Flying Suwon Next to Changnyongmun Gate at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Finding the Flying Suwon boarding area beside Changnyongmun Parking Lot

The listed address for Flying Suwon is 255-4 Jidong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The actual boarding location is listed as Changnyongmun Parking Lot, 697 Gyeongsu-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, so it is easier to set Changnyongmun, the eastern gate of Suwon Hwaseong, as your destination.

Official materials identify the area near Changnyongmun Parking Lot as the boarding location and recommend using the public parking lot. However, the available guidance does not confirm the transit station name, exit number, bus routes, or walking time to the boarding area. First-time visitors should therefore enter “Flying Suwon” or “Changnyongmun Parking Lot” into a map app for safer navigation.

How the 32-meter-wide tethered helium balloon rises to 70 meters

Flying Suwon is not a freely flying hot-air balloon but a tethered helium balloon connected to the ground. The balloon measures 32 meters in height and 22 meters in width, and it operates by rising to a maximum height of 70 meters during the ride, offering views over downtown Suwon and Hwaseong Haenggung.

The experience consists of ascending, remaining stationary for sightseeing, and descending. Suwon City materials have previously described the total duration as 10 minutes, including 7 minutes of stationary viewing. Other official materials list a total of 12–15 minutes for the ascent, stationary viewing, and descent, while reviews describe it as approximately 10 minutes including boarding and disembarking. Plan for a short sightseeing experience rather than a long flight.

13:00 on weekdays and 11:00 on weekends; the final flight is at 21:30

As of October 2023, tourism information listed the operating hours as 13:00–22:00 on weekdays and 11:00–22:00 on weekends and public holidays, with the final flight at 21:30. Therefore, weekday visitors should not expect a flight before 13:00, and anyone hoping to ride at night must receive a boarding number before 21:30.

No regular closing day was separately listed in the tourism information, but closures are announced during strong winds. Suwon City materials state that operations stop when wind speeds reach 10 m/sec or higher. Since service may be suspended depending on weather conditions, call 031-247-1300 in advance on windy days to check whether flights are operating.

From ₩20,000 for adults: fares by age group

As of October 2023, the fares are ₩20,000 for adults and ₩18,000 for middle and high school students. Elementary school students and visitors aged 65 or older are each listed at ₩17,000, while children from 25 months old through kindergarten age pay ₩14,000.

Advance reservations are reportedly available on weekdays for adult tickets only. Visitors from 25 months old through high school age must receive their boarding tickets at the site on the day of the visit. A review dated May 28, 2024, states that even online purchases require on-site ticket issuance before joining the queue; other guidance likewise explains that boarding tickets and waiting numbers are issued at the site.

• Adults: ₩20,000
• Middle and high school students: ₩18,000
• Elementary school students and ages 65 or older: ₩17,000
• 25 months old through kindergarten: ₩14,000

Waiting-time variables when aiming for sunset and night views

During the ride, you can see Suwon Hwaseong, Hwaseong Haenggung, and downtown Suwon at a glance, while sunset rides offer views of the evening glow. At night, you can enjoy the brightly illuminated cityscape of Suwon, making the fortress outline by day and the city lights at night distinct sightseeing highlights.

However, the number of passengers per ride is listed as 20–30 depending on weather conditions. A May 28, 2024, visitor review reported that the ticket office opening was delayed from 11:00 to 12:00 because of strong weekend winds. Although the night view and sense of thrill were memorable, the ride was also described as short. If you target only a specific sunset time, weather and queue numbers may disrupt your plans.

Changnyongmun Parking Lot is nearby, but it can be full on weekends

Changnyongmun Parking Lot is presented as a public parking facility near the boarding area, and a May 28, 2024, review says that it is directly beside the boarding area. The same review also describes a case in which construction and full capacity made the parking lot difficult to use on a weekend, leading the visitor to park on the roadside. Weekend travelers by car should not assume that a parking space will always be available.

The available information does not confirm the current number of spaces or parking fees, so the cost cannot be stated definitively here. If driving, enter 697 Gyeongsu-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, or Changnyongmun Parking Lot into your navigation system, and allow separate time after arriving for parking, ticketing, and receiving a waiting number.

Visitors with young children need to prepare because there are no infant facilities

Information dated April 18, 2025, states that Flying Suwon has no separate kids’ zone, nursing room, diaper-changing table, baby chair, or stroller rental service. Visitors with young children should change diapers and feed them elsewhere before boarding, and prepare on the assumption that strollers cannot be rented on-site.

The available information does not confirm the accessibility slope to the boarding area for wheelchairs or strollers, stairways and surface conditions, English-language assistance or audio guides, or whether photography is prohibited. Foreign visitors should use the official website, “Suwon Hwaseong from the Sky, Flying Suwon,” and the inquiry number 031-247-1300 to check accessibility and the languages available for same-day guidance.

Practical information at a glance before visiting Flying Suwon

Flying Suwon offers views of the Suwon Hwaseong area from a different height than a ground-level walk. Because it is a tethered helium balloon, it can rise as high as 70 meters, but operations may stop when winds reach 10 m/sec or higher, and each ride carries 20–30 people. Rather than fixing your schedule based only on operating hours and fares, consider both the weather and the on-site queue.

The official website is http://www.flyingsuwon.com, and the inquiry number is 031-247-1300. Advance reservations are available for adult weekday tickets, but children and teenagers must receive tickets on-site on the day of the visit. Reviews also state that on-site ticket issuance is required even for online purchases, so it is safest to treat ticket purchase and boarding as separate steps.

• Boarding area: Changnyongmun Parking Lot, 697 Gyeongsu-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Weekdays: 13:00–22:00, final flight at 21:30
• Weekends and public holidays: 11:00–22:00, final flight at 21:30
• Recommended time: Add on-site ticketing and waiting time to the approximately 10-minute ride
• Operating variables: Service may be suspended due to strong winds and weather conditions