Hwadam Forest 2026: Fall Foliage Tickets & Monorail Tips

The autumn reservation schedule for Hwadam Forest is finally out!

It's always one of the top spots that comes to mind when you think of autumn foliage in Gyeonggi Province.

The reservation date for autumn peak season tickets in 2026 is

Wednesday, September 16th at 1 PM.

It's a place I visit every autumn, so

I need to get ready to book my tickets this year too! 😎

Today, I'll cover the Hwadam Forest autumn foliage ticket reservation schedule,

things you need to prepare before booking, admission fees,

monorail sections, operating hours, and

a review of my visit with my child last year.

(I've included some pro parking tips for families, so make sure to read to the end!)

1. Hwadam Forest Autumn Peak Season Reservation Opening Date and Operating Hours

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The 2026 Hwadam Forest Autumn Peak Season runs from

Friday, October 23rd to Sunday, November 15th.

Hwadam Forest sells admission tickets by season,

and tickets to see the autumn foliage open on

September 16th, 2026 at 1 PM.

If you miss this time, you'll likely struggle to get tickets for your desired date.

(Weekends are especially competitive!)

There are three types of tickets you can reserve:

1) Hwadam Forest Admission Ticket

2) Hwadamchae Admission Ticket

3) Monorail Ride Ticket

Among these, purchasing the Hwadam Forest Admission Ticket is mandatory.

Hwadamchae hosts different exhibitions throughout the year,

and until November 29th this year,

there's an exhibition titled 'The Life of Birds'.

If you're interested in birds,

you can purchase a Hwadamchae admission ticket.

Otherwise, you only need to buy the Hwadam Forest admission ticket.

The operating hours change mid-season during the autumn foliage period,

so make sure to check them.

Hwadam Forest Operating Hours

October 23rd ~ November 1st: 8 AM ~ 6 PM

November 2nd ~ November 15th: 8 AM ~ 5 PM

(Last admission is one hour before closing)

2. How to Reserve Hwadam Forest Tickets & Monorail

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Hwadam Forest reservations can only be made through NOL.

Even if you click the reservation button on the Hwadam Forest website,

you'll eventually be redirected to the NOL app or website.

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📌 Absolutely essential things to do before reserving Hwadam Forest tickets

1) Register and complete identity verification

Just signing up isn't enough; you need to complete identity verification

to ensure a smooth payment process.

Go to My > Account Management > Identity Verification

and be sure to verify your identity.

2) Decide which time slot you want to book in advance

Admission tickets are available for reservation at the top of each hour, and at 20 and 40 minutes past the hour.

For example, you can choose 9:00 AM, 9:20 AM, or 9:40 AM.

Each time slot has a limited number of admissions,

so once those tickets are gone, reservations for that slot close.

If you walk slowly through Hwadam Forest, the entire route takes

about two hours for adults.

It takes a bit longer if you're with children.

Of course, if you walk quickly, you can complete a loop with children relatively fast,

but once you start admiring the autumn colors and taking photos,

time flies by.

So, entering around 3 PM or 4 PM might feel a bit late.

3) If you're not confident, skip the monorail without hesitation

Many people miss out on tickets because they spend too much time choosing monorail sections and times.

If you're not quick with reservations...

Skipping the monorail can definitely be a great choice too!

If there are any cancellations, you can even buy tickets on-site. And even if you don't take the monorail, the paths are so well-maintained that you won't have any trouble getting around with a stroller or wheelchair.

I've actually taken the monorail myself,

and honestly, it's not super extraordinary.

In fact, I sometimes think the monorail looks even prettier from the outside, haha!

📌 Hwadamsup Admission Fees are:

Adults: ~$8

Children: ~$5

(Children are considered 24 months and older, up to elementary school age)

Hwadamchae Admission Fee is ~$4.

Now, for what you're probably most curious about: the Monorail Sections and Prices!

You can book the monorail for Section 1, Section 2, or a full loop.

For Section 1, trains depart every 6 minutes starting from 11:20 AM.

Section 1 is ~$4, Section 2 is ~$5, and a full loop is ~$7.

For monorail rides starting from Platform 2 or 3, tickets can be purchased on-site!

📌 Recommended Monorail Routes might depend on your group!

1) If you want to take it easy on your legs:

Book Section 2 and then walk your way down.

Sections 1 to 3 are uphill, but the sections after that are downhill, making it less strenuous.

2) If you enjoy a moderate walk:

Book Section 1 and leisurely stroll around to explore.

Section 1 is the steepest section!

(But it's a path where you can even push a stroller, so it's not super difficult to navigate, don't worry! 😉)

3) If you're with elderly visitors, or just want to relax and enjoy the scenery:

I recommend the full loop route.

Once you've decided on your admission ticket time and monorail route,

you can purchase them via the link below!

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Hwadamsup Autumn Foliage Season Ticket Reservations

You can also check remaining tickets by date on the website below.

2026 Hwadamsup Admission Tickets (10.23-11.15), Special Offers & Discount Reservations | NOL(Yanolja)3ha.in

3. Hwadamsup: Canceled Tickets & Parking Tips

Hwadamsup is inside Konjiam Resort.

So, you can just navigate to Konjiam Resort, and you'll be there.

Here's a hot parking tip for you:

If you're visiting with infants or toddlers,

instead of the lower parking lot, you can use a parking lot closer to the Hwadamsup entrance!

When you arrive, just let the staff guiding traffic know,

and they'll direct you to the right parking area.

It's the parking lot you'll see as you go up the lift.

During peak season, it can get really crowded with cars, so

it's a good idea to arrive with plenty of time before your scheduled admission.

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Admission tickets are mobile QR tickets, and they activate from 30 minutes before your booked time until 2 hours after.

So, even if you arrive a little early, you can still get in!

But if you're too late, you might be denied entry!

And especially for the monorail! You absolutely cannot be late.

Since it has a small capacity (only 28 people), if you're late, you won't be able to board,

and most people arrive about 10 minutes beforehand to wait.

On the reservation opening day for the autumn foliage season,

Even if you've missed out on booking in advance, there's still a way!

It's all about **snagging cancelled tickets**.

Hwadam Botanic Garden admission tickets and monorail tickets

don't incur cancellation fees until the day before your visit.

So, quite a few cancelled tickets pop up the day before entry!

(I even managed to snag some cancelled tickets once!)

📌 How to snag those cancelled tickets:

1) Check the booking site frequently.

2) Refresh the page often a day or two before your desired visit date.

While the general autumn foliage season is predictable,

the exact timing of peak colors can be a bit elusive.

This means many people book tickets for several dates

and then cancel the ones they don't need the day before.

You might also find tickets being resold!

4. My Review of Hwadam Botanic Garden (Gonjiam) with Kids

Inside Hwadam Botanic Garden, the paths are gentle wooden decks,

making it easy to navigate with strollers even without the monorail.

The same goes for wheelchairs!

Just a heads-up, there's quite a bit of walking involved.

It takes about two hours to walk through all the themed gardens,

and that time can easily extend if you stop to take photos along the way!

Also, while outside food isn't generally allowed in Hwadam Botanic Garden,

you can bring in simple snacks and beverages.

Peeled fruits, baby food, and toddler meals are,

of course, absolutely fine to bring!

There are tables available in the middle of the garden,

so if you pack some snacks for the kids and take your time,

it'll be an absolutely wonderful autumn foliage experience!

For your reference, based on my visits over several years, the peak autumn foliage season at Hwadam Botanic Garden seems to be

early November.

Early November usually had better colors than late October.

Inside, there are three dining options: Bunjieobtneun Jumak,

Hwadam Botanic Garden Cafe, and Seed Green.

Seed Green is a cafe & bakery,

while Bunjieobtneun Jumak sells delicious dishes like seafood pajeon (savory pancake), sundae (blood sausage), dubu kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi),

and tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) for children!

The prices are a bit on the higher side, but if you grab an outdoor seat,

the view is incredible! They've also expanded a bit,

which has slightly reduced the wait times... though you'll still likely have to wait.

Since there aren't many other dining options inside and the view is so lovely,

I usually opt for Bunjieobtneun Jumak,

and it's been a great choice when visiting with kids!

There's also a convenience store next to the ticket office near the entrance

where you can buy simple drinks and other items, so keep that in mind.

I've always visited Hwadam Botanic Garden on day trips,

but this year I'm considering staying overnight at Gonjiam Resort for a more relaxed experience!

(With two kids, an overnight stay seems like the better option, haha!)

I looked up rooms and found that **booking in advance is much cheaper**.

So, if you're planning an overnight stay, definitely book ahead!

📌 Gonjiam Resort Prices

(*Based on 1-night stay in November, before discounts applied)

Applying discount coupons & codes makes it even more affordable, so

enter your actual stay dates and apply the coupons,

to get the most accurate price.

📌 Download your 12% Yeogi Eottae discount coupon

📌 Enter Trip.com Discount Code

3HAHOTEL5 (5% discount)

* Discount only valid when accessed through the link above

I hope today's post helps those of you

planning to reserve Hwadam Botanic Garden tickets.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below!

With only a few days left until Hwadam Botanic Garden opens,

make sure to sign up for NOL (Yanolja) and complete your identity verification!

I wish you success in reserving your desired date!

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Hwadam Botanic Garden Admission Ticket Reservation Link

2026 Hwadam Botanic Garden Admission Tickets (Oct 23 - Nov 15), Special Offers & Discount Reservations | NOL (Yanolja)3ha.in

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Konjiam Resort Room Inquiry

Konjiam Resort, Suwon·Seongnam·Pangyo, Gyeonggi - Yeogi Eottae Special Offeryeogi.onelink.me

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