Lotte World is undoubtedly the amusement park that everyone knows and probably will plan to go when they’re in Seoul.
Operated by Lotte Group, Lotte World is the largest indoor amusement park in the world (Guinness World Record!)
Plus point: This was the filming location for Running Man Episode 9 & 149, Stairway to Heaven, as well as H.O.T’s Candy MV!
Personally, I’m not a very big fan of amusement parks at this age because I’m too embarrassed to be seen on kiddy rides and am too scared of heights to take many of the thrilling rides. If I go to amusement parks, I’m usually busy snapping photos and generally soaking in the atmosphere.
However, I’m glad to say that I did go on a few rides in Lotte World despite being there for only a few hours + suffering in the long queues 😂
I first visited Lotte World on a field trip organized by Korea University International Summer Campus (ISC), so our tickets were free!
About This Guide
Lotte World is one of Seoul’s best-known theme parks, but deciding whether it’s worth setting aside an entire day for it isn’t quite as straightforward as it sounds. The park combines the indoor Lotte World Adventure with the outdoor Magic Island, and the experience can be completely different depending on whether you’re visiting for the thrill rides, bringing young children or simply want to experience one of Seoul’s most famous attractions.
I’ve now visited Lotte World at very different stages of my life. My first visit was as a student at Korea University International Summer Campus, when I spent most of my time trying rides with friends and waiting in some very long queues. More recently, I returned with our toddler under two, which completely changed the way we experienced the park.
This guide brings those experiences together. I’ll cover the rides I’ve personally tried, what Lotte World is like with a baby or toddler, Kidstoria, food, queues and the practical things I’d want to know before visiting. If you’re trying to decide whether Lotte World deserves a place on your Seoul itinerary, hopefully this will give you a more realistic idea of what to expect.
Who Is This Guide For?
This guide is for first-time visitors to Lotte World who want more than a list of rides.
If you’re wondering how much time to spend at Lotte World, whether the queues are really that bad, which attractions are suitable if you don’t like intense rides, or whether there’s enough for a toddler under two to do, I’ve covered all of those questions based on our own visits.
Parents travelling with babies and toddlers may find the newer parts of this guide particularly useful. We returned with our toddler and found that Lotte World was much more manageable for her than I’d expected, largely because of Kidstoria and a small selection of gentle rides she could experience with an accompanying adult. That said, there are height restrictions, crowds and plenty of sensory stimulation to consider, so I wouldn’t approach Lotte World with a toddler in quite the same way as I would with an older child.
It’s also useful for travellers who aren’t particularly interested in roller coasters. I’m not a huge thrill-ride person myself, and there are still enough gentler attractions and things to see that I enjoyed both of my visits.
Key Takeaways
- Lotte World combines a large indoor amusement park with the outdoor Magic Island, making it one of the easier Seoul theme parks to visit when the weather isn’t ideal.
- Give yourself at least half a day, although a full day makes more sense if you want to experience the popular rides without constantly watching the clock.
- Queues can take up a substantial part of your visit. On my first trip, we waited around 1.5 hours for the Aeronauts Balloon Ride alone, so don’t assume you’ll be able to cover every attraction in one day.
- You don’t have to enjoy extreme rides to have a good time. I personally preferred attractions such as Dragons Wild Shooting and the 4D Shooting Theatre, while the park also has gentler rides and plenty to see between attractions.
- Lotte World can work with a toddler under two, but you’ll need to adjust your expectations. Our toddler could go on a few gentle rides with an accompanying adult, while Kidstoria gave her somewhere more age-appropriate to climb, walk and play.
- Check the current height and ride restrictions when you visit rather than relying on an old list online, particularly when travelling with babies and toddlers.
- The park is directly connected to Jamsil Station, so it’s relatively straightforward to reach by subway and can easily be combined with other attractions around Jamsil.
What to do at Lotte World
Here a few rides that I’ve taken and personally recommend if you’re not that keen on heights!
Dragons Wild Shooting
I love shooting games in amusement parks! I’ve had similar experiences in Hong Kong Disneyland and Universal Studios Singapore, and the one in Lotte World is about as enjoyable. My arms ended up aching after the ride because it was so fast-paced and there were so many dragons to shoot.
Waiting time: ~ 30 minutes
4D Shooting Theatre
Basically you sit on this chair that moves, and shoot at the bad robots (?) on the screen through 3D glasses to accumulate points.
Personally, I really dislike 3D & 4D stuff because it gets too realistic and overwhelming for me, but my friends egged me to do this… and I actually ended up loving this!
I got so engaged in shooting that I didn’t feel uncomfortable about the 4D experience, and my only regret is not going on it again.
Waiting time: ~ 20 minutes
Swing Tree
This ride also made me step out of my comfort zone (again, more egging by my friends). They told me that it would be fine, that there were kids taking it too…
The ride did look rather harmless, but it became a totally different story for me once the ride started swinging us vigorously through the air.
Initially, I honestly felt like I was going to die and just wanted to get off, but after a while I got used to the intense spinning and started enjoying the views from up above.
If you are no fan of heights, I would still recommend this as an alternative to the other thrilling rides because this is really easy to get used to.
Waiting time: ~ 20 minutes
Aeronauts Balloon Ride
This was my last ride in Lotte World. The views from above are absolutely amazing, but the biggest, BIGGEST problem about this is the wait.
We waited for almost 1.5 hours just to get on because a) the line was snaking, b) the ride was slow, c) a limited number of passengers per balloon.
I would definitely not recommend this at all unless you are really that keen to see Lotte World from above. Or if the queue happens to be really short on that day.
Waiting time: ~ 1.5 hours
What to eat at Lotte World
There are many F&B options in Lotte World. Most of them are reasonably priced, lower than what I would expect at an amusement park.
I bought this okonomiyaki (yes, ironic that I’m eating Japanese food in Korea) for about 8000won (if I recall correctly).
Slightly pricey, but decent enough given that the portions were huge.
You can also grab drinks from some establishments/stalls along the way when you get thirsty – mostly affordable as well.
Full list of food options in Lotte World is available on their website.
Visiting Lotte World With A Toddler Below 2
Lotte World can initially feel like an intimidating choice with a toddler under two, especially because the park is large, crowded, and packed with sensory stimulation. What makes it far more manageable now is Kidstoria, a newer soft play zone created specifically for younger children.
Unlike the rest of the park, Kidstoria feels much more age-appropriate for babies and toddlers who simply want to move. The entire area is padded and designed around safe exploration, with spaces for climbing, crawling, walking, and gentle play. It’s one of the few spots inside a major attraction where you don’t need to constantly stop your toddler from touching or climbing things.
The main park itself is a different story. Between the loud music, flashing lights, queues, and fast-moving crowds, certain areas can quickly become overstimulating for very young children. Still, that doesn’t mean toddlers are completely excluded from the rides.
There are a handful of gentler rides that younger toddlers can go on if they meet the minimum height requirements and are accompanied by an adult. It’s worth checking the signs outside each attraction carefully or asking the staff directly, as the rules vary between rides. Our toddler was on the smaller side, so she missed out on quite a few, but she was still able to enjoy rides like the Camelot Carousel, LOTTY Train, and Swing Pang Pang together with an accompanying adult.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lotte World Seoul
Is Lotte World worth visiting?
Yes, especially if it’s your first trip to Seoul and you enjoy theme parks, rides or family attractions. What makes Lotte World particularly convenient is that a large part of the amusement park is indoors, so you can still enjoy plenty of attractions when Seoul is very hot, cold or rainy. Magic Island adds the outdoor theme park experience, with the famous Magic Castle and some of the park’s bigger rides.
Personally, I’ve now visited at two very different stages of my life, first as a student and more recently as a parent with a toddler, and enjoyed it for completely different reasons each time.
How long should you spend at Lotte World?
I’d recommend setting aside at least half a day, but a full day is much better if you want to experience several of the popular rides. Queues can take up a surprisingly large amount of time. On my first visit, for example, we waited around 1.5 hours for the Aeronauts Balloon Ride alone.
If you’re visiting with a baby or toddler, you may not need an entire day unless older family members also want to go on the major rides. We found that our visit naturally revolved more around Kidstoria, gentle attractions, meals and letting our toddler explore at her own pace.
Is Lotte World indoors?
Partly. Lotte World Adventure is the main indoor amusement park, while Magic Island is the outdoor section built around Seokchon Lake.
This is one of the biggest advantages Lotte World has over a completely outdoor theme park. If the weather turns bad, you can still spend plenty of time inside Lotte World Adventure. Keep in mind that outdoor Magic Island rides can be suspended because of rain, strong winds, extreme temperatures or other weather conditions.
Is Lotte World suitable for toddlers?
Yes, but don’t expect a toddler to be able to go on most of the major rides. Lotte World has a dedicated children’s area and attractions aimed at younger visitors, including Kidstoria and several gentle rides.
We visited with our toddler under two and still found enough to keep her entertained. Kidstoria was particularly useful because it gave her somewhere to get out of the stroller, walk around and play rather than simply following us between attractions all day.
Can babies go to Lotte World?
Yes. You can bring babies and very young toddlers into Lotte World, although individual attractions have their own age and height restrictions.
If you’re visiting with a baby, I’d think of Lotte World more as a family day out than a day of rides. There are colourful areas to explore, performances and characters to see, while parents or older siblings can take turns going on attractions.
Which Lotte World rides can toddlers go on?
It depends on your child’s height and age, and the restrictions vary considerably between attractions. Some children’s attractions allow smaller children when accompanied by a guardian, while others have minimum or maximum height restrictions.
During our visit with our toddler, we were able to find a few gentle attractions suitable for her, including the LOTTY Train and Swing Pang Pang, alongside time at Kidstoria. However, I strongly recommend checking the current restrictions for each attraction on the day you visit rather than assuming a ride will be suitable based on another family’s experience.
What is Kidstoria at Lotte World?
Kidstoria is an indoor play area designed specifically for younger children. Instead of traditional amusement park rides, it’s a fairytale-themed space where children can move around and play.
For us, this was one of the most useful parts of Lotte World when visiting with a toddler under two. After spending time in the stroller and following us around the park, she finally had somewhere she could explore more independently and burn off some energy.
Does Lotte World have baby care facilities?
Yes. Lotte World’s official guide map includes a Baby Lounge, and you’ll also find family facilities around the park. If you’re visiting with a baby or toddler, I’d locate the nearest baby facilities when you arrive rather than waiting until you actually need them.
Can you bring a stroller into Lotte World?
Yes, and I’d recommend bringing one if you’re visiting with a baby or young toddler. Lotte World is large, and even children who normally enjoy walking may get tired after several hours.
We found having a stroller particularly useful for moving between different parts of the park and giving our toddler somewhere to rest. Just remember that you’ll need to leave it outside or in designated areas when using certain attractions.
Is Lotte World good on a rainy day?
Yes, and this is probably one of the best reasons to choose Lotte World over a completely outdoor amusement park. Much of Lotte World Adventure is indoors, so there are still rides, children’s attractions, restaurants, shops and entertainment available when it’s raining.
Magic Island is outdoors, however, and individual attractions there may close temporarily because of weather conditions.
Is Lotte World better than Everland?
It depends on what you want from your day.
I’d choose Lotte World if you want something easy to reach from central Seoul, you’re worried about the weather, or you’re travelling with a very young child and like having a large indoor section to fall back on.
Everland feels more like a full-scale outdoor theme park experience and is a better choice if you’re prepared to travel further from central Seoul and want to dedicate most of a day to the park.
If you have enough time in Korea, they’re different enough that I wouldn’t necessarily consider one a replacement for the other.
What is the best time to visit Lotte World?
If rides are your priority, I’d arrive as close to opening time as possible and head straight to the attractions you most want to experience. Waiting until the afternoon to start tackling the popular rides can leave you spending a large portion of the day in queues.
Weekdays are generally the first dates I’d consider when planning a visit, although crowds can still vary considerably because of Korean school holidays, public holidays and special events.
Can you spend an entire day at Lotte World without going on thrill rides?
Definitely. I’m not particularly interested in extreme rides myself, and I’ve still enjoyed visiting Lotte World more than once.
There are gentler rides, interactive attractions, performances, shops, food and plenty to explore around the park. Families with young children will naturally spend even less time on thrill rides, so I wouldn’t rule out Lotte World simply because roller coasters aren’t your thing.
Should you buy Lotte World tickets in advance?
I generally prefer buying tickets before visiting, particularly when travelling during busy periods. It means there’s one less thing to organise when you arrive and also gives you the chance to compare any tourist promotions or discounted admission available for your travel dates.
Before purchasing, check exactly what your ticket includes and whether any attractions or experiences require separate payment or reservations.
Is Lotte World easy to reach by public transport?
Yes! Lotte World’s location in Jamsil is one of its biggest advantages for tourists staying in Seoul. You can reach the area by subway and don’t need to organise a lengthy transfer outside the city, which also makes it considerably easier when travelling with young children.
This convenience is one of the main reasons I’d consider Lotte World for families who only have a few days in Seoul and don’t want to dedicate additional travel time to reaching a theme park outside the city.
OPENING HOURS
Open all year round.
09:30-22:00 (Nighttime admission: 16:00~)
* Closing time may vary each day; please refer to the official website.
DIRECTIONS
Address: 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 240 (잠실동)
[Subway]
Jamsil Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 8), Exit 4.
– Lotte World is directly connected to the station.
Related Posts:
- Everland: family-friendly amusement park
- Daegu E-World: Budget theme park worth the visit
- For Your First Trip To Seoul: My Recommended Places
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