Save travel information you're interested in according to the region to view in your favorites list later on.
※ The actual region of the content is selected.
Everything in Seoul may seem like it is quickly zooming by, but Seoul can also be a place for you to relax. Amongst the high-rise buildings, there are parks and the banks of the slow-moving Han River are filled with nature-friendly spaces. Or, what about following the city’s history? The castle and ancient palace located at the center of the four main gates of old Seoul where the old Seoul City Wall used to stand and the many tombs of kings that can easily be found nearby, are all spaces that emphasize harmony with nature. Here, we will introduce Seoul's most exemplary trails where you can meet natural scenery, history, culture, and wide array of other hidden charms. If you want to escape the daily hustle and bustle, try taking a stroll around Seoul.
There is a trail from which you can view all of Seoul at once. That trail is the Seoul City Wall Trail which runs along the castle wall that was responsible for the determining the boundaries of Hanyang (the old name for Seoul City), the capital of Joseon. The Sunseong-gil Path allows you to walk around the castles of Hanyang that surround the city, focusing on Sungnyemun Gate, Heunginjimun Gate, Sukjeongmun Gate, and the Donuimun Gate, which no longer exists today. The course is 18.7km long in total.
The Seoul City Wall Trail has a variety of attractions. You can see a verdant forest, as well as the open sky, and even the scenic skyline of Seoul. The history of Hanyang, which was the heart of Joseon, permeates the entire trail. It is filled with the nature of Seoul and the story of Hanyang. The entire trail can be divided into six smaller trails. Each trail has a different level of difficulty as well as different scenery to enjoy. You don't need to walk all the trails in one go. We recommend selecting a trail that you want to see, before walking. You can take in great views of Seoul from the Baegak Trail or the Inwangsan Mountain Trail but these are relatively hilly areas with steep slopes; you should be prepared for that. Once you reach the peak of the mountain, you can enjoy a view that allows you to appreciate the scale of the old Seoul City Wall.
Most people can easily walk the Naksan Trail and Heunginjimun Trail. They are connected to the Dongdaemun Fashion Street and Daehangno, so they are perfect for travelers. The Sungnyemun Trail contains areas that gives hikers a peek into the history of the late Joseon period. It is recommended for those who want to know more about the history of the late Joseon period. Finally, the Namsan Trail (Mokmyuk Mountain) is the most beloved by tourists. The sunset over Seoul as seen from the peak of Namsan Mountain, where N Seoul Tower is located, and the night scenery that follows is one of the most beautiful scenes to see in Seoul.
Information
Nanjido was originally one of the many beautiful islands of the Han River. Legend has it that there used to be an ecosystem replete with a wide variety of flowers that migratory birds would come to visit. However, these accounts were only transmitted through ancient stories. In 1978, the island became a landfill for Seoul residents' waste, and, approximately 15 years later, it became the world's tallest mountain of garbage. It has become a symbol of environmental destruction, to the point where any past lushness it may have housed is unimaginable.
However, since 1996, efforts have been made for the stabilization of large-scale landfills such as this. A region for landfills was organized and facilities were created for the purpose purifying the leachate (contaminated water) from the waste and using it. The landfill gases, which were generated as much as the leachate, are used to power boilers for nearby apartments and the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The area that was once a landfill has now been turned into an eco-friendly park. This was the beginnings of the World Cup Park, which opened in May 2002.
The World Cup Park trail, which connects from the Peace Park to Haneul Park and Noeul Park, is a trail where you can enjoy a forest inside the city. A peaceful lake welcomes visitors at the center of the World Cup Park and it is surrounded by intertwined sylvan trails that create harmony with nature. The small streams that flow in between the forests create bucolic scenery reminiscent of the countryside. If you go towards Haneul Park and Noeul Park, you can also see the splendid metasequoia that line the roads. This unique forest trail is an essential course for the World Cup Park.
Information
There is a railroad that is filled with the memories of Seoulites. That railroad is the Gyeongchun Line, which connects Seoul and Gangwon-do. If you've travelled to the areas surrounding Seoul, such as Gyeonggi-do‘s Gapyeong or Gangwon-do‘s Chuncheon, by train you would have probably used this railroad. But this train is no longer operating. With the construction of a new railroad that connects Seoul to Chuncheon, the existing one has been shut down.
From the Gyeongchun Railroad Bridge, which was a part of the former Gyeongchun Line, to the border of Seoul city, a forest trail that follows the railroad of approximately 6km in length has been created. With the shut-down railroad still in place, the location has become a park that is great for taking a walk. The old Hwarangdae Station, where the Gyeongchun Line train used to stop, has transformed into a historical museum. The museum, which was designated the Registered Cultural Property No. 300, has a modern architectural structure and has been turned into an exhibition space that introduces the Gyeongchun Line and the stations that populated it. Nearby, a steam locomotive that used to operate in Korea as well as trains from the Czech Republic and Japan are exhibited. In various nooks and crannies of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, visitors can stop by a cafe created through the renovation of a derelict building and see a garden decorated by residents themselves. The Taereung (royal tomb of Queen Munjeong, the second wife of the Joseon Period King, Jungjong) and Gangneung (royal tomb of King Myeongjong and Queen Insun) also boast dense forests.
Information
The Yeouido Han River Park is one of the most-visited parks in Seoul. However, not many know of the Saetgang Ecological Park that is hidden behind the Yeouido park. Saetgang Ecological Park is Korea's first Ecological Park that can claim to be an eco-friendly space. The large river that flowed south of Yeouido, which was neglected until the 1990s, has been modified and renewed into the current park.
The park preserves as much as possible of the reeds, silver grass, and wetlands including willow trees, which made up the natural environment of this region. A walking trail and bicycle road are connected along the forest, wetlands, and river and this is an excellent place to go for a walk or ride a bicycle. The forests are so dense that it is almost difficult to believe it is in the center of a city, so it is easy to find a shaded area to rest even on hot days. The trail leads towards Yeouido Park and the Hangang River so this park is great if you want to visit those areas too.
Information
Even in Gangnam, one of the busiest places in Seoul, there is a forest perfect for taking a stroll. Seolleung and Jeongneung consist of Seolleung, the royal tomb of King Seongjong, and Jeongneung, the royal tomb of King Jungjong. These are two of the royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty that are registered in the UNESCO World Heritage list and that hold the royal remains of King Seongjong, Queen Jeonghyeon, and King Jungjong. They hold historical significance because they show us the appearance of the royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty as well as contain the traces of the two kings.
Seolleung and Jeongneung are popular trails frequented by office workers working in the Gangnam area or other local residents. There is a well-preserved, dense forest surrounding the three royal tombs thanks to the peaceful forest trail located in between. The quiet and serene atmosphere found at this trail will help you forget that you are in the bustling city center of Gangnam.
Information