We finally got out for a Pocheon day trip! It was my first time in Pocheon, but it turned out to be a really great spot to visit with the kids.
[Photo: Entrance or exterior of Art Garden 1999]
What Is Pocheon Art Garden 1999?
At first I kept wondering, “What exactly is this place?” — and honestly, even after seeing all of it, it’s hard to sum up in one word. If I had to describe it, I’d call it an all-in-one indoor playground for families. Sculptures, cacti, minerals, a cave, an aquarium, fossils, and a café — you get to try and enjoy a little bit of everything. Being able to do so many different things in one place was the best part, and it was perfect for our 5- and 10-year-old.
Ticket Prices
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | 10,000 KRW (about $7) |
| Students, seniors, visitors with disabilities, groups, Pocheon residents | 8,000 KRW (about $6) |
| 36 months and under | Free |
💡 Tip: Leave a Naver receipt review at the first-floor bakery and you’ll get a free Americano! Don’t forget to grab it.
The Full Course at a Glance
Here’s everything you can see and do, in order:
- Steel sculpture in front of the parking lot
- Cactus museum + turtles (at the far end of the parking lot)
- Indoor 1F — mineral and rock exhibit
- Indoor 1F — artificial cave (with a Buddha statue)
- Indoor 1F — aquarium (arapaima, “oompa loompa” fish, human-faced-looking fish, and more)
- Indoor 1F — bakery café for bread and drinks
- Indoor 2F — fossil exhibit
- Indoor 3F — outdoor sculptures and photo spots
Each section takes roughly 15 minutes to look around!
Section-by-Section Review
1. Steel Sculpture at the Parking Lot
The moment you park and step out, a big steel sculpture greets you. The kids’ eyes went wide right from the start.
[Photo: Steel sculpture at the parking lot]
2. Cactus Museum + Turtles
At the far end of the parking lot there’s a cactus museum. It’s packed with all kinds of cacti, and you can see turtles too — the kids loved it.
[Photo: Cactus museum / turtles]
3. Indoor 1F — Minerals & Rocks
Head inside and the first floor has a variety of rocks and minerals on display. Lots of sparkly minerals, so it’s fun to browse.
[Photo: Mineral exhibit]
4. Indoor 1F — Artificial Cave (with Buddha Statue)
Right after that comes an artificial cave. There’s a Buddha statue inside, which gives it a totally different vibe.
[Photo: Artificial cave / Buddha statue]
5. Indoor 1F — Aquarium
This was the kids’ favorite! There are some really unusual fish here — an arapaima, “oompa loompa”–style fish, and even some human-faced-looking fish — so there’s plenty to look at.
[Photo: Aquarium / arapaima]
6. Indoor 1F — Bakery Café
The first-floor café is a great spot to take a break mid-visit. The bread and drinks were delicious, and there were drinks the kids could enjoy too, which made things easy. (This is also where that free-Americano Naver receipt review deal happens!)
[Photo: Café bread and drinks]
7. Indoor 2F — Fossil Exhibit
Upstairs on the second floor is a fossil exhibit. If your kids are into dinosaurs and fossils, they’ll especially love this part.
[Photo: Fossil exhibit]
8. Indoor 3F — Outdoor Sculptures & Photo Spots
The third floor has outdoor sculptures and photo spots. Great for pictures, so it’s a perfect way to wrap up the visit.
[Photo: 3F photo spot]
How Long Does It Take?
We arrived at 10 a.m., went through the course above in order, and left around 12:30 p.m. — so about two and a half hours total. Since each section takes 15 minutes or so, we got through everything before the kids ran out of steam.
Final Verdict — Is It Worth It?
I probably wouldn’t go over and over, but it’s definitely worth visiting once! Where else can you enjoy sculptures, cacti, minerals, a cave, an aquarium, fossils, and a café all in one place? For families with young kids especially, it’s a satisfying indoor day-trip course.
- 👍 What I loved: So many things to do in one place, indoors so weather isn’t a problem, tasty café bread and drinks
- 🤔 Worth noting: Each section is short, so plan for about 2–3 hours total
If you want to spend a full, easy day with the kids no matter the weather, Pocheon Art Garden 1999 is worth a trip!