Best Paju Travel Spots for a Day Trip with Kids (Near Seoul)
Paju, a city in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul and the border with North Korea, offers a unique glimpse into the Korean Peninsula's history and is packed with family-friendly destinations. From areas adjacent to North Korea that provide educational experiences to places where both adults and children can enjoy nature and hands-on activities, Paju has it all. Here are some of the best travel spots in Paju to help you plan your next weekend outing.
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| Enjoying a trip to Paju with kids |
Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park
The vast grassy plaza of Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park is a delight to explore, with various sculptures scattered throughout. Children can ride scooters or run around freely, and there's also a large playground called "Nuri Castle Adventure Village" where they can play in the sand. Nuri Castle features a zipline, jungle gym, a giant slide, and other exciting play equipment that kids love. It's the perfect spot for a picnic on a sunny day with a packed lunch or sandwiches.
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| Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park |
Pyeonghwa Land
Pyeonghwa Land is an amusement park located within Pyeonghwa Nuri Park. You can enjoy the rides during the day and admire the beautiful night scenery after dark. Admission is free, and you only need to purchase tickets for the rides you want to experience.
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| Pyeonghwa Land |
Pyeonghwa Land Information
- Hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM / Weekends 11:00 AM - 6:40 PM
- Open year-round
- Parking: Use the Imjingak Tourist Site parking lot
- Admission: All-day pass Adults, Teens KRW 33,000 (approx. USD 23.90) / Children KRW 31,000 (approx. USD 22.50)
Imjingak Peace Gondola (Paju DMZ Gondola)
This is the first gondola to connect a civilian area with the Civilian Control Zone (CCZ). While riding the gondola, you can see Camp Greaves, a former U.S. military base, and the Imjingak Observatory. Since this is a restricted area, a valid ID is required for all visitors.
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| Imjingak Peace Gondola |
Imjingak Peace Gondola Information
- Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM / Weekends 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
- Open year-round
- Fares
- Crystal Cabin Adult (Round Trip): KRW 14,000 (approx. USD 10.15)
- Crystal Cabin Child (Round Trip): KRW 12,000 (approx. USD 8.70)
- Crystal Cabin Senior/Veteran/Disabled (Round Trip): KRW 11,000 (approx. USD 8.00)
- Crystal Cabin Paju Citizen (Round Trip): KRW 7,000 (approx. USD 5.10)
- Standard Cabin Adult (Round Trip): KRW 11,000 (approx. USD 8.00)
- Standard Cabin Child (Round Trip): KRW 9,000 (approx. USD 6.50)
- Standard Cabin Senior/Veteran/Disabled (Round Trip): KRW 8,000 (approx. USD 5.80)
- Standard Cabin Paju Citizen (Round Trip): KRW 5,500 (approx. USD 4.00)
Odusan Unification Observatory
The Odusan Unification Observatory is a meaningful place that soothes the sorrow of separated families and serves as an educational center for unification. It's a place where you can teach children about the painful reality of Korea's division. In the basement, there is a children's experience hall where you can see North Korean textbooks and various other books. On the 4th floor, a lounge offers coffee and drinks with a direct view of North Korean territory.
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| Odusan Unification Observatory |
Odusan Unification Observatory Information
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Closed: Mondays
- Admission: Free
Byeokchoji Botanical Garden
Byeokchoji Botanical Garden is a famous filming location for K-dramas like 'Vincenzo' and the movie 'The Handmaiden.' You can see beautiful gardens in both Eastern and Western styles, and since it's mostly flat, it's an easy walk for people of all ages.
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| Byeokchoji Botanical Garden |
Byeokchoji Botanical Garden Information
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
- Open year-round
- Admission
- Adult: KRW 10,500 (approx. USD 7.60)
- Youth/Senior/Disabled/Veteran: KRW 8,500 (approx. USD 6.15)
- Child: KRW 7,500 (approx. USD 5.45)
- Infants under 36 months: Free
Heyri Art Valley
Heyri Art Valley is a community village where about 300 artists live and work. In Heyri, you can enjoy various exhibitions, performances, and artworks, and spend a leisurely time enjoying brunch at unique cafes and restaurants.
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| Heyri Art Valley |
Kid-Friendly Places in Heyri Art Valley
- Dinosaur Museum: A small museum with a photo zone and experience hall on the first floor, and dinosaur models and fossils on the second.
- Admission: KRW 7,000 (approx. USD 5.10) for adults/children
- Hours: 09:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Closed: Every Monday, Tuesday
- Art Play: A kids' cafe where re-entry is possible, offering various art experience spaces.
- Admission: Adult KRW 7,000 (approx. USD 5.10), Child KRW 19,000 (approx. USD 13.75)
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Open year-round
- Aji Dong Kids Cafe: The first floor has a racing zone and active play areas, while the second floor has various toys for toddlers. This is an unlimited kids' cafe with no time limit.
- Admission
- Child Weekdays: KRW 15,000 (approx. USD 10.85), Weekends: KRW 18,000 (approx. USD 13.00)
- Adult Weekdays: KRW 4,000 (approx. USD 2.90), Weekends: KRW 5,000 (approx. USD 3.60)
- Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Weekends 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Closed: Every Monday, Tuesday
- Urban Off: A cafe with parrots.
- Price: Americano KRW 6,500 (approx. USD 4.70)
- Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Closed: Every Tuesday
- Museum of Modern History of Korea: The basement floor has a folk life hall, the first and second floors have a culture hall, and the third floor houses a history hall and a collection of nostalgic items. Each floor recreates a village from a different era.
- Admission: Adult KRW 7,000 (approx. USD 5.10), Child KRW 5,000 (approx. USD 3.60)
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Closed: Every Monday
First Garden
First Garden is a beautiful themed garden where you can admire flowers, feed various animals like parrots, koi fish, and rabbits at the mini zoo, and experience traditional folk games and horseback riding. With a four-seasons sledding hill and various rides (train, carousel, Viking ship, etc.), it's a great place to visit with children.
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| First Garden |
First Garden Information
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Open year-round
- Admission
- Adult: Weekends KRW 12,000 (approx. USD 8.70) / Weekdays KRW 10,000 (approx. USD 7.25)
- Child: Weekends KRW 11,000 (approx. USD 8.00) / Weekdays KRW 9,000 (approx. USD 6.50)
Nori Cloud
Paju Nori Cloud is an indoor experience space operated by EBS (Korea Educational Broadcasting System). It's a great place for children to play, with various facilities including a giant slide, and you can meet EBS characters at the daily performance programs.
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| Nori Cloud |
Nori Cloud Information
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Closed: The first Monday of each month, January 1st, Lunar New Year's Day, and Chuseok Day
- Admission: Adult KRW 7,000 (approx. USD 5.10) / Child KRW 15,000 (approx. USD 10.85)
National Folk Museum of Korea, Paju
The National Folk Museum in Paju is the first national museum in northern Gyeonggi Province, offering a variety of experiences and exhibitions. It features an open storage where visitors can see inside, and a visible storage where they can peek through windows. The children's experience room for preschoolers is available for 50-minute sessions via on-site registration. Additionally, the open conservation science lab allows for an indirect experience of cultural heritage preservation through exploratory play. The 'Our Playground' section, where traditional folk games like yut-nori, gonu, string figures, and gonggi can be enjoyed in a modern way, makes for a fulfilling visit with children.
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| National Folk Museum of Korea, Paju |
Information
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Closed: Mondays, January 1st, Lunar New Year's Day, and Chuseok Day
- Admission: Free
Now you know some of the best places to visit in Paju with children. Paju is close to Seoul and easily accessible from other parts of Gyeonggi Province, making it a great day-trip destination. With a variety of attractions that both children and adults can enjoy, consider visiting these spots with your family on the weekend.