Han River Boat Ride with Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain Show Seoul

A night boat ride on the Han River

The Han River cuts Seoul in two, more than a kilometre wide in places and crossed by over two dozen bridges. By day it is a place for cycling and picnics; at night it becomes the city's most romantic stage, with lit bridges, towers and parks reflected on the water. A Han River boat ride is the best way to feel the scale of the river and see the skyline from a new angle.

This Han River night cruise uses a small motor boat rather than a large ferry, so you sit close to the water with an open view and feel the speed as the boat moves between the bridges. The full programme lasts about an hour: five minutes of safety training, boarding, about 40 minutes on the river and a short docking. Departures at 19:30 and 20:30 are timed with the evening fountain shows.

Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

Banpo Bridge is a double-deck bridge with the low Jamsu Bridge running beneath it, and along both sides of its upper deck runs the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, recognised as the longest bridge fountain in the world. Nozzles along about 1,100 metres of the bridge send jets of water arching down into the river, lit in shifting rainbow colours and choreographed to music during each show.

From the riverbank you see the fountain from one side; from the boat you approach it on the water, with the colours reflected all around you. Shows run in the warmer months, several times each evening, and each lasts around twenty minutes. If you are wondering what time the Banpo Bridge rainbow fountain show starts, the 19:30 and 20:30 boat departures are planned to give you the best view of the evening performances.

Sevit Floating Islands

The boat departs from the Sevit Floating Islands, a group of three artificial islands anchored on the Han River beside Banpo Bridge. Their curving glass buildings, designed to look like flowers in bloom, house event halls, cafés and viewing terraces connected by walkways. At night LED lights wash the buildings in changing colours, making them one of the most photographed spots on the river.

Arrive early to walk around the islands before boarding: the terraces give clear views of the bridge and the fountain, and the area is lit and lively in the evening. The ticket booth for the ride is at the entrance to the islands, in front of the convenience store, where you exchange your voucher for a boarding ticket. Simple snacks and drinks are sold in the waiting room.

Banpo Hangang Park: how to get there

The Sevit Floating Islands sit inside Banpo Hangang Park on the south bank of the river in Seocho-gu. The nearest subway stop is Express Bus Terminal Station, served by Lines 3, 7 and 9; from there the walk to the riverside takes more than twenty minutes, so allow plenty of time. A taxi from Gangnam, Myeongdong or Itaewon is quick in the evening and drops you near the park entrance.

The park has a public car park, but it fills up on weekends and public holidays, so public transport is easier. Banpo Hangang Park is a popular place for an evening walk or picnic on the lawns, and you are welcome to bring light food on board as long as it has no strong smell. The best time to visit is a clear evening from late spring to early autumn.