Whether it’s a school vacation or a weekend adventure, children are always eager for fun things to do – something that parents may find a little difficult to handle sometimes! Here are the best things to do with kids in Seoul to keep the whole family busy and happy as you explore the city.
1. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Van Gogh: An Immersive Experience is an immersive art exhibition about the life of Van Gogh and his masterpieces. The exhibition utilizes media projections and VR technology to immerse visitors of all ages in Van Gogh’s world. Families with young children will find it easy and fun to enjoy the 360-degree view of Van Gogh’s works in a huge 300-square-meter space, where they can sit on benches, sofas, or lie on the floor under more than 60 projectors. There will also be non-stop media projections and soundscapes to keep kids entertained as they get lost in Starry Night or Wheatfield with Crows, as well as a colouring station to create their own art. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience has already attracted 5 million visitors in Singapore and other locations around the world, and entry tickets are available here.
🕒 Open from 10am daily, check exact times here.
📍 514 Iljik-dong, GIDC-A, B2 Convention, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do
2. COEX Aquarium
The incredible COEX Aquarium is indoors, so you can easily spend 2-3 hours with your kids whatever the Seoul weather is doing. It’s a great place to take the kids to learn about marine ecosystems and our oceans, and there are various wonderful events that kids will love, such as underwater mermaid performances and penguin feeding sessions. You can explore the underwater world of COEX Aquarium through 14 themed zones, and it contains more than 20,000 marine creatures, including the rarely seen Sand Tiger Shark and West African Manatee.
Find your tickets to COEX Aquarium Seoul here.
🕒 Open daily from 10am-8pm, with the last entry at 7pm.
📍 COEX Aquarium, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
3. Donuimun Museum Village
Donuimun Museum Village is a place that brings back childhood memories for adults and new experiences for children, on the site of the old Donuimun Gate. There are nostalgic places in the preserved village, such as a comic shop, stationery store, game room, and movie theatre, and reception. The attractions are very realistic, and can be touched and experienced instead of just seen, so even children who don’t know the analogue feel of the 60s & 80s can have a great time exploring Seoul’s past.
There are also cafes and restaurants inside, so you can take a break for lunch, and if you go to the village information centre in the heart of the village, you can try jegichagi and ttakchigi. Admission is free, and you can pay for experiences such as traditional games, knot making, and making a traditional tal clock. It’s also very close to Gyeonghuigung Palace and the Seoul Museum of History, making it a great day out for kids to not only learn about history, but also experience classic Korean culture in a playful way.
🕒 Open daily from 10am to 7pm, closed every Monday.
📍 14-3 Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
4. National Hangeul Museum
You’ve heard of the National Museum of Korea, but did you know there’s a National Hangeul Museum? Located right next to the National Museum of Korea, the Hangeul Museum is an easy and fun place to play, and learn about our unique script. There are 33 examples of the Hunmin Jeongnyeom manuscript to help you understand why Sejong the Great created Hangeul. Additionally, there’s a Hangeul library, a Hangeul learning centre, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and a Hangeul playground, so even toddlers who don’t know their letters yet can experience Hangeul in a playful way. Admission is free, and it’s a short walk from Exit 2 of Ichon Station, with a separate paid parking lot available.
🕒 Daily 10am – 6pm, open until 9pm on Saturdays.
📍 139 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
5. Achasan Forest Playground
Playgrounds are a great way to spend time with kids, and for kids who need to burn off some energy, we recommend the Achasan Forest Playground. Located behind the Achasan Mountain Administration Office, it’s in the middle of the forest, with large trees providing cool shade, making it a refreshing place to play even in the middle of summer. Kids can get their hands dirty, run through the trees, and have an experience that’s hard to find in the city centre. There are trampolines, climbing poles, slides, and hammocks for kids of all ages. There’s also a café just a five-minute walk away, which is a great place to grab a quick snack and a drink. If your kids aren’t too young, you can climb to the top of Achasan Mountain for views over Seoul.
🕒 Open daily.
📍 3-19 Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
6. Seoul Children’s Grand Park
A world of animals in the middle of the city. Seoul Children’s Grand Park is a large space with a zoo, botanical garden, lawn, and amusement park, and while the amusement park has a fee, the rest of the facilities are free, so you’ll see many families out for a casual stroll. The zoo is free and well-maintained, with monkeys, elephants, tigers, cheetahs, bears, pelicans, and other animals that kids can easily recognize.
The botanical garden is also a great place to spend an hour or so, with rare and unusual plants such as succulents, houseplants, bonsai, wildflowers, and more. There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat, and you can even bring your own lawn chairs, so it’s a great way to spend a relaxing day with the kids. It’s important to note that scooters, in-line skates, and bikes are not allowed. It’s also lot bigger than you might think, so we recommend picking up a map at the entrance if you’re a first-time visitor.
🕒 The park is open daily from 5am-10pm, whilst the zoo and botanical gardens are open from 10am-5pm (however, the botanical gardens open at 1pm on Mondays).
📍 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
7. Tteok Museum
This rice cake museum, opened in 2002, shows the process of making rice cakes (Tteok), a delicious and nutritious traditional Korean food. Whether you’re a fan of rice cakes or not, this is a great place for kids who love to make things with their hands, as they can try their hand at making rice cakes at their own pace. The classes are held daily at 11am and 3pm, and for a fee of 10,000 won, kids can work with a teacher to make colourful rice cakes to take home. Afterward, you can explore the space, which displays traditional rice cakes from different regions & occasions, how to make them, and the tools used in the process. Admission is free for children under 36 months, 2,000 won for children aged 36 months to 19 years, and 3,000 won for adults.
🕒 Open daily from 10am until 6pm, but closed every Sunday.
📍 71 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
8. Seoul Children’s Museum
Seoul Children’s Museum is a fun place that will spark your child’s imagination. There are four floors, from the basement to the third, and we recommend starting on the third floor and working your way down. On the third floor, there are science and cultural activities, such as putting a ball in a wind pipe, controlling the wind, making food, visiting a veterinarian, and making business cards. On the second floor, you’ll find educational activities that focus on physical and imagination play.
The first floor is for art, space, and nature play, where kids can try their hand at drawing, building blocks, spinning, and much more. Finally, the basement level is the Sensory Play Centre, with activities related to sound. Children of all ages up to the lower grades of elementary school will love this place, and there are regularly updated temporary exhibits to explore. Admission is free for children up to 36 months old, 4,000 won for older children.
🕒 Open daily from 10am-6pm (last entry at 5pm), but closed on Mondays.
📍Find it in Seoul Children’s Grand Park, 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
9. Han River Swimming Pools (summer only)
One of the best things to do with kids in the summer is to go swimming. The Han River swimming pools, operated directly by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are very affordable and can be enjoyed by anyone. There are six pools in Ttukseom, Yeouido, Gwangnaru, Jamwon, Mangwon, and Jamsil, and two water playgrounds in Nanji and Yanghwa.
The pools are open daily from late June to late August, but Mangwon (closed until 2028) and Jamsil (reopening 2024) pools were closed due to construction work in 2023. Swimwear and swimming caps are required for the pools, and there are pools of varying depths, including adult, teen, and toddler pools, while the water playgrounds do not require swimwear and are all less than one meter deep. Entrance fees are 3,000 won, 4,000 won, and 5,000 won respectively for children (ages 6 to 12), teens (ages 13 to 18), and adults (ages 19 and up) for the pools, and 1,000 won, 2,000 won, and 3,000 won respectively for the wading pools.
🕒 Daily during 9pm – 7pm during summer opening months.
📍 Ttukseom Swimming Pool: 112 Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
📍 SUPIA Yeouido: 82-3 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
📍 Gwangnaru Hangang Park: 83-66 Seonsa-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
📍 Jamwon Outdoor Swimming Pool: 221-124 Jamwon-ro, Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
📍 Jamsil Hangang Park Pool: 65 Hangaram-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
📍 Mangwon Hangang Park: 467 Maponaru-gil, 망원제1동 Mapo-gu, Seoul (pool closed until 2028)
📍 Yanghwa Water Park: 1-4 Yanghwa-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
📍 Nanji Water Park: 482-182 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
10. Seoul Animation Centre
The Seoul Animation Centre is a place where kids will be excited to see models of their favourite characters right from the entrance. There are many familiar characters such as Pororo, Tayo, and Caturi, and visitors can also enjoy a motion-activated flying experience. In addition, there is a climbing area, a tablet where kids can colour the characters and display them on the screen, and a clay making experience where they can make a caterpillar and take it home.
With so many cute activities, there is more to do than most kids’ cafes, and children from 3 years old to lower elementary school can have a fun time at their own pace. Only 75 people are allowed to enter each hour, so we recommend making a reservation in advance on weekends. Admission is 6,000 won for children aged 36 months to 12 years, and 4,000 won for children aged 13 years and older.
🕒 Open daily except Mondays, 10am to 6pm (last entry at 5pm.). The centre’s comics café is open 10am to 8pm, every day except Monday.
📍 48 Sogong-ro, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
11. National Aviation Museum
The National Aviation Museum, which can inspire the dreams and hopes of children, is the first aviation museum established in Korea and offers experiences that explain the history of Korean aviation in a fun way. Various types of airplanes and motors are on display, and you can see the evolution of pilot suits, the interior of a real airplane, and more. The indoor museum is free and open to the public, but paid reservations are required for the flight control experience, in-flight training experience, children’s airport experience, and Black Eagle ride experience. Reservations can be made on their website.
🕒 Open daily 10am – 6pm, closed every Monday.
📍 177 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul