Seoul is indisputably metropolitan – everywhere you go, there are high-rise buildings and technology beyond belief. It’s one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world, and thanks to the Korean wave and the rise of pop culture, has seen it as one of the most visited cities in the world.

Still, within the city centre, there are pockets of nature providing a breath of fresh air for the busy lifestyles of its locals. Even in a city as developed as Seoul, there are opportunities to take the time and enjoy flora and fauna to soothe the mind and soul of any individual.

These may not be the top of a lot of people’s lists, but there are some incredible opportunities to see just how well Korea integrates the seemingly incongruent elements of nature and city life. With South Korea’s incredible marketing adds flair to each attraction to make them unique experiences in their own rights. Even if you’re not much of a walker, these should really be on your mind.

YeoUiDo Park (여의도공원) and YeoUiDo HanGang Park (여의도한강공원)

These two are not to be confused, though are located only a few minutes’ walk from each other. YeoUiDo Park is a strip of land teeming with flowers and a well-manicured garden. It was originally a mass of barren of concrete that was used for biking and skating, but heavy development over more than a year in the latter half of the 90s saw the area transformed into something more of what people would consider a park. It’s now the location of cultural events and a popular hangout spot, especially dates for young couples.

The park is a public space, so it is free to enter and open 24/7. One of the popular activities at the park is bike riding, and rentals are available throughout the park, with plenty of photo opportunities thanks to the luscious gardens, ponds, and pavilions that create a serene atmosphere within a bustling city.

The park is located halfway between YeoUiDo (여의도역) and National Assembly Stations (국회의사당역). We also recommend visiting the nearby YeoUiDo HanGang Park (여의도한강공원) on the riverbank for a different experience thanks to the view of the open water. There, bike rentals are also popular, and so is the unlikely activity of camping. Many will bring or hire tents to set up along the grassy patches of the riverbank as a break from their everyday lives, passing the time leisurely and even ordering takeaway to be delivered.

This free, accessible location is ideal for light activity, and getting a break from Seoul’s urban side.

YeoUiDo Park (여의도공원)

YeoUiDo HanGang Park (여의도한강공원)

Seoul Forest (서울숲)

Seoul Forest is the biggest park in the city. Originally a hunting ground for the royal families, it was then converted to a water purification centre before being reopened as a park in 2005 to the public. It boasts four distinct areas over a whopping 300 acres (120 hectares) of land, with 40 species of roses, 40,000 trees, and a diverse range of both plants and animals immaculately maintained by several teams of both volunteers and park officials.

The park is kept thriving thanks to a collective effort of both the government and individuals, who contribute the funds and time necessary to keep it going. While most of the park is generally open to the public, it also houses several indoor gardens and events centres with different features and exhibits which have separate opening times.

Many of the exhibits are closed on Mondays, with seasonal attractions such as the butterfly garden closed during the colder months from November through to April. It’s best to check out the Seoul Forest website (available in English) for all the information of what is available for your visit.

The land is unfathomably large, and can take a good part of a full day of walking to traverse most of it. Because of this, even on weekends with high foot traffic it doesn’t feel crowded – in fact, it’s made much more lively, with children on bikes and scooters and couples taking selfies in all corners of the park. There’s plenty to see, making it a great hangout spot for a day to relax.

Seoullo 7017 (서울로 7017)

Seoullo is the perfect example of how South Korea combines the old and new with exquisite practicality. It’s truly the rooftop garden of a metropolitan utopia, where nature meets concrete – and lots of it. Trees and flowers are planted all throughout the area, and in true Korean style, is meticulously maintained and trimmed to almost cookie-cutter perfection.

The garden also functions as an overpass – where once you would need to cross a mess of wide roads over the complicated junction outside of Seoul Station, the walkway now allows you to forego any sort of guesswork by taking you over everything. The network of bridges expands from Seoul station all the way to the neighbouring HoeHyeon Station (회현역), at one of the many entrances of NamDaeMun Market (Gate 5).

Seoullo 7017 is named after its dates of construction – the original overpass was built in 1970, and the final walkway as it now stands opened in 2017. 17 also refers to the number of ways to access the walkway, which varies from stairways, escalators, and slopes, with several paths joining to the nearby buildings along the way.

Though not necessarily an activity on many people’s checklists it’s one that we loved, possibly as we traversed it several times during our stay. The whimsical touches of colourful flowers, glass floors, and even pianos for public use makes it a breath of fresh air in the city. If you’re nearby, we highly recommend the visit – the atmosphere makes the walk from the market to Seoul Station incredibly short.

The Secret Garden Tour of ChangDeokGung Palace (창덕궁)

South Korea has countless historical sites that showcase its rich and complex history. One of the most famous stops in Korea is the GyeongBokGung Palace (경복궁), built in the late 14^th century as the main palace for the Kings of the JoSeon Dynasty. However, only ten minutes’ walk east is the lesser known ChangDeokGung Palace (창덕궁), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a vast garden which sees its landmass far outdo GyeongBokGung.

ChangDeokGung Palace (창덕궁)

Despite being not quite as popular as GyeongBokGung, ChangDeokGung is the most well-preserved palace amongst those that have survived the JoSeon Dynasty. Built on the foot of a mountain, its layout is less structured and instead follows the natural rise and fall of the land.

The opening hours of the palace grounds will vary according to season, so it’s best to check their website for their hours. Entry is ₩3,000 (US$2.50), but it’s free if you’re wearing the traditional Korean hanbok gown (한복). Hanbok rental stores can be found all throughout the area, especially in the neighbourhood between the two main castles near AnGuk Station (안국역). Both male and female gowns can be rented, often with matching styles and designs. They are consistently around ₩10,000 (US$8.30) each for 2 hours of rental or ₩15,000 (US$12.45) for 4 hours. Ensure plenty of time to choose and try on your gowns, as the service often includes hair styling, too.

Thanks to the open grounds and information, the palace alone is a great place to wander around, especially for history buffs. Wearing hanbok on the palace grounds will definitely make for an incredible experience.

HuWon – The Secret Gardens (후원)

HuWon (후원), also known as the Secret Gardens, is not a secret much nowadays but is closed off from the general entrance and requires its own ticket. Entrance is ₩5,000 (US$4.15), separate to the Palace entrance fee, and is not waived when wearing hanbok.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of the palace, or within the palace grounds at the starting place of the Secret Garden Tour. The ticket includes a 60-minute guided tour, available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. We advise checking their website for the schedule.

These gardens were personal private places of rest for the Kings during the JoSeon Dynasty, and houses pavilions, ponds, and a tree which is said to be over 300 years old. Rather than the full area as garden, it’s more an annex to the castle with its own buildings and features. It’s a hilly area, with many steep paths and plenty of walking, so it is advised that you come in proper shoes in preparation.

The opportunity to roam the expansive garden – which accounts for more than 60% of the palace ground’s area – when the tour is over is why we recommend the activity so much. It’s perfect for lovers of history, nature, and photography, and a unique activity only available at this UNESCO site.

NamSan Mountain (남산)

NamSan Mountain, or more accurately, Nam Mountan, is a public park atop which sits N Seoul Tower, a communication and observation tower and the second-highest point in the city (the highest being BukHanSan Mountain [북한산] on the northern fringe of Seoul). At the top of the mountain and the base of the tower is NamSan Park, a public area and a popular spot for dates or outings for families.

The most popular way of accessing the tower is by cable car, which costs ₩7,000 (US$5.80) per adult one way, or ₩9,500 (US$7.90) round-trip. One thing to note is even at the top station of the cable car, there are still stairs to get to the park and the tower. Alternatively, several buses stop at the bottom of a short but exceptionally steep hill from the park, which makes for a cheaper, though less scenic route to the top of the mountain.

The third method is to walk, which is not as difficult as it sounds. There are plenty of entrances and clearly marked paths up to the tower. We took Entrance 3, which starts opposite the bottom station of the cable car to the top. As expected, there is a combination of stairs and hill, and while it can be steep in some places it is generally a pleasant, brisk walk that will have you sweating but not exhausted. The walk took us around 30 minutes at a constant pace, and because the path is wide, solid, and established, it is very easy, even at a constant uphill of around 2.3km (1.4 miles). All throughout, there are places to rest and observation decks overlooking Seoul. It’s a fantastic half-day trip.

NamSan Park and N Seoul Tower

Regardless of how you get to the top, there are plenty of things to do once you arrive. The area when we visited on the weekend was teeming with people. There are souvenir stores, eateries, a convenience store, and even a drugstore, in the case that you need emergency cosmetics to touch up your sweaty face. There are plenty of platforms from which to take photographs, and thanks to the surprisingly large area it didn’t feel crowded when we visited despite the number of people.

You can also go up the N Seoul Tower, which doubles as an observatory. The admission fee is ₩8,000 (US$6.65) per adult, with plenty of entertainment and other facilities available in the N Seoul Tower. We never took a look in there, but their website has a comprehensive guide of what you can expect.

Seoul is a huge city with plenty of experiences to suit any travel style – if you’re looking for a break from the shopping, the eats, and the sights, there’s no reason not to make the most of the city by taking a nature walk for an entirely different atmosphere. Each is an eclectic mix of greenery and South Korea’s specific flavour of tourism that we recommend you don’t miss.