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Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival

강동선사문화축제 · Gangdong-gu, Seoul

2026/10/16 – 10/18 Confirmed dates

Festival dates move every year — confirm on the organizer's own site before booking.
Last verified: 2026-08-22.

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The only Seoul city festival built around a prehistoric theme, staged at the Amsa-dong Neolithic settlement site along the Han River, now in its 30th year.

Who it suits: Families and anyone curious about prehistoric Korea without leaving Seoul — this is the only Seoul festival built around a Neolithic site.

Read our full guide to this festival →

Where it is

13 km east of Seoul, in Gangdong-gu, Seoul (straight-line distance from Seoul City Hall, calculated from the venue's official coordinates).

We have not timed these connections ourselves, so rather than print a number we have not checked, here is the route on the two apps Koreans actually use — the venue as the destination, already filled in:

• Directions on Kakao Map — live bus and train times, and which platform
• Naver Map — the stronger of the two in English

From Seoul, journeys to Gangdong-gu start at Seoul Station (KTX and regular rail) or the Express Bus Terminal. Which of the two wins depends on how many cities you are stringing together — our rail pass guide works through the break-even, and getting around Korea covers why these two apps beat Google Maps once you are on the ground.

Getting there and staying

Festival weeks fill local rooms earlier than you would expect. What is available in Seoul right now:

Outside the big cities, wifi is not something to plan around. Shuttle stops, stage times and the day's program are posted on the organizer's Korean-language page or a Naver Map pin, and they change on the day. A Korean eSIM is the cheapest way to have it working before you land.

Planning a trip around it

On at the same time

If your dates are fixed, these run within ten days of Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival and are worth checking before you commit to a route.

• Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace — 2026/09/10 – 10/17, Seoul, 2 km from Seoul.
• Geumsan World Insam Festival — 2026/10/02 – 10/11, Geumsan, South Chungcheong, 170 km from Seoul.
• Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival — 2026/10/03 – 10/18, Jinju, South Gyeongsang, 282 km from Seoul.
• Suwon Hwaseong Festival — 2026/10/04 – 10/11, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 32 km from Seoul.
• Gangneung Coffee Festival — 2026/10/21 – 10/25, Gangneung, Gangwon, 175 km from Seoul.
• Chuncheon Makguksu & Dakgalbi Festival — 2026/10/14 – 10/18, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 74 km from Seoul.

Other festivals in Seoul

Same province, different times of year — useful if you are choosing when to visit Seoul rather than when to leave home.

• Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival — April, Seoul
• Yeon Deung Hoe — May, Seoul
• Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace — September, Seoul
• King Jeongjo's Royal Parade — October, Seoul & Suwon
• Korea Traditional Liquor Grand Festival — November, Seoul (aT Center)

Running every week nearby

These are not tied to the festival and run on their own schedule, so they are there whether your dates line up with Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival or not.

• Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony, Gyeongbokgung — 10:00 and 14:00, closed Tuesdays, free. Heungnyemun Plaza, Gyeongbokgung Palace.
• Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony, Deoksugung — 11:00 and 14:00, closed Mondays, free. In front of Daehanmun, Deoksugung Palace.
• Saturday Gugak Concert — Saturdays, 15:00, From ₩20,000 (B seat) · ₩30,000 (A seat). Umyeondang Hall, National Gugak Center, Seocho-gu.
• NANTA — Most days — times on the booking page. Myeongdong NANTA Theater · Hongdae NANTA Theater.

Our own guide to the area

• Seoul — Palaces, hanbok and hanok neighborhoods, built around the one palace that closes each day.

See the full calendar →