Seoul Forest

Seoul Forest is a large city park on the site of a former royal hunting ground, waterworks, racetrack and golf course, turned into woodland and lakes in 2005 with funds and volunteer work from about 5,000 citizens. It covers roughly 48 hectares where the Han River meets the Jungnangcheon stream, and it sits right next to Seongsu's cafe streets, which is why so many itineraries pair the two. The park is split into themed areas: a culture and art park with wide lawns and a mirror pond, an ecological forest where spotted deer live in an open enclosure crossed by a pedestrian bridge, a nature learning area with an insect and plant garden, and wetlands toward the river. Paths lined with metasequoia trees are one of the most photographed spots, and the lawns fill with picnic blankets on mild weekends. The seasons change the scenery: cherry blossoms and tulips in spring, hydrangeas in summer, cosmos and fall colors in autumn. Admission is free and the main grounds stay open around the clock, so it works as a morning walk before the shops open or a sunset stroll after.