Take a Break from Hectic City Life

A Promenade of Seoul's Art and History Museums

Get outdoors and enjoy the crisp autumn air before winter sets in! Seoul is full of fantastic shopping and dining options, but the city’s museums should not be overlooked. This fall, explore Seoul’s museums and green spaces and take a break from the fast pace of city life. Alongside Seoul’s many skyscrapers, there are many museums with green spaces throughout the city as well. Take a stroll through one of Seoul’s museums and enjoy nature while appreciating art and history.

Outings in Green Spaces and at Informative Museums

It’s possible to explore Korea’s long and rich history at the National Museum of Korea. Exhibitions and information on Korea from the Paleolithic area to the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo Dynasty, Joseon Dynasty, through to modern Korean history is on display at the museum. The museum is Korea’s largest national museum, and it may be difficult to see everything in one day. Visitors may want to check which exhibitions are on and plan ahead in order to fit in everything they may want to see. 

There are many places throughout the museum to take a break while taking in the numerous exhibitions and artifacts. The museum has several facilities for visitors, such as a café, food court, and a hansikdang (Korean restaurant). The museum grounds are perfect for a stroll, as there are footpaths and much to see. There is a reflecting pond, a stone-work garden, and a small waterfall. Learn about Korea and Korea’s heritage, and enjoy the outdoors, all at the National Museum of Korea.

The Yongsan Family Park is adjacent to the National Museum of Korea. Within the Yongsan Family Park, there is a pond, a small themed park, and other facilities open for use. This popular public park has many trees and footpaths to enjoy. The park is centrally located and is very close to quite a few tourist attractions, two of which are the National Hangeul Museum and the War Memorial of Korea.

  Yongsan-dong 6ga 68-87, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
 +82-2-792-5661
 Open 24 hrs, year round

Outdoor Sculptures and Landscapes to Appreciate

The Soma Museum is an art museum located within Olympic Park. Huge windows along one section of the museum afford museum-goers with expansive views of the grounds and a great opportunity to people watch and see the changing of the seasons. Soma’s sculpture garden is also visible from the windows. The museum’s design is modern and construction was planned with environmentally friendly principles in mind. There are 6 exhibition halls, and each hall varies in size, shape, and theme. Visitors can see a huge range of different kind of arts during just one visit to Soma. The entry fee for an adult is 3,000 won, youth tickets (13 to 24 yrs. old) cost 2,000 won each, and admission for children is just 1,000 won. Entry to the sculpture garden is free.

Olympic Park was constructed for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The park is seen as one of the world’s 5 largest sculpture gardens. There are some 200 works throughout the park, including work from the renowned French sculptor César Baldaccini and the American conceptual artist Dennis Oppenheim. The park is a popular recreational spot, with a wooded area and numerous footpaths. Olympic Park is grand in scale, so visitors may want to ride the park’s Hodori Train to explore the grounds.

  Olympic Park, 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
 +82-2-410-1114
 Daily 05:00~22:00 for walking or biking (tourist attractions till 24:00), daily 06:00~22:00 for cars and trucks

Enjoy Art and Sculptures in the City's Forests

The Sungkok Art Museum is located on a side street near Gwanghwamun in the central Seoul. There are 100 different varieties of trees on the museum grounds and an outdoor sculpture garden with different sections. Sculptures from Korean artists are on display throughout the garden. There is a terraced café in the garden and it’s possible to enjoy the views of the city and the sculptures here. It’s possible to get a little peace and quiet here, despite its location in the center of Seoul. Entrance to the sculpture garden is free when purchasing entry to the museum. To enjoy a drink at the café, please purchase a drink ticket (5,000 won) at the museum ticket booth. Entry fees vary according to the exhibition.

Although Gyeonghuigung Palace is relatively small in scale, it is less crowded than other palaces and perfect for a quiet walk. Take the footpath behind Jajeongjeon Hall and you’ll be able to see Namsan Seoul Tower in the distance. A visit to both Gyeonghuigung Palace and the Seoul Museum of History shows the ancient and modern faces of Seoul.

 Sinmunno 2ga 1, Jongno-gu, Seoul
 +82-2-724-0274
 Tues-Sun 09:00 - 18:00 (closed Mondays)