A hidden gem, the National Institute of Forest Science opens its idyllic grounds to the public on weekends. A forest pathway winds for a few kilometres between rare trees and herb gardens. A mound at the rear was once a royal tomb like Yeonghwiwon and Sunginwon nearby, but it was moved in 1919.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Yeonghwiwon and Sunginwon

0.28 MILES

Set in a tranquil, well-tended plot, this pair of royal burial mounds dates to the very end of the Joseon dynasty. Yeonghwiwon, the larger of the two, is…

2. Seoul K-Medi Center

0.86 MILES

Learn about the history and practice of traditional Korean medicine at this impressive facility styled to resemble Bojewon, a clinic from the early Joseon…

3. Cheong-gye-cheon Cardboard House

1.47 MILES

This 'cardboard' slum house, typical of the wooden shacks that lined the Cheong-gye-cheon after the Korean War, has been preserved to give a sense of life…

4. Cheong-gye-cheon Museum

1.48 MILES

To fully comprehend what a mammoth and expensive effort it was to resurrect Cheong-gye-cheon, Seoul’s long buried east–west stream, pay a visit to this…

5. Naksan Park

2.05 MILES

The lofty slopes above Daehangno offer fantastic city views and contain an impressive section of the Seoul City Wall, which you can follow in either…

6. Hyehwamun

2.11 MILES

One of the 'four small gates' of the Seoul City Wall, Hyehwamun is also known as Dongsomun (literally 'small east gate'). Originally built in 1396, it was…

7. Hanyangdoseong Exhibition Hall

2.14 MILES

Adjacent to Hyehwamun, this former home of various mayors of Seoul was built in 1941 directly on top of the Seoul City Wall. It's now a Wall museum with a…

8. Ihwa Mural Village

2.15 MILES

High on the slopes of Naksan is one of the city's old daldongnae (literally ‘moon villages’) where refugees lived in shacks after the Korean War. Sixty…