If Seoul Forest wasn’t already one of my favorite places in the city, the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show cemented it. Thanks to the months long event, there are shops, events, and 167 custom-designed garden spaces. That’s 167 more reasons to visit one of the most popular places in Seoul.
For the next six months, Seoul Forest and the surrounding Seongsu area have been transformed into a giant open-air garden filled with flowers, art installations, design exhibits, and some of the most peaceful corners you’ll find in Seoul right now. If you’re looking for those romantic picturesque k-drama vibes, this is definitely it.
The Seoul International Garden Show (서울 국제 정원 박람회) is an annual event where world-renowned landscape designers, local artists, companies, students, and citizens create themed gardens that are open to the public. The 2026 theme is “Seoul Flow (서울류), ” highlighting the movement of nature, culture, and everyday life through the city. I find this to be perfect seeing how this year’s event is not only the biggest and longest in the show’s history, with 167 gardens, but also that it is spread across Seoul Forest, the Han River, Seongsu, and even the Konkuk University area.
Of course my favorite and one of the most popular themed gardens would have to be the Pokemon Secret Forest. It honestly feels like somebody took a Pokémon Safari Zone, dropped it into the middle of Seoul. This garden transforms the park into a giant outdoor Pokémon world filled with themed paths, hidden character spots, giant Pikachu displays, an Eevee tunnel, freebies, exclusive merch, and enough cute scenery to completely take over your camera feed. Entry is completely free, but it does require a reservation. Check out my Pokémon Secret Forest Guide for all the details.
In addition to the stunning gardens, there are also cute market places to enjoy like the Garden Book Market where you can find indie authors and artists selling and promoting their books and handmade goods. I also came across the Seoul Local Market where I ran into a boys high school gardening club selling plants they had grown along with some freeze dried fruit. Long story short, I went home with a new basil plant and some freeze dried melon to snack on as I walked around.
The Garden show also hosts a variety of events, performances, experiences and even docent tours throughout the week, so I would highly recommend checking out their event calendar if you want to make the most out of your visit. Or if you’re looking for a more low key experience, this is a great place to have a picnic or grab a cup of coffee and just chill out. There are so many cool spaces to just sit, relax and enjoy the day from. Which ever you choose, you’re bound to have a unique experience.
- 🗓 May 1 ~ October 27, 2026
- ⏰️ Gardens are open all day; most programs run from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- 📍 Seoul Forest (Naver Map, Google Map)
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