The Hangang River, a piece of nature within the city, is a popular recreational area for Seoulites. There are a total of 11 Hangang Parks along the river, making it an ideal place for a picnic, as well as other activities such as watching the fountain show. Why not spend a day like a local and enjoy everything by the river?

1. Go on a Picnic

#hangang park picnic

Popular picnic spot (Credit: Getty Images Bank)

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  You can use tents within the park (Credit: Getty Images Bank)

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  Picnic foods (Credit: Korea Tourism Organization)

The Hangang River is a representative picnic spot in Seoul. There are many rental shops that offer tents, mats, tables, speakers and more, so you don’t have to prepare too much in advance. Convenience stores within the park also offer picnic essentials for sale. You can freely use picnic mats in the parks. Small sunshade tents (up to 2mX2m) are allowed in 14 designated areas. You can set up tents between 9:00 to 19:00 from April to May and September to October, and between 9:00 to 20:00 from June to August.

#picnic on the water

Tubester (Credit (left): Travel Leader 13^th Lee Song-eun)

Enjoy a special picnic on the water on a Tubester at Some Sevit in Banpo Hangang Park. A Tubester is a circular boat which you can steer it yourself in an exclusive zone for maximum fun. There is a table inside the Tubester for a cozy picnic, but no alcohol is allowed.

BBQ on a boat with a view of the river

Enjoy a BBQ on the Hangang River at Nanji Hangang Park, Mangwon Hangang Park or Yanghwa Hangang Park. If you order a set menu, you can get your choice of beef or pork with various side dishes, grilled skewer ingredients, and bottled water and you can grill the meat over charcoal on your own. Enjoy a delicious meal with an unhindered view of the river in daytime and a beautiful sunset and nightscape scenery during nighttime.

#must-eats at hangang

Chimac (chicken and beer)

One of Koreans’ favorite combos, chicken and beer is a must-eat menu for an ideal picnic at a Hangang Park. You can find various chicken franchise within Hangang parks for a quick pick-up. Ordering a boneless chicken will make cleaning up after easier as all you need is a fork for to enjoy the savory taste.

Instant ramyeon

Instant ramyeon is another must-eat at a Hangang Park. It is easy to find ramyeon anywhere in Korea, but the clear view of the river makes the meal all the more special. A special ramyeon cooking machine makes cooking ramyeon in Hangang Park even more unique. The instructions with pictures are easy follow, so be sure to try this tasty meal.

2. Fun Activities Await

#bike ride

Bike trail along the river makes it easy for anyone to go on a fun bike ride. There are many bike rental shops within the Hangang Parks. Just put your ID or passport on deposit and rent your choice of bike, available in single, double, or kids-friendly seats.

Seoul Bike Ddareungi (Credit Left: Clip Art Korea)

Ddareungi or Ttareungyi, a public bike rental offered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, can be rented and returned using a mobile application. An exclusive foreigner rate is available on the official website where travelers can purchase the ticket online and use it in any of the rental shops.

#water sports

Activities to cool off the summer heat is always welcoming. To experience various water activities, head to Jamwon Hangang Park. Water sports including waterskiing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, and windsurfing as well as other activities such as banana boats and peanut boats are available with lessons for beginners. Ttukseom Hangang Park also offers paddle board, windsurf and kayak rentals. If you’d prefer a yacht tour, head to Banpo Hangang Park or Yeouido Hangang Park.

The Hangang Park outdoor swimming pools located in the city are not only easy to get to, but also affordable. Currently, there are three outdoor swimming pools (Yeouido, Ttukseom, Jamwon) and three water playgrounds (Nanji, Yanghwa, Jamsil) that offer their own unique theme and atmosphere. Yeouido outdoor swimming pool is the representative pool of Hangang Park with a capacity of 3,600 people, while Ttukseom outdoor swimming pool offers a lazy river pool. Nanji water playground has an infinity pool designed to look as if it’s connected to the Hangang River. Swimming pools and water playgrounds only operate during summer season, with pools open at night from mid-July.

3. Wrap it up with a Night Tour

#moonlight rainbow fountain

Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

The most well-known nightscape spot among the many Hangang Parks is the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain by Banpodaegyo Bridge. The colorfully lit water dancing to fun music will leave spectators in awe. The fountain nozzles are installed in a row on a 1,140 meter-long bridge and was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's longest bridge fountain in 2008.

#hangang cruise

Nightscape view from the cruise (Credit: E-land Cruise)

The view of Seoul on a cruise is a sight to behold. There are three main options available: Sunset Cruise, for viewing sunset that colors Seoul in a hue of red; Starlight Cruise, for soaking up the evening atmosphere by the river; and Moonlight Music Cruise, where you can enjoy the nightscape with live music. Cafeteria within the cruise provides food and drinks for sale for those looking for a grub. You can get on the cruise at the dock within Yeouido Hangang Park or Jamsil Hangang Park.

* This column was last updated in March 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.