Missed the Bookings? 4 Seoul Plans for This Weekend With No Reservation Needed (Oct 24–25)

How we picked

Only places that are actually open on Saturday Oct. 24 and Sunday Oct. 25 and that you can enter without booking. Most are free.

We left out the Seoul Music Festival main show on Nodeul Island (advance booking, sold out) and the Jamsu Bridge chicken tables (online booking). Subway exits and distances are only those given in each venue's official information.

Plan 1 · Saturday around Gwanghwamun and City Hall

From 10 a.m., 'Local Trip Autumn Picnic' runs on the Antenna Shop rooftop, one minute from City Hall Station exit 3 (free, until 6 p.m.). The landmark keyring workshop is 1–4 p.m., 100 a day, so go early.

In the afternoon, see the Seoul Sculpture Festival on Open Songhyeon green plaza, about 499 m from Anguk Station exit 1. It is outdoors with no time limit.

At 5 p.m., hear Saturday's jazz set (5–5:50 p.m., free) at Curtain Call Garden behind Sejong Center, near Gwanghwamun Station exits 1 and 8. The garden stays open until 11 p.m.

Finish at the Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory (8th–9th floors), open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays as a pilot, free and without booking. Only the night walking tour needs a reservation.

Plan 2 · Saturday night in Nowon: stars and moonlight

Seoul Science Center's Starlight Festival is free from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; stargazing and exhibitions need no booking. It is by Hagye Station exit 3. Only stargazing is cancelled if it rains.

Nearby, along Danghyeoncheon by Junggye Station (also Line 7), the 'Nowon Moonlight Walk' lights up daily 5:30–10 p.m. (free) — a good walk after the telescopes.

Plan 3 · Sunday on car-free Jamsu Bridge

Oct. 25 is the last car-free Jamsu Bridge day this year. You can walk the bridge 2–10 p.m. (closed to cars noon to midnight), free entry. Only the chicken tables need booking; walking the bridge does not.

After dark, watch the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain next door: in October it runs at 7:30, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m., 20 minutes each. It is about a 15-minute walk from Express Bus Terminal Station exits 8-1 and 8-2, and stops in strong wind or rain.

Plan 4 · All weekend at Olympic Park

The Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival runs at Olympic Park's 88 Lawn until Oct. 25: activities 10 a.m.–7 p.m., food 11 a.m.–9 p.m. It is about five minutes from Olympic Park Station exits 3 and 4.

With children, go in the daytime.

NOW's call

If you like walking alone or as a pair, take Plan 1. With children, Plan 2 or 4. For a night out with friends, Plan 3.

Much of this is outdoors: rain stops the stargazing and the fountain. On a wet day, build the day around Plan 1's City Hall observatory and Local Trip (rooftop, but there is also an indoor travel hall in the basement).