For children in Korea, May 5 is a day that’s longingly anticipated every year as it’s Children’s Day, when the day is all about them. On this day, families will take their kids to amusement parks, zoos, museums, and other venues popular with kids. Of course, the options of things to do and see for families isn’t limited to only this day though as Seoul offers a number of family-friendly sites and activities so here are a few ideas.

Amusement parks are beloved by children all over the world and Seoul’s representative park within city limits is Lotte World in Seoul’s Jamsil neighborhood. In addition to amusement park rides of varying thrill levels, the enormous complex also includes an indoor ice skating rink, shops, and various shows and parades throughout the day. The range of activities makes it a popular choice for families with kids of all ages. And, as a tip, if you want to enjoy the park for a shorter period of time, there’s usually a discounted fare for admission after 4 PM.
Did you also know that Seoul has a park dedicated entirely to children? The Seoul Children’s Grand Park encompasses a huge area which contains within it a zoo, a small amusement park, a botanical garden, performance areas, and more. Best of all, most of the park, zoo, and gardens are free while certain activities and areas charge a small admission fee.
When it comes to museums, the Children’s Museum of the National Museum of Korea and the Children’s Folk Museum within the National Folk Museum of Korea (inside Gyeongbokgung Palace) have interactive and other exhibits that should appeal to children. These museums are free but the Children’s Museum of the National Museum requires advance reservation online. The Seodaemun Museum of Natural History is also great to take with kids to learn about the earth, ancient animals, and more.
For museums that are a bit different, check out the Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae or the Alive Museum in Insadong. Both feature lively and whimsical 3D pictures that can be posed with for amusing and memorable pictures. The Grevin Museum in Euljiro is the French wax museum’s first branch in Asia and the various life-like celebrities one can pose with in creative settings makes for a fun visit as well.

The Namsan Cable Car makes for a memorable family excursion, especially on clear days as the cable car ride up will provide some spectacular views of Seoul. At the top, one can explore around the N Seoul Tower which holds an observation deck, restaurants, and a few shops. Not too far away from the tower, the Namsangol Hanok Village is extremely popular as it offers visitors a look at Korea’s past. The cluster of traditional Korean homes is not only beautiful to walk around in but the village often features a range of activities to partake in such as archery, calligraphy, traditional Korean games.

Taking a ferry cruise on the Han River is also quite popular. If you take the complete Yeouido to Banpo roundtrip between April-October you may be able to catch the Banpo Rainbow Bridge Fountain Show which is certified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain. There are also three major aquariums in Seoul- one at Coex, another at the 63 building in Yeouido, and another in the newly constructed Lotte World Tower. The Lotte World Tower, at 123 floors and 555-meter tall, is not only Korea’s tallest building but contains shops, restaurants, and Lotte Cinema, which has one of the world’s biggest movie screens.

Finally, for neighborhoods to take the family around, Myeongdong, Insadong, and Dongdaemun make for popular places to shop, eat, and explore. These areas also contains a number of theaters that are popular with visitors for their various comic and/or acrobatic non-verbal performances such as Nanta, Jump, Original Drawing Show, and Bibap.