Anyang Art Park in South Korea: A Day Trip from Seoul

The Anyang Art Park is located just outside of Seoul making it the perfect day trip. It’s full of creative art displays, hiking trails, and even temples! And, it’s right next to a cute little town that’s full of cafes and restaurants as well. This is everything you need to know for your trip to the Anyang Art Park in South Korea.

Anyang Art Park: Art Installations

The Anyang Art Park is full of incredible art installations (there are more than 50 art installations in total!) which means tons of amazing photo ops. This park has everything from mirror “mazes” to winding walkways to colorful stained glass walls! It’s not only great for a fun day out but it’s also a photographer’s dream location.

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The two installations in the photos above are definitely two of the most popular spots in the whole park but they’re also two of the most difficult to find. Both are right beside each other but quite a bit farther away from everything else in the park. In order to find these installations, you’ll have to walk up the main street for a while. You’ll feel like you’re going too far, but you’re not. You’ll find the beginning of the tunnel walkway just before a small parking lot and the steps are located right at the end of the walkway.

Keep in mind that while the park is open 24/7, some of the art installations (like the room in the photo above) are kept locked overnight and may not be open yet if you arrive early in the morning.

There are even small sections throughout the park that have free exercise equipment available. One of them is located right next to the cubes in the photo above! These always seem to be in use by the elderly, though they’re available for anyone to use.

The “Paper Snake” Tower

The Anyang Peak tower, also called the “Paper Snake”, is technically considered one of the art installations, but I feel like it’s kind of different as it’s really more of an observatory. You can walk all the way up to the platform on top of the tower which offers stunning views of the mountains and city. You can even see the Anyangsa Temple from there! I honestly believe the views here would be pretty any time of year, too. I’ve been here in the spring when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and loved it. But, I’ve also come in the dead of winter and it was still absolutely gorgeous.

Anyang Art Park Hiking Trails

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Don’t forget to check out my other post: The Ultimate Guide to Solo Hiking.

There are tons of hiking trails at the park. Some will lead you to temples, some will lead you to more works of art, and some are just great trails for getting your exercise in and enjoying nature. There are a few trails in the park that are only a few hundred meters long and there are others that are 10+ kilometers and take much longer to hike.

You can find a map out on the main street near the park. This map will show you where each art installation and trail is located inside the park. You can even pick up a brochure here for more information! Once you get inside the park there are smaller maps carved into stone as well. However, they can be a bit confusing (especially if you don’t know the names of the installations) so they’re not as easy to navigate as you would hope!

Anyang Art Park Temples

When I said this park has everything, I really meant it. There are even quite a few temples inside the park. The one in the photo above, the Bojangsa Temple, is located right off the main street and is definitely one of the largest in the area. The Bojangsa Temple is located right next to a charnel house (basically a burial vault) which, oddly enough, has a few gift shops and stores located on the first floor.

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You can reach the Anyangsa Temple (pictured above) by taking a small hike through the woods or by simply driving your car right up to the parking lot. If you’re lucky enough to visit before May, you’ll get to see the temple decorated with colorful paper lanterns in honor of Buddha’s birthday celebration.

Tips for Visiting Anyang Art Park

1. Give yourself at least a few hours to explore. Or make it a whole day trip! Anyang Art Park is huge and the installations are very widely spread out. You could easily spend an entire day exploring everything.
2. Check out some of the cafes nearby. There’s a town right outside of the park that’s full of great cafes and restaurants. If you visit in the warmer months there are often street food vendors set up on the main street as well.
3. The best time to visit the Anyang Art Park would be spring or fall. Summers in South Korea are extremely hot and humid and winters can get very cold. In the springtime you’ll find the roads and stream lined with cherry blossom trees and the park is gorgeous when it’s at peak for fall foliage. With that being said, I did come in the middle of winter once and it was actually my favorite because I basically had the whole place to myself.
4. This park is great for families. If you’re traveling with children this is the perfect spot to bring them. Every time we come, there are tons of families out and the children always seem to really love the art!

Other Things to Do in the Area

The town right next to the park is full of great cafes, restaurants, and shops. It’s definitely worth checking out and it’s the perfect place to head for lunch after spending time in the park. There are even walkways down along the stream that are so fun to check out and make for the perfect picnic spot. If you visit in the spring, you’ll find the stream lined with cherry blossom trees.

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Best cafes / restaurants in the area:

• Pokposu (Waterfall Restaurant)
• Tong’5
• Caffé Pascucci
• Rio Coffee
• Outdoor Kitchen

Other attractions nearby:

• Byeokchon Square
• Anyang Dining & Culture Street
• Manan Bridge
• Gwanaksan Mountain
• Manghaeam Hermitage
• Seoul National University Gwanak Arboretum
• Yeombulsa Temple
• Sammag Village Gourmet Street

How to Get There

Address: 131 Yesulgongwon-ro, Manan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.

From Seoul: The Anyang Art Park is about a 45-minute drive from Seoul or about an hour-long subway/bus ride. If you’re taking public transportation, head towards Anyang Station and from there you’ll take the #2 bus to its final stop. The park is only a short walk from there.

Parking: If you decide to drive to the park, there are tons of spots where you can park on the streets or there is a free parking lot by the Anyangsa Temple entrance. If you want to park closer to the stairs and walkway, there is a paid parking lot right at the beginning of the walkway. Just type “Anyang Art Park Off Street Parking Area Etrance” into the Naver app and it will take you right there.

Hours: The park is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Admission: Admission to the park is free and no tickets are required. The only thing you may have to pay for is parking (depending on where you park).

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Don’t forget to check out these other South Korea posts:

• Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
• A Guide to the Myeongdong District in Seoul
• Things to Do in Buyeo, South Korea
• A Trip to Cheongpung Land in Jecheon
• Snacks to Try in South Korea
• Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit S. Korea in the Fall
• The Most Unique Cafes in Seoul