Mother-daughter Han River yacht tour in Yeongdeungpo: Sailing Paradise

Last time, I took my mom on the Han River Bus, and she liked it so much more than I expected. We saw the Han River in daylight then, so this time we decided to make it a little more special and take a Han River yacht where we could see everything from sunset to Seoul’s night view.

We went with Sailing Paradise, which departs from Yeouido Hangang Park. At first, the idea of riding a yacht on the Han River felt a little unfamiliar, but once I was on board, it genuinely felt like I had traveled somewhere—even in Seoul. My mom especially had such a great time, so I was really glad I chose it for a mother-daughter date.

Sailing Paradise location and getting to the marina

Before boarding, we stopped by the 63 Building for a bit and then walked to the marina. It took about seven or eight minutes when we actually did it. If you are visiting with someone who finds long walks difficult, taking a bus to the 63 Building stop rather than walking straight from Yeouinaru Station may be a good option.

A marina tucked inside Yeouido Hangang Park

With the 63 Building behind us, we walked toward the Han River and came upon a marina full of moored yachts and boats.

Seeing yachts up close instead of only from afar made it feel more like an overseas resort than Seoul somehow. With the apartments and bridges across the river and all the moored yachts in one view, I kept taking photos even before departure. There were lots of Chinese visitors taking photos with the 63 Building in the background too.

There were restaurants and convenience stores around the marina as well. We had already eaten and had coffee, so we did not use them.

We followed the Sailing Paradise arrow, but this was not where we boarded—we had to go in the opposite direction to find the boat.

The Han River breeze was cool, so we were resting here when the owner contacted us. He said the boat was on the other side and that we could wait there instead because it had air conditioning in case it was hot.

On the way over to the boat.

This was not the boat we would tour on; it was just for resting briefly.

My mom and I cooled off here, then departed at 8 pm.

Humin capacity and actual tour time

Setting off on Humin

The yacht we rode was Humin, which can carry up to 11 people. SMART CAT S280 was written on its side, and it was a catamaran with two hulls. It felt wider and more spacious inside than the sleek little yacht people generally picture.

I was told it was a yacht worth around ₩300 million. Once I heard the price, I looked around it closely all over again, haha. TMI: the owner has 15 yachts... wow.

Outside, there was an open area for taking in the Han River scenery, while inside there were sofas, tables, and the helm. The windows were large, so you could still look out at the river from indoors if the wind was too strong or it was cold.

• Yacht name: Humin
• Sailing time: 90 minutes
• Maximum capacity: 11 people
• Fare: ₩30,000 per person
• Available: weekdays and weekends

We departed at 8 pm and returned to the marina at around 9:20 pm. Our actual time on board was about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Along with us mother and daughter, there was another mother-daughter pair, plus couples and friends, for around nine people in total. Several groups rode together, but the outdoor and indoor areas were separate, so it did not feel crowded. Everyone comfortably took photos or enjoyed the scenery.

I snapped photos with my mom before departure too. Whenever another boat passed beside us, the yacht immediately rocked and it startled me! We had not even set off yet, but I was already happy, lol.

Before departure, we filled out passenger details, received a brief safety introduction, and put on life jackets.

Even small waves can make your body sway on a yacht, so it is best to move slowly while holding a railing or handle. The life jacket may feel like a bit of a shame when taking photos, but it is essential for safety while the yacht is moving.

Sunset and Seoul night views from an 8 pm departure

We booked the 8 pm departure because we wanted to see both the sunset and night view. There was still blue in the sky when we set off, while the horizon was washed in orange and pink. The little lights on the yacht came on too, and the sunset and lighting together were so pretty.

As the yacht slowly left the marina, even familiar views of Yeouido began to look completely different. Usually I look at the river from Hangang Park, but this time it felt like I was looking at Seoul from the middle of the Han River. With nothing blocking the view, the bridges, high-rise buildings, and lights on the water looked much clearer. As time passed, the sky deepened to navy and lights began coming on in the buildings and bridges. The sunset we saw at departure and the night view on the way back were completely different, so one yacht tour gave us both moods.

Midsummer river breezes and what to wear

The wind started blowing as soon as we got on board that day. It was hot until departure because it was midsummer, but once the yacht started moving, it was cool enough that we did not need air conditioning. Even sitting still, the river breeze kept coming and it felt like the heat disappeared completely. The wind was strong enough to keep blowing my hair around, but looking at the sunset in that cool breeze was just wonderful. Still, the felt temperature can drop depending on the weather and time, so if you board late, it may be good to bring a light outer layer. (My mom said she was a little cold on the way back.)

I wore a skirt because I thought it would look pretty in photos if it fluttered in the wind, while my mom wore pants. But once the yacht departed, the wind was much stronger than expected and my skirt kept flying up badly. I had to hold it whenever I took photos, and it was also something to worry about when moving around the yacht. Long or wide skirts can catch even more wind. (Everyone but me was wearing pants, haha.) Photos matter too, but for comfort and safety, I recommend pants that are easy to move in rather than a skirt for a Han River yacht tour. Sneakers or comfortable shoes with non-slip soles are better than heeled shoes too.

Wine and music on the Han River

They also prepared wine and snacks midway through the trip. Wine while looking at the sunset over the Han River felt completely different from ordinary wine~ Even my mom, who does not usually drink wine, had a sip~ I thought it was delicious, so I had two glasses including hers, haha. They said there are additional options such as catering, cocktails, and proposal events, so if you are visiting for a special anniversary, it would be good to ask about them when booking.

A yacht tour that is nice whether you come together or alone. I heard lots of foreign visitors ride alone too.

The yacht had a speaker, so we could connect a phone and play whatever music we wanted. Just looking at the Han River scenery was lovely, but having favorite music playing made the atmosphere feel so much more alive. Calm music would make for a romantic night-view tour, while upbeat music could make it feel like a little party on the water. We chose songs we wanted to hear, and my mom enjoyed it too; everyone on board seemed to naturally enjoy the atmosphere. It was not simply a tour where you sit and look at the scenery—between the music, wine, and river breeze, 1 hour and 20 minutes went by in no time.

A special night on the Han River with my mom

The best part of this yacht tour was that my mom truly enjoyed it. She had liked the Han River Bus last time too, but the yacht felt even more special because we could feel the river breeze and waves much closer up. As soon as she got on, she looked around everywhere and even spread both arms wide for photos. I loved the mother-daughter photos we took together against the sunset.

I have lived in Seoul for a long time, but it is not often that you get to watch sunset turn into a night view with your mom from the Han River. More than simply riding a yacht, what stayed with me was making a new memory with her. But because my mom had to return to Suwon, she found the journey home a little tiring after the tour ended at 9:20 pm. If you go with your parents, I think you should consider not only the departure time but also the time it will take to get home afterward.

How amazing would it be on fireworks days?

While chatting during the trip, I heard that on days when fireworks are held, the yacht price can rise to as much as ₩1 million per person. I was shocked when I heard the price, but it also made me imagine how incredible fireworks would look from a yacht in the middle of the Han River. You could see the fireworks reflected on the water alongside Seoul’s night view, so if I had the means, it felt appealing enough to want to experience once on a special day.

Getting off the yacht

You have to get off when the owner tells you to after the yacht docks. Otherwise, it looks like you could get hurt or fall in. My mom running off because she urgently needed the bathroom, lol.

Ending with a special memory with my mom. I want to ride again privately next time!

It was a romantic Seoul night-view Han River yacht tour where we enjoyed everything from sunset to Seoul’s night view and made special memories together.