Christmas is a day everyone looks forward to, but it’s especially for kids. It’s important to plan ahead and make reservations in advance to ensure a smooth day and happy memories for your little ones. What are the best things to do with children on Christmas?
1. COEX Aquarium
With a white Christmas in the forecast, if you’re looking to get out of the cold and enjoy the snow, head to COEX Aquarium. The aquarium will be hosting a variety of events for Christmas, including Santa feeding the fish, mermaid underwater performances, and penguin feedings. COEX Aquarium is home to more than 20,000 marine creatures and is also known as the largest shark habitat in Korea. With 14 themed zones, it’s a great place to experience the marine ecosystem with your kids!
For more information about COEX Aquarium’s hours and tickets, check here.
2. Bookstores
Why not visit one large bookstore after another, all within walking distance from Gwanghwamun to Jonggak and Euljiro? You can pick up a Christmas-related children’s book, something you’ve always wanted to read, or even a comic book because it’s a special day! Let your kids pick out their favorite book and enjoy the atmosphere of the bookstore.
3. Seoul Tour Bus
If you want to see the beautiful lights installed all over Seoul, we recommend the Seoul Tour Bus. If you think that it is only for foreigners, you are wrong! Surprisingly, you can see many Koreans as well, and especially during the Christmas season, you can easily see the city center of Seoul, which has many skyscrapers such as Jongno, Jonggak, Myeongdong, etc. and is beautifully decorated with lights in about an hour. Especially at night, the bus is a double-decker bus with an open ceiling, so you can enjoy the beautiful night view and take some great photos.
4. Amusement parks
Amusement parks are always fun for kids. At the end of the year, they are even more exciting because they are all beautifully decorated like a fairy tale land. Lotte World organizes various parades, decorations, and participatory events under the theme of Miracle Winter from November to December. Everland also has a romantic theme throughout the park. The lighting is especially beautiful, so we recommend staying until the park opens at night.
5. Ice rinks
What better way to get your kids’ energy out than to get physical? It’s winter and it’s cold, but there’s one thing you can only do in winter: skating. There are plenty of places to go, depending on your budget, from very affordable places like Seoul Plaza to outdoor ice rinks run by hotels. You can even rent skates, and while gloves are usually a must, don’t forget to bring your own as you won’t be able to rent them. For a list of ice rinks in Seoul, click here.
6. Mungu Street in Changshin-dong
It would be a shame to leave this place out. If you want to take your kids to pick out their own toys, or if you need to buy toys for Santa Claus, I recommend Changshin-dong Stationery Street. There are so many types of toys, and it’s fun to browse through the market.