The Dazzling Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain | Schedule + Directions [Updated 2022]

At last count, there were 27 bridges spanning the mighty Han River in Seoul’s capital area. Banpo Bridge is the most famous.. and not just in Korea.

Photo by 서울특별시 소방재난본부 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Why, you may ask? Well, attached to the edges of the bridge is the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain. It’s THE longest bridge fountain in the entire world, and a brilliant spectacle to see, particularly on warm summer evenings. Best of all, it’s free!

Banpo Bridge Facts | 반포대교

Banpo Bridge is the top half of the first double-decker bridge ever built in Korea. It was completed 40 years ago, back in 1982.

You’ll also hear Banpo Bridge referred to as Banpodaegyo Bridge. They are one and the same, so don’t get too confused by this. It’s because the phonetic translation of the Korean 반포대교, is Banpodaegyo. This is actually a total misnomer, since 반포 = Banpo and 대교 already means big bridge, but it’s widely accepted anyway.

Jamsugyo is often under water during Korea’s monsoon season.

Jamsugyo | 잠수교

The bottom half is called Jamsu Bridge, and it was specifically designed to be under water. In fact, the Korean 잠수교, actually means submerged bridge. When rainfall is high during monsoon season, you can count on Jamsugyo disappearing completely from view underwater.

The bottom half of Banpo Bridge is called Jamsugyo.

Try taking a stroll across Jamsugyo during dry periods for unique views of the east and west sides of the city, with the waters of the Han River as your soundtrack.

READ NEXT: Complete Guide to Visiting Banpo Hangang Park

Which side of Banpo Bridge should I visit?

Banpo Bridge is located almost exactly in the centre of Seoul, and connects the districts of Seocho in the south, to Yongsan in the north.

Access to the Some Sevit floating islands is on the south end of Banpo Bridge

The south end is definitely where most of the action is. There’s green space for picnicking, places to sit and watch the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show, and access to the Some Sevit Floating Islands.

On weekends, in the warmer months, you can explore the Bamdokkaebi Night Market with its food trucks and unique shopping stalls. You can also enjoy views of Namsan Mountain and N Seoul Tower from the south side.

The Bamdokkaebi Night Market is on the south end of Banpo Bridge.

The north side of Banpo Bridge is less developed, however you can still find bike paths, workout stations, and some green spaces.

The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain | 반포대교 무지개 분수

There’s a lot to do at Banpo Bridge, but one of the most well known attractions in the city and around the world, is the Rainbow Fountain show. Running for a total length of 570 metres on both sides, this is the longest bridge fountain in the entire world.

The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain is the longest bridge fountain in the world

During the show, 380 nozzles suction water up from the Han River below and spray them out into a sparkling show of music and movement. A whopping 60 tons of water is used for every single minute that the Rainbow Fountain is operating.

The spray cascades outwards for an incredible 43 metres, before falling 20 metres back down into the river.

60 tons of water is used every minute during the show

You can catch the fountain show during both the day and night, but it’s definitely better after the sun goes down. At night, the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain is illuminated by a rainbow of 200 LED lights that highlights the shooting sprays of water, as they dance in synchronization with various pieces of music.

Did I mention that it’s free?

READ NEXT: 17 Things for Insomniacs to do in Seoul at Night

When to see the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show?

The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain operates every day from April to October, four to six times a day. Each show lasts approximately 20 minutes. Schedules vary from season to season, and from day to day of the week.

Each Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show lasts approximately 20 minutes

The current Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain schedule is as follows:

April 1st – June 30th & September 1st – October 31st

Weekday shows are at noon, 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00PM. During weekends and holidays, the fountain shows are at noon, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00PM.

July 1st – August 31st

On weekdays, shows begin at noon and every half hour starting from 7:30PM. The last show begins at 9:00PM. On weekends and holidays, you can watch the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain at noon, and every half hour from 7:30 – 9:30PM.

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How to get a unique views

There’s a couple of ways to get unique views of the Banpo Bridge and Rainbow Fountain show.

Take a Han River Cruise

Get up close and personal with the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain by taking a Han River Cruise. Whether it’s a yacht or ferry cruise, you’re sure to get an exciting view that most people don’t usually see.

See the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain from a different perspective

Get thee to Dongjak Bridge

You can also make your way over to the south end of Dongjak Bridge, which is the very next Hangang Bridge to the west.

There, you’ll find two incredible eMart 24 convenience stores, both with incredible views of the city. Each is 5 floors and include cafes, snack zones, bookshop, lounge and outdoor rooftop, along with a limited selection of the usual convenience store goodies. They even have Heineken and local craft beer on tap!

You can see Namsan Tower from Dongjak Bridge © Sarah Mak

At the west side eMart, you can see the N Seoul Tower and western side of the city. Head up to the cafe or rooftop on the east side of Dongjak Bridge, for unique views of Banpo Bridge.

How to go to Banpo Bridge by subway

It’s possible to drive to Banpo Bridge if you have a car, but I wouldn’t recommend it at peak times. There’s limited paid parking spaces, and waits for a spot can get pretty long (and frustrating).

The most convenient option for getting to Banpo Bridge is definitely via Seoul subway.

It’s easiest to get to Banpo Bridge by subway

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You’re all set! You know everything you need to know to see the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show. Who’s going?