Seoul on a Rainy Day: 15 Indoor Things to Do

By Dragon Kim · Updated October 22, 2026 · 7 min read

Which free museums are best in the rain?

Start with the large national and city museums, because each lists free admission for its main displays. Items 1 to 6 below are all free as of the dates on their official pages.

1. National Museum of Korea. Free for the permanent exhibition; special exhibitions are charged. Open 9:30 to 17:30, or to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, per the museum. Ichon Station (Line 4), Exit 2, is 309 m away per Visit Seoul, which lists nearly 420,000 artifacts.
2. War Memorial of Korea. Free, open Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 to 17:40, and closed Mondays, per Visit Seoul. It has six exhibition halls and about three hours of content; Samgakji Station (Line 4) Exit 11 is 227 m away.
3. Seoul Museum of History. Free, closed Mondays, with Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 7 about 462 m away. Visit Seoul lists extended hours until 21:00 on several days from September 15 to November 30, 2026 (details).
4. National Folk Museum of Korea. Free; March to October hours are 09:00 to 18:00 (to 20:00 on Wednesdays), per the museum. Remember the Hall 1 closure noted above.
5. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. Free, Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2, a 3-minute walk, per Visit Seoul. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00, or to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
6. National Palace Museum of Korea. Free, Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 5, a 2-minute walk. It closes on the last Monday of each month, per Visit Seoul.

For more no-cost ideas, see our free things to do in Seoul guide.

Where can I see art when it rains?

Four art venues cover most budgets, from a free city museum to a combined-ticket private museum. Prices below come from the Visit Seoul pages linked in each item.

7. Seoul Museum of Art (Seosomun). Listed as free on Visit Seoul's rainy-day page; closed Mondays. Large exhibitions may charge, so confirm on the museum site. Two Visit Seoul pages give different City Hall Station exits, so check the exit in your map app.
8. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Seoul. Open 10:00 to 18:00, or to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays; Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 1 is about 764 m away, per Visit Seoul. The standard fee was not listed, so check the MMCA site.
9. MMCA Deoksugung. 2,000 won, plus 1,000 won for Deoksugung Palace entrance; closed Mondays, per Visit Seoul. City Hall Station Exit 1 is a 4-minute walk.
10. Leeum Museum of Art. The M1 Korean antique art gallery is free; a combined ticket is 25,000 won. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 and closed Mondays, per Visit Seoul. Hangangjin Station Exit 1 is 399 m away.

What can I do indoors that is not a museum?

Aquariums, a giant public library and a bathhouse give you dry options with a different pace. Fees and hours change, so verify before you go.

11. Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Entry is 3,000 won for adults (ages 19 to 64), per Visit Seoul. March to October hours are 09:30 to 18:00, it closes Mondays, and Dongnimmun Station (Line 3) Exit 5 is 209 m away. Our judgment: parts of the site, such as the watchtower, are outdoors, so bring a rain cover.
12. Lotte World Aquarium. Adult tickets are 35,000 won and child tickets 31,000 won. Hours are 10:00 to 20:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00 to 22:00 Friday to Sunday, per Visit Seoul. Jamsil Station Exit 10 is 14 m away, and the same page says about 55,000 animals live there.
13. Starfield Library (COEX Mall). Free, open daily 10:30 to 22:00, and listed as open year round on Visit Seoul. Samseong Station (Line 2) Exit 5 is 353 m away.
14. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Visit Seoul lists hours of 10:00 to 20:00 varying by space, and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 1 is about 37 m away. It gave no admission fee, so check the DDP site for the exhibition you want.
15. Jjimjilbang. A Korean bathhouse is a classic wet-day choice; read our jjimjilbang guide for etiquette and how to use one.

Gwangjang Market, covered in our market food guide, is another place to eat out of the weather.

How do I plan a rainy day in Seoul?

Pair two or three venues near the same subway line, and keep the walking short. This is our suggestion, not an official itinerary.

1. Pick your area. Gwanghwamun has the Seoul Museum of History (Line 5, Exit 7), the Contemporary History museum (Exit 2) and the Seoul Museum of Art in City Hall, based on the exits above.
2. Check closing days. Look up Monday closures and any works on each official page before you leave your hotel.
3. Add a long-visit anchor. The National Museum of Korea or War Memorial of Korea each fill several hours; Visit Seoul puts the War Memorial at about three hours.
4. Finish with food. End at a covered market or a cafe; see Seoul neighborhoods to match an area to your plans.

Practical example: for a Wednesday, spend the afternoon at the National Museum of Korea, which stays open until 21:00, and eat nearby after you leave.

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