Loving airplanes does not make every ride suitable. The Children's Airport Experience is only for children aged 48 months and older who have not started elementary school. With siblings of different ages, build the visit around free exhibits everyone can see, then add one activity for an eligible child.

Key point

Make free exhibits the main plan. Add an activity only when the age, height, and guardian waiting requirements work for your family.

What to remember

  • Exhibition admission is free, and museum hours are 10:00 to 18:00.
  • The third-floor Children's Airport Experience is for preschoolers aged 48 months and older. It lasts 45 minutes and costs 2,000 won.
  • Guardians must remain in the waiting area during the activity, so do not schedule something else at the same time.

Free exhibitions and separately priced activities

The address is 177 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:30. It closes on Mondays, January 1, and Seollal and Chuseok day. If Monday is a public holiday, it opens that day and closes on the next non-holiday weekday instead. Exhibition admission is free, but some activities cost extra.

Check the preschool airport activity first

The third-floor Children's Airport Experience is for children aged 48 months and older who have not started elementary school. Each 45-minute session costs 2,000 won and can be booked online in advance or on site. Capacity is 20 children per session; weekday and weekend schedules differ. One guardian per child must stay in the designated waiting area during the activity. Strollers go in the designated area beside the information desk.

For Black Eagles, check height and weight before the name

The second-floor Black Eagles simulator is a virtual-reality experience that rotates through 360 degrees. Riders under 130 cm tall, 190 cm or taller, or weighing 100 kg or more cannot ride. It lasts about 10 minutes and costs 3,000 won at the standard rate or 2,000 won at the reduced rate. Tickets are sold only on site. Do not assume a child can bypass the restrictions by riding with a guardian.

Allow for the last part of the trip from Gimpo Airport

From Gimpo Airport Station, follow the museum signs on the domestic terminal's first floor. The final section in the official directions is about 400 m from the entrance to Domestic Parking Lot 2 to the museum. For the airport shuttle, board at Gate 4 on the domestic terminal's first floor. Distinguish the cargo-terminal route's National Aviation Museum stop from the passenger-terminal route's Domestic Parking Lot 2 stop.

Leave the 20 minutes before an activity free

Start with the free exhibits, use the restroom and check in near your reserved activity, then head home after the activity. If you have a child under 48 months with you, decide who will look after them while another adult waits as the participating child's guardian. With just one adult, avoid plans that place siblings in separate areas at once. A shared exhibition visit is simpler.

The exhibits are still there if your child declines a ride

Instead of promising a cockpit ride, try, “Let's see the airplanes and choose an activity if there's one you can do.” If your child dislikes dark seats or loud sounds, skip the paid activity and look at wings and wheels instead. Early exit and another turn may depend on the activity, so do not promise either.

Worksheet

One airplane and one activity

Before promising an activity, check whether your child can take part.

See first
The part your child chooses: wheels, wings, or cockpit
Activity requirements
Whether your child meets the age and height rules and can make the reserved time
Rest time
When to sit and drink water before and after the reserved activity

Notes

  • The current nursing-room location and rules for leaving an activity early or riding again are unconfirmed. If you are worried about needing to leave midway, choose the free exhibits instead of a ride.

Location

References