At a glance
| Dates | 1 Sep – 31 Oct 2026Happening now · Theme '가을 따라 흐르는 풍류, 수련을 깨우다' (Autumn's flowing elegance: waking the water lilies). Class dates and times are posted on Semiwon's website and social media. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00–18:00 daily (KTO); the ticket booth closes 30 minutes before closing; no closed day from April to October |
| Admission | ₩7,000 adults (19 and over); ₩4,000 ages 6–18, 65 and over, visitors with mild disabilities and groups of 30 or more; free for children 5 and under, Yangpyeong residents and some other groups. The performances and exhibitions are inside the garden.Garden entry, adult (19 and over): ₩7,000 · Garden entry, ages 6–18, 65 and over, visitors with mild disabilities, groups of 30 or more: ₩4,000 · Children 5 and under, Yangpyeong residents, visitors with severe disabilities, national merit recipients, serving soldiers: Free |
| Venue | Semiwon경기도 양평군 양서면 양수로 93 |
| Nearest station | Yangsu Station (양수역), Gyeongui-Jungang Line (Seoul Metropolitan Subway), Exit 1About 600 m to the garden entrance (Semiwon); travel guides allow 12–20 minutes. Dumulmeori is about 30 minutes on foot from the station. |
| From Seoul | Not published · SubwayLeave from Central Seoul · Back to Seoul the same nightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Semiwon Foundation(재)세미원 |
| Usual timing | Two months, 1 September to 31 October, in both 2025 and 2026, straight after Semiwon's summer lotus festival. In 2024 the garden held a shorter Victoria Water Lily Culture Festival, reported as 16 August to 1 September. Browse September / October festivals. |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Semiwon is a water garden of about 180,000 m² on the Han River at Yangsu-ri in Yangpyeong, opposite Dumulmeori, where the Bukhan and Namhan rivers meet. The Korea Tourism Organization describes it as bounded by the Paldang reservoir on three sides and as Gyeonggi-do's first designated local garden; the name comes from an old saying about calming the mind by looking at water and flowers. Its best-known event is the summer lotus festival (26 June to 17 August in 2026). The water lily festival follows it through September and October, when the lotuses have finished and the water lilies carry the display.
The plants are the reason to come: tropical water lilies in many colours, Australian water lilies, and the Victoria water lily, the giant Amazonian species whose round leaves can reach about 3 m across and whose 30–40 cm flowers turn from white to pink to red over three days. Semiwon also grows 'Semi', a cultivar with deep red leaves that a Thai breeder gave the garden in 2019. In all the garden lists about 270 plant species.
The 2026 theme is 'Autumn's flowing elegance: waking the water lilies'. Around the plants runs a small cultural programme: janggu drumming and acoustic guitar by local residents on the outdoor stage under the overpass every Saturday (eight shows), a special exhibition at the Lotus Museum on the lotus in embroidery, folk objects and Buddhist relics, a light-panel photo show at Gallery Semi, a stamp tour, and Lotus Culture classes such as natural-dye handkerchiefs and herbarium mood lamps. From 16 to 19 October the 14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo added artist and citizen gardens, a garden industry fair and a concert across Semiwon and Dumulmeori; the province plans to keep those gardens afterwards.
A pontoon bridge of boats, the Baedari, modelled on the one laid across the Han for King Jeongjo, links the garden with Dumulmeori, so the two make one walk. The honest caveats: this is the garden's normal autumn season with extras, not a big-stage festival; entry is paid; the gates close at 18:00, with the ticket booth shutting 30 minutes earlier; programmes and signs are in Korean; and class times are posted only on Semiwon's Korean website and social media.
Highlights
- Victoria water lilies, the giant Amazonian species with round leaves up to about 3 m across and 30–40 cm flowers that turn from white to pink to red over three days
- Tropical and Australian water lilies, plus 'Semi', a deep-red-leaved cultivar that a Thai breeder gave Semiwon in 2019
- Every Saturday in 2026 (eight shows): janggu drumming and acoustic guitar by local residents on the outdoor stage under the overpass
- Lotus Museum special exhibition 'Lotus, Embroidering Life's Wishes', a light-panel photo show at Gallery Semi and a stamp tour
- Lotus Culture classes such as natural-dye handkerchiefs and herbarium mood lamps
- 14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo at Semiwon and Dumulmeori, 16–19 October 2026, whose gardens are to stay on afterwards
- The Baedari, a pontoon bridge of 52 boats, across to Dumulmeori at the meeting of the Bukhan and Namhan rivers (Dumulmeori itself is free)
Who it suits. Best for garden lovers, photographers and families who want an easy day trip from Seoul by subway, combined with a walk to Dumulmeori; less suited to anyone expecting a big festival atmosphere, since the programme is small (a Saturday show, exhibitions and classes) and the garden closes at 18:00.
Getting there
From Seoul
Gyeongui-Jungang Line (Seoul Metropolitan Subway) to Yangsu Station: board a train bound for Yongmun or Jipyeong, as some trains terminate before Yangsu. Leave by Exit 1 and walk about 600 m to the garden entrance (Semiwon's figure; travel guides allow 12–20 minutes). Travel guides put the trip at roughly 1 to 1½ hours from central Seoul. By bus: 2000-1 from Gangbyeon Station or 2000-2 from Jamsil Station to the Yangseo Culture and Sports Park stop, about 100 m from the garden.
From Busan
KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station (about 2 h 30 min; standard fare ₩54,400 since 1 September 2026), then Line 1 to Cheongnyangni and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line east to Yangsu Station, Exit 1.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Hongik University or Gongdeok, then the Gyeongui-Jungang Line east (a train bound for Yongmun or Jipyeong) to Yangsu Station, Exit 1, and walk about 600 m.
Last leg from Yangsu Station
Gyeongui-Jungang Line (Seoul Metropolitan Subway), Exit 1. About 600 m to the garden entrance (Semiwon); travel guides allow 12–20 minutes. Dumulmeori is about 30 minutes on foot from the station.
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle was announced. Buses 2000-1 (from Gangbyeon Station) and 2000-2 (from Jamsil Station) stop at Yangseo Culture and Sports Park, about 100 m from the garden.
Getting home
The garden closes at 18:00 (last tickets 17:30), well before the last Seoul-bound trains from Yangsu. Last-train times on the festival dates (to 31 October) were not checked against Korail's current Gyeongui-Jungang Line timetable, so check the last Seoul-bound train at Yangsu Station or in Kakao Map or Naver Map before you go, especially if you stay on for sunset at Dumulmeori.
Parking
Parking capacity and fees were not published on the pages opened. Semiwon runs a 'take the subway' campaign during the 2026 festival, and Yangsu Station is a short walk away.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Garden entry, adult (19 and over) | ₩7,000 | During the summer 2026 lotus festival buyers got ₩2,000 back in Yangpyeong local gift vouchers; whether this applies in autumn was not stated |
| Garden entry, ages 6–18, 65 and over, visitors with mild disabilities, groups of 30 or more | ₩4,000 | ₩1,000 voucher refund during the summer lotus festival; not stated for autumn |
| Children 5 and under, Yangpyeong residents, visitors with severe disabilities, national merit recipients, serving soldiers | Free |
- Booking
- No booking needed for garden entry; tickets are sold at the gate until 30 minutes before closing. Class dates, times and any sign-ups are posted on Semiwon's website and social media (in Korean).
- English on site
- Semiwon's website has a basic English page with hours, fees and directions; festival notices and programmes are in Korean only.
- Crowds
- No visitor figures were published. Saturdays (outdoor show) and the Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo days (16–19 Oct 2026) are likely the busiest.
- Best time to go
- A weekday or Saturday morning, then cross the Baedari to Dumulmeori; Saturdays add the outdoor performance.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for about 180,000 m² of garden paths plus the walk to Dumulmeori, sun protection, water and a camera.
2026 program
- Water lilies and other aquatic plants around the garden, including Victoria, Australian and tropical water lilies
- Every Saturday (8 shows)'Jul-gwa Buk-ui Pungnyu Hanmadang', janggu drumming and acoustic guitar with local residents on the outdoor stage under the overpass
- Lotus Museum special exhibition 'Lotus, Embroidering Life's Wishes' (연꽃, 삶의 염원을 수놓다): the lotus in embroidery, folk objects and Buddhist relics; local artists' works and rental exhibitions on the museum's 3rd floor
- Gallery Semi light-panel photo exhibition 'Lotuses and Water Lilies: Scenes Steeped in the Water' (연꽃과 수련, 물 위에 스민 풍경)
- Stamp tour linked to the special exhibition, and a 'take the subway' carbon-neutral campaign
- Lotus Culture classesnatural-dye handkerchiefs, herbarium mood lamps and similar
- 16–19 Oct14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo at Semiwon and Dumulmeori (artist and citizen gardens, garden industry fair, outdoor films, stamp tour); opening ceremony 17 Oct 16:30 at Semiwon and the Dumulmeori Music Festival from 17:30 with Kim Feel, Ben, Kai and Kim Jong-seo
Theme '가을 따라 흐르는 풍류, 수련을 깨우다' (Autumn's flowing elegance: waking the water lilies). Class dates and times are posted on Semiwon's website and social media.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1 September to 31 October 2027 if the pattern of 2025 and 2026 holds; not announced as of 19 October 2026. | expected | The 2025 festival was announced on 22 August 2025 and the 2026 programme on 1 September 2026, so expect news in late August 2027. |
| 2026 | 1 Sep – 31 Oct 2026 | confirmed | Semiwon's ponds and gardens, the Lotus Museum and Gallery Semi; the Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo also used Dumulmeori. |
| 2025 | 1 Sep – 31 Oct 2025 | ended | Theme '수련, 내 마음에 담다' (Water lilies, kept in my heart). |
| 2024 | 16 Aug – 1 Sep 2024 | ended | Held as the Victoria Water Lily Culture Festival (빅토리아수련 문화제). Two reports give 16 August to 1 September; a third says the festival ran to the end of October. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
- Dumulmeori (두물머리)After
The point where the North and South Han rivers meet to become the Han: a free riverside park with an old ferry landing and a zelkova tree over 400 years old, known for morning mist and sunsets. Go after the garden: Semiwon sells its last tickets at 17:30 and closes at 18:00, and sunset is around 17:40 in late October, so cross in the late afternoon. It is about 30 minutes on foot back to Yangsu Station, so check the last Seoul-bound train at the station before you linger.
Getting there: Across the Baedari boat bridge from Semiwon (October 2026 opening not confirmed), or about 1 km on foot; free
- Old Bukhan River railway bridge (북한강철교)After
A disused steel-truss railway bridge over the North Han River beside Yangsu Station, now a walking and cycling path on the Han River bike route, with wide views over the water. It is on your way back to the train, so walk out onto it for a few minutes after the garden closes at 18:00 or after Dumulmeori. Keep to one side: cyclists use it too.
Getting there: Next to Yangsu Station, a few minutes on foot from Exit 1; free
Questions travelers ask
When is the Semiwon Water Lily Festival 2026?
1 September to 31 October 2026, 09:00–18:00 daily (the ticket booth closes 30 minutes earlier), at Semiwon in Yangpyeong. The garden has no closed day from April to October.
How much does it cost?
Garden entry is ₩7,000 for adults (19 and over) and ₩4,000 for ages 6–18, over-65s and visitors with mild disabilities; children 5 and under and Yangpyeong residents enter free. The performances and exhibitions are inside the garden.
How do I get to Semiwon from Seoul?
Take the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Yangsu Station on a train bound for Yongmun or Jipyeong, leave by Exit 1 and walk about 600 m (12–20 minutes). Travel guides allow roughly 1 to 1½ hours from central Seoul. Buses 2000-1 from Gangbyeon Station and 2000-2 from Jamsil Station stop at Yangseo Culture and Sports Park, about 100 m away.
Can I walk from Semiwon to Dumulmeori?
Yes. The Baedari, a pontoon bridge of boats, links the garden with Dumulmeori, which is free to visit; walking straight from Yangsu Station to Dumulmeori takes about 30 minutes. Whether you need a Semiwon ticket to use the bridge was not confirmed.
Is the garden open in the evening?
Not during the 2026 water lily festival, which KTO lists as 09:00–18:00. The 2024 Victoria water lily festival stayed open until 21:00 on Fridays to Sundays, and the summer lotus festival runs 08:00–20:00, but no evening opening was announced for autumn 2026.
When is the 2027 festival?
Not announced. The 2025 run was 1 September to 31 October and the 2026 run has the same dates, so a similar September–October run is likely; the 2025 dates were announced in late August.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
19 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2026 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO TourAPI listing 세미원 수련문화제 (contentId 4109448)kto — 2026 dates 1 Sep–31 Oct, hours 09:00–18:00, paid entry, address 양수로 93, coordinates 37.5409/127.3240, organizer (재)세미원, phone 031-775-1835; Victoria, Australian and tropical water lilies; Paldang reservoir on three sides; Gyeonggi-do's first local garden; host of the 2026 Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo; Lotus Museum and Baedari linked to Jeong Yak-yong
- Gukje News — 세미원, '2026년 수련문화제' 개최 (4 Sep 2026)news — 2026 dates 1 Sep–31 Oct, theme; janggu and acoustic guitar under the overpass every Saturday, 8 times, with local residents; Lotus Museum special exhibition and 3rd-floor exhibitions; Gallery Semi photo show; stamp tour; subway campaign; Lotus Culture classes (natural-dye handkerchiefs, herbarium mood lamps); water lilies follow the summer lotuses
- Maeil Ilbo — 경기도 지방정원 세미원, 가을 정취 담은 '2026 세미원 수련문화제' 개최 (1 Sep 2026)news — 2026 programme published 1 Sep 2026; organizer (재)세미원; detailed schedule posted on Semiwon's website and social media
- NewsSeoul — 경기도, 16~19일 양평서 제14회 경기정원문화박람회 개최 (14 Oct 2026)news — 14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo 16–19 Oct 2026 at Semiwon and Dumulmeori; opening 17 Oct 16:30 at Semiwon; Dumulmeori Music Festival from 17:30 with Kim Feel, Ben, Kai, Kim Jong-seo; 5 artist and 5 citizen gardens, garden industry fair, outdoor films, stamp tour; expo held since 2010; gardens to be kept afterwards
- Semiwon — official English pageofficial — 09:00–18:00, no closed day Apr–Oct; ticket booth shuts 30 min before closing; adult (19+) ₩7,000; ages 6–18, 65+, Grade 4–6 disabilities ₩4,000; free: 5 and under, Grade 1–3 disabilities, national merit, soldiers, Yangpyeong residents; address; Yangsu Exit 1, about 600 m; buses 2000-1 (Gangbyeon), 2000-2 (Jamsil) to Yangseo Culture and Sports Park, about 100 m; 031-775-1835; name's meaning
- Balpum News — 세미원 연꽃문화제 (23 Jul 2026)news — 2026 fees ₩7,000 (₩2,000 Yangpyeong gift voucher back) and ₩4,000 (₩1,000 back) for under-19s, 65+, mild disabilities and groups of 30 or more during the lotus festival; free groups incl. severe disabilities; about 270 plant species; lotus festival 26 Jun–17 Aug 2026
- Segye — 2026 세미원 연꽃문화제 (22 Jun 2026)news — 2026 summer lotus festival 26 Jun–17 Aug, 08:00–20:00 with last entry 19:30; Perry Memorial Pond; Saturday performances by Yangsu-ri residents
- Dongbang Ilbo — 경기 양평 세미원, 2025 수련문화제 내달 1일 개최 (22 Aug 2025)news — 2025 dates 1 Sep–31 Oct, announced 22 Aug 2025; theme; Victoria, Australian and tropical water lilies; 'Semi' cultivar donated in 2019 by a Thai breeder, deep red leaves; Victoria coronation night photography event; Gallery Semi and Lotus Museum exhibitions; weekend performances and acoustic guitar concert
- Ajunews — 양평 세미원, 빅토리아 수련 문화제 개최 (7 Aug 2024)news — 2024 Victoria Water Lily Culture Festival 16 Aug–1 Sep; daily 09:00–18:00, until 21:00 Fri–Sun; about 150 Victoria water lilies in four ponds; talks and hands-on activities (touching and standing on leaves, Victoria boat photos)
- Sidae Ilbo — 세미원, '빅토리아수련 문화제' 개최 (7 Aug 2024)news — 2024 dates 16 Aug–1 Sep, 09:00–18:00 with 21:00 closing Fri–Sun, about 150 Victoria water lilies
- Kyeonggi News (kgnews) — 세미원, 빅토리아 수련의 첫 개화 (13 Aug 2024)news — Victoria water lily leaves up to 3 m, flowers 30–40 cm, white, pink then red over three days; 150 plants in 2024; coronation photo event 16, 23 and 30 Aug 2024, ₩15,000, booked on Semiwon's website; festival said to run to the end of October
- Korea Culture and Tourism Guide booking (kctg.or.kr) — 세미원other — Area about 180,000 m² with six ponds; world water lily garden with about 100 varieties; Monet's Garden, Seokchangwon; nearby Sujongsa Temple and Jeong Yak-yong's birthplace; tour-guide booking
- KRIC railway information portal — [양평여행] 양수 두물머리·세미원 (17 May 2017)other — Yangsu Station Exit 1, about 20 minutes on foot to Semiwon; about 30 minutes on foot to Dumulmeori; Baedari of boats links Semiwon and Dumulmeori, modelled on King Jeongjo's pontoon bridge over the Han; Dumulmeori free; old Bukhan River railway bridge now a cycle path
- Korea To Do — Yangpyeong: Dumulmeori, Semiwon Garden & Strawberry Farmsblog — Yangsu Station Exit 1, 12 minutes on foot to Semiwon, 30 minutes to Dumulmeori; adult ₩7,000, ages 6–18 and 65+ ₩4,000
- TripKopia — Yangpyeong day trip from Seoul: Dumulmeori & Semiwon (verified 15 Jul 2026)blog — Roughly 1 to 1.5 hours from central Seoul on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line; 12 to 15 minutes on foot from Yangsu Station Exit 1; pontoon bridge recently reopened
- Travel-Stained — The Serene Semiwon Garden (updated 1 Jun 2026)blog — About 700 m on foot from Yangsu Station Exit 1; pontoon bridge to Dumulmeori made from 52 boats
- Yangsu Station first and last trains (metro-time-info, undated third-party page)other — Seoul-bound trains leave Yangsu until late evening (undated third-party page; its clock times are not used)
- Busan → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Same last trains on Fri 16, Sat 17 and Sun 18 Oct: 22:00 KTX 82 (arr 00:27) and 22:10 KTX 84 (arr 00:42), i.e. about 2 h 30 min Busan–Seoul; matches korail.com for 16 Oct
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 양평 두물머리kto — Dumulmeori: confluence of the North and South Han rivers, start of the Han; morning mist, sunrise and a 400-year-old zelkova; open at all times, year-round, free; Semiwon 982 m away
- Herald Economy — 양평군 대표 관광지 '두물머리', 글로벌 관광지로 부상 (11 Jan 2026)news — Dumulmeori: where the South and North Han rivers meet; ferry-landing scene; zelkova trees over 400 years old; Korea Tourism 100 for seven consecutive times; UN Tourism Best Tourism Village 2025
- Korea by Bike — Bukhangang Railroad Bridgeother — Old steel-truss railway bridge over the North Han River, now a bike and pedestrian path on the Hangang bicycle route
What we could not confirm
- Semiwon's own 2026 festival notice (semiwon.or.kr notice board) was not opened; class dates, times and any class fees were not published in the sources found
- Whether the Yangpyeong gift-voucher refund (₩2,000 adult / ₩1,000 concession) that applied during the summer 2026 lotus festival also applies in autumn
- Whether a Victoria water lily night photography or 'coronation' event, or any evening opening, ran in 2026 (2024: 16, 23 and 30 Aug, ₩15,000; 2025: a night photo event, dates not found)
- Exact journey time and fare from Cheongnyangni or Yongsan to Yangsu were not checked against Korail's Gyeongui-Jungang timetable
- Walking time from Yangsu Station Exit 1 varies by source (12, 12–15 and about 20 minutes; 600 m or 700 m)
- Whether a Semiwon ticket is needed to cross the Baedari to Dumulmeori, and whether the bridge is open in October 2026
- Semiwon parking capacity and fees
- Whether bus routes 2000-1 and 2000-2 still serve the Yangseo Culture and Sports Park stop (the official page is undated)
- First year of the water lily festival: 2024's Victoria Water Lily Culture Festival is the earliest edition found; its end date conflicts (1 Sep in two reports, end of October in a third), and an older ChookjeNews article on a '꿈꾸는 요정, 수련' edition could not be opened
- Official Japanese and Chinese names of the festival were not found (KTO's Traditional Chinese data names the garden 洗美苑)
- Restrooms, accessibility, rain policy and pet rules were not published
- Last train back from Yangsu to central Seoul on the festival dates (to 31 Oct 2026) under the Gyeongui-Jungang Line timetable in force that day (clock times from an undated third-party page were removed on 24 Oct 2026)
- Length of the old Bukhan River railway bridge and whether it is lit or open after dark were not checked
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of lotus flowers at Semiwon (Chang0306, CC BY-SA 3.0). · 2026-10-20 — FAQ: the 2026 run is still on (to 31 October), so it is no longer described in the past tense. · 2026-10-24 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: removed last-train clock times from an undated third-party timetable (not verifiable for the festival dates), visitors are told to check the last Seoul-bound train at Yangsu Station or in a map app; prices: no change (garden entry from Semiwon's official page).
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