Seoul’s first urban style botanical garden.

In Korea, just because there’s inclement weather or poor air quality doesn’t mean you have to cancel your plans for a fun day out.

Seoul Botanical Park (SBP) is just one of many great places to visit when the weather is bad or when you want to escape into the wonders of nature without leaving the city.
Touted as Seoul’s first urban style botanical garden, has been open for a little more than a year and is about a 15-minute drive from Gimpo Airport.

In the sprawling garden, which is roughly the size of 70 soccer fields, visitors can see over 3,000 different plants and flowers, including rare orchids and trees from all over the world. Inside, the greenhouse incorporates a forest field, a pond, and a wetland, making for an incredible leisurely walk.

Magok Cultural Hall
begin your leisurely stroll through the wetlands. and  took a bus to the Mogok Leports Center bus stop to get here. As you circled the pond, you could hear birds chirping and see a lot of green.  take the glass elevator to the observatory deck, where you will be treated to a stunning panoramic view of the Han River.

Magok Cultural Center
On your way to the expansive greenhouse, stop at the Magok Cultural Hall, a repurposed 1928 building. This black Japanese-style wooden structure served as a drainage pump station for the adjacent grassy field. Today, it has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind exhibition room where you can learn about the area’s history and see one-of-a-kind art displays.

 look through the gallery’s digital artwork created by well-known media artists. Pull on the heavy sliding door outside the hall to enter. Although it appears to be closed, try the door first.

Library of Seeds
Before heading down to the first basement, which leads to the main greenhouse’s entrance, stop by the Seed Library, where you’ll find a variety of seeds native to the Korean peninsula on display. You can also borrow plant seeds from the helpdesk during the week. I chose sunflower seeds, which I will plant behind my house.

Even if returning replacement seeds from the ones you sowed is not required, if you have a good circulation record, the library will allow you to take more seeds from a wider variety.

Green House

The giant greenhouse at the botanical park is divided into two sections: tropical and Mediterranean zones. Both have distinct temperatures and atmospheres. Visitors are greeted by artificial rocks and a waterfall as they enter the tropical zone. In this section’s artificial cave, staghorn ferns native to Australia grow upside down. Don’t miss this picturesque section with its plethora of florals and orchid varieties in a rainbow of colors.

Another must-see in this zone is the Bodhi tree, which is identical to the Tree of Awakening, which is known for being the type of tree Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, sat under when he attained spiritual enlightenment. The Bodhi tree produces a cluster of edible fruit trees such as guava, mangosteen, and banana. A large Baobab tree can also be found here, which serves as a central point in “Le Petit Prince,” a popular French children’s book.

quickly entered the Mediterranean zone after passing through an automatic door at the end of the path. Once inside, I noticed that both zones have a distinct scent in addition to their distinct appearance. I saw various types of cactus and other plants native to the Mediterranean and desert areas of the United States. At the end of the path, I came across Lithops, a type of succulent also known as “living stone plants” due to their lack of resemblance to plants.

From here, took the stairs to another highlight of the greenhouse— the Skywalk across the tropical zone. This vantage point gave me a sweeping view of the immense tropical forest.

From tiny beautiful flowers to tropical trees, there is something great around every corner in this botanical garden. The park also has a goal to grow their number of plant species to 8,000 by 2028. So, make your escape from the concrete jungle and head into the botanical garden for some fresh air, greenery and wonders from around the world all in one place.

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