One Night, Two Days in Sejong: A Slow Walking Course with Family
Introduction
Walking slowly along the paths of Sejong, you’ll find city and nature gently overlapping. The breeze on the pedestrian bridge over the Geum River, the scent of ever‑green trees at the arboretum, and the calm that spreads between the rooftop garden and exhibition halls at the government complex all deepen the time you spend with your family.
One Night, Two Days in Sejong: A Slow Walking Course with Family
Table of Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Impressions (or Plans)
- Where to Stay
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Nearby Attractions
- Getting There
- Conclusion
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Course Name : A 1-night, 2-day Sejong itinerary perfect for a family trip
- Recommended Duration : 1 night, 2 days
- Main Bases : National Sejong Arboretum, Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge, Sejong Government Complex Rooftop Garden, Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall, Yeongpyeongsa area
- Key Location : National Sejong Arboretum, 136 Sumokwon-ro, Sejong
- Inquiries : We recommend using Sejong City’s official tourist information channels.
- Address : National Sejong Arboretum, 136 Sumokwon-ro, Sejong (Postal code 30106)
- Day 1 – Afternoon Walk across the Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge and enjoy both riverside scenery and city night views of Sejong.
- Day 1 – Evening Have dinner at a popular restaurant in downtown Sejong, then check in to your accommodation and relax.
- Day 2 – Morning Stroll around National Sejong Arboretum focusing on the Four Seasons Greenhouse, Korean Traditional Garden, and Children’s Garden.
- Day 2 – Lunch Enjoy a family meal near the arboretum or in downtown Sejong.
- Day 2 – Afternoon Visit the Sejong Government Complex Rooftop Garden and the Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall to take in Sejong’s unique urban landscape and exhibitions.
- Optional Course If you have extra time, add a quiet walk around Yeongpyeongsa Temple and the surrounding nature.
Since there is a lot of walking outdoors, it’s best to bring a stroller or comfortable sneakers if you’re with kids.
Here is a quiet 1-night, 2-day Sejong itinerary that’s ideal for a family outing. It’s designed so you can cover everything at once—from the Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge, famous for its “Ieung Bridge,” to the evergreen National Sejong Arboretum, and on to Sejong’s distinctive government complex rooftop garden and the Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall. If it’s your first time in Sejong, this is a good course to follow slowly on foot to feel the rhythm of the city.
National Sejong Arboretum is Korea’s first urban national arboretum, a healing spot with four‑season greenhouses, themed gardens, and ecological experiences. With a variety of plant exhibitions and nighttime opening programs, it’s ideal for visiting with children. Except on Mondays, you can enter for an admission fee of 5,000 won per adult. This 1-night, 2-day Sejong course, woven around ample urban green spaces, is a wonderfully comfortable choice if you want to stay quietly and rest.
Program Information
At the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse in National Sejong Arboretum, you can tour climate‑themed spaces—including tropical, Mediterranean, and special exhibition greenhouses—all in one go. As it’s pleasant regardless of the weather, it’s a great family course even on rainy or cold days.
In the Korean Traditional Garden and Folk Plant Garden, you can appreciate the beauty of traditional Korean gardens where nature and architecture harmonize. Walking with children, you can enjoy a quiet stroll amid hanok buildings, ponds, and seasonal flowers.
The Children’s Garden and Healing Garden are perfect places for kids to run around and experience nature with all five senses. The gentle paths and many low flowerbeds make walking easy, and there are benches where you can sit and rest for a while.
In the Bonsai Garden and Rare and Endemic Plant Greenhouse, you can see various bonsai forms and rarely seen plants up close. It’s a good course for quietly appreciating plants and taking photos in a calm atmosphere.
The “One Lap around the Greenhouse” guided program runs on weekends from March to November, lasts about 20 minutes, and is open to all ages. You can book online in advance or register on site. The guide points out the greenhouse’s main highlights, making it helpful for first‑time visitors.
In the Mediterranean greenhouse, a special exhibition titled “A Midsummer Night’s Gogh,” inspired by Van Gogh’s works, is held. Garden displays using plants such as sunflowers, cypress, and almond trees, combined with light installations, create a special nighttime walking atmosphere.
The Sejong Government Complex Rooftop Garden features a circular path about 3.6 km long. As you walk through themed areas such as the Herb Garden, Medicinal Plant Garden, and Orchard & Berry Garden, you can also enjoy wide views over Sejong Lake Park and the Presidential Archives.
At the Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall, which includes the Presidential Symbol Hall, History Hall, and Experience Hall, you can explore modern and contemporary history through presidential records. Walking along the exhibits with children naturally leads to conversations and shared time.
On rainy or cold days, it’s better to start with indoor spots such as the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse rather than pushing yourself to cover outdoor areas. Even a slow tour of the greenhouses alone can fill plenty of time with kids.
To leisurely explore all of the arboretum’s outdoor gardens, it’s best to allow at least 4–5 hours. There are benches and rest areas along the way, so you can easily slow your pace to match your children.
If you’re planning to take photos, the Mediterranean greenhouse, Bonsai Garden, and Korean Traditional Garden area are atmospheric photo spots. They offer good compositions for alternating between portraits and landscape shots.
To see all the outdoor areas of the arboretum, it’s best to allow at least 4–5 hours.
If photos are your priority, link the Mediterranean greenhouse, Bonsai Garden, and Korean Traditional Garden into one route.
Travel Impressions
Looking back on our 1-night, 2-day family trip to Sejong, the city felt quieter and more orderly than expected when we first arrived. True to its nature as a planned new town, the roads were wide and people seemed relaxed; the city center and areas around the parks were great for walking. There were many trees and green spaces, which made walking with a child less tiring, and at night the lighting was good, so we could stroll leisurely in a safe atmosphere. By the time we returned to our accommodation, we felt very satisfied with how full the day had been, though it was a bit disappointing that some restaurants and shops closed earlier than we had expected.
Our route on the first day was Sejong Lake Park → café street in Geumnam-myeon → accommodation, and on the second day we wrapped up with Jeonuisan Natural Recreation Forest and visits to local restaurants. The lake park is quite large, so it’s best to allow at least an hour just for walking. The café street has a variety of cafés and small shops clustered together, making it a pleasant place to browse and linger. The forest recreation area has well‑maintained trails with gentle slopes, so children could walk without too much difficulty. However, popular eateries such as “Chungnam Sundae Gukbap” involved some waiting and tricky parking, so it helped to visit a bit earlier than usual lunch hours or to research restaurants near your accommodation in advance.
There are buses for public transport, but with long intervals between them, driving was far more convenient. It’s a good idea to check in advance whether your accommodation offers parking. This trip left us with the impression that Sejong is a city where families can relax and enjoy themselves at an easy pace. In particular, I would recommend it to those who want to walk in nature with their children and take time to savor good food. Personally, I’d like to visit again, and next time I hope to come in a different season—spring or autumn—to slowly take in how the flowers and leaves change.
Where to Stay
For this 1-night, 2-day Sejong itinerary, most major attractions are clustered within about a 20‑minute drive, making a downtown stay a convenient base. If you choose a hotel or urban accommodation with good parking and access, it’s easier to take your time exploring the arboretum, rooftop garden, and exhibition hall.
7 Doum 1-ro, Sejong (Eojin-dong)
Located in central Sejong · Various business and banquet facilities
As a global chain hotel with many rooms, it works well for both family and business trips.
[Distance: 2.4 km]
33 Mannam-ro 6-gil, Sejong
Near a quiet residential area · Small, retreat‑style lodging
A good choice for families who want a tranquil atmosphere while staying close to downtown.
[Distance: 4.1 km]
Family rooms at downtown hotels can sell out early on weekends and during vacation season.
Restaurants & Cafés
Across downtown Sejong you’ll find many restaurants and cafés that are good for family meals. If you plan your route around eateries near the arboretum, government complex, and lake park, you can cut down on travel time and enjoy more relaxed meals.
185 Dasom-ro, Sejong
Jinju‑style naengmyeon specialty · Popular for a refreshing meal
A light yet filling option after visiting the arboretum in summer.
[Distance: 1.5 km]
KT&G Sejong Tower A, 411 Hannuri-daero, Sejong
Sushi restaurant · Excellent downtown access
A sushi and roll‑focused restaurant that fits well between plans around the lake park and government complex.
[Distance: 2.4 km]
31 Bodeum 8-ro, Sejong
Chueotang specialty · Hearty soup dishes
A good option to add for a warm soup meal at lunch or dinner.
[Distance: 3.0 km]
Sejong Onnuri Tower, 63 Saeromjungang-ro, Sejong
Pasta & Western‑style dishes · Ideal for family dining
A good choice when you want to enjoy Western‑style dishes with your child.
[Distance: 3.4 km]
11 Yongposeo-ro, Geumnam-myeon, Sejong
Café & restaurant in Geumnam-myeon · Nature views
A comfortable space to relax while exploring the café street area in Geumnam-myeon.
[Distance: 3.8 km]
45 Bareun 7-gil, Sejong
Chinese cuisine · Popular with families who like spicy food
The menu is suited to sharing a variety of Chinese dishes among several people.
[Distance: 4.2 km]
585-20 Jangcheok-ro, Sejong
Pyeongyang‑style naengmyeon · Recommended if you prefer clean, mild flavors
Located on the outskirts, it’s a good spot to combine with a short walk after your meal.
[Distance: 5.4 km]
35 Bugang-ro, Bugang-myeon, Sejong
Kalguksu specialty · Warm, comforting meal
A good lunch stop when traveling around the Bugang-myeon area.
[Distance: 7.9 km]
Some downtown eateries have limited parking, so it’s best to check location and parking information before you go.
Nearby Attractions
If you center your plans on National Sejong Arboretum and combine it with a kids’ park, traditional culture experience space, and parks, you’ll have a route that satisfies both children and adults. It’s easy to fill a day while keeping car travel times within 20–30 minutes.
94 Morongji-ro, Sejong-dong, Sejong
Traditional culture experiences · Family activity course
A traditional culture and craft experience space that’s easy to drop by near the arboretum.
[Distance: 1.1 km]
Avenue Hill, 351 Galmae-ro, Sejong
Indoor kids’ park · Must‑visit with toddlers and children
An indoor play space where kids can play freely regardless of the weather.
[Distance: 2.1 km]
26-1 Bareun 3-gil, Areum-dong, Sejong
Local neighborhood park · Good for walks and picnics
A park in the city where you can take an easy walk and rest.
[Distance: 3.8 km]
34 Yeongpyeongsa-gil, Janggun-myeon, Sejong
Nature‑style kids’ park · Near Yeongpyeongsa
A good place to enjoy playtime in nature with kids, combined with a visit to Yeongpyeongsa Temple.
[Distance: 5.1 km]
1 Geumhoseonmal-gil, Sejong
Sports facilities & walking paths · Family exercise course
A good place to enjoy light exercise or a walk while breathing in the air outside the city center.
[Distance: 6.1 km]
Yeongdae-ri, Geumnam-myeon, Sejong
Rest area with views · Scenic drive stop
A nice spot to briefly park and rest while driving through the outskirts of Sejong.
[Distance: 6.6 km]
293 Geumsong-ro, Janggun-myeon, Sejong
Astronomy experiences for children · Star‑watching programs
An opportunity to give kids special memories through evening star‑watching and space‑themed activities.
[Distance: 8.1 km]
33 Bugang 4-gil, Sejong
Quiet religious architecture · Visit while taking a walk
A peaceful spot where you can pause briefly and stroll around the surroundings.
[Distance: 8.3 km]
Considering the weather and your energy, it’s best to visit only 2–3 places a day at a relaxed pace.
Getting There
Public Transport — Within Sejong, you can take city buses 990, 991, or 992 and get off at a stop near National Sejong Arboretum. From Osong Station, take intercity bus 1004 to Sejong and then transfer to a city bus.
By Car — Enter “National Sejong Arboretum Parking Lot” or the address “136 Sumokwon-ro, Sejong” into your navigation system to arrive easily. There are public parking lots around the arboretum and government complex, so it’s convenient for families traveling by car.
On weekends and during events, parking lots near major attractions can get crowded, so it’s better to arrive a bit early.
Conclusion
This 1-night, 2-day Sejong course, which connects the Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge, National Sejong Arboretum, rooftop garden, and Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall, offers a quiet route where you can walk slowly and linger with your family. Thanks to the landscape where city and nature sit side by side, walking with kids feels manageable, and the city’s relaxed atmosphere helps you wind down the day.
Especially along the route that passes through the arboretum’s greenhouses and gardens, Sejong’s unique rooftop garden, and the archives exhibition hall, rest, learning, and walking blend naturally together. If this is your first trip to Sejong, follow this slow course and build up a collection of family moments you’ll want to remember again each time the seasons change.
Photo Snapshots
Videos
Related News
- National Sejong Arboretum, a giant healing garden in the heart of the city
- National Sejong Arboretum night opening, admission, parking, and restaurant information
- Guide to the National Sejong Arboretum summer exhibition <A Midsummer Night’s Gogh>
- Sejong Story Blog – Collection of Sejong travel information
- National Sejong Arboretum visiting tips and route review
