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LanternEditor pick

Seoul Lantern Festival

서울빛초롱축제

Two weeks of illuminated lanterns lining Cheonggyecheon stream in central Seoul. Free, walkable, and the easiest festival in this list to fit into a weeknight.

November 13 – 29, 2026(tentative)Seoul, Seoul
Dates are tentative. Confirm on the official site before booking travel.

About this festival

Run by the Seoul Tourism Organization since 2009, the festival turns the lower Cheonggyecheon into a 1.2-kilometer lit corridor. Themed installations rotate yearly — historical scenes, K-pop tributes, foreign-city sister-festivals. Best visited from dusk to ~9pm. No tickets needed.

Getting there

Gwanghwamun Station (line 5) exit 5 puts you at the upper start of the lit section. Walk eastward along Cheonggyecheon to Dongdaemun. Allow 60-90 minutes to walk the full length.

If you're not yet fluent in Korean

Free. The lower section near Gwangjang Market gets crowded on weekend evenings; weekday visits are calmer. Combine with Gwangjang Market dinner (line 1 to Jongno 5-ga). November evenings are cold — bring a coat.

Dates by year

  • 2026

    November 13 – 29, 2026

    tentative

Source: Manual editorial. Last verified 2026-05-08.