hidden-gem-travel: PUBLIC SPACES. SEOUL

Finding peace in public spaces and parks to escape the loud congested street noise of Seoul
GREENERY IN A CONCRETE CITY. FINDING SOLITUDE IN A CITY OF MILLIONS. NATURE WALKS. PICNICS.
1. Seonyudo Park: A former water treatment center in Seonyu Island on Han River transformed into a thriving diverse ecosystem park.
* Hours:
- 06:00 - 24:00 (Exhibit Hall: Summer Time 09:00 - 18:00/ Winter Time 09:00 - 17:00)
* Getting there:
- Take subway line 2 to Dangsan Station and go out of Exit # 1 >> Take bus #605, 6623, 6631, 6632, 6633 and get off at Hanshin Apt. >> Cross over Seonyudo Bridge
OR
- Take subway line 2 or 6 to Hapjeong Station, Exit # 8) >> Take bus #604, 5712, 6712, 6716 and get off at Hanshin Apt. >> Cross over Seonyudo Bridge

2. Namsan Park: Hannam District Botanical Garden.
* Web: http://parks.seoul.go.kr
* Namsan Botanical Garden is open all year, with free entrance fee and located across the street from Hyatt Hotel
* Getting there:
- Taxi: Hyatt Hotel, Yong-san.
- Bus: Subway Seoul station exit #4, take the highway blue bus 402 or local bus (smaller bus) 0014. Get off at Hyatt hotel
- Local green bus 003: from Yongsan Station (Line 1), walk to E-Mart Store. Across the street. Turn left. Keeping walking til you see a booth island at E-mart parking ramp, turn right (You might see a well dressed female in the booth greeting the customers). Look for the bus stop (just around the corner) on your right. *Samgatchi Station (Line 4): Exit 1. Walk to the 1st stop sign and look behind for 2nd bus stop sign. or *Noksapyeong Station (line 6) Exit 1: Past the bus stop. Look for a staircase leading to the underground pedestrian bridge. Across the street. Look for a bus stop sign. Hyatt Hotel is the last stop.
- Hangangjin Station (line 6): Exit 2 then take bus #0014 and get off at Hyatt Hotel (Bus comes every 10 minutes / takes about 10 minutes)

3. Cheonggyecheon Stream: Once a neglected polluted stream, it has been revitalized as a walk-way path through the downtown of Seoul.
* Getting there:
- Subway Line 1: City Hall Station, Jonggak Station, Jongno 3-ga Station, Jongno 5-ga Station, Dongdaemun Station, Sinseoldong Station
- Line 2: Euljiro 1-ga Station, Euljiro 3-ga Station, Euljiro 4-ga Station, Sindang Station, Sangwangsibni Station
- Line 3: Jongno 3-ga Station
- Line 4: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station
- Line 5: Gwanghwamun Station
- Exit towards Cheonggyecheon Stream
* I recommend the starting point at City Hall Station (Line 2)
* Best enjoyed in the evenings. Avoid during festivals or other events held in downtown
* Web & Tour info: http://english.sisul.or.kr

4. Yeouido Park: Although overcrowded, highly recommended during early spring for the celebration of Cherry Blossoms on Yunjunro Street stretching 6kms, behind the National Assembly Building.
* Getting there:
- Taxi: Yoi-e-dow Gong-wan (as in magic "wand" but no "d")
- From Exit # 1 of Yeouinaru Subway Station (Subway Line 5):
walk 10 minutes towards SBS TV Station.
- From Exit # 3 of Yeouido Subway Station (Subway Line 5), walk 5 minutes
towards the National Assembly building.

Worthy mentions located just outside of Seoul:
5. Bok-hansan: Mountain national park just North of Seoul. Streams, Buddhist temples, giant rock formation statues, and a great aerial view of Seoul. Many trails offered. Some can take you all the way to the top for about 7-9 hours of hike.
* Web: english.knps.or.kr
* Getting there:
- Dobong Area: At Exit # 2 of Dobong Subway Station (Line 1) walk 15-20 minutes or take bus # 141. (5 minute intervals/ 10 minute ride)
- Bukhansan Fortress: At Exit # 1 of Gupabal Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) take Bus # 704. and get off at the entrance of Bukhansan Fortress. (10 minute intervals, 20 minute ride)
- Ui Area : At Exit # 3 of Suyu Subway Station.(Subway Line 4) take City Bus # 130, 1217, 170. Get off at the Doseonsa Temple at Ui-dong. (10 minute intervals)

Buddha statues at Choenchuksa Temple

6. Hwaseong Fortress: A fortress 30 km South of Seoul in the city of Suwon which was built during the late 18th century in remembrance of murdered Crown Prince Sado. It is one of the best well preserved fortresses in South Korea and has been declared as an Unesco Heritage Site.
* Web: http://ehs.suwon.ne.kr/ (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
* Activity Information:
- Traditional Archery: 5 arrows = 1,000won (additional 5 arrows = 1,000won / max 20 arrows)
* Operating Hours:
- Summer season 09:00 - 18:00 / Winter season 09:00 - 17:00
* Admission Fees:
- Adults 1,000 won ($1.00) / Youth 700 won / Children 500 won
- Group (over 30 people) - Adults 700 won / Youth 500 won / Children 300 won
* Getting there:
- From Yongsan Station in central Seoul (line 1): Ask the Information Desk about how to get on the faster subway train to Suwon Station (Line 1). Then take city bus No. 2, 7, 7-2, 8, or 13 and get off at Jongno 4-geori (intersection). Walk 5 min.
- Bus: The following options may be a bit more challenging if you are not familiar with the Seoul bus transit system.
1)Suwon~Jamsil:
Take bus No. 1007 from Suwon Station, Whaseo-mun,Kyunggi province police agency,
Suseo Station, Jamsil Station, Seokchon Station or Garak market and get off at Jongno.
2)Suwon~Kangnam,Yangjae:
Take bus No.3000 from Suwon Station, paldal-mun, Jangan-mun, Hanil town, Pajang-dong, Yangjae Station or Kangnam Station and get off at Jongno.