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The Best Things to Do in Seoul with Kids: A Family Friendly Guide

Planning a family trip to Seoul? From parks to palaces, here are the best things to do in Seoul for kids of all ages.

Plan your family trip to Seoul

If you're worried about travelling to Seoul with kids, rest assured that South Korea's dynamic capital city is an incredibly family-friendly destination.

 

Whether you're planning a trip with toddlers, teens, or both, you're going to find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Seoul that will keep the entire family entertained. 

 

From cheering on the home team at a baseball game to eating street food at Gwangjang Market and dressing up in traditional hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace, you’ll make the kind of memories in South Korea that stay with a family for a lifetime. 

 

Planning a trip to Seoul with kids? This guide has got you covered with activities and attractions that will suit families with kids of all ages. 

Spend the day at Seoul Grand Park and Zoo

Spending the day at Seoul Grand Park is one of the best things to do in Seoul with kids when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Located in Gwacheon, just 30 minutes south of Seoul, this sprawling park offers a variety of family-friendly activities for all ages. 

 

One of the most popular attractions here is the Seoul Grand Park Zoo, home to over 3,000 animals, including lions, giraffes, and elephants.

 

After that, you can ride roller coasters at the Seoul Land theme park, wander amongst 1,200 species of plants in the Botanical Garden, or go hiking on Seoul Grand Park's many nature trails, to name just a few of the outdoor activities on offer at this massive park complex.

Catch a game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium

Baseball is a huge deal in South Korea, so what better way to get into the local spirit than by attending a game? If you're wondering who to root for, Jamsil Stadium is home to the Doosan Bears and the LG Twins.

 

Even if you're not a sports fan, it's easy to get swept up in the constant cheering, the singing and dancing, and the cute mascots. The quirky stadium foods are out of this world, too. Adults will want to order the "One Shot Chicken," which is essentially a pint of beer topped with a bowl of fried chicken and fries.

 

In South Korea, baseball season usually runs from late March to September. You can typically purchase tickets at the stadium on game day or get them through the official stadium website in advance. 

 

Tickets are surprisingly affordable, making this one of the best value things to do in Seoul. There's also a subway station at the stadium, so getting there is a breeze. 

Have a family photo shoot at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Founded in 1395, this former royal palace is one of the most famous attractions in the entire country. Sometimes touring historical attractions can be a bit boring for little ones, but that's not the case with Gyeongbokgung Palace. 

 

One of the best ways to keep your kids entertained during your visit is to get all dressed up in hanbok, traditional South Korean clothing. Not only is it fun to don a costume, but kids will learn a bit about Korean culture along the way.

 

You'll find plenty of shops surrounding the palace that rent out hanbok. Admission is free for visitors who dress up, so you'll see loads of other locals and tourists wearing traditional South Korean garb. Plus, the family photo ops are awesome.

 

Another must-do at Gyeongbokgung Palace is the Changing of the Guard - a traditional ceremonial performance that brings the palace's history to life. See it at 10am and 2pm every day except Tuesdays, when the palace is closed.

See mermaids (and other sea life) at SEA LIFE COEX

Exploring this massive aquarium is easily one of the most fun and educational things to do in Seoul if you've got young kids in tow.

 

Follow the designated pathway and you'll come across 14 exhibition zones, from the rays and sharks in the Deep Blue Sea Tunnel to the penguins in the Penguin Playground. 

 

Be sure to time your visit with one of the daily mermaid performances, which are a huge draw. Or attend one of the penguin or shark feeding sessions. Just check the website for timings. 

Eat street food in Gwangjang Market

Seoul is a city for foodies, and no trip to South Korea's capital is complete without a visit to the historic Gwangjang Market. More than just food, this labyrinthine market is a fun place to get lost in.

 

Whether you're travelling with tots or teens, they'll be fascinated by all of the new smells, sights, and sounds.

 

When it comes to places to eat, there are tons of street food stalls that skyrocketed to fame after Netflix filmed its hit show "Street Food: Asia" here in 2019. Not sure where to start? A few must-tries are the bindaetteok (deep-fried mung bean pancakes) at Soonheene's Bindaetteok and the kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and kimchi dumplings at Cho Yonsoon’s Gohyang Kalguksu food stall.

 

If you've got picky eaters with you, they're sure to go wild for the viral sweet rice twisted doughnuts from Gwangjang Market Chapssal Kkwabaegi and the Nutella hotteok from Hotteok Jjang.

 

Pro tip: If you're looking for a family-friendly hotel near Gwangjang Market, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences has got you covered. This place has a great rooftop pool, complete with a bar and gorgeous city views.

 

Adults will love taking advantage of the indoor pool, fitness centre, and sauna, while kids will love the buffet breakfast and all the activities in the Kids Zone. Families will appreciate the option of choosing a residence-style suite. The well-equipped kitchenette, living room, and washing machine make travelling as a family easy and fun.

Take the little ones to Seoul Children's Grand Park

Not to be confused with Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Children's Grand Park is located in the heart of the city.

 

This is one of the best free things to do in Seoul with kids, and it's a great place to let little kids burn off some energy for a couple of hours. This park is actually quite large, and most of the attractions are totally free.

 

To give you an idea, there's a spectacular musical fountain, a botanical garden, and a small zoo, which are all totally free. Pay a small fee and you can also access the children's museum and the small theme park.

Get cherry blossom or fall foliage views at N Seoul Tower 

If you're visiting Seoul in spring or autumn, taking in the views of the cherry blossoms or fall foliage from the N Seoul Tower is one of the top things to do in Seoul.

 

To access the base of the tower at the top of Namsan Mountain, you can either pay to ride the cable car or take one of the family-friendly trails to the top of the hill. 

 

Once you're at the top, you can pay to go to the top of N Seoul Tower or dine in the revolving N Grill restaurant. Both will give you unreal 360-degree city views.

 

But if you don't feel like paying, you can simply take in the views for free from one of the many terraces and lookout areas. Purchase a lock from one of the shops, and you and your family can write a message on it and hang it with the thousands of other "love locks" that adorn the fences.

 

Time your visit right, and you might also catch one of the free cultural shows, music performances, or light displays that take place at the base of N Seoul Tower. 

What to do in Seoul with kids: your question answered

Yes, Seoul is a family-friendly place to travel. There are loads of family-friendly things to do in Seoul that appeal to toddlers, teens, and everyone in between. 

The best things to do in Seoul with children who are a bit younger are to let them run wild at Seoul Children's Grand Park, take them to the Seoul Grand Park Zoo in Seoul Grand Park in nearby Gwacheon, see the sharks and penguins in the SEA LIFE COEX aquarium, or spend the day at the Lotte World theme park.

Depending on their interests, the best things to do in Seoul with teenagers are to see the fall foliage or cherry blossoms from the N Seoul Tower, eat all the street food at the "Netflix famous" Gwangjang Market, tour the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace, or go to a baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, to name just a few options.

If you're wondering how long to spend in Seoul on a family holiday, that depends. However, staying for five to seven nights will give you time to slowly tick off all the best things to do in Seoul, while giving you plenty of downtime to avoid burnout. If you only have two or three nights in Seoul, that still gives you enough time to fit in at least a few family-friendly bucket-list activities. 

Yes, there are many free things to do in Seoul with kids. For example, you can visit the zoo and botanic garden at Seoul Children's Grand Park, hike up Namsan Mountain for panoramic city views, explore the streets of Bukchon Hanok Village, attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in April, or get free entry to Gyeongbokgung Palace if you're dressed in hanbok.

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