Seoul Botanic Park Guide: Admission, Hours, Closing Days & How to Get There
Seoul Botanic Park is a botanical garden set inside a city park, located at 161 Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강서구 마곡동로 161). Three of its four zones, the Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden, are free and open every day of the year. You only pay to enter the Theme Garden, which holds the greenhouse and themed gardens (5,000 KRW (~$3.80 USD) for adults). Exits 3 and 4 of Magongnaru Station on Line 9 and the Airport Railroad (AREX) lead straight into the Open Forest, so you can ride here from Incheon International Airport or Seoul Station without changing trains.
What Is Seoul Botanic Park?
Seoul Botanic Park is a botanical garden and an urban park in one. It keeps growing its collection by exchanging plants with other institutions and propagating its own, with a goal of more than 8,000 species. The grounds are split into four zones, the Open Forest (열린숲), Lake Garden (호수원), Wetland Garden (습지원) and Theme Garden (주제원), and each one feels different.
The main attraction is the Exhibition Greenhouse inside the Theme Garden. Its roof dips inward in the middle like a shallow dish, and inside you’ll find native plants from 12 cities with tropical and Mediterranean climates. A loop through the Tropical Zone and then the Mediterranean Zone shows how plants, and the cultures built around them, change from one climate to the next.
| Zone | Admission | Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Open Forest | Free | Open daily, all year |
| Lake Garden | Free | Open daily, all year |
| Wetland Garden | Free | Open daily, all year |
| Theme Garden (greenhouse & themed gardens) | Paid | Closed Mondays; seasonal hours |
Seoul Botanic Park at Night: Where Can You Walk in the Evening?
The three free zones (Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden) stay open all year, so you can still walk them after dark. The Theme Garden with the greenhouse and themed gardens closes at 18:00 in the regular season and 17:00 in winter, and you can’t go in during the evening.
The official information doesn’t say when, or whether, any night or landscape lighting is turned on. If you’re planning an evening stroll, check first on the official website (https://botanicpark.seoul.go.kr/) or call the customer center (02-2104-9716). Drivers should know that the underground parking garage at the Botanic Culture Center runs until 21:00, while the above-ground lot is available 24 hours a day.
Seoul Botanic Park Hours, Closing Days & Admission
Opening hours
| Zone | Season | Hours | Last ticket/entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme Garden (greenhouse & themed gardens) | Regular (Mar–Oct) | 09:30–18:00 | 17:00 |
| Theme Garden (greenhouse & themed gardens) | Winter (Nov–Feb) | 09:30–17:00 | 16:00 |
| Open Forest, Lake Garden, Wetland Garden | All year | Always open | — |
- Closed: every Monday. If a Monday falls on a public holiday, the park closes the following day instead.
- On closing days the greenhouse, themed gardens and Botanic Culture Center are shut. The Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden stay open.
- Winter hours start in November, and ticket sales then end at 16:00.
Theme Garden admission (valid on the day of purchase only)
| Ticket | Adult (19–64) | Youth (13–18) | Child (6–12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5,000 KRW (~$3.80 USD) | 3,000 KRW (~$2.30 USD) | 2,000 KRW (~$1.50 USD) |
| 30% discount | 3,500 KRW (~$2.60 USD) | 2,100 KRW (~$1.60 USD) | 1,400 KRW (~$1.10 USD) |
| 50% discount | 2,500 KRW (~$1.90 USD) | 1,500 KRW (~$1.10 USD) | 1,000 KRW (~$0.80 USD) |
- Free entry: children under 6, seniors 65 and over, people with disabilities and an accompanying caregiver, persons of national merit and others in similar categories, families holding Seoul’s Dadungi Happiness Card (다둥이 행복카드, for multi-child families), and pregnant women living in Seoul. Bring ID or supporting documents to claim free or discounted entry.
- Discounts: users of the Climate Card (기후동행카드, including short-term passes), K-Pass and similar programs also qualify. The official page doesn’t list the discount rate for these, so ask at the ticket office.
- Groups: groups of 30 or more get 30% off.
- The Zero Pay discount was discontinued on January 1, 2022.
How to Get to Seoul Botanic Park: Incheon Airport, Seoul Station, Subway & Bus
By starting point
| From | Transport | Get off at | Adult fare (transit card) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Station | AREX all-stop train | Magongnaru Station, Exit 3 or 4 (connects directly to the Open Forest) | 1,750 KRW (~$1.30 USD) |
| Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 | AREX all-stop train | Magongnaru Station, Exit 3 or 4 | 4,350 KRW (~$3.30 USD) |
| Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 | AREX all-stop train | Magongnaru Station, Exit 3 or 4 | 4,950 KRW (~$3.70 USD) |
| Incheon International Airport | Airport bus 6003 | Magok Station (median) stop (마곡역(중)), then about 20 minutes on foot to the Open Forest | — |
- A single-journey transit card adds 100 KRW (~$0.08 USD) to the fare.
- We couldn’t confirm the AREX journey time or the airport bus fare from official sources.
Nearest subway stations
| Station | Exit | Walk | Arrives at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magongnaru Station (마곡나루역), Line 9 & AREX | Exit 3 or 4 | Direct connection | Open Forest |
| Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station (양천향교역), Line 9 | Exit 8 | About 10 min | Theme Garden |
| Magok Station (마곡역), Line 5 | Exit 3 | About 20 min | Open Forest |
By bus
| Stop (stop no.) | Routes | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul Botanic Park & Forest Culture School (서울식물원·숲문화학교) (16107, 16619, 16102) | Branch buses 6611, 6712 | About 2 min to the park |
| Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum & Seoul Botanic Park (겸재정선미술관·서울식물원) (16272) | Branch buses 6631, 6642, 6712; trunk bus 672 | About 2 min to the park |
| Stops around Magongnaru Station | Branch buses 6645, 6648; trunk buses 931, N64 and others | About 5 min to the Open Forest |
Parking (Botanic Culture Center underground garage, P1)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | 184 spaces (basement level 2) |
| Hours | 08:00–21:00 (the above-ground lot is available 24 hours) |
| Cars | 150 KRW (~$0.11 USD) per 5 minutes |
| Vans | 300 KRW (~$0.23 USD) per 5 minutes |
| Large vehicles (16+ seats) | 450 KRW (~$0.34 USD) per 5 minutes |
| Reductions | 80% for people with disabilities and persons of national merit; 50% for Dadungi Happiness Card holders, pregnant women, compact cars, low-emission vehicles and others |
- If you qualify for more than one reduction, only the largest one applies.
- After 21:00 you can’t pass through the Botanic Culture Center, so use the vehicle access road.
- The garage is small, so public transportation is recommended. On weekends, getting out of the lot around closing time can take a while.
Seoul Botanic Park: Know Before You Go
Two venues for the special exhibition Dajeonghan Gyunhyeong: Seororeul Bichuneun (다정한 균형: 서로를 비추는, roughly “A Tender Balance: Reflecting Each Other”) will close briefly for the Seoul Botanic Park International Symposium. The greenhouse and Theme Garden operate as normal during this time.
| Closed venue | Closure dates |
|---|---|
| Project Hall 2, Botanic Culture Center | Thursday, October 29 – Saturday, October 31 |
| Magok Cultural Center (마곡문화관) | Thursday, October 29 – Friday, October 30 |
Seoul Botanic Park Autumn Exhibitions
| Exhibition | Dates | Location | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse autumn exhibition COLOR HUNTER (컬러헌터) | Sep 19 – Oct 31, 2026 | Mediterranean Zone & Tropical Zone | Hands-on exhibition: photograph colors among the greenhouse plants and build your own color chart |
| Themed garden autumn exhibition Pampare, Baram-i Bonaeneun Chodaejang (팜파레, 바람이 보내는 초대장, roughly “an invitation from the wind”) | October–November 2026 (may change depending on the weather) | Garden of Wind (바람의 정원) & Gardener’s Garden (정원사의 정원) | Pampas grass “wedding bus,” self-serve wedding photo spot and a footpath |
| Plant specimen exhibition Greening Days: Sikmul, Ilsang-i Doeda (그리닝 데이즈: 식물, 일상이 되다) | Sep 23 – Dec 31, 2026 | Corridor beside Project Hall 2, 2nd floor, Botanic Culture Center | Free. November features rare plants designated by the Korea Forest Service; December features endemic plants |
The 2026 Seoul Botanic Park International Symposium, AI Sidae, Sikmuljeok Sangsangnyeok (AI 시대, 식물적 상상력, roughly “Botanical Imagination in the Age of AI”), runs Friday, October 30 to Saturday, October 31.
Seoul Botanic Park Tips
- Leave bags in a locker. Lockers are at the Visitor Center (nos. 1–12), at the greenhouse ticket entrance and in front of the parking-garage elevator in the Botanic Culture Center (nos. 13–40), and on both sides of the greenhouse exit on the Botanic Culture Center’s 1st floor (nos. 41–68). They’re available 09:30–18:00 from March to October and 09:30–17:00 from November to February, and they’re closed on Mondays. You can’t store or collect bags outside these hours. Check the signs on-site for fees.
- On Mondays, stick to the outdoor zones. The greenhouse is closed on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday), so come Tuesday through Sunday if you want to see it.
- From November, arrive early. Winter ticket sales end at 16:00, so aim for early afternoon if you want a relaxed visit to the greenhouse.
- AREX is the easy way in. Exits 3 and 4 of Magongnaru Station open straight onto the Open Forest, which makes the park an easy stop on your way into Seoul from Incheon Airport, or before your flight home.
- Use the English website. The park has its own English site (https://botanicpark.seoul.go.kr/eng/main.do). Some signs on-site may be in Korean only, so it helps to have a translation app ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is admission to Seoul Botanic Park?
The Theme Garden (greenhouse and themed gardens) costs 5,000 KRW (~$3.80 USD) for adults, 3,000 KRW (~$2.30 USD) for youths and 2,000 KRW (~$1.50 USD) for children. Children under 6 and seniors 65 and over get in free, and tickets are valid only on the day you buy them.
What can you see for free at Seoul Botanic Park?
The Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden are all free. These three zones are open every day of the year. The only paid area is the Theme Garden, home to the greenhouse and themed gardens.
Is Seoul Botanic Park open on Mondays?
The greenhouse and themed gardens are closed on Mondays. If a Monday is a public holiday, they close the next day instead. The Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden stay open even on closing days.
What are Seoul Botanic Park’s winter hours?
In winter (November–February), the Theme Garden is open 09:30–17:00, and ticket sales end at 16:00. In the regular season (March–October), hours are 09:30–18:00, with ticket sales ending at 17:00.
How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul Botanic Park?
Take the AREX all-stop train and get off at Magongnaru Station. The adult fare with a transit card is 4,350 KRW (~$3.30 USD) from Terminal 1 and 4,950 KRW (~$3.70 USD) from Terminal 2, and Exits 3 and 4 connect directly to the Open Forest. You can also take airport bus 6003 to the Magok Station (median) stop and walk about 20 minutes to the Open Forest.
How do I get from Seoul Station to Seoul Botanic Park?
Take the AREX all-stop train from Seoul Station and get off at Magongnaru Station. The adult fare with a transit card is 1,750 KRW (~$1.30 USD), and a single-journey transit card adds 100 KRW (~$0.08 USD).
What is the nearest subway station to Seoul Botanic Park?
Magongnaru Station on Line 9 and AREX is the closest, and Exits 3 and 4 lead directly into the Open Forest. For the Theme Garden, it’s about a 10-minute walk from Exit 8 of Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station on Line 9. From Exit 3 of Magok Station on Line 5, it’s about 20 minutes on foot to the Open Forest.
How much does parking cost at Seoul Botanic Park?
Cars pay 150 KRW (~$0.11 USD) per 5 minutes. Vans pay 300 KRW (~$0.23 USD) and large vehicles with 16 or more seats pay 450 KRW (~$0.34 USD) per 5 minutes, and the underground garage runs 08:00–21:00. Parking is limited, so public transportation is recommended.
Can I store luggage at Seoul Botanic Park?
Yes, there are 68 lockers in the Visitor Center and the Botanic Culture Center. They’re available 09:30–18:00 from March to October and 09:30–17:00 from November to February, and they’re closed on Mondays.
Can I visit Seoul Botanic Park in the evening?
Yes, the Open Forest, Lake Garden and Wetland Garden are always open, so you can walk there in the evening. The greenhouse and themed gardens close at 18:00 in the regular season and 17:00 in winter. The official information doesn’t list night lighting times, so check before you go.
