feeding time, so they were out on full display! They have does and deer, and we saw a baby deer!
You can watch them either from the side or go up on the bridge above that leads to the Han River. I think this view is better as there aren’t any gates covering your viewpoint; somehow, you feel closer to them. Deers are so peaceful to watch.
Bridge to the Han River
Above the forest is a bridge connecting the forest to the Hanyang River; as soon as you leave the park, you will walk over the highway. You’re then reminded that you are not in a rural area but the city! The overhead bridge will lead you to the Hangang River, where you can enjoy the relaxing water.
Why you should visit Seoul Forest
Seoul forest is a great place to escape the bustling city and is beautiful in all seasons! It is easily accessible via the metro and has many activities for all ages. Leave a comment down below if you’ve visited the forest park or if you’re planning to 🙂