Hwadam Botanic Garden is a 4-Season Beauty, but Autumn is TRULY Dazzling

As the climate cools, and spectacular autumn leaves start to colour Korea in a vibrant swatch of colour, locals and tourists alike justifiably go a little nuts trying to reserve advance tickets to Hwadam Botanic Garden in Gwangju.

Glorious beauty from the moment you enter Hwadam Botanic Garden.

It’s understandable.

With an adorable monorail, limited daily tickets, and a fall foliage paradise of breathtaking red, orange, and yellow leaves that just has to be seen to be believed – it’s no wonder Hwadam Forest is one of the most sought after autumn attractions near Seoul.

What makes Hwadam Botanic Garden so special?

Since its official opening in 2013, Hwadamsup has delighted visitors with 17 themed gardens, multiple forests, and over 4,300 different species of domestic and exotic flora.

Hwadam means “friendly communication” in Korean.

Established by the LG Evergreen Foundation and nestled within Gwangju’s Konjiam Resort, this expansive garden covers approximately 166,000 square metres of land, and aims to revitalize Korea’s forest eco-system.

In Korean, Hwadam translates to “friendly communication,” strongly reflecting the foundation’s desire to create an arboretum where humanity can engage, connect, and refresh with nature.

I have to say they succeeded… in spades. A day spent at Hwadam Botanic Garden is unparalleled.

There are forests and flowers galore at Hwadam Botanic Garden.

As you wander through Hwadam Botanic Garden at your own comfortable pace, you’ll be totally immersed in a breathtaking forest. From the vibrant maple tree lane to the peaceful bonsai garden to the rainbow of hydrangea, you can’t help but be entranced by the stunning sights around you.

When you get tired, hop on the Hwadam Forest monorail and enjoy the garden from a totally different perspective.

The Hwadam Botanic Garden monorail is a big draw.

If you want to contemplate the garden in stillness, settle yourself next to Lovebirds’ Pond, listen to the ducks, and breathe in the beauty of the majestic scenery around you.

One of the best things about Hwadam Botanic Garden is just how concentrated nature is there. It’s truly a place to heal your mind, heart, and spirit.

Odeng and nature – a lovely combination.

READ NEXT: Autumn in Korea | 48 Wonderful Places to Catch Breathtaking Autumn Leaves in Korea

Best Time to Visit Hwadam Botanic Garden?

There’s something beautiful to see at the garden in every season, but autumn is undeniably the most popular time to visit Hwadam Forest, with spring a close second.

Hwadam Botanic Garden is simply stunning in autumn.

It’s not just because of the comfortable weather and brilliant blue skies. While spring brings cherry blossoms, azaleas, daffodils, and other pretty blooms to the park, autumn fills Hwadam Botanic Garden with an unbelievable mosaic of fall leaves as its maple, birch, oak, and cherry tree forests join chrysanthemum, pink muhly, and silver grass in a symphony of colours.

That doesn’t mean Hwadamsup isn’t worth visiting during summer or winter in Korea too – it just means that the weather can be a little more challenging during these seasons. Dress right for the climate, and you can enjoy water lilies, hydrangea, and fireflies in the heat, and a snowy pine forest in the cold.

Water lilies and lotus only bloom during hot, hot summer.

When is the Autumn Foliage Peak at Hwadam Botanic Garden?

While it’s nearly impossible to predict the fall foliage peak at Hwadam Forest with complete accuracy, I’d aim for the first 10 days of November in Korea for the best possible chance of seeing explosive colour.

To give you an idea, I visited the garden on October 27th. It was spectacular with all the mellow yellows, burnt oranges, and fiery crimsons you’d expect, but… there was also still quite a bit of green around too.

I visited in the last week of October, and there was still plenty of green left to change.

In recent years, summer in Korea has gotten both longer and hotter, so there is a very real chance that fall foliage could show itself even later than usual.

My advice? Keep your eye on the weather and take your best guess. If it were me though, I’d probably try to get tickets for the middle to end of the first week in November.

Hwadam Botanic Garden Advance Tickets for Autumn

Advance tickets for the peak autumn season at Hwadamsup go on sale starting on September 23rd at 1:00pm, on their website. It is not possible for most people to enter the park without an advance ticket.

These are for admission into Hwadam Botanic Garden from October 18th to November 17th, 2024. Within this period, it’s likely that the last week of October and the first week of November will sell out almost immediately.

Hwadam is an autumn hotspot for a reason © Kim Dae-hyeong, Korea Tourism Organization

Some important things to note:

• Advance ticket sales are only available on the Korean language version of their website.
• You must have a Korean phone number in order to receive a security code. You cannot start the booking process without it.
• Each person can purchase a maximum of 6 tickets.
• It’s wise to also purchase your monorail ticket, and entrance to the Hwadamchae at the same time (more details on that further on in this guide)
• You do not need to exchange for paper tickets at the box office. You can enter Hwadam Botanic Garden immediately using the QR code sent to your phone.

If you have an advance ticket, you can enter using your QR code.

On-site Tickets for Foreigners

Despite the notice on their website, it IS possible for foreigners to buy tickets on-site at Hwadam Botanic Garden during this period (I called them to verify). Each person can purchase 1 ticket, with a passport or other proof of foreign citizenship.

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How to get to Hwadam Botanic Garden

Address: 278-1, Docheogwit-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 광주시 도척면 도척윗로 278-1

Hwadamsup is located on the outskirts of Seoul, inside Gwangju City’s Konjiam Resort. It’s not overly complicated to get to Hwadam Botanic Garden from Seoul, but it can be a little time-consuming – particularly if you’re relying on public transit.

Hwadam Botanic Garden is located in Gwangju City, on the outskirts of Seoul.

If you have your own vehicle or have rented a car for your trip, it’s an easy 50-km drive to Hwadam Forest. There are several free parking lots available for customers to use below the garden. Some are closer to the entrance than others, but there are parking attendants on site to direct you to empty spots.

Count on at least a little bit of walking to reach Hwadam Botanic Garden, because the entrance and gardens are actually located on a slope above the parking lots and public transit areas.

Hwadam Botanic Garden is built on a slope.

If the weather is cooperating, there’s a free lift available to take people right up to the entrance gates, but be prepared to wait in line for that. If you can’t be bothered to wait (like us), it’s a 10 minute uphill walk to the entrance.

READ NEXT: 15 Excellent Places to Stay in Myeongdong – Seoul’s MOST Central Neighbourhood

By Bus

There are a few different bus routes available from Seoul to Hwadam Botanic Garden. These are red buses that travel longer routes around the capital region, with a guaranteed seat for every passenger.

If you’re staying on the southeast side of the city, these public buses are a convenient choice, but if you’re staying elsewhere, the subway might be faster. It’s worth checking timing on both options.

The red maples leaves are a few hours bus or train ride away.

Each of these bus routes takes around 90 to 100 minutes to reach Konjiam Terminal, and then a further 30 minutes or so to reach Hwadamsup (if you catch the local bus right away).

End to end, I’d budget at least 2.5 hours each direction to make the trip from Seoul to Hwadam Botanic Garden comfortably.

• From Gangbyeon Station: Bus 1113-1 or 500-2 
• From the Jamsil Metropolitan Transfer Center: Bus 500-1

Once you reach Konjiam Terminal, you can jump on local Gwangju bus number 9, or take a taxi (recommended).

Make sure you have a taxi hailing app set up © Mannyeong Lee (CC BY-ND 2.0)

If you plan to use taxis, make sure to have Kakao T or another ride hailing app set up. These places are located in rural areas, so finding taxis nearby can be a bit challenging at times – particularly in the reverse direction departing from Hwadam Botanic Garden back to Seoul.

By Subway or Train

The closest subway stop to Hwadamsup is Konjiam Station on the Gyeonggang line.

To reach it, you’ll have to take the Shinbundang line from Seoul to Pangyo Station. At Pangyo, transfer to the Gyeonggang line, and get off at Konjiam Station. From here, take a taxi or Gwangju bus number 9 to Hwadam Botanic Garden.

A Gwangju local bus or taxi will get you to Hwadam Forest.

READ NEXT: 14 Awe-Inspiring Golden Ginkgo Tree Roads to See in Korea in Autumn

Via Day Tour from Seoul

I’m all for DIY travel (I’ve visited 61 different countries that way), but some places in Korea are just way easier and more time / cost effective to visit on a day tour that includes round-trip transport.

Gapyeong / Chuncheon attractions like Nami Island and Alpaca World, the DMZ between North and South Korea, and Hwadam Botanic Garden are the ones that come to mind.

Nami Island is best visited on a day tour with other nearby attractions.

Between admission costs, bus tickets, and taxi fares (because you will end up taking a taxi in rural areas – I did), you’ll spend around 40,000 won to get to Hwadam Botanic Garden using public transit… and this does not even consider the time lost in traveling (minimum 5 hours).

Unless you’re on a super strict budget, it’s completely worth it to join an all-inclusive day tour that provides transport to a few more hard to reach attractions in the same area. You’ll find that the cost difference is not that great, once everything is factored in.

The view from the monorail at Hwadamsup is spectacular.

I took a look at the available tour options for Hwadam Botanic Garden, and I think these are the best in terms of value, tour timing, and inclusions.

Hwadamsup + Konjiam Luge + Korean Folk Village: Includes transport from Seoul and all admission fees for attractions. If you were to purchase the admission for the Korean Folk Village a-la carte, it would be 23,800 won alone.

Hwadam Botanic Garden + Nami Island + Gangchon Rail Bike: This tour combines a few of Korean autumn’s most amazing attractions. Purchasing admission tickets separately for Nami Island and Gangchon Rail Bike would cost 43,000 won – never mind transport between all these locations.

The Gangchon Rail Bike is a uniquely Korean experience.

My Personal Experience | Tips for Visiting Hwadam Botanic Garden

There are quite a few things I wish I’d known before visiting Hwadamsup, that would’ve made my experience even better, so I’m passing on my personal tips to you here.

So many pretty photo spots in Hwadam Forest.

There are some pretty strict rules about what you can bring into Hwadam Forest, and there may be random checks of your belongings at the entrance.

There’s a full list of prohibited items and garden etiquette on their website you can check out, but if you do bring something you weren’t supposed to, there are lockers at the entrance where you can store your stuff for the day.

Check garden etiquette before visiting.

How much time do you need for Hwadam Botanic Garden?

While it is possible to see everything at the garden in about 2 hours, as most articles suggest, you’ll have a deeper, more relaxing experience if you have more time. I stayed at Hwadamsup from 10:30 in the morning until about 3:30 in the afternoon, and it definitely wasn’t hard to fill the time.

Between the Hwadamchae, 17 separate themed gardens, the monorail, restaurant, cafe, and various nature-themed workshops (advance sign-up required) – it’s easy to spend an entire day at Hwadam Forest.

The Garden of Memories has installations of traditional life.

What to wear to Hwadam Botanic Garden?

Do not underestimate the impact of the sun while visiting the forest. While there are some shaded areas, I felt like most of the garden was in full sun. Probably something to do with it basically being built on the side of a mountain.

The sun is very strong at Hwadam Forest.

It IS autumn though, so layers are always a good idea. A hat, parasol, or sunglasses would also be helpful for blocking out some glare, and definitely make sure to apply sunscreen. I felt like I was literally roasting at times.

Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are also a necessity at Hwadam Botanic Garden. The park is BIG, and you’ll be walking on a steady incline or decline throughout your day.

Comfortable shoes are essential for a visit to Hwadamsup.

What food and drink options are available at Hwadam Botanic Garden?

There’s a restaurant, cafe, and convenience store at the arboretum, but all of these places are located at the bottom of Hwadam Forest. I recommend bringing some snacks and water with you – especially if you’re traveling with kids.

The food options at the Hidden Tavern restaurant inside Hwadam Botanic Garden are decidedly Korean, but the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) was one of the best I’ve had in Korea.

This haemul pajeon was SO crispy and delicious!

Do NOT be shy about going all ajumma to secure a table there. Seating is limited, and if you don’t act immediately, you’ll be waiting a long time for seats… maybe forever.

There are no drinking fountains scattered around the park, so make sure you’re carrying water with you. There are vending machines available at the Plum Garden entrance, Observatory, Pine Garden, and Bonsai Garden exit if you need to pick something up.

Photography Tips for Hwadam Forest

I found the sun to be exceptionally strong and bright on the day we visited – so much so that half my photos were blown out. Early morning, or late afternoon would provide the most optimal lighting for pictures – but yeah, I’d still expect it to be very bright!

The Love Bridge is a great spot for taking pics of the Monorail.

Make sure your batteries are fully charged, because there are a ton of spectacular photo opportunities at Hwadam Botanic Garden.

Limited Edition Autumn Tours in Korea

These autumn tours only take place for a few months each year, and take you to harder to reach national parks and rural parts of Korea famous for incredible fall foliage.

Baegyangsa Temple is inside Naejangsan National Park © Dodream, Photo Korea

Day Tours from Seoul

• Suwon Hwaseong + Jangtaesan Recreational Forest | September 21st – November 30th, 2024
• Nari Park, Pink Muhly Grass + Dumulmeori  |  September 23rd – October 18th, 2024
• Wondae-ri Birch Forest + Seasonal Flower Festival | September 25th – November 15th, 2024
• Seoraksan (Osaek Autumn Foliage) + Nami & Garden of Morning Calm OR Alpaca World  |  October 2nd – November 29th, 2024
• Seoraksan National Park Hiking Tour (Private or Join-in | no set dates, recommend booking in the last 2 weeks of October
• Alpaca World + Hongcheon Ginkgo Tree Forest  | October 8th – 18th, 2024
• Hwadam Botanic Garden + Namhansanseong Fortress (UNESCO)  |  October 15th – November 5th, 2024
• Seoraksan National Park with Cable Car Day Tour from Seoul | October 15th – November 8th, 2024
• Seoul City Autumn Tour (Gamaksan, Eunpyeong Hanok Village, Haneul Park + Jingwansa)  |  October 16th – November 24th, 2024
• Jangtaesan and Jeonju Hanok Village Day Tour from Seoul | October 28th – November 22nd, 2024
• Classic Naejangsan National Park Tour |   October 25th – November 15th, 2024
• Naejangsan National Park + Jeonju Hanok Village from Seoul  |  November 1st – 13th, 2024

Gyeongju is spectacularly beautiful in autumn © Soni Aditya Prakash, Photo Korea

Day Tours from Busan

• Jirisan National Park Autumn Tour | October 21st – November 4th, 2024
• Bulguksa Temple and Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil Autumn Tour | October 24th – November 12th, 2024
• Naejangsan National Park Autumn Foliage Tour | October 25th – November 10th, 2024
• Naejangsan Autumn Tour with Transfer from Seoul to Busan | October 25th – November 11th, 2024
• Gyeongju Autumn Foliage One Day Tour | October 28th – November 15th, 2024

Pink muhly can only be seen in autumn © Anjinho Film, Photo Korea

If your autumn dreams include clouds of cotton candy pink, here’s a few places to see pink muhly in Korea during autumn. Most of the pink muhly was removed from Seoul last year, so you’ll have to travel a bit further out of the city to see it.

• Yangju Nari Park, Nami Island, and Gangchon Rail Bike Tour
• Herb Island Pink Muhly Festival and Pocheon Seasonal Attractions
• Jeju Autumn Highlights and Pink Muhly Tour
• Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage One Day Tour from Busan (book in October)

How much are Hwadam Botanic Garden Tickets?

The general admission fees for Hwadamsup are very reasonable and vary by season. It’s mostly very straightforward, but useful to know that the monorail is included in your ticket if you visit in winter.

Persimmons are a sign of autumn in Korea.

Autumn, Spring, and Summer

In autumn, spring, and summer, the admission ticket DOES NOT include the monorail. If you want to ride it, you’ll need to purchase a separate monorail ticket.

The admission fee for Hwadam Botanic Garden is as follows:

• Adults: 11,000 won
• Youth (middle and high school students) and Seniors: 9,000 won
• Children (24 months and elementary school students): 7,000 won
• 24 months and under: free

You’ll have to purchase your monorail ticket separately in autumn, spring, and summer.

READ NEXT: The 14 Best Places to See Breathtaking Autumn Leaves in Seoul

Winter

In the quieter winter season, the monorail ticket is included in the admission fee, but the entire track may not be operating. It depends a lot on weather conditions at the time.

Snow makes a winter wonderland in Seoul from time to time.

Winter admission ticket costs are as follows:

• Adults, Seniors, and Youth (middle and high school students): 10,000 won
• Children (24 months and Elementary School students): 8,000 won
• 24 months and under: free

READ NEXT: Vivaldi Park Snowy Land Guide | The Best Sled Park near Seoul for Winter

Hwadam Botanic Garden Monorails

In spring, the Hwadamsup monorail winds through a romantic canopy of pink cherry blossoms, and in Korean autumn, you’ll find yourself immersed in a fall foliage wonderland.

It’s not at all surprising that a ride on the super-cute monorail is a must-do experience at Hwadam Forest. It IS a little confusing though, so I’ll try to explain what’s involved as clearly as I can.

The monorail travels right through autumn leaves.

There are 3 separate platforms, and 3 separate routes available on the Hwadam Botanic Garden monorail.

Platform 1 to Platform 2 passes through the Moss Garden, Azalea Road, and Birch Forest. The entire ride takes about 5 minutes, and costs 5,000 won for adults, seniors, and youth. Children pay 4,000 won, and infants under 24 months old are free.

Platform 1 to Platform 3 is a longer route that takes around 10 minutes to complete. It continues from Platform 2 through the Fern Garden, and stops next to the Pine Garden. This one costs 7,000 won for adults, seniors, and youth, and 6,000 won for children.

The Hwadamsup monorail is a must-do!

The final monorail option is a full circuit of Hwadam Botanic Garden, that goes from Platform 1 to Platform 1 in 20 minutes. On this route, you’d also pass by the Stone Garden, Bonsai Garden, Traditional Wall Road, and Hibiscus Garden.

Adults, seniors and youth pay 9,000 won, while children pay 7,000 won.

Tips for using the Hwadam Botanic Garden Monorail

The garden is built on an ascending slope, so the most important thing to know about the Hwadam Forest monorail is that Platform 1 is at the bottom of the park, and Platforms 2 and 3 are at the top of the garden.

The entire garden is built on a gradual incline.

I recommend choosing the monorail route from Platform 1 to either Platform 2 or 3. This allows you to explore the gardens on your way down the slope, not up.

How to buy Hwadamsup Monorail tickets?

When I went to Hwadam Botanic Garden, I didn’t book the monorail in advance. BIG MISTAKE.

I ended up grabbing monorail tickets at one of the kiosks on-site, but I had to grab whatever remaining seats were left. It wasn’t the ideal route departing from Platform 1, and ending at one of the upper platforms, AND it ended up being right in the middle of my time at Hwadam Forest.

View from the top of Hwadam Botanic Garden.

To be very honest, I can’t really remember what my exact route was – but I do remember backtracking up and down the hill, in order to see all the different gardens on foot. Even though the slopes are gentle, Hwadam Botanic Garden is quite large. I was definitely feeling it by the end of the day.

If it is all within your power to book your monorail tickets at Hwadam Forest in advance, DO IT – especially during busy seasons like autumn and spring. The best routes and times sell out every single day. Booking in advance gives you the flexibility to plan your day at the garden perfectly.

You’ll see the monorail everywhere you go.

Unfortunately, it’s not actually possible for international travelers to purchase advance tickets online for Hwadamsup, the monorail, or the Hwadamchae because you need a Korean phone number in order to do so. In fact – the option doesn’t even show up on the english language version of their website.

Yes, I know. It is extremely frustrating. Regardless, I still recommend buying tickets on-site for whatever route is available if you can. That monorail is just too adorable.

Too cute not to ride.

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Hwadam Botanic Garden is a magnificent autumn hotspot. Are you going?