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Haneul Park Silver Grass 2026: Cart Fares, 291 Stairs and Wait Times
Quick answer
- You reach the hilltop by electric cart or by stairs. The cart is 2,000 won one-way for adults; the 3,000 won return ticket is not refunded if you walk down instead.
- During the 2026 festival (October 17-23) weekend cart queues reached about an hour. Arrive around 9 a.m. or take the 291 stairs (15-20 minutes).
- For golden sunset grass, arrive around 4 p.m. There is a convenience store and restrooms at the top.
- Prices
- Free entry. Electric cart: adults 2,000 won one-way / 3,000 won return; seniors and children 1,500 / 2,200 won
- Nearest station
- Line 6 World Cup Stadium Station, Exit 1, then walk to the foot of the hill
- Hours
- Park and cart hours change by day and season; check the official notice before you go
Short answer: cart one-way up, walk down
Haneul Park (하늘공원, "Sky Park") is a flat-topped hill inside World Cup Park in Mapo, western Seoul. Every autumn the top turns into a sea of silver grass (eulalia), and the city holds the Seoul Silver Grass Festival there. In 2026 it ran October 17-23.
There are two ways up: the electric cart, called the Maengkkongi cart (맹꽁이차), or the stairs. The least wasteful plan is a one-way cart ticket up and a walk down. The return ticket is not refunded if you skip the ride back, so buy one-way unless you are sure.
Electric cart fares and how it works
| Ticket | One-way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 2,000 won | 3,000 won |
| Senior / child | 1,500 won | 2,200 won |
- Buy tickets at the self-service kiosk at the boarding point at the bottom.
- The ride takes about 5-10 minutes.
- On normal days it leaves every 10-20 minutes. During the festival one visitor saw it running from 8 a.m.
- Return tickets are non-refundable. The queue to ride down can be long too, so one-way plus walking down is the relaxed option.
The 291 stairs: 15-20 minutes up, or a gentler path
Without the cart you climb 291 steps from the bottom, which takes about 15-20 minutes. There is also a gentler sloped path if stairs are hard on your knees; one visitor who walked up that way took 20-30 minutes.
Getting there: World Cup Stadium Station, Exit 1
Take subway Line 6 to World Cup Stadium Station (월드컵경기장역), Exit 1, walk toward World Cup Park and on to the foot of the hill, where the cart stop and the stairs start.
If you drive, visitors use the Nanjicheon Park parking lot, which charges 150 won per 5 minutes (300 won per 10 minutes). It fills up on festival weekends, so the subway is the safer bet.
At the top: 1.5-2 hours of walking, a convenience store and restrooms
The top is a flat area of about 58,000 pyeong (roughly 190,000 square meters) with paths through the grass. Besides silver grass there are patches of cosmos and kochia (the round, red "burning bush"), and in 2026 there were new horse sculptures. A slow loop takes 1.5-2 hours.
Up top there is an emart24 convenience store and restrooms. It sells cup ramen, and plenty of people eat one while looking at the grass.
When to go: 9 a.m. or 4 p.m.
- To beat the crowds: arrive around 9 a.m., while the cart line is still short.
- For sunset: arrive around 4 p.m. and watch the grass turn gold as the sun drops.
- Walking down the stairs takes 15-20 minutes, so leave enough time to get down before dark.
In short: cart one-way, stairs down, and arrive at 9 a.m. or 4 p.m. Do that and you will spend your time in the grass, not in a queue.
FAQ
- Should I buy a one-way or return cart ticket?
- One-way. The return ticket (3,000 won for adults) is not refunded if you walk down, and the stairs down only take 15-20 minutes.
- Can I still go after the festival ends?
- Yes, the park itself is open outside the festival. Opening hours and cart times can differ on non-festival days, so check the official notice before you go.
- Is it OK with kids?
- Yes. There is a child fare (1,500 won one-way), the cart gets you up in 5-10 minutes, and there are restrooms at the top.
- Is there parking?
- Visitors use the Nanjicheon Park lot at 150 won per 5 minutes. It gets busy on festival weekends, so the subway is more reliable.
Sources
We read these Korean sources on the dates shown and compared them before writing.
- 축제 시작 전 다녀온 억새 명소 하늘공원, 일정 주차 등 총정리 (Oct 23, 2026)
- 서울 가을 나들이 하늘공원 억새축제 10/17 방문후기 맹꽁이열차 도보 비교 (Oct 23, 2026)
- 2026 하늘공원 서울억새축제 실시간! 맹꽁이차와 주차장팁 (Oct 23, 2026)