Foreigner's Guide to the Han River Sunset Cruise (My Honest Experience)

The Han River is one of the top attractions in Seoul, and is what divides the city into two main areas - Ganbuk to the North and Gangnam to the South. Both are equally as impressive, with plenty of top sights scattered throughout both areas, however in my personal opinion some of the best views of Seoul can be found along the Han River!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA's  easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia.

To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections.

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Booking & Prepping for Your River Cruise

Luckily, booking your cruise on the Han River is very easy - especially if you go through this tour on Klook. However, it's important to note that this tour requires visitors to have a non-Korean passport. (Locals in Korea have a better chance to book directly through Naver.)

There are quite a few options you have when choosing which river cruise to book - and each are slightly different. The Fireworks Music Cruise only operates on Friday nights, and you'll be able to enjoy the incredible skyline views of Seoul in addition to the fun fireworks. The Moonlight Cruise and Starlight Cruise both have live jazz music, and the Sunset Cruise is the shortest option for those who have a limited amount of time. If you're able to visit during the day, then they even have an Afternoon Tea River Cruise!

As you get ready for your cruise, there's a few things to expect. No matter the cruise, you'll need to bring your passport with you. Once you arrive on site you might also need to exchange your online tickets for real tickets at the ticket booth onsite. Here, you'll also need to fill out an "immigration form" similar to one you would fill out when visiting a new country. After checking in and getting your tickets you can explore the area before boarding your ship - they typically open the gates about 10-15 minutes before departure.

Depending on the time of your cruise and the season you're visiting, I would recommend bringing layers to stay warm. Long pants and a light jacket are perfect if you plan to enjoy the views from outside.

My Favorite Han River Tours :
- Afternoon Tea on the Han River
- Han River Cruise (Sunset, Fireworks or Night)

What to Expect on Your Han River Cruise

Boarding : The gate to board your ship typically opens about 10 minutes before the departure time. The process was very easy and was completed within a few minutes. The ship left right on time so don't be late! Also, there is a bathroom onboard the ship.

Photo Opportunities : There are quite a few photo opportunities throughout the ship. From heart shaped backdrops to dress up opportunities with a captain and sailor's costume - make sure to look around so you don't miss them!

Seagull Feeding Experience : If you visit the upstairs & outdoor area of the boat you'll find the Seagull Feeding Experience! For 3,000 Won you can purchase a bag of dried anchovies at the onboard convenience store - then, you can head back upstairs and hold out one at a time for the seagulls to swoop down and eat them right out of your hands!

Convenience Store : Like I mentioned earlier, the ship has it's own convenience store right onboard! You can find little snacks like Kancho (chocolate filled crackers) or strawberry and banana flavored milks! I recommend purchasing snacks earlier in the cruise, towards the end they were out of a lot of their options.

The Views : Personally, I think the best views you can find of the mega city that is Seoul is from the Han River. Although you don't go too far up or down the river on the cruise, you can enjoy both the Ganbuk and Gangnam Skylines. Unfortunately, the air pollution in Seoul is quite bad, so although the views are beautiful, actually seeing a clear sunset on your sunset cruise is quite rare.

Live Music : As you enjoy some of the best views of Seoul, you can also enjoy some live music! Although the type of music can vary, you can typically enjoy some live jazz on the main floor of the ship during the duration of your river cruise!

Watch my Han River Experience here!

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