Seoul Grand Park & Gwacheon Science Museum with Kids: One-Day Plan (Last Year of the Sky Lift)

Just south of Seoul, Gwacheon has a big zoo, a lakeside park and Korea's National Science Museum, all on Subway Line 4. It's an easy family day out, and 2026 is the last year of Seoul Grand Park's sky lift before gondola construction begins.

Quick facts

• Getting there: Line 4 to Seoul Grand Park Station (zoo) or Seoul Racecourse Park/Gwacheon Science Museum Station
• Zoo hours (Nov–Feb): 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, open every day
• Science museum: closed Mondays

1. Seoul Grand Park Zoo

Go in the morning; winter hours end at 5 PM.

• Tickets: adults 5,000 won, teens 3,000 won, children (6–12) 2,000 won, 5 and under free
• Address: 102 Daegongwongwangjang-ro, Gwacheon (Korean: 경기 과천시 대공원광장로 102)
• Families: stroller and electric wagon rental inside, plus baby rooms with nursing and changing facilities
• Rain plan: the botanical greenhouse, 10:00–17:00

2. Sky lift or elephant train?

It's a long walk from the parking lot to the zoo gate. Most families ride the little "elephant train" (one way: adults 2,000 won, kids 1,500 won from 36 months) or the sky lift over the autumn trees (adults about 9,000 won, children 5,000 won). The lift is scheduled to stop at the end of 2026; the exact final date hasn't been announced.

3. November events

• Autumn festival, Nov 7–8: outdoor art, a children's drawing contest, woodworking and performances.
• Ape house talks, Saturdays in November: free guided talks; reserve on yeyak.seoul.go.kr
• Lake trail: a 2.8 km loop (about an hour) famous for autumn leaves, which peak late October to early November.

4. Gwacheon National Science Museum

• Main halls: adults 4,000 won, ages 7–19 2,000 won, under 7 free
• Hours: 09:30–17:30 (tickets until 16:30); closed Mondays
• Address: 110 Sanggyeonggwa-ro, Gwacheon (Korean: 경기 과천시 상경과로 110)
• Toddler zone: for preschoolers, online booking required and slots go fast

If it's too crowded, the MMCA Gwacheon Children's Museum next door is free (closed Mondays).

Where to eat

Bongdeok Kalguksu near the park's parking exit serves mushroom shabu noodle soup for about 12,000 won and has parking. Inside the zoo there are snack bars too.

A one-day plan

1. 09:30 Arrive, lift or elephant train up to the zoo
2. 12:00 Lunch
3. 13:30 Science museum (stop here if the kids are tired)
4. 16:00 Head back before rush hour

Tips for foreign travelers

• Line 4 runs straight from Myeongdong and Seoul Station, about 40 minutes.
• Seoul's public reservation site (yeyak.seoul.go.kr) works best in Korean; your hotel can help.
• Bring snacks; queues at the zoo's food stands are long at noon.

Summary

Morning zoo, lunch, afternoon science museum: that's the classic Gwacheon family day. Go early because the zoo closes at 5 PM in winter, and ride the sky lift while you still can.