Seoul is one of those places that have lots of really nice “date” type places. They love their cafes and restaurants, there are loads of movie theatres to go to, and nice streets to stroll down. Since I’m currently single, I tend to catch myself going to places and thinking “Oh, this would be nice, I’d love to go here with [crush’s name]” and then I let my imagination run away with itself.
Last week, my friend and I discovered what might be the best place to take someone on a date in Seoul.
The Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park.
Seoul Zoo is part of the giant complex of Seoul Grand Park (line 4, Seoul Grand Park Station) which also includes a giant garden and Seoulland, the amusement park. Out of all the options, I think that Seoul Zoo is the best deal out of all the options, because it’s relaxing, part fun, part romantic, and a decent price. For a really amazing day, it’s all under 20,000 won a person. The most expensive part of the day is the 12,000 for the day pass on the sky lift. The zoo itself is 3000 won, and the marine show is 2000 won. The day can be as cheap as under 5000 won if you are really on a budget, or at most 17,000 won before food and drinks.
At first, I was terrified at the idea of the sky lift, but once we got up into the chair, I realized it really is the most enjoyable way to get between the subway station and the back of the zoo. Think about it: You’re in this park and zoo, surrounded by people, but for that 10 minutes or so, it’s really just you and your date, slowly floating over a beautiful lake. In the distance is Seoul Land to your left, the gardens ahead of you, and the zoo off in the distance. A fish snaps a bug off the surface of the water, and a crane glides over the water, landing off to the side. Everything is quiet, and yet it’s buzzing with the sounds of nature, and people far off in the distance, having an amazing time in the zoo and the park. Then you’re going over a huge rose garden and children’s zoo before finally reaching the end of the ride.
Believe me: after one ride on the sky lift, you’ll realize why getting the day pass is much more enjoyable than taking the single ride offered in the standard package offered at the front gates.
Seoul Zoo itself is huge. I was really impressed at the size of it, and was really only able to see half of it in one evening. I don’t know if I could do the zoo in one day, it would be really exhausting. There are loads of animals, and something that will keep anyone amused. While seeing the giraffes and the elephants and the lions was cool, my personal favourite was seeing the beavers. They’re animals with such amusing personalities.
There are loads of indoor displays as well, if the day is too hot. While I wasn’t FOND of the snake house, I did like the climate. There is also a butterfly house. I have yet to make it in there, but I honestly can’t imagine a more romantic place in the zoo, with flowers and butterflies everywhere. *wistful sigh*
I think the main reason I would consider Seoul Zoo the best date place in Seoul is because you’re actually DOING something. I’m really not the type of person who enjoys just sitting around doing nothing. I don’t mind going out for dinner, and movies are okay, but I’m a pretty active person. I like going places and doing things, so I think the zoo is a fun way of spending time with people and getting to know little bits of their personality. It could be like “Surprise! This guy thinks sloths are the coolest animals ever! Me too! We’re so perfect for each other.”
By the way, sloths ARE the coolest animals ever.
The last time I went to the zoo, my friend and I decided to splurge and get tickets to the dolphin show for an extra 2,000 won (which isn’t a splurge at all and more a necessary expense, since dolphins also fall under the title of “coolest animals ever”). We ended up having to go to the show at 8pm, since we arrived 15 minutes too late for the show before at 5. It was well worth waiting for, because the show was really cute. The animals seemed really happy and well taken care of, and it was genuine, cute fun on the stage. The skits were really cute and funny too. The first 10 minutes was a sea lion show, which I didn’t know we would be seeing until we got in there. Seals are, by definition, hilarious for merely existing, so their show was really funny.
After the sealions were the dolphins. Now, I’m not sure about the rest of you, but for both me and my friend Alyssa, we both had serious dreams of being dolphin trainers as kids. I think all girls do, at one point or another. Can you imagine? Job description: SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS. I’d do ANYTHING to do that on a daily basis. The dolphin show was amazing and reminded me of how much I really do love dolphins. Even if I am scared of their intelligence and am glad they don’t have hands, otherwise they’d already be our dolphin overlords.
After the show, we had to rush over to the sky lift to catch it before the lift stopped at nine. Despite me almost forgetting my camera in the dolphin show place (which involved me and Alyssa running through a pitch black aquarium, using our phones for light to find where we were sitting. It was like a horror movie) we made it just as they were taking last call.
On the ride back to the train station, the air was crisp and cool, a refreshing relief to the hot sun from earlier. As we went over one hill to see Seoul Land in the distance, we could see the evening fireworks display. We had to laugh at the picturesque scene, admitting that it seemed almost TOO movie-like. But, that’s just how amazing Seoul Zoo is.
Even if you don’t have a date to go with, I highly recommend a trip out to the Seoul Zoo. After being here in Korea for a year, it’s one of my most favourite places to visit in Seoul and Gyeonggi, and I could happily go there weekend after weekend and never really tire of the place.
If you’d like to see more photos from the Seoul Zoo, check out my photoset on Flickr!
My boyfriend is Korean and after reading your post Seoul Zoo is a definitely on my list of places to go on a date 🙂