Seoul International Garden Expo

A 6-month green festival with 167 gardens laid out in Seoul Forest

After getting off the subway and walking for about 5 minutes, where city noise suddenly fades and the smell of grass rushes in, this is Seoul Forest. In 2026, the Seoul International Garden Expo is being held here. It starts on May 1 and runs until October 27, a long festival lasting a full 180 days. The theme is 'Seoul, Green Culture'. Centered on Seoul Forest, 167 gardens have been spread across more than 150,000 pyeong of land extending into the alleys of Seongsu-dong and the riverbank area of the Han River. From artist gardens created by designers to corporate-sponsored gardens and companion gardens tended directly by citizens, each has a different character, so the atmosphere keeps changing as you make your way around. What I liked most is that this is not a 'see it once and done' event. If you go in spring, you get fresh greenery; if you go in fall, the same garden shows a completely different face with autumn leaves.

What foreign friends should know first: no admission fee, sneakers are a must

First, some good news. Admission is completely free. There is no need to buy tickets in advance, and no need to worry about it selling out. Just go. The official operating hours are from noon to 7 p.m., but since Seoul Forest itself is a 24-hour park, you can freely take a garden walk even early in the morning. However, docent tours, experience booths, and food truck programs are best enjoyed if you go during the daytime.

For clothing, sneakers are strongly recommended. The site is very large and includes dirt paths and hills, so you have to walk quite a bit to see all the gardens properly. During the summer months of July and August, docent-guided night garden tours are operated in the evening to avoid the midday heat, so on hot days it is wise to go around sunset. Bringing a hat and water is also a good idea.

In terms of language, foreign visitors can enjoy it fully. Docent tours are offered in both Korean and English. In fact, because gardens are something you can appreciate visually even without explanation, the language barrier is not very big. However, detailed program notices are mostly in Korean, so it is a good idea to check English docent times in advance.

A day route starting from Exit 4 of Seoul Forest Station

The way there is really easy. If you exit from Exits 3 or 4 of Seoul Forest Station on the Suin-Bundang Line, you can reach the venue within 5 minutes on foot. If you use Exit 8 of Ttukseom Station on Line 2, you will arrive in about 10 minutes. Since the organizers actively recommend public transportation, taking the subway is less stressful than driving.

When you arrive, you are first greeted by a large 'SIGS 2026' letter sculpture standing on a green lawn and a Haechi sculpture, the Seoul city mascot. It is a popular photo spot, so there are always people gathering there. If you get hungry after slowly looking around the gardens, head to the food truck zone near Exit 10. Camping cars and food trucks are lined up, and there are plenty of parasols and tables in the shade under the bridge, making it a nice place to sit, rest, and eat. There are so many seating options that we did not have much trouble finding a place.

For payment, cards and mobile payments are the norm at both food trucks and the plant and goods booths at the garden industry fair, but some flea market or small booths may only accept cash. It is reassuring to bring a small amount of cash. After visiting the expo, a popular course is to head over to nearby Seongsu-dong and tour stylish cafes and restaurants. The big appeal of this event is that you can combine a garden walk with a hot spot tour in one day.

Busy times and the Pokemon pop-up: knowing in advance helps avoid surprises

This expo is free and has excellent accessibility, so a huge number of people come. In just the first few days after opening, the number of visitors surpassed 1 million. That is why there are long lines in front of popular gardens at midday on weekends. If you want to enjoy it at a relaxed pace, it is better to aim for weekdays, early morning, or late afternoon.

In particular, the 'Pokemon Secret Forest' pop-up garden inside Seoul Forest is so popular that waiting lines form from dawn. With Pikachu sculptures placed at the entrance decorated with yellow flowers, it is too good to miss for families with children or character fans. However, this pop-up is not open for the entire expo period, but only during a separate operating period, so it is a good idea to check the dates before visiting.

• Sneakers, a hat, and water — the site is large and has many dirt paths
• Small cash — for some flea market booths
• Visit in the evening during summer — avoid the heat and use the night docent program
• Midday on weekends is crowded — weekdays, mornings, and late afternoons are recommended

Recommended for people like this

It is perfect for people who like walking and want to clear their minds amid greenery in the middle of the city. Since there is no admission fee, it is easy to stop by without 부담 and then continue on to a Seongsu-dong cafe. It is also fun to visit once in spring and once in fall to compare how the same garden changes. Even without taking a plane far away, if you sit for a long time under the tree shade of Seoul Forest in a white chair, it really feels like travel.