Seoul Silver Grass Festival 2026 at Haneul Park: Oct 17–23 Dates, the ₩2,000 Shuttle, and How to Get There Before Your Seoul Trip

If you've seen reels of silver grass glowing against a blue sky somewhere in Seoul, with a shimmering glass-like sphere at the end of a dirt path, that's Haneul Park during the Seoul Silver Grass Festival. What those clips never mention is when this year's festival actually runs, how you get up to the top of the hill, and how long the walk from the subway really is. So we cross-checked Seoul city's official festival portal, the city's park notices, and Korean news reports to put together the 2026 dates, the ₩2,000 electric shuttle, directions, and how to see the grass even after the festival ends, all before your Seoul trip.

Photo: Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Seoul in My Hand" (mediahub.seoul.go.kr) citizen-reporter article, October 2025 — Haneul Park during last year's festival

1. The Short Answer — October 17 (Sat) to October 23 (Fri), 2026

The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival (서울억새축제) runs from Saturday, October 17 to Friday, October 23, 2026 — seven days — at Haneul Park inside World Cup Park in Mapo-gu, western Seoul (per Seoul's official festival portal and a city notice). Many search results still show "October 18–24", but those are last year's dates, so don't plan around them.

What	Details
Dates	Oct 17 (Sat) – Oct 23 (Fri), 2026
Where	Haneul Park, World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Entry	Free — only extras like the shuttle and parking cost money
"Maengkkongi" electric shuttle	Adults ₩2,000 one way (about $1.40) / ₩3,000 round trip (about $2.20), roughly 10 minutes to the top
Nearest subway	Line 6 World Cup Stadium Station or Mapo-gu Office Station
Info line	Seoul Dasan Call Center 120 / Western Parks Leisure Center 02-300-5567 (per last year's official notice)

Dollar figures are rough conversions as of September 22, 2026; your card's rate will vary.

Here's the backstory that makes this place special: Haneul Park ("Sky Park") sits about 98 meters above sea level on top of the former Nanjido landfill. For roughly 15 years this was Seoul's garbage dump; today it's an eco-park, and every autumn about 198,000㎡ (Seoul's official figure) of silver grass — Korean eoksae, a pampas-like miscanthus — turns the hilltop silver. Locals treat it as the city's classic fall outing.

2. Getting to the Top — Stairs, a Gentle Slope, or the Shuttle

The grass fields are at the summit, so after reaching the park entrance you still have to climb. You have three options:

• ① Haneul Stairs (하늘계단) — the fastest route, but a steep staircase. Sources disagree on the step count, so we're not quoting one.
• ② The gentle winding path — slower but easier; the right choice with strollers or wheelchairs.
• ③ The Maengkkongi electric shuttle — a paid electric tram that runs to the top: ₩2,000 one way, ₩3,000 round trip for adults, about 10 minutes (confirmed by two separate Korean news outlets, including a September 2026 report). You board near the Nanjicheon Park parking lot.

Visitor reviews suggest a popular combo: ride up, walk down — the descent through the grass is where most people take their photos. Some reviews mention long shuttle lines on weekend afternoons, so walking up and riding down is also worth considering. We couldn't confirm the current child fare, shuttle hours, or which payment methods it accepts, so carry some Korean won in small bills just in case.

Photo: "Seoul in My Hand" citizen-reporter article, October 2025 (faces blurred in the original)

3. Getting There — Budget About 40 Minutes from the Station

Seoul's official notices consistently recommend public transit: traffic gets heavy during the festival and parking near the park is limited.

• Subway: Get off at Line 6 World Cup Stadium Station or Mapo-gu Office Station and walk. If you're staying around Hongdae, Hapjeong Station (Line 2/6 transfer) is only a few stops away on Line 6.
• Time: The official guidance is about 40 minutes on foot from the station to the summit. Different sources quote different numbers because they measure different stretches — roughly 15–20 minutes from the station to the park entrance, plus the climb from the entrance to the top.
• Driving: You can catch the shuttle from the Nanjicheon Park parking lot, but we couldn't verify its capacity or fees from an official source. As a visitor, the subway is simply easier.

Planning a whole riverside autumn day? Pair it with our guide to Seoul's car-free Jamsugyo Bridge festival this fall.

4. This Year's Program and Last Year's Hours

2026 program (officially announced)

Seoul's festival portal lists the following for 2026. Detailed times had not been published as of September 22.

• Opening ceremony — calligraphy performance and a magic show
• Hands-on zone — making a silver grass bouquet
• Photo zones, a wish zone, busking performances, and an outdoor exhibition by park photographers
• Light shows and landscape lighting — the city says it's leaning into the festival as an evening event this year.

During the festival, the "Re-born Market", an upcycling and zero-waste market with about 15 sellers (upcycled goods, zero-waste gardening, permaculture produce), runs daily from 14:30 to 18:30 at Haneul Park, per the city's seller notice.

Photo: "Seoul in My Hand" citizen-reporter article, October 2025 — a photo zone at last year's festival

How it ran last year (2025) — for reference only

Item	2025 (24th festival)
Park hours during festival	10:00–21:00 (extended from the usual 19:00 close)
Night lighting	Daily 19:00–20:30 (media façade, landscape lighting)
Busking	Daily, roughly 2–6 p.m.
Extended opening after the festival	Oct 25 – Nov 2, until 20:00

There's no guarantee 2026 will match. This year's hours and light-show times haven't been announced yet, so check Seoul's festival portal or call 120 right before you go.

5. Traveler Tips — What to Know Before You Go

• Don't fall for the old dates: 2026 is Oct 17 (Sat) – Oct 23 (Fri). The only weekend is the first one (17th–18th), so expect crowds then. A weekday afternoon is calmer.
• Catch sunset and the lights together: Last year the lighting started at 19:00, after dark. Head up in the late afternoon, watch the grass at golden hour, then stay for the lights.
• Bring a jacket: The hilltop is windy and the temperature drops fast once the sun goes down. Paths are dirt, so wear sneakers.
• Pack water: Food and drink options at the top may be limited.
• Cash and card: The Re-born Market notice doesn't say how sellers take payment, so bring both — ideally some won in cash.
• Peak season: The festival has traditionally been held in mid-to-late October, but there's no official word yet on how this year's grass is coming along.

Photo: "Seoul in My Hand" citizen-reporter article, October 2025 — the silver grass wreath photo zone (the sign reads "Be happy here")

Missed the Festival? The Grass Is Still There

The silver grass doesn't vanish when the festival ends. Last year the park stayed open until 20:00 from October 25 to November 2 after the festival closed. If your trip falls just after the festival dates — or you'd rather skip the crowds — a weekday right after the festival is a solid option. Whether 2026 will have the same extended hours hasn't been announced, so check before heading out.

Photo: "Seoul in My Hand" citizen-reporter article, October 2025 — the Haneul Park silver grass field

Want one more view of Seoul after dark? See our Seouldal balloon ride guide for prices and hours at Yeouido.

6. The Bottom Line

The 2026 Seoul Silver Grass Festival runs October 17–23 at Haneul Park, free to enter; reach the top on foot (about 40 minutes from the subway) or by the Maengkkongi electric shuttle (₩2,000 one way / ₩3,000 round trip). Hours and light-show times are still to be announced.

This guide reflects official Seoul city information and Korean news reports as of September 22, 2026. Save this for your autumn Seoul itinerary — and if you go, drop a comment on how the grass looked so later visitors know what to expect. If anything changes once the official schedule is out, let us know and we'll update it.

Sources: Seoul festival portal (25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival listing), Seoul Metropolitan Government environment news (Re-born Market seller notice; 2025 festival notice), Seoul Parks news, "Seoul in My Hand" articles (October 2025), Star News (September 3, 2026) and Issue Edico (October 17, 2025). Photos are from a "Seoul in My Hand" citizen-reporter article (October 2025) and show last year's festival, not 2026. Dates, fares, and hours may change — please check official notices before visiting.