cruise han river

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Han River (Hangang) Cruise 한강유람선

서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 290 (여의도동) 한강유람선 선착장 | 290 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Dock: 10:00-22:00

refer to chart below

Yeouinaru (line 5, exit 3). 5 mins walk towards Han River (Hangang) to reach E-land Cruise Yeouido Dock.

www.elandcruise.com

The popular Han River (also refer as Hangang) Cruise is operated by E-Land Cruise since 1986. It brings visitors cruising between east and west of Seoul at fairly affordable rates from 15,000 won (per adult) day cruise to 89,000 won dinner fireworks cruise.

Cruising on Han River is one of the best ways to enjoy beautiful views of Han River (day, sunset & night) and its many tourist attractions (e.g. Bamseom Islet, Jeoldusan Park, 63 Square, Namsan Seoul Towel, Jamsil Stadium) along the courses.

There are different themed cruises that include live performances, lunch buffet and dinner buffet as well.

The course that cruises East of Han River and passes under Banpo Bridge (also refer as Banpo-daegyo) at night is popular for the spectacular daily 20 mins Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show (Apr-Oct only) and Saturday's Fireworks Show .

The Story Cruise travelling on the West course is another popular option as it provides many flexible timings for cruise passengers.

To enjoy Han River (Hangang) on land , you can rent a bicycle (near Yeouido Cruise Dock) for a relaxing ride along the cycling path for a different and memorable experience of Han River altogether.

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Seoul Eland Hangang River Cruise (Day Cruise)

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Eland Han River Cruise & Ashley Marine Buffet at Dock

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Seoul Eland Hangang River Cruise (Sunset Cruise)

40 mins, 6pm

Han River Sevit Island Yacht Experience (pets allowed)

enjoy Han River to the fullest

Seoul Eland Hangang River Cruise (Starlight Cruise)

50 mins, 10pm, Jazz live

Discover Seoul Pass (Lotte World, COEX Aquarium, Han River Cruises, etc)

free access to >60 attractions

Seoul Eland Hangang River Cruise (Moonlight Cruise)

70 mins, 7/8.30pm, Jazz live

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instant pass & tourist exclusive!

♔  KoreaToDo recommends  Klook.com , Asia leading in-destination service provider.

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[Seoul Yeouido] Eland Hangang River Cruise

Option and inclusions, information, refund policy, guide language.

• 1. You can enjoy the day or night view of the Han River on board
• 2. Take memorable photos with family, lover, or friends at light tunnel shining E-land Cruise areas, light trees, cherry blossoms, various photo zones
• 3. After getting off, we recommend you to enjoy leisure time having Chimaek (a pairing of fried chicken and beer) at Han River Park in Yeouido

Recent reviews

Date & time, option details.

What if you want to have the most romantic, memorable, and unforgettable experience in Seoul?

We recommend you to enjoy the day or night views and scenery of Han River, a center of Seoul. Leave fantastic memories with your loved ones watching the scenery of Han River and Seoul under the blue sky by day! Make an unforgettable moment as you board a cruise! 

Hangang Tour Cruise (40 Minutes)

• Course:  Yeouido-Seogang bridge/Dongjak bridge-Yeouido (※ Please note that the course may change depending on the Month/Time)

• Viewpoint : Yeouido, Bamseom Island, National Assembly

[April~June]

• Mon : 15:00 / 16:00  (40') • Tues ~ Fri 11:30 / 13:00 / 15:00 / 16:00  (40') • Weekends (Sat, Sun), Public holidays 11:30 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 / 16:00

Sunset Cruise (40 minutes)

• Course:  Yeouido-Seogang bridge-Yeouido or Yeouido-Dongjak bridge-Yeouido

(※ Please note that the course may change depending on the sunset)

• Recommend view spot: Yeouido, Bamseom Island, National Assembly

• Operation period : (Feb~Oct) 18:00 / (Nov~Jan) 17:00

Moonlight Cruise (70 minutes)

• Course: Yeouido- Banpo bridge-Yeouido

• Recommend view spot : Sebit Doongdoong Island, Dalbit Nodeul, Banpo bridge

• Operation time : Apr ~ Nov 19:00, 20:30 / Dec ~ Mar 19:30

Starlight Cruise (50 minutes)

• Course: Yeouido- Seogang bridge -Yeouido

• Recommend view spot: National Assembly, Night view of Yeouido

• Operation time : Apr ~ Nov 22:00 / Dec ~ Mar 21:00

Fireworks Music Cruise (70 minutes)

• Course : Yeouido - Banpo bridge - Yeouido

• Operation time : Friday 20:30 

※ July is a rainy season with heavy rain, so we do not operate Fireworks Music Cruise. It will operate as Moonlight Cruise in July. (Fireworks Cruise will re-operating in August.)

1. Reserve and purchase the desired cruise option and  Check mobile voucher or email voucher.

2. Arrive E-land Cruise Ticket Office 10 minutes before the reservation time on the day of reservation.

※ Voucher will be sent after the booking is confirmed.

3. Present the voucher at the ticket office and fill out the boarding report .

4. Board on E-land Cruise! 

•  Location of Ticket Office: Get off of Exit 3 of Yeouinaru Station (Subway line 5) and go down to the Han River Park → Ticket office is located on the stairs before the dock. 

• Search  " Eland Cruise Ticket Office"  on Google Map.

Address: 86-5 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Korea 

After entering Yeouido Hangang Park Parking Lot 1, go straight and park in the dedicated cruise area (free parking)

*Please note that on weekends and during the Spring Flower Festival in April, the surrounding roads and parking lots are very congested, so please use public transportation whenever possible.

1. You must bring your passport.

2. If your reservation cannot be made at a desired date and time, our CS Team will contact you via email.

3. Cruise operation dates may vary / be canceled depending on the cruise or weather conditions. In this case, our CS Team will contact you via email.

4. Please go to the E-land Ticket Office and fill out the boarding report first, and redeem a physical ticket after checking your Id Card (Please note that a mobile ticket is not allowed due to checking your identification).

5. Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show is operated only from April to October. It can be canceled due to bad weather or Seoul City conditions without prior notice.

6. Please note that during the COVID period, available boarding pax may be changed according to the safety reason and check vaccination is done or not on-site. 

7. Electric wheelchairs, electric strollers are not allowed (folding ones can be folded and boarded)

8. On weekends and during the April Spring Flower Festival, the surrounding roads and parking lots are very congested and parking takes a lot of time, so please use public transportation. (If you are unable to board on the day due to parking and traffic difficulties, you cannot cancel or change your reservation). 

9. Please check your reservation date and product carefully, and be sure to read the detailed notes on usage. (Access to Yeouido Pier / Information on ID / Usage Guidelines and Cancellation Policy)

Q. I want to see Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show. Which cruise should I take?

A. You can watch Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show on Music Cruise or Fireworks Cruise.

- Cancellation on or before 3 days prior to the reserved date, before 5pm KST : 100% Refund

- Cancellation on 2 days prior to the reserved date, before 5pm KST : 70% Refund

- Cancellation on 1 day prior to the reserved date, before 5pm KST : 50% Refund

- Cancellation on the reserved date / No-show : No Refund

★ promotion products cannot be refunded after purchase.

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Eland Cruise

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Living and traveling in Korea

10 Ways To Enjoy the Han River

The Han River, known as the Hangang in Korean, is an iconic natural symbol that runs through the center of the capital city of Seoul, South Korea. The construction projects that began in the 1980s to give the Han River a needed makeover have been extremely successful and now there are plenty of things visitors can do to enjoy the scenic waterway. Throughout the year the Han River parks beckon with bike paths, pedestrian friendly walkways, concerts, and more.

There is a ton to do for solo travelers, couples, and families from picnicking in one of 11 Han River Parks to swimming, sailing, and games along the banks of this massive river. However long your trip to Korea is, you need to have at least one visit to the Han River.

Don’t be left out. Here are 10 ways to experience and enjoy the Han River from summer to winter:

What to know about the Han River

• Visit one of the beautiful parks
• Take a bike ride
• Enjoy a dip in the water
• Take a ferry river cruise
• Cross as many bridges as you can
• Take a walk or jog
• Have a picnic
• Sail a boat
• Take a water taxi

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

The Han River is a large body of water that flows through the heart of Seoul. An iconic symbol of the capital of South Korea, it’s beautiful but also holds historical value. When people talk about the Han River or where they live in Seoul, they often talk about it in reference to the river, north of the Han or south of the Han. North of the river you’ll find older buildings and establishments while south of the river is newer but the entire city embraces this central waterway.

What to do at the Han River 

1. Visit one of the beautiful parks

If you don’t want to actually touch the water but you’re just looking for a good place to view the river from, there are eleven parks that provide the scenery from a nice dry place. Though the river is lined with greenery, these eleven parks provide sporting facilities, ecological education zones and other specialty areas. Try to visit all eleven if you can.

The 11 Han River parks include: Gwangnaru Hangang Park, Jamsil Hangang Park, Ttukseom Hangang Park, Jamwon Hangang Park, Ichon Hangang Park, Banpo Hangang Park, Mangwon Hangang Park, Yeouido Hangang Park, Nanji Hangang Park, Gangseo Hangang Park, Yanghwa Hangang Park. Learn more about these parks and see which is the best one for you to start out in by checking out this massive guide with all of the info and directions: The Hangang Parks: A Guide To The 11 Han River Parks in Seoul, Korea

2. Take a bike ride

Join the bike enthusiasts, bike club members and everyone else on a bike cruising along the waterfront this summer. The paths are paved and the tires have been pumped so, what are you waiting for?

With 80 kilometers, 40 on the north side and 40 on the south side, of bike paths along the Han River, biking is a must experience when visiting the Han River. There are also numerous bike rental kiosks along the river if you don’t have a bike of your own.

3. Enjoy a dip in the water

No, I’m not promoting swimming in the Han River. In fact, let me clarify for anyone that may misunderstand. Due to a strong current, I am not saying anyone should take a dive in the Han River. However, that being said, there are seven swimming pools on the banks of the Han River that provide good clean fun along with a great view of the quick moving river nearby and there is where you should be swimming during the summer.

For a pool that is a bit lesser known but offers that infinity pool experience on the Han River for cheap, check out the Nanji Han River Infinity Pool. This is an awesome budget friendly swimming pool that we love to frequent in the summer but there are plenty to choose from! This is a very small kid friendly pool as well as it slopes out and isn’t too deep.

If you really do want to dip your toes in the Han River, you can though! There are some water sports that happen right on the river. In the Ttukseom Han River Park, visitors can kayak ! From the same park, you could also try windsurfing or paddle boarding   and those aren’t even all of the options. Because the riverside is so accessible, water activities like swan boats, water skiing, and wake boarding have become popular too.

4. Take a ferry river cruise

What better way to see the river than taking a ride on it? The cruise service offers everything from a general back and forth no-fuss-no-muss tour to a romantic dinner-with-your-lover cruise which is perfect for Valentine’s Day in Seoul . From morning into the evening you can see the city under the shining sun or watch as the city lights start to glimmer underneath the dark sky above.

With cruises that range in price from just W12,000 to W65,000, there’s a ship for anyone from the budget traveler to the big spender.

How to book a Han River Cruise

Get tickets: Reserve tickets on Klook or on Trazy . Not only do you get a discount when you book here, but you can also make sure the date you want isn’t booked up. 

PRO TIP: Birds often fly behind these boats and if you toss some of the snacks they have on board up, you’ll be able to get a fun shot of the birds above you on the back of the ship. If you don’t like birds.. maybe don’t go to the back of the ship where others will likely be doing this.

5. Cross as many bridges as you can

Thirty bridges span the Han River and wouldn’t it be fun to say you walked, jogged, biked, trained it or drove across every single one? Maybe that’s just a fun thing in my head. Either way, it’s something that can be done when talking Han River adventures. If you want to start with the oldest bridge in Seoul, head for the Yangwha Bridge and begin your journey.

One that is especially fun to cross especially at night is Banpo Bridge. If you visit at the right time, you can see the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show ( 반포대교 달빛무지개분수). The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest bridge fountain in the world and measures 1,140 meters long. 60 tons of water is sprayed out into the Han River every minute that the Rainbow Fountain is operating.

The fountains are NOT small by any means. The water jets out 43 meters from the bridge before falling 20 meters back down to to the river. The fountain is programmed to play different shows during the day and the night. The program during the day shows a hundred different configurations to evoke waving willow branches and leaves while the program during the night features rainbow colored jets of water synchronized with music, which is why the bridge is the most famous.

6. Go camping

There are four major camping sites within Seoul but only one of them sits on the edge of the Han River. The Nanji Campground near Worldcup Stadium in Sangam-dong provides a nearby ecological park and swimming pool as well as baseball diamonds to enjoy while also camping out and enjoying the view. This is technically the only overnight camping site on the Han Riverside. Yes, most Koreans take a tent with them when they head to the river throughout the summer to be used for shade, but come evening, they pack up and leave.

7. Take a walk or jog

If biking isn’t for you, the paths along the Han River are just as friendly to the meandering walker or the go-get’um jogger. Bring some comfy shoes and hit the road. There are convenience stores right along the paths, children’s parks, skate parks , ecological parks and more to enjoy too so maybe taking your time and jogging or walking is the way to go in order to see all of the sights along the way. Or head to one of the parks that is outfitted with various art installations like Ichon Han River Park or the Yeouido Han River Park. There’s something to see while you run!

8. Have a picnic

The Han River is lined with parks galore. If you’re not so much into activity and you’d prefer to people watch, having a picnic is the way to go and in the summer the Han River is THE place to be. Everyone will be there and if you don’t want to pack the food to take it, not to worry, you can even have food delivered to you! It’s definitely something to experience.

Bicycle riding delivery men will be able to find you with little more than a, “we’re sitting next to the tree to the left of the children’s park near the Mangwon station entrance.” Take some friends and a blanket and you’ll be good to go for hours. Don’t have a tent.. a blanket.. or any camping necessity? Let Trazy help you out. They provide a tent, blanket, mat, chairs, lights and more if you want to have the camping experience without buying all of the stuff.

Want to have a picnic with an awesome view? Don’t miss the massive Yeouido Fireworks Festival which happens the first weekend in October each year. This is a huge festival, so if you want to check it out, make sure you know all of the tips and tricks so you don’t end up packed in a subway car like a sardine! T he Yeouido Fireworks Festival is amazing , if you know how to see it.

9. Sail a boat

The 700 Yacht Club in Nanji, the Seoul International Yacht Club in Jamwon and the Seoul Marina in Yeouido provide boats, classes and even skippers for those with some cash to burn. If you wish to sail your own boat, make sure to sign up for lessons before you hope to  head out because not just anyone can hit the water with their very own ship. Take advantage of this lesser known activity on the Han River this summer!

From Some Sevit in the Banpo Han River Park, visitors can take a ride on a yacht, a limousine boat, a Cinderella boat, and more. There are plenty of options for an awesome ride with friends or family and unforgettable views.

Get tickets:  Reserve your own yacht ride on Trazy and get a discount.

10. Take a water taxi

Places to go? People to see? Taxis aren’t always the most convenient form of transportation in this city of millions so when the roads are congested and the cars are moving at a snail’s pace, why not hail a water tax i ? With 11 ferry points along the river, you could get from here to there and manage to enjoy the view on the way. The water taxis can seat up to 8 people and the more that ride, the less it’ll cost. The next time you want to get from here to there and you want to try something new, definitely hail a water taxi.

Hop On/ Hop Off Bus:  If you’ll be traveling via the Seoul City Hop On/Hop Off Bus, know that it also stops here. You can buy the ticket for this bus here . And to get more information about the bus, here is a guide to the Hop On/ Hop Off Bus In Seoul .

These are just some of the ways that you can enjoy the Han River in the spring, summer, winter or fall. Get out there and take advantage of the beauty that the natural symbol of Seoul offers.

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25 comments.

Owo, i just got so much Information about han river just reading this article. I ddint know many things about han river like water taxi, ferry travel, water surfing and so on, though have been there over three times. Thanks foe righting in depth of Han river.

Definitely! There is SO MUCH to do on the Han River. Hope you can go back and experience more of the fun there. ^^

Wow! There’s definitely a lot of ways to enjoy Han River. Thank you! What I really want to experience is the Han River Cruise.

Agness of eTramping

The Han River seems like a once in a lifetime experience, Hallie! Thanks for motivating and inspiring with each post!

Thanks for the comment. It is amazing. I hope you can visit and enjoy it like I do. ^^

When I first read “swimming”, I immediately thought, “What? Ew. No way, really?” But then you clarified it! Swimming in a swimming pool right off it sounds like fun.

I grew up near a really wide river, it was just across the road from the building where I lived. I love cities that have some water bodies. And I love spending my time near water. One more reason to visit Seoul!

everyfootstepanadventure

I love these ideas! The Han River looks like a fun place to enjoy the outdoors!

Paige Wunder

I love that Seoul saw the value in the river and started cleaning it up and giving it a makeover. I would be all about biking and picnicking by it! I looks like it’s a nice quiet place to escape from the city!

The Han river at night is also really nice. I went on a tour with a local agency called onedaykorea to see the best nights view of Seoul and i saw among others the Han river. It was stunning, so don’t hesitate and go there at night it is more quiet and you enjoy the view.

Great tip Stephany. Thanks for the comment. ^^

Hi Hallie. I saw some pictures of the Hangang bridge from above. The night view is particularly amazing. I did some research and found a short clip on youtube where some people went up to a look out point behind what looked like a residential area. The night view of the Hangang bridge and Seoul was beautiful from that spot. I can’t find any information on where that spot is or even how to get there. I plan to visit Seoul sometime in the fall and would love to go there if I could. Do you happen to know where I’m talking about? Can you please help me? Thank you very much and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts!

Do you have a link to the clip you’re talking about? It would give me a better idea of the location. If I had to hazard a guess, since the neighborhood to the north of the bridge is Yongsan-gu and Yongsan is set on a mountain, I would imagine it’s from a look-out in that neighborhood but any other info you have would help me narrow it down.

Hi Hallie, Here’s the clip I’ve found on Youtube. Thanks for your help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu-4m_04D-U

Have a wonderful weekend! Dianne

Hi Hallie, I found out the name of the place is Dragon Pavilion Park Observatory. However, I still can’t find any information about it or how to get there! 🙁

Hi Dianne, yeah, I hadn’t gotten a chance to watch that video, but it actually says in Korean where they are at the bottom when they first arrive there. ^^

There really isn’t much info about it in English, but the pavilion sits in a little park with some Korean traditional buildings just outside of Heukseok subway station, exit 1. The park area is called Hyosajung which you probably won’t be able to find much info for in English either. But if you walk straight out of exit 1, it’s a rather short distance and will come up on your right. It looks like you’ll see some traditional buildings or a temple/shrine area first and then you walk up a bit to the pavilion to get that view that you’re seeking. Hope that helps.

That’s wonderful! I’m sure I’ll be able to find it with your directions. Thank you so much for your help!!!

Do the water taxis still run. I live near one dock and don’t recall having ever seen one. That linked article is from way back in 2007.

Sorry for the late reply. Meant to look up info last week. After a quick naver search, they are running but it seems some locations work on the same system as a call taxi. So they aren’t just waiting around there. They’ll be at the high frequency locations but can come to any of the docks available for the taxis.

Thanks for looking. should do it one day just for fun.

Wonderful tips, Hallie! I’m a bike lover so I’ll definitely give it a try! But I’ve never heard of water taxis – what I’m thinking about now are those gondolas and I guess that moving with such a water taxi will be quite a fun!

I think the water taxis are more like propellor boats. I don’t think gondolas would have an easy time crossing the Han River. It’s pretty massive. That would be interesting to see though.

Shelley @Travel-Stained

Great list! Biking and running next to the Han are 2 of my all-time favourite activities. Honestly, I don’t know how I survived living so far from it before. 🙂

I agree. I’ve lived within a 10-15 minite walk of the river for 7 of my 8 years here. I can’t believe I haven’t taken a ferry yet. I did not realize they were so reasonably priced. ^^

Lol, I haven’t been on one of those yet either! Maybe we should go…?

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• Must Do / Seoul Travel Blog

Hangang River Cruise And Other Ways To Enjoy The Han River Seoul

· Updated April 11, 2023 THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS

Korea’s main river, runs from Gangwon-do towards Gyeonggi-do. Cutting through the middle of Seoul all the way to the Yellow Sea. The ancient river has witnessed the history of Korea for over more than 5 thousand years. Now the Han river offers nice outdoor activities like a Hangang river cruise, outdoor swimming pools, beautiful parks for the citizens of Seoul and foreign tourists. Read on to find out all the details about ‘ Ways to enjoy the Han River Korea ‘!

About The Hangang River

1. regular hangang river cruise, 2. dinner hangang river cruise, 1. han river parks, 2. walking trails along the han river, 4. han river night markets, 2. outdoor han river swimming pools, 3. swan boats, 4. kayaking and paddle boarding on han river, 5. summer water gun festival, how to go to the hangang river, frequently asked questions.

The Han river and the land beyond played a vital role in Korean history as more than 2000 years back, the 3 kingdoms were fighting to take control of this area as the river played a vital part in doing trade with China. Now the river is a voted as the 2nd most scenic spot of Seoul, following Namsan Mountain as being the best tourist spot. The lowest parts of the river in Seoul are lined with walkways, cycling lanes, public parks, restaurants, sport courts and swimming pools.

Hangang River Cruise Tours

On of the best ways to enjoy the Han River and admire the Seoul skyline is by boarding one of the Hangang river cruises. There are multiple companies running Han river cruise tours, but the most known one is the Eland Cruise leaving from Yeouido Park.

Eland offers 4 different types of Hangang cruise tours, namely the Story Cruise, Moonlight Cruise, Music Cruise and the Fireworks Cruise. During the summer months the cruise runs 6 times a day, once at 12 AM and then 5 times after 7 PM. Sites you can see from the Han river tours are the 63 City Building, N Seoul Tower, the Floating Island and the stunning Banpo rainbow bridge. All ferries have an outdoor deck and indoor sitting area filled with chairs.

Tickets have to be bought online in advance. This cruise is extremely popular and tickets sell out fairly quickly, especially in peak season. Make sure to book at least 2 weeks in advance. Han river cruise price start at 14 000 krw. Find more info here. Another option is to take a (private) yacht tour of the river. Starting price for the yacht tour is 20 000 krw. More info here.

** I have been on all 4 Hangang cruises and prefer the story cruise during day time and the fireworks cruise at night time in Seoul . From the boat you can see the fireworks and the rainbow bridge at the same time, which is really amazing. **

Additionally you can opt for an Eland Hangang cruise + Ashley Marine Buffet or a dinner (fireworks) cruise. These Han river cruise tours include a wonderful buffet. For the first option, the buffet is served after the cruise on a different boat. The latter cruise has a buffet served during the cruise. Food includes ribs, salad, seafood, chicken and much more. More info here.

Other Things To Do Along The Han River

There is more to do at the river than going on a Hangang river cruise. Along the river there are multiple parks, swimming pools, cycling lanes and much more. Listed below are the most popular things to do at the Han River.

You can find more than 12 Hangang River parks, all the way from the Jamsil area to Mapo-Gu. It is one of the most popular FREE outdoor activities all year around. These parks offer green spaces which can be enjoyed by playing children, couples going on a summer stroll or just for working out!

1.1 Yeouido Park

The most popular park along the river is definitely Yeouido park, this vast park is a go to place during spring in Seoul ! The park is divided into 4 main sections, namely the Traditional Korean Forest, Grass Square, Culture Square, and Nature’s Ecosystem Forest. Many festivals and events are held on the culture square. This is also the area where the Han river tours are leaving from.

If you visit the park during the warmer months, you’ll see many Koreans with a small tent which protects them against the sun. These tents can be rented at Yeouido Park. Find more info here.

1.2 Jamsil Park

The Jamsil Hangang Park lies next to Jamsil Sports Complex, Lotte World, and Olympic Park. It is a great place to enjoy the beautiful Han river, but is also a place of learning about nature at the Jamsil Water Reserve.

You can find 4 walking trails along the river:

• 1st trail : Jamsil Stadium, Gwangnaru Hangang Park and Amsa Ecological Park
• 2nd trail : Seoul Forest, Ttukseom Hangang Park and Gwangjin Bridge
• 3rd Trail : Seorae Island in Banpo Hangang Park and Ichon Han River Park
• 4th Trail : Mangwon Hangang Park, Seongsan Bridge and Mapo Bridge

For more information about each trail, check out Seoul’s official website .

These parks are also perfect for cycling ! You’ll be able to find well maintained cycling routes all along the river. If you don’t have your own bicycle you can rent on from one of the many cycling rental shops along the river (most of them located close to the subways stations). If you have a Discover Seoul Pass , you can rent a bike for free and use it for up to 24 hours.

There are two types of rental services:

PAID Where : below you can find a list of cycling rental shops (this is just a short list of the most popular locations). Jamsil Sports Complex Station (Line 2, Exits 6,7), Walk 750 meters Yeouinaru Station (Lines 5,9, Exits 2,3) Ttukseom Resort Station (Line 7, Exits 2,3), Walk 20 meters Ichon Station (Lines 4, Jungang, Exit 4), Walk 500 meters When  : 9 am ~ 8 pm (opening times may vary depending on the shop) Cost  : Full day single bike 15,000 won or per hour 3,000 won; Tandems are 6,000 won/hour.

FREE Where  : find the different locations here . When  : opening times depends on different rental shops How Much  : Free, depending on the shop available for a couple of hours or a full day.

The river parks are the perfect location for night markets; with the beautiful Hangang nightscape on the background. The  Bamdokkaebi Night Markets can be found in 6 different locations in Seoul with two of them along the river, namely Yeouido and Banpo. The markets run from March till October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6 pm ~ 11 pm.

4.1 Yeouido World Night Market

The evening market in Yeouido is an international night market with sellers from all over the world selling exotic world food, hand made objects alongside exciting performances from local and international artists. This market is located next to the Hangang River Cruise terminal, so perfect to combine these two activities.

4.2 Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market

This is literally a market lit by the moon; with artist flea markets, local art programs, food stalls; perfect for a romantic evening along the Han river.

For directions to each park, check out this Han River Map .

Swimming pools offer the perfect escape from the summer heat! Seoul metropolitan City has built more than 6 pools spread out along the Hangang river both on the north and south sides.

Each pool has different features, some included slides and water activities while others are just a normal plain pool. The pools open each year during July and August only. All pools are perfectly maintained and daily water quality tests are done to ensure a safe swimming environment.

The pools are open daily from 9am till 10pm during July and August. Entrance price is 5,000 won (adults), 3,000 won (children). Note, these pools can get super overcrowded. More info here .

What about having a little fun and workout on the river? When in Korea it’s a must to try the ‘Swan Boats’. Literally boats in a swan shape. There are dedicated areas where you can rent a duck boat per hour, perfect for 2-4 people. If you don’t want to peddle yourself, you can hire a motorized swan boat, which is also a bit more expensive.

The swan-boat-paddling area is in Yeouido, on the right of the Eland Hangang river ferry cruise terminal. Price for 60 minutes (per boat) is 15,000 won, 20,000 won for the motorized boat.

At the Ttukseom Han River Park is the kayaking and paddle board club. At the club you can rent the equipment and get brief explanation from an instructor. These activities are especially great during summer as the water will help you cool down from the humid Korean summer weather. This activity has to be booked in advance online. Find more info here.

Each year in July the Summer Water Gun Festival takes place at the Some Sevit Floating Island near Banpo Bridge. During the first 2 hours of the party, there will be an open bar with unlimited beers and cocktails. Amazing DJ’s and artists will be playing and after 6 pm, the foam party will kick off. Find more info here.

There are multiple ways of getting to the Han river as it is running through the middle of Seoul. Your route will depend on the part of the river you are planning on going to. Here are just a few subway stations located within walking distance of the river.

• Ttukseom Resort station: Exit #2 or 3 of  (Seoul Subway Line 7).
• Cheonho station: Exit #1 (Seoul Subway Line 5 & 8), walk about 20 min.
• Yeouinaru station: Exit #2 or 3 (Seoul Subway Line 5).
• Dangsan station: From exit #4 (Seoul Subway Line 2), walk about 10 min.

The best time of day to go on a Han River cruise largely depends on your preferences. If you prefer a serene and romantic atmosphere, a sunset cruise is recommended. However, if you prefer a more lively and festive atmosphere, a nighttime cruise with live music and colorful city lights is recommended.

A Han River cruise typically lasts for about an hour or two. However, the duration may vary depending on the type of cruise you choose, as well as the time of day and season.

Yes, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind before going on a Han River cruise. It is recommended that you wear comfortable and non-slip shoes, as the decks of the boats can be slippery. Additionally, be sure to bring a light jacket or sweater as it can get chilly on the river. Finally, be sure to follow the safety guidelines provided by the cruise operator, such as staying seated while the boat is moving and keeping your belongings secure.

Like this post about going on a Hangang River Cruise? Why not pin it?

Have you been on a Han river cruise? Have any questions about these Han ferry tours? Are you planning on going to the Han River? Have anything to add to this article? Let me know in the comment section below.

Tags: Outdoor River

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Thanks for sharing this guide. this is really very nice post i glad to read this info. In Korean history, Han river played a central role. The rise and fall of the nation depended on taking the Han river.

Great post! This is very helpful for those who want to visit this place. Really want to experience Han River Cruise.

Can we buy Hangang River Story cruise ticket on the spot? I have just known that it should be bought in advance, however we have to leave Korea tomorrow. So sad if I can’t try this experience.

Yes you could also buy the tickets on site but during the busy periods they can be sold out. So if you want to be sure then buying them online is the best option.

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The Essential Han River Guide

The Han River is in many ways the heart of Seoul.

Not only does it divide the north and south of the city, in many ways the old and the new, but it is also one of the most loved locations in the city.

As many rivers help define cities – the Thames in London and the Yarra in Melbourne to name but two, the Han River helps define Seoul.

It’s easy to say that the Han River is one of the must-visit locations in Seoul . It’s also most definitely true! If you are in Seoul and haven’t visited the Han River then you are missing out.

You may also hear of the Han River referred to as ‘Hangang’ (pronounced as Han-gang). This is the rivers name in Korean and is the romanisation of the Korean word 한강.

With the river being such a central pillar of Seoul, make sure that you get the chance to visit it. It may ‘only’ be a river, but it’s a very important one, and one with many different activities!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, read my affiliate disclaimer .

When to Visit the Han River

One of the questions I get asked very often is ‘when is the best time to visit the Han River?’. The best time to visit is definitely whenever you are in Seoul! However, here’s a bit more detail.

Before you even consider when the best time to visit the Han River is, it’s best to ask yourself when is the best time to visit Seoul? Every season has different attractions and highlights.

Generally, the best season to enjoy the most Han River activities is summer. This is because it’s not only the warmest season but also Han’s busiest season. All of the water activities will be open.

However, summer also brings crowds. If you plan to visit some of the popular Han River parks such as Yeouido, Ttukseom, or Nanji, then you might find summer quite crowded.

Spring and Fall are also great times to visit the river as they often have fewer crowds and milder weather. Just be careful, as it can get quite chilly after the sun goes down.

In Spring, there will also be cherry blossom festivals at some of the Han River parks. These festivals are stunning and the river background makes them even more so. 

Winter is the hardest season in which to visit the Han River because it is so cold. While the Han River can still be enjoyed, make sure to wear warm clothes!

In winter, there will be far fewer events and activities at the river. However, many activities such as picnicking, biking, and strolling along the river can still be enjoyed.

While I still recommend at least visiting the river in winter, there are also a lot of other activities that you can enjoy in winter .

Best Time of Day to Visit

If you want a stunning view, visit at sunset!

While you can visit the river at any time, I would recommend two times in particular. Firstly is in the morning, secondly is at dusk.

The morning is a great time to visit the river as it is well before the crowds will begin to appear. Before 1 pm, most of the people you come across will be exercising. There won’t be many picnickers or couples!

During the afternoon the river will get busier until around 8 pm. 6 pm to 8 pm is peak time at Hangang. However, it is for good reason.

Since the river flows east to west, it is a fantastic sunset viewing location. In fact, many of the best sunsets in Seoul can be witnessed along the banks of the Han River.

While this is the busiest time, it is also the most beautiful. If you want to visit and avoid the crowds though, make sure to go before 1 pm!

How to Get to the Han River

Since the Han River flows right through the centre of Seoul, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of different ways to get to the river. 

With that being said, these are the directions to get to a few of the more popular locations on the river.

How to Get to Yeouido

Despite the name, the best subway station to reach Yeouido Hangang Park is Yeouinaru Station . Yeouinaru is located on Line 5 (purple line). Exit the station via exit 2 or 3. 

Both of these exits are located right next to the Han River park and they are located right next to each other. However, exit 2 is a more direct way to the various food stalls and other vendors.

How to Get to Ttukseom Hangang Park

Again, despite the name, the best station to reach Ttukseom Hangang Park is actually Ttukseom Resort Station . The station is located on Line 7 (dark green line).

From the station, exit from either exit 2 or 3. They are located just opposite each other and both lead down straight into the Ttukseom Hangang Park. 

How to Get to Banpo Hangang Park

To get to Banpo Hangang Park you have two choices. The first involves a bit more walking, but the walking is alongside the Han River. The second option is more direct but involves covering a block or two of the city.

The first method is to go to Dongjak Station on Line 4 (light blue). From there, exit the station via exit 2 – this will take you right onto the banks of the Han River. Follow the river east for 10-15 minutes and you will arrive at Banpo Han River Park.

Secondly, you can arrive at the Express Bus Terminal Station on Line 3 (orange), 7 (dark green) and 9 (light brown). Exit from Exit 8-1 and go straight until you come across a big highway (it should be the third road to the right).

Follow the highway straight and you will come across some stairs which will take you into the park. 

How to Enjoy the Han River

There are a lot of different ways that the Han River can be enjoyed. The river has become a big attraction for both locals and tourists alike and has been designed to entertain people.

Some of the most popular ways to enjoy the Han River are with a Han River Cruise , as a picnic location, and as an exercise location for everything from walking to skateboarding and biking.

However, there are even more activities that are a bit more unique. Many of the bridges have stunning lighting at night and some even put on light shows.

There is even a museum/park called the Seoul Battleship Park which has two retired navy boats as well as a submarine!

On top of this, there is a large variety of different water activities that you can enjoy. From cruising on the Han River to taking out peddle boats, kayaks , or having jet-ski rides.

All of this is to say, there isn’t a lack of activities to do on and near the Han River. Whether you want an action-packed day or would just prefer to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, the river has you covered.

Picnicking at the Han River

A picnic on any riverside is usually a great time. However, Korea has a few conveniences which make picnicking at the Han River the ultimate ‘only in Korea’ activity .

Not only are tents and mats available for hire, but they are also virtually free. Mats can be found as low as 2000KRW (less than $2). However, they do require a deposit in order to make sure you return the item. Tents can be hired from 10,000KRW on Trazy .

If you get hungry while picnicking, why not order some food straight to your tent. No, seriously! You can deliver food right to your tent!

Although most of the delivery services are Korean, there are also some that have English service available. You will find flyers for food all around popular picnic areas such as Yeouido.

If you are planning to enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Han River make sure to bring a picnic kit! These are the best items to enjoy summer (or spring or fall!) evening at the famous Hangang.

Picnic Essentials – Bluetooth speaker , outdoor blanket , paper cups , tumbler , picnic mat , bug repellent , lantern , hand sanitizer .

It can be difficult to order food if you can’t speak Korean. Luckily, there are a few great services that can help with ordering food. One such service is Gowonderfully . They are fantastic for quick tasks when you need someone fluent in Korean!

Han River Cruise

One of the most popular ways to enjoy the Han River – and indeed one of my favourite ways, is to take a Han River cruise.

Although this might sound expensive, it really isn’t! Cruises can be enjoyed for less than $15 per person. They are definitely one of the best ways to enjoy the Han River and to see the sights that it offers!

If you would like to eat, then most of the cruises also offer food onboard which can be enjoyed by customers.

The cruises go from many different points along the Han River. Generally, I would recommend taking a cruise from a central point in the city. Locations like Yeouido have a lot of highrise buildings and make for some stunning scenes. 

If you are interested in taking a cruise on the Han River, make sure to check out these deals.

Another way to enjoy the warm weather is to bike along the banks of the Han River. Nearly the whole river has paved paths on both sides. What’s more, these paths are very well maintained and are flat and smooth.

Bikes can be hired for very cheap prices – from less than $1 per hour you can enjoy biking along the Han River. If you purchase more credit, you can even get discounts. 

The bikes can be hired from an app which is now provided in English. Although the app is not very good (it performs terribly at times), it is usable.

Balance can be topped up by a variety of different methods and discounts can be applied when purchasing longer periods of time.

These bikes can be hired not only at the Han River but all over the city! In fact, the green and white bikes can be found on nearly every 2nd or 3rd block in the city.

Once you understand how to use the app, the bikes are very easy to hire and return. They can be returned to any bike stand in the city, and as mentioned above, they are very common.

If you want a new way to explore the Han River or even the city of Seoul, make sure to check out the bikes in Seoul!

Watching the Sunset

Watching the sunset is one of my favourite activities at the Han River – not only because it’s a large open space, but also because the river flows east to west. Since the sun sets above the river, this makes for some beautiful views.

There are fantastic views all around the river, and I would recommend watching the sunset wherever is most convenient for you. I have a whole post dedicated to the best sunset locations in Seoul and I could go on and on!

Perhaps the best place to watch the sunset, though, is from some of the bridges that cross the Han River. Nearly all of the bridges have footpaths and stairs leading onto them.

If you can’t make it to the bridges, or would simply prefer to not walk across them, then the sunset view from the banks of the Han River is also stunning.

Although there are many fantastic sunset locations along the river, one of my favourites is at Ttukseom. The view towards Namsan Tower is breathtaking and one of the best that you can see in Seoul!

Water Sports

Being a river, Han has a lot of different water sports which can also be enjoyed. From windsurfing to Flyboarding , there really is a lot to be enjoyed here.

Most of the water sports take part in the major Han River hubs. This means Yeouido and Ttukseom primarily, although there are a few other areas along the river which also offer water activities.

If you are feeling up for something adventurous then I would recommend trying out flyboarding. I’m almost certain you have seen videos of it before, and it is a lot of fun!

If you are looking for something a bit less extreme, then there are also pedal boats and other activities which can be enjoyed.

Han River Swimming Pools

At the peak of summer (mid-July to mid-August), the Han River swimming pools open. These swimming pools are located all over the Han River, and can be found at Ttukseom, Yeouido, Gwangnaru, Mangwon, Jamwon, Jamsil, Nanji and Yangwha Han River parks.

The pools have a small fee – Children are 3000KRW, youths are 4000, and adults 5000. Children under six years of age get free admission.

The pools are open to all ages, however, they are split into different areas. There are children’s pools and close by the adult pools can be found. 

Located near the pools are showers and snack bars, and this makes them an all-in-one place to have some family fun. 

Ttukseom Hangang Park has the most famous of the pools, however, it can be quite packed at times. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit in the morning (before noon).

The pools are open from 9 am until 7 pm. However, as mentioned above, you can expect these pools to be quite busy – especially after lunchtime.

Best Locations to Enjoy the Han River

The Han River is massive. It winds through Seoul for many kilometres and has many distinctive and unique areas to visit. On top of that, there are tens of different Han River parks. Possibly even hundreds!

Some of the more popular locations along the Han River are well known by all – Yeouido Hangang Park, Ttukseom Hangang Park, and Banpo Hangang Park to name three.

I will cover these parks before discussing a few of the lesser-known parks along the river banks.

Yeouido Hangang Park

Yeouido Han River Park is perhaps the most well-known river park in Seoul. It is located in a very wealthy part of Seoul – right next to the general assembly building. 

The park itself is located on Yeouido , an island which is located in the Han River. The island can be accessed from the purple line and also from the dark brown line. The station itself is located very close to the park and makes it very easy to access.

Yeouido can be very crowded at times as it is very well-known and liked. However, the upside of this is that it means there are a lot of activities and food vendors on site.

There are both grassy areas which are great for sitting, and concrete areas which are for fantastic for skateboarding and biking.

To take advantage of this, mats and tents can both be hired from the exit of the subway station and online . More interestingly, there are also segways and hoverboards for hire if you want another way to explore the park.

For around 10,000KRW per hour, you can hire these electronic devices and explore the riverside. It’s a fantastic way to spend a summer evening!

Ttukseom Hangang Park

Ttukseom Han River Park is another of my favourites. This is another of the more famous parks in Seoul and holds many performances and festivals every year – especially in the warmer months.

The Han River park is located at Ttukseom Resort Station (뚝섬유원지역) on line 7. The train station is located directly above the park and can be accessed with a very short walk from the station.

J-Bug (a big, seemingly floating, building that overlooks the park) is another attraction that makes Ttukseom unique. This building has a few exhibitions as well as some viewpoints to take in the sunset

Under the structure, there are a lot of paths that can be explored. If you would prefer to rest, then you can enjoy the grass areas with mats that can be hired. Similar to Yeouido, there are also bikes which can be hired.

While Ttukseom doesn’t have as many food options (unless you order), there is a big convenience store which has not only typical convenience store food, but also a few meal foods such as chicken.

Ttukseom, while still quite crowded at times, tends to be less busy than Yeouido. While Yeouido has more food options on sight, this can easily be overcome with delivery food.

One of Ttukseom Hangang’s biggest attractions is that there are a lot of festivals and events held throughout the year. From concerts to talk shows and dances, there is always something happening at Ttukseom Resort Station.

Banpo Hangang Park

Banpo Han River Park is another of the popular Han River parks in Seoul, and one that is famous for a unique reason.

While not as maintained and built up as Ttukseom and Yeouido Hangang parks, Banpo has one attraction which makes it stand out amongst the rest – that attraction is the waterfall light show of Banpo Bridge.

In the warmer months, at set times, the bridge will spray water out the sides and paint the water with rainbow coloured lights. It’s a stunning sight!

Banpo Hangang Park isn’t as popular of a picnic spot as the two above parks, and as such, it’s often a nice park to visit if you would prefer to stay away from the crowds. 

While the park is by no means worse, it is different. It is less built up and has fewer facilities than the other parks. However, it does have some unique attractions that make it worth visiting!

Nanji Hangang Park

This Han River park is located close to Hongdae, at World Cup Stadium . World Cup Stadium is a large area containing not only the World Cup Stadium but also a cluster of other parks.

The World Cup Stadium Parks are all located close to the station and are within a short walking distance of the exit.

Although the park itself is made up of five smaller parks, the one in question is Nanji Hangang Park. This park is located on the banks of the Han River and is well maintained. 

When I visited the park in 2018 it was a great place to have a picnic. However, it didn’t have many facilities as it is one of the lesser-visited Han River parks.

Nanji has some stunning views though, and this is what makes it stand out to me. On top of this, it’s rarely ever crowded and this makes it a great place to have a more private picnic in the evening.

Jamwon Hangang Park

Jamwon is another park found on the orange line. Jamwon is one of my favourite parks as it has more trees and shaded areas than the other parks on this list.

This is especially key in summer when the weather easily gets into the high 30’s. Although the humidity remains, the shade does provide some form of relief from the relentless heat.

Jamwon also has some fields which are famous for their Pink Muhly Grass in the fall. This easily makes for one of the most beautiful Han River parks in the city, and if you haven’t yet seen it in fall, I highly recommend it!

If you can’t visit in fall, consider visiting in spring. In spring, there are poppies blooming and they

There are also bikes available for hire. From 1000KRW per hour , these bikes can be hired and enjoyed. There are bike paths along the side of the river which are well made and flat.

If you are looking to visit a Han River Park in spring or fall then I would recommend Jamwon Han River Park.

Hapjeong Hangang Park

Hapjeong has less of a Han River Park, as it isn’t a dedicated area for a park. However, it has some nice riverside paths as well as a few fantastic seating areas that make it ideal for a picnic. So while Hapjeong isn’t technically a Han River Park, it’s still a very nice place to visit.

Hapjeong Han River Park can be easily reached from Hapjeong Station and is one of the most enjoyable parks along the banks of the Han River.

To my knowledge, tents and mats can’t be hired here, however. So make sure to bring your own picnic gear. Food is available at nearby stores, and it’s easy to carry food down to the riverside.

It also has one of the most beautiful views out of all of the Han River parks. Looking towards Yeouido, the view is fantastic.

Finally, Hapjeong is located just across the bridge from Yeouido. If you fancy the best view, you can start at Hapjeong and cross the bridge towards Yeouido. This is one of the best sunset views in the city!

One of the best Han River activities is to watch the sunset or sunrise on the banks of the river. So much so, that the river is often regarded as having many of the best views in the city .

I can attest to this, as I have spent months exploring different locations on the Han River and finding, what I believe, are some of the best views that the city has to offer. These are the best Han River views!

Ttukseom Resort Station has one of the most popular Han River parks, and it is for good reason – the park also has one of the best Han River views in the city. 

The west-facing view from the park provides a breathtaking view of Namsan Tower , one of Seoul’s most famous landmarks. The tower is iconic and standing atop Namsan (South Mountain), the view is a must-see in Seoul.

This is even truer because the sun sets behind Namsan, highlighting the tower and making its shadow stand out. 

Ttukseom also has a second view which although not as iconic, is also very stunning! That view is the view directly across the river from the park.

Across the river are a few different high-rise buildings with a variety of lights. These lights reflect off the surface of the water, and in turn, make for a fantastic reflection photo. 

Dongho Bridge

Dongho Bridge is the bridge that crosses the Han River between Oksu and Apgujeong. The view on the eastern side of the bridge is one of my all-time favourites in Seoul and it is unforgettable when coupled with a good sunset. 

This is one of the less cluttered views as it is in an area where there aren’t as many high-rise buildings. Due to this, you get to see the vastness of the Han River. This makes for some fantastic reflection photos!

Dongjak Bridge Emart

This one might sound a little funny, but hear me out! Did you know that there are two Emart 24 convenience stores located on either side of Dongjak Bridge? Well, there are, and they provide some amazing views!

Dongjak Bridge is located more towards the east of Seoul, and the bridge itself isn’t as famous as many other bridges. However, it also has a unique attraction in the two convenience stores located on the bridge. 

The Emart stores are 3 stories tall and look nothing at all like convenience stores. Rather, they look like observatories. Inside these buildings are a convenience store, a small library, a cafe, and a deck on the roof.

You don’t need to spend much at these stores as they sell everything from ramyun to restaurant food. Once you get some food, you are welcome to enjoy the fantastic river views from the observation areas. 

Despite being Emart 24, these stores are a great location for a date. They have some of the best views and are very affordable. If you would prefer something a bit fancier, then they also offer more expensive foods and coffee!

Haneul Garden

Although located a short distance from the river itself, Haneul Garden provides some of the best river views in the city.

The park is very famously known for being a landfill that was converted to one of Seoul’s top natural attractions. If you have seen photos of silver grass in Seoul, then there is a good chance that those photos are from here!

Haneul Garden is located at World Cup Stadium and is located within a few minutes walk of Nanji Hangang Park – a park which I talked about earlier in this post. 

If you want to learn more about the park itself, read this post on the World Cup Stadium parks . However, I also wanted to add that it is a park with a fantastic view and one which overlooks the Han River in all its splendour.

Being the heart of Seoul, the Han River hosts a large variety of different festivals every year. While the festivals included here aren’t the only ones on throughout the year, they are some of the most famous and popular.

Han River Summer Festival

The biggest festival that takes place at the Han River annually is the Hangang Summer Festival – a festival which lasts for a month throughout July and August. 

This festival takes place not in one location on the Han, but actually in many different parks along the river. In 2019, 11 parks were included in the festivities! It’s really quite a widespread festival and this is great – it means that everyone can access it. 

Events can range from water activities to concerts and film showings. There are also cultural performances that take place, and they are a great way to experience a little of the Korean culture!

For exact details on the events including when and where they will take place, I recommend reading the official page for the festival.

Han River Movie Nights

Throughout the summer, you can also find movie screenings at the parks along the Han River. Most of these movie screenings are part of the above-mentioned Hangang Summer Festival, however, some are also screened outside of the festival.

For more specific times, check out the official site . 

Han River Night Markets

The Bamdokkaebi Night Market takes place along the banks of the Han River on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer. This market runs from 6 pm to 11 pm at the Yeouido and Banpo Han River parks.

The markets sell lots of different foods from all over the world. On top of this, the market also sells various handmade goods and other items.

Even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything, the market has an enjoyable atmosphere and it is one of the more exciting times to visit the Han River.

There are also other markets that take place irregularly along the Han River that can be found throughout the year. 

Greenplugged Festival

The Greenplugged Festival is an event which takes place in mid-May. This event (at least the Seoul variant of it) takes place at the Nanji Hangang Park and features a line-up of performances by various singers. 

The event has a focus on environmental consideration and that is why the venue of Nanji Hangang Park was chosen. Before being converted to one of Seoul’s stunning parks, the area was a landfill site.

Since then, not only Nanji Hangang Park but also the surrounding parks at World Cup Stadium have been converted into one of the top parks in Seoul.

The line-up for Greenplugged has yet to be announced for 2020. However, you can find more information on their website .

Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry blossoms are one of the spring biggest attractions not only in Korea but all over the world. Korea has a lot of cherry blossom festivals , however, most of them take place outside of Seoul.

If you are looking for a Cherry blossom festival in Korea and happen to be around in mid-April, then make sure to head over to Yeouido for the yearly cherry blossom festival .

Not only are the cherry blossoms blooming, but also the azaleas and other flowers. 

In the evening, the park and trees are lit up with LED lights and this is almost even more popular than the daytime festival. 

If you are in Seoul and want to see the cherry blossoms, make sure to check out the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival – it is one of the best in the city!

Seoul International Fireworks Festival

For anyone that doesn’t mind fireworks, this is the highlight out of all of the Han River festivals. The Seoul International Fireworks Festival is the biggest fireworks festival in Seoul and it lights up the whole city in October. 

The fireworks festival generally lasts for 5 days in early October. The fireworks will mark the end of the festival and take place on the last night. 

As the name implies, the fireworks are on a truly grand scale and they are definitely on a global scale in terms of size and beauty. 

What makes the festival unique from other fireworks festivals is that it takes place over the Han River – this makes for some stunning reflections which only highlight the beauty of the fireworks.

If you are in Seoul in early October make sure to visit the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. It’s a festival that you won’t want to miss!

The Han River – a Must Visit Place in Seoul

There are a few places in Seoul that are on every must-visit list. Namsan Tower, Gyeongbokgung Palace , Myeongdong, Namdaemun and the Han River to name but a few.

While some of these places aren’t as fantastic as they are made out to be, there are also some which truly are must-visits. The Han River is one of them. Not only is it a place that has a lot of activities, but it is iconic of Seoul and represents a large part of the city’s identity.

For that reason, the Han River is a must-visit location when you visit Seoul.

If you have any questions or have something that you would like to see added to the list, please let me know! I am always looking to add to these lists and update them.

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What to Expect on a Han River Cruise

One of the cool ways to enjoy Seoul’s main river is cruising right on it. Here’s what to expect with a Han River ferry cruise !

One of the last days I had during my trips to Korea was spent on a short little cruise along the Han through Trazy . I went with my friend, Marie, and we were hoping to see some pretty night views of the city.

The Han is the main river the runs through Seoul, and I actually haven’t spent nearly as much time near it as you’d think! I remember one specific time as a student ordering chicken with friends watching the Banpo light show, but that was quite a while ago now. So I was pretty excited to do a little cruise thanks to Trazy and spend some more time on the river!

Trazy is an English-friendly booking service that I’ve mentioned on here quite a few times. They often have discount tickets for many attractions around Korea as well as full on tours.

Our cruise was split into two parts. The light show, which starts around 8:00 pm and then the music performance, which starts at 8:10 pm. I think it all lasts until about 9:00 pm before bringing you back to where you started.

I’m going to be honest — the day I went on this cruise, I was dealing with the worst of my fever. I literally felt like I was in a medicated daze the whole day. On top of that, I mistakenly thought we were on the buffet cruise , so I came starving. Don’t do this. There are some food options on board, but it’s mostly snacks and drinks at their mini cafe.

I should also add, Seoul was going through another big cold front, so it was actually quite freezing at night, despite it being mid-April. I’m guessing because of how cold it was, they also didn’t do the normal Banpo Bridge light show, which is usually the highlight of the night cruises. We only went on deck for about 10 minutes and instead stayed inside where it was much cozier and we could see the views from the window.

I will say I really liked the music performance, and I don’t really enjoy live music unless I’m at a festival or concert. It wasn’t overwhelmingly loud, and the music was nice. They even played “Cherry Blossom Ending” and finished with “Arirang.”

All in all, it was a bit of a trifecta for me in terms of being sick, being cold, and being hungry, which are all three things you’ll hopefully avoid. I’d say check the weather when booking because spring in Seoul is so touchy! It was warm enough that I was in a T-shirt in Lotte World and then shivering on this night cruise only three days later!

How to Book

You can get your tickets at the terminal, but it’s much easier to book ahead. I’d get the Han River E-land Ferry Cruise tickets here as it’s also a slight discount.

How to Get There

The terminal is near Yeouinaru Station, Exit 3. You’ll see signs for it and, of course, cruise ships are kind of hard to miss! When you get your tickets, don’t forget to fill out an “Embarkation” card beforehand in the area right before the booth.

Also, because the terminal is in Yeouido, we got to see some of the cherry blossoms there at night! Little bonus if you go in mid-April.

And there you have it! All you need to know about cruising the Han River at night. Have you been? What did you think? I’d like to do it again, maybe in warmer weather, so I can see the light show!

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I was given tickets courtesy of Trazy. However all opinions are my own.

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[Eland Cruise] Story Cruise

$  18.3

• This is for FOREIGNERS ONLY
• This is price for Adults & Teenagers
• Children (36 months- 12 years): $ 9.5
• No charge for under 36 months  *ID verification
• Passport/Embarkation card needed

Out of stock

Special offer

• Booking Process

Yeouido – Dangsan Railway Bridge – Yeouido (40 minutes)

• See Han river day view
• Have fun feeding seagulls (Additional charge for Seagull snacks)
• Enjoy the live guitar performance (Note that it is not included in 11:30 departure)

Hangang River Ferry Cruise began operations on October 26, 1986, traversing the heart of Seoul between east and west. The operation company, E-Land Cruise, aims to develop a cruise theme park at Hangang River as the iconic attraction representing Seoul. It also aims to promote and familiarize Hangang River to international tourists as a world famous attraction. Visitors and Seoul residents alike can take a break from the busy urban atmosphere and enjoy a relaxing time while on the cruise.

E-Land Cruise currently operates two terminals and 7 docks in Yeouido, Jamsil, Ttukseom, Jamdubong, Seonyudo, Seoul Forest, Gimpo, and Incheon.

www.elandcruise.com  (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese)

Show email voucher/ Show your mobile and Embarkation Card at the Ticket Office

Address : 290 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 290 (여의도동) 한강유람선 선착장

Subway : Yeouinaru station, Exit 3, walking 3-5 min to the right along Han river

Reservation is available via website.

* Group reservation (10 or more people) is available. Contact us via our email.  (Click here)

[Yeouido Ferry Dock] Story Cruise: Yeouido – Dangsan Railway Bridge – Yeouido (40 minutes)

See Han river day view Have fun feeding seagulls (Additional charge for Seagull snacks) Enjoy the live guitar performance (Note that it is not included in 11:30 departure)

Please arrive at Ticket Office at least 30 minutes in advance . The cruise will depart on time and if you are late, we will consider it as cancellation and there will be no refund.

You must bring your passport and Embarkation Card . (We will send it to you via email. When you book, please write down on Order Note  your Phone number and Nationality)

100% refund: 2 days before the departure (KST) 0% refund: 1 day before the departure (KST)

Please note that we are not responsible for 5% paypal commission fee. Even for 100% refund, you will not be able to get refund for the 5% paypal commission fee.(KST)

If you need to change the date, please cancel and make a new booking. Regular cancellation policy will be applied. *If cancelled by cruise company, 100% refund will be issued*

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1. You need to log in first.

2. Choose date and number of tickets.

3. Choose your option. (If there is one)

4. Payment can be done by PayPal.

5. Check your email voucher. (Confirmation within 1 business day)

6. Show your voucher at Ticket Office.

9 reviews for [Eland Cruise] Story Cruise

Asmae and Leila – 2022년 March 1일

Beyond my expectations ! everything was perfect thank you a lot

Lilianne – 2023년 February 8일

The cruise was perfect thanks Etour!

Chloe – 2023년 February 8일

I really appreciated to naviguate in Han river, i recommend !

Mireille – 2023년 March 2일

I had a great time, it was very funny to feed the seagulls!

Chris – 2023년 March 2일

A beautiful cruise, my wife and I had a great time!

Xavier – 2023년 March 13일

Very interesting cruise, I learned a lot of things!

Hugh – 2023년 March 13일

Wow really awesome!

Lola – 2023년 March 13일

Very nice cruise, my sister loved it and me too!

Lily – 2023년 March 13일

I had a good time, too bad I discovered at that moment that I was seasick!

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• TRAVEL TIPS

Han River Cruise – Explore the Beautiful City by the River

In Da Nang, if there are Bana Hills , Da Nang Beaches as the must-go attractions during the day. In the evening, visitors often plan to take a cruise on Han River to see the full beauty of the city. However, many people have not yet grasped the Han River cruise experience. Don’t worry, read the guide below right away.

Table of Contents

Experience Da Nang Han river cruise

The gentle Han River with shimmering waves and colorful cruise taking you along the river have become familiar images with travelers coming to Da Nang. Join and emerge yourself in the night rhythm of Da Nang to understand more about the scenery and locals here.

Enjoy the scenery on the Han river and the bridges

This is an opportunity to see the beauty of the Four Great Bridges, which is the name favored by tourists for the four famous bridges in Da Nang, which are:

• As the Han River Bridge – the symbol of Da Nang, it is also the first bridge marking the development of the city, proving the outstanding development of the area east of the Han River .
• It is Tran Thi Ly Bridge with the image of a sail reaching out to the sea and also the pride of Da Nang people about their wonderful creativity.
• Dragon Bridge with the symbol of a golden dragon reaching out to the sea represents the vitality and desire of Da Nang people to the big world. SPECIALLY admire the eye-catching fire spray with an impressive view on the river at Dragon Bridge on Saturdays and Sundays and see the Han River civets turn a very unique 90-degree angle for boats to move.
• It is a quiet Thuan Phuoc Bridge where the door opens to the sea but attracts tourists by its luxurious and delicate beauty and is an important connection for the transport system from Hue – Son Tra Peninsula – Hoi An .

Watch Cham dance and music exchange on the boat

On the yacht every evening, there are mysterious ChamPa dance performed by beautiful and professional dancers. For those who love art will surely be immersed in these unique dances.

Some Han River cruises also organize music exchange programs with famous singers. You will enjoy very romantic guitar, Piano, Saxophone melodies and participate in singing, dancing, and singing exchanges.

Relax and take virtual photos

Sitting on a yacht in addition to being immersed in a large space, enjoying the cool air and relaxing. The beauty of colorful lights, restaurants and high-rise hotels make you fall in love. Especially if you like to take strange photos, don’t forget to bring your camera to “flash” a few photos as a souvenir.

Some notes about Han River Cruise

The starting time.

According to the Han River cruise experience, many trips are organized every day with departure times in 4-time frames: 18h10, 19h10, 20h10, 21h10 when the city starts to light up. You should note that, on Sunday, the cruise will depart at 20:00. The time of each trip will be within 1 hour.

Ticket price for Han River Cruise

You should note, depending on the type of ticket you buy, there will be accompanying and non-attached services.

Cruise fare without dinner

The price of cruise ticket includes: Han River cruise ticket, entertainment programs on board (watching Cham dance, music exchange), water travel insurance. You should book tickets in advance and then have dinner with their favorite Da Nang specialties, arrive on time to board the train to experience.

Cruise fare with dinner

If you want to experience the feeling of having a sightseeing cruise while having dinner, you can choose Han River Dragon Boat. Of course, the price will be much higher than just sightseeing.

With the design same as a restaurant, the dining menu on the Han River Dragon Boat is evaluated for variety and quality. Here, there are menus listed with prices for visitors to order quickly. The drinks here are not too expensive.

Check the price for combo Han River Cruise & Local Beer now

Choose your seat on the cruise

Choosing the location is also a Han river cruise experience that you should grasp. When taking a Han river cruise, you have the full right to choose their favorite seats under the guidance of the staff. Each cruise will usually have two decks. Each deck has two rows of seats. According to the majority, they often choose the 2nd floor because it has a broader view. However, if you do not have time to select this area, do not be too sad because the first-floor area also has many benefits:

The 1st floor has a larger area than the 2nd floor, so it is more spacious. As many people choosing the 2nd floor, the space on the 1st floor will usually be quieter, suitable for those who want to find relaxation and peace. The area at the top of the first floor is designed to be quite empty, so you can move up there to look around or check-in.

Sitting on the first floor means you can sit close to the river. In this position, you will feel the calm and gentleness of the Han River at night beside the lights, the sky, and the bridges reflected on the water surface. In addition, there is another remarkable thing that on high water days, if you are lucky, you will see schools of fish swimming along with the boat, even jumping on the water.

Reviews Han River Cruise from Tripadvisor

We chose the ‘Tradicitonal’ Dragon River cruise to experience the beautiful bridges on Da Nang. The cruise itself was a wonderful experience. The night wad cool but not cold and the views were amazing. We chose not to go for the dinner as it was only 1.5 hours so we settled for drinks. The staff were kind and courteous and were attentive to our needs. Definitely recommend this ad a must do in Da Nang.

gavap73 (Adelaide, Australia)

We went around Da Nang with incredible views, sat on the motobike and got a in dept experience of the city, saw Han river and Dragon bridge in night, The lady guides were so informative, kind and enthusiastic!!

lily a (Calgary, Canada)

Cruise was good. Pretty sights except that the crews on the cruise was not very information. Eveeyone was disappointment as we didn’t get to see the Dragon Bridge spit fire. That was the main reason people would buy to go on the cruise to watch the Dragon Bridge blow fire!

Daisy T (Singapore)

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Cham Island: A Paradise for Divers and Much More

Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 begins 31 May

H CM City, 19th May, 2024 (WAM) -- The second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2024 will take place from 31st May to 9th June, at Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi Wharf, Saigon Cruise Port, and other tourist venues, featuring a wide range of culture, cuisine, and entertainment activities, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported today.

This year’s festival is expected to turn the southern metropolis into a popular destination for waterway tourism. A signature show called ‘The Story of a River’, the highlight of the festival, will tell the story of historic boats associated with the locality.

The first river festival was held in 2023. More than 6,000 spectators took in five spectacular performances at the event, recreating cultural and economic activities, and lifestyles of river dwellers of Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City about three centuries ago. This was the first time an art show had been performed on a stage built on the Saigon River with a diverse combination of performance technologies and a harmony of entertainment and historical elements.

In a statement carried by VNA, Le Hai Yen, general director of this year's festival, nearly 1,000 professional and amateur performers will participate in the event. The outdoor performance space at Nha Rong Wharf- Khanh Hoi - Saigon Port will be transformed into a large film studio, promising to wow spectators. The festival will tell modern historical stories about the special boats that used to come in and out of the Saigon River, associated with important milestones of the nation.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Municipal Department of Tourism, said that the city's tourism sector expects this year's festival will continue to attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists, contributing to the growth of the sector in the time ahead.

Meanwhile, Da Nang has undertaken landscape planning on both sides of Han River, to improve local tourism development. The city will rebuild the area into an urban centre with administrative-political offices, a financial centre, and a gateway to riverside and coastal tourism. The area is also being upgraded to host both national and international conventions and conference centres.

The central city is implementing a nearly VND400 billion (US$15.7 million) project to light up the Han River with horizontal bridges. In 2024, the two banks of the Han River will be the venues for 55 periodic and annual cultural events and festivals organised by agencies, units and localities. The Han River, the "heart"of the city, is blowing fresh air into Da Nang tourism.

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• St. Petersburg - Moscow Cruise

This 8-day Russian river cruise by luxury ship will take you to the jewels of Russia - St. Petersburg and Moscow as well as the most significant towns between these 2 magnificent cities: Mandrogui village, Kizhi island with its amazing wooden architecture and Uglich and Goritsy with their tranquil, country atmosphere.

• Route St. Petersburg - Mandrogui - Kizhi - Goritsy - Uglich - Moscow
• Languages English-speaking guide is guaranteed. Other languages are on request.
• Cruise Ship 5-star cruise ship MS Rostropovich
• Group Tour This is a group tour. There will be other people in your group.

This is a great Russian river cruise on a comfortable 4-star ship that will take you to St. Petersburg and Moscow and the most significant places between these 2 cities: Mandrogui village, Kizhi island with its amazing wooden architecture and Uglich and Goritsy with their tranquil atmosphere.

• Route St. Petersburg - Mandrogui- Kizhi - Goritsy - Uglich - Moscow
• Cruise Ship 4-star cruise ship: MS Crucelake

This is our shortest St. Petersburg to Moscow cruise and it is a perfect choice for those who have already been to Moscow and St. Petersburg and would like to explore the small, charming towns lying between the Two Capitals.

• Route St. Petersburg - Shlisselburg - Valaam - Svirstroy/Lodeynoe Pole - Mandrogui - Kizhi - Kuzino - Myshkin - Uglich - Moscow
• Cruise Ship 3-star cruise ships: MS Swan Lake, MS Moonlight Sonata

This is our most popular St. Petersburg to Moscow cruise. Besides in depth visits to St. Petersburg and Moscow, the cruise covers all the most important areas between the two capitals: Mandrogui - a colorful village famous for local handicrafts, amazing Kizhi Island with its beautiful nature and wooden architecture, as well as the ancient towns of Goritsy, Yaroslavl, and Uglich.

• Route St. Petersburg - Mandrogui - Kizhi - Goritsy - Yaroslavl - Uglich - Moscow
• Cruise Ship 3-star cruise ships: MS Zosima Shashkov

This is a classic St. Petersburg - Moscow cruises that takes you to the Two Capitals as well a number of charming ancient towns on the way: Mandrogui village, Kizhi island, Goritsy, Yaroslavl, and Uglich.

• Cruise Ship 4-star cruise ships:, MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky, MS Nizhny Novgorod, MS Konstantin Fedin, MS Sankt-Peterburg, MS Kronshtadt

This St. Petersburg to Moscow cruise is a great way to discover Russia. The cruise includes in-depth visits to Russia’s two capitals and also makes stops at all of the important sites along the route including Mandrogui - a colorful village famous for local handicrafts, amazing Kizhi Island with its beautiful nature and wooden architecture, as well as the ancient towns of Goritsy, Yaroslavl, and Uglich.

This 11-day St. Petersburg to Moscow cruise covers all the important places: Mandrogui - a colorful village famous for local handicrafts, amazing Kizhi Island, as well as the ancient towns of Goritsy, Yaroslavl, and Uglich.

• Cruise Ship 3-star cruise ship: MS Moonlight Sonata

This 8-day Russian river cruise on a luxury ship takes you to Russia’s two capitals – Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as to the ancient towns of Uglich and Goritsy, Kizhi island with its outstanding wooden architecture, and Mandrogui village, famous for traditional handicrafts, and Valaam archipielago with its amazing monastary.

• Route St. Petersburg - Valaam - Mandrogui - Kizhi - Goritsy - Uglich - Moscow
• Cruise Ship 5-star cruise ship MS Mustai Karim

We would like to thank you very much for making the arrangements for our river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow in Sept-Oct. We were very pleased with every aspect of the cruise. The accommodation and the meals were excellent, the staff very knowledgeable & courteous, the quality of the tours was excellent. We found the lectures on the boat very interesting & everything possible was done to make sure the tourists had a wonderful experience. Thank you, too, for arranging the hotel for us the night before the cruise. It was in a great location & very comfortable. All aspects of the trip were wonderful & it was great value for money spent. Our sincere thanks.

We just wanted to thank you again for your help in setting up our Russian cruise. We've appreciated your support all the way through - from taking us through the complex paperwork of the visa application to talking to our taxi driver in St Petersburg to make sure that we were in the right place. Great service! We absolutely loved the cruise! We learned a lot, relaxed a lot and were dazzled by beautiful cities and landscapes. We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Russia. Thanks again!

St. Petersburg Cruise

This St. Petersburg cruise to Moscow Cruise is a great combination of ancient Russian cities, famous for their history, architecture and art. Travel along the magnificent Volga River that links these 2 beautiful and historic cities. Port calls include the Russian capital Moscow , Saint Petersburg , Kizhi , Goritsy and Uglich . The river cruise ship will take you along the Neva River , Lake Ladoga ,the Svir River , Lake Onega , the Baltic canal , White Lake and the Volga River . The beauty of the countryside will make your trip unforgettable. Come to Russia in the summer of 2021 with Express to Russia.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

A russian land tour or a river cruise - which is better.

This decision completely depends on your preferred way of travelling. During the Russian river cruise you will not only visit the two largest cities of Russia, but also small towns and villages along the route and you will have a chance to participate in master classes, learn a little Russian language and dive into local Russian culture and hospitality. For those who prefer custom-made programs and more free time in the cities of their choice we recommend a land tour, both are excellent options. To find out more about the differences click here .

Do I need a visa for a Russian River Cruise?

If your citizenship is not on the list of countries with visa-free access to Russia, you will need a valid Russian visa. Please make sure to start the process in a timely manner, so as to avoid any last-minute pressure. More details on Russian Visas can be found here .

What is the best Russian river cruise line?

There are several Russian river cruise lines. Each cruise line offers a number of ships and programs at different price ranges. You call feel confident in choosing any of them. All of these cruise lines are well trusted and have been in business for a long time. We also recommend checking guests' reviews and asking our reservation specialist for more details regarding any concerns.

How far in advance should I book a Russian river cruise?

Usually the cruise operating companies set their schedules and prices well in advance - at least one year before the actual cruise starts. So, we may recommend that you book your cruise and place a deposit as early as possible so that you have enough time to arrange all other components of your journey. Please also note that cruise cabins sell out quickly, so it is always a good idea to book your cabin of choice in advance.

What should I pack for a Russian River Cruise?

The weather here can be unpredictable. So first of all it is important to have comfortable clothes and some wind/waterproof items. We highly recommend that you check our new article that contains full information on packing for a Russian river cruise .

What is the voltage in Russia?

Russia uses 220V voltage as does most of Europe. So before packing your devices, do not forget to take a proper adapter, so you may recharge all of your devices with no stress. For more information please see our useful tips .

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Russian River Cruises

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• Moscow — St. Petersburg
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Moscow to Saint Petersburg

13 days – 12 nights

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Gold, Platinum  Airport transfer / Check-in at centrally located Marriott Aurora***** or Ararat Park Hyatt*****

Imperial : Private airport transfer / Check-in at the luxurious Four Seasons Moscow***** only a minute from the Kremlin and Red Square

Volga dream experience:

Gold: City Tour / Novodevichy Cemetery Imperial, Platinum:  City tour / Lunch in a Moscow City Skyscraper / Novodevichy Cemetery / Sparrow Hills

Meals: Breakfast

Platinum / Imperial

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Gold:  Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum / Red Square / GUM Department Store

Platinum:  Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum / Red Square / St. Basil’s Cathedral / GUM Department Store / Park Zaryadye

Gold:  Tretyakov Gallery / Moscow Metro Tour.

Platinum:  Leo Tolstoy House-Museum in Hamovniki / Tretyakov Gallery / Moscow Metro Tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gold, Platinum:  Town of Uglich / Church of St. Dmitri-on-the-Blood

Volga dream experience: Costumed Russian Tea Ceremony & Russian Cooking Class

Gold, Platinum:  Yaroslavl City Tour / Governor’s house 

Volga dream experience: Sun Deck Barbeque

Gold:  Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery  

Platinum:  Ferapontov Monastery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Russian Dinner with Vodka Tasting

Gold, Platinum: Kizhi Island / Lake Onega

Volga dream experience: Piano Concert – Compositions by Tchaikovsky and Rakhmaninov

Gold, Platinum:  Svirstroy village / Local resident’s home / Local primary school

Volga dream experience: Farewell Dinner, Captain’s cocktail

Gold:  City Tour / Peter and Paul Fortress

Platinum:  City Tour / St. Isaac’s Cathedral / Canal boat / Yusupov Palace

Gold:  The State Hermitage Museum / Peterhof: Park and a historic Cottage

Platinum:  The State Hermitage Museum (Early Entrance!) / Gold Room / Peterhof: Park and a historic Cottage

Gold:  Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room

Platinum:  Faberge Museum / Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room

Meals: Breakfast / Imperial

Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Check-out / Airport transfer

Volga dream experience: -

The rates are set for a cruising season. The price is not dependent on the month within a selected year

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All prices are per person based on double occupancy.

All rates are per person, based on double occupancy. Actual size of cabins can slightly differ within one category.

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Journey: Volga Dream

Price per person: not specified

Putin and Xi pledge a new era and condemn the United States

• Medium Text
• Putin and Xi cast U.S. as Cold War hegemon
• Pledge to deepen partnership in defence, trade
• Say new era in Russian-Chinese ties is dawning

WEST VERSUS XI AND PUTIN?

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Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Bernard Orr in Beijing; additional reporting by Moscow and Beijing newsrooms and Daphne Psaledakis and Michael Martina in Washington; Writing by Andrew Osborn and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Clarence Fernandez, Alex Richardson and Nick Macfie

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Bernard Orr is a veteran journalist with over 30 years of experience. He reports on breaking news from mainland China, covering political and general news, health, foreign policy and social media. Before joining China's Breaking News hub in Beijing, he was head of the editing desk in Bengaluru, India and a desk editor on the Global News Desk. He previously worked for Dow Jones Newswires.

As Moscow bureau chief, Guy runs coverage of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Before Moscow, Guy ran Brexit coverage as London bureau chief (2012-2022). On the night of Brexit, his team delivered one of Reuters historic wins - reporting news of Brexit first to the world and the financial markets. Guy graduated from the London School of Economics and started his career as an intern at Bloomberg. He has spent over 14 years covering the former Soviet Union. He speaks fluent Russian.

As Russia Chief Political Correspondent, and former Moscow bureau chief, Andrew helps lead coverage of the world's largest country, whose political, economic and social transformation under President Vladimir Putin he has reported on for much of the last two decades, along with its growing confrontation with the West and wars in Georgia and Ukraine. Andrew was part of a Wall Street Journal reporting team short-listed for a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. He has also reported from Moscow for two British newspapers, The Telegraph and The Independent.

Russian airstrikes killed at least five people and injured 16 others in a recreation area just outside Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv on Sunday, local officials said.

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Israel launches strikes across gaza as u.s. envoy visits region.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip overnight, residents said, as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan travelled to the region amid U.S. calls for a more focused military campaign.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) armed forces repelled an attempted coup d'etat involving Congolese and foreign fighters on Sunday morning, a DRC army spokesman said in a televised address.

Two people were killed and five others were missing after a suspected collision involving a small motor boat and a cruise ship on the Danube River north of Budapest late on Saturday, Hungarian police said.