Listed as one of our must-visit spots to visit when in Suncheon, Suncheonman Bay National Garden is not only home to the 2023 Suncheon International Garden Expo, but it’s also one of the most well-known gardens in South Korea.
2023 Suncheon International Garden Expo
Happening from April 1st to October 31st this year, the Suncheonman Bay National Garden will have various attractions located within its premises where you can see a variety of flower species and trees.
Getting to Suncheonman Bay National Garden
Suncheon is quite an easy city to reach thanks to the KTX, and the gardens aren’t far away from the station.
From the station, you can take Buses 52, 66 or 200, which will bring you to the West Gate. Alternatively, you can take a taxi and the journey takes roughly 10 mins.
There’s also a new mode of transportation known as the Garden Dream Cruise, which are ferry boats that can carry up to 12 passengers each. The starting point is at Dongcheon, a 5-min walk away from Suncheon KTX Station, happening at 10-min intervals.
What To See At Suncheonman Bay National Garden
The garden is split into two main sections, the West Garden and the East Garden, with three different gates allowing entry into the gardens. Entry into the gardens is ticketed, so make sure to purchase one at the counters or online via Interpark.
An adult ticket costs 15,000won, and tickets for youths aged 13 to 18 are priced at 12,000won while a ticket for children aged 7 to 12 is priced at 8,000won.
Ocheon Green Park
Before entering the gardens, spend some time at the Ocheon Green Park which is designed to prevent massive flooding thanks to all-season grass and reservoir. The garden is also where the ‘Green Island’ is, which used to be a once-busy asphalt road but is now an area filled with greenery. You can even spot the old road lamps!
There’s a Dream Bridge connecting both the West and East gardens and a Sky Cube, which is a cute monorail that will bring you all the way to the Suncheonman Wetland Area.
East Garden
The East Garden is made up of several iconic gardens, such as the Botanical Garden and Secret Garden which are futuristic gardens with cutting-edge technology.
There are also gardens themed after different countries, such as the Mexico Garden, French Garden, and Dutch Garden.
The Dutch Garden is pretty popular among tourists because it features a windmill that resembles the Netherlands. In Spring, it is also populated with various colored tulips, which makes it a popular photo spot.
There is also a Korean Medicine Experience Center, where you’ll find several traditional hanoks, and an area where you can try out traditional Korean games. If you’re tired from walking around, this is also where you can get a Korean traditional medicine footbath, where they’ll serve a warm cup of Ssanghwa-tea for you to enjoy as well.
One of the main highlights here is also the Lake Garden which is home to Bonghwa Hill, a circular hill that you can walk up. From afar, the hill reminded us of an anthill, which was a pretty cute sight.
If you’re up for something more unique, there’s also a Garden Stay available in Suncheonman Bay National Garden. Located right beside the metasequoia trees, the Garden Stay features aesthetic cabins that will make you feel like you’re glamping.
West Garden
Crossing the dream bridge back to the west garden will bring you to attractions such as the Suncheonman WWT Wetland and a Korean traditional garden. This is also the area where we encountered the most birds!
The west garden is also home to the sky cube, which transports visitors to the Suncheonman Wetland area.
A Trip To Suncheon
If you ever find yourself near Suncheon, visiting the Suncheonman Bay National Garden and Wetland Area will make a great day trip. For more things to do in Suncheon, check out this article.
To find out more about Korea. travel, the Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore) is having a Korea Travel Fair 2023 at Our Tampines Hub from 12 to 14 May 2023, where you can enjoy various performances, discover new attractions, and travel experiences! Psst, Lee Do Hyun will be dropping by on the 13th!
Suncheonman Bay National Garden
47 Gukgajeongwon 1-ho gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
전남 순천시 국가정원1호길 47
Mon-Sun, 9am-9pm, Last Tickets 8pm
*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore).
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