How to get to Namsan Tower: your complete guide
Last Updated on November 11, 2024 by Alex
So you are visiting Seoul and want to see the city’s main tourist attraction? After climbing Namsan Mountain on several occasions, I have decided to provide this complete guide on how to get to Namsan Tower.
I included information to help you reach the top, whether your starting point is Seoul Station, Myengdong, or Itaewon.
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Table of Contents
- How to Get to Namsan Tower
- How to get to Namsan Seoul Tower
- Similar Posts
How to Get to Namsan Tower
About the N Seoul Tower
Even though it might look otherwise, Namsan Seoul Tower is more than just a broadcasting tower. It is one of the most important tourist attractions worth seeing in Seoul.
Built in 1971 on top of Namsan Mountain, at the heart of South Korea’s capital city, the tower offers panoramic views from its Observation Deck, but there are also lots of other ways to spend your time.
Inside the tower, you’ll find restaurants, cafes, photo spots, observation decks, and much more. On a clear day, you can enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree view of the city.
The tower is 236.7m high and sits on top of the highest mountain in the city center, 243m above sea level.
Can you see North Korea from Seoul Tower?
On an extremely clear day, you might see North Korea from the top of Namsan Mountain and Seoul Tower. However, even if you aren’t lucky enough, you can always plan a trip to DMZ and experience the real deal!
N Seoul Tower tourist attractions
As you start your ascent towards the tower, you will be impressed by the greenery and natural beauty of Namsan Park, the largest park in town, only steps away from the hustle and bustle of big boulevards.
The closer you get to the top of the mountain and the tower, steps away from the cable car terminal, the more tourist attractions are worth exploring.
Among the things to do in and around Namsan Seoul Tower, you should not miss:
Visit the Observatory for some of the best panoramic views in town.
Plan your trip for the sunset – afterward, you can see the city come to life and light up.
Come to Namsan Park for the cherry blossom or foliage in spring and fall.
Admire the statues of famous figures in Korean history and learn about the country’s past.
See the fortress wall built during the Joseon Dynasty to protect the city from invaders.
Admire the stone shrines.
Take a picture with the Locks of Love – a collection of locks symbolizing eternal love between those who hang them. You can even buy them from inside the tower and hang them yourself.
See the Mokmyeoksan Bongsudae or the Mongmyeoksan Beacon Hill Site—a series of five beacons in a row that served as smoke warning systems in the past.
Visiting Namsan Park is free.
What to See & Eat at N Seoul Tower & Seoul Tower Plaza
The N Seoul Tower, or Namsan Seoul Tower, has seven floors open to visitors and packed with restaurants, cafes, and galleries, some with the best views in town.
Inside the tower, you will find:
- A burger place
- A Korean restaurant
- An Italian restaurant
- A French restaurant
- A photo studio
- A roof terrace
- A gift shop and a teddybear shop
- A few cafes and a convenience store
Additionally, on each floor, you will find viewpoints and some sculptures of popular Korean cartoon characters, such as the Kakao Friends.
Previously, inside the tower, you could find the Hello Kitty Island and the Teddy Bear Museum, but both attractions have now been closed (2022).
Opening Hours – Observatory
The Observation Deck welcomes visitors from 10 AM until 11 PM, and the best time of the day to visit is around sunset.
Where to buy Tickets
You can purchase your ticket for Seoul’s main tourist attraction at the ticket booth below the tower, or you can book it online ahead of time to save money.
The entrance fee is 16.000 won for adults and 11.000 for children and the elderly.
How to get to Namsan Seoul Tower
Throughout our time living in Seoul, we have explored Namsan Park and climbed to the top of the tower several times.
There is just not one best way to get there, and all have their charm, especially during spring or fall. If you are only visiting for a short time, you might want to know the shortest route, or if you are looking for the most photogenic spots, you might want to go hiking.
But here is all the information you might need and more!
How to get to Namsan Tower from Myeongdong Station
Hike to N Seoul Tower
From Myeongdong Station, you can easily climb to the top of the mountain. The road passes through some colorful streets and offers pretty nice views.
Start at Exit 02 or Exit 03 and head towards the Pacific Hotel. Take the street on the right-hand side and keep straight until you reach the cable car.
The hike is a little over one hour long and can be anywhere between 2.2 and 3.3 kilometers, depending on your chosen route.
Bus to N Seoul Tower
From Myeongdong Station, take subway Line 4 or walk to Chungmuro Station Exit 2 and hop on the number 02 bus heading to N Seoul Tower.
Depending on the traffic, the ride will be around 30 minutes long.
By Cable Car: How to get to the Namsan Cable Car Station
Myeongdong Station might be one of the closest subway stops to the Namsan Cable Car Station. Take Exit 3 and walk towards the mountain for roughly 15 minutes.
There is no good bus route that will take you there faster or without walking, but there is a free “Namsan Cable Car Shuttle Buses” just outside the subway station.
By “Namsan Ormi” or Namsan Outdoor Escalator
Operating since the summer of 2009, the outdoor escalator eases access to the mountain.
It is free of charge and will take you to the cable car.
At Myeong-dong Station, take Exit 4 and head towards Namsan Tunnel 3 on Banpo-ro (street).
Namsan Cable Car Entry Fee in 2022:
By car or taxi to N Seoul Tower
You won’t be able to get to the top of Namsan Mountain by car or taxi. The closest parking spaces are in Seoul Square, the one next to the National Theater of Korea, the one next to Namsan Cable Car, or the Namsan Park parking lot.
For some of the parking spaces, you can get a discount by showing the ticket to the Observatory.
How to get to Namsan Tower from Itaewon Station
Hike to N Seoul Tower
On the most scenic hike inside Seoul, you will pass through the Namsan Botanical Garden and a wilder part of Namsan Park. Going this way will feel like a hike, and you can even pass by a firefly sanctuary.
Take Exit 2 at Itaewon Station and head north toward the mountain. Leave Grand Hyatt Seoul on your right and enter Namsan Park by the Namsan Exhibit Hall.
The climb to the top of the mountain will take slightly over one hour, depending on your pace.
Bus from Itaewon station to N Soul Tower
The ride will take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how many times you want to change buses or subways.
Option 1: Take subway line number 6 from Itaewon Station to Yaksu Station. From there, take Line 3 to Dongguk University Station, and from there, take bus number 02 to Namsan Tower.
Option 2: Take subway line number 6 from Itaewon Station to Cheonggu Station. From there, take Line 5 to Gwanghuidong, and from there, take bus number 04 to Namsan Tower.
Option 3: Take the blue bus number 421 to Hamilton Hotel, and from there take bus number 02 to Namsan Tower. This is also the longest trip.
From Itaewon Station to the Namsan Cable Car
If you want to take the cable car and you are in Itaewon, you have two options:
Option 1: Take Subway Line 6 to Samgakji Station, then Line 4 to Myeong-dong, and follow the above instructions.
Option 2: Take bus number 405 to Baekbeom Plaza, and from there, walk for roughly 10 minutes
How to get to Namsan Tower from Seoul Station
Hike to Namsan Tower
I did this hike both during spring and autumn, and I can say it was worth it! For the best views, take Exit 8 at the Seoul Station Subway stop and walk on Seullo all the way to Namdaemun Market. From there, head north, pass through Baekboem Plaza Park and start climbing the stairs towards Namsan Tower.
You will pass by the Ahn Jung Geun Memorial Museum and the Namsan Public Library. In my opinion, this is the most photogenic trail and offers some of the most picture-worthy spots.
The walk-up is 2.5 kilometers long and will take around one hour.
Take the bus to Namsan Tower
Regarding buses, you could take bus number 02 or bus number 04.
For bus number 02:
Option 1: Take the blue bus number 507 to Toegyero 3 Ga. Hanok Village, from where you can board the bus towards the top of the mountain.
Option 2: Take subway Line 4 to Chungmuro Station and board bus number 02 from there.
For bus number 04:
Option 1: Take bus number 100 to Gwanghuidong, and from there, take bus number 04 for four stops to N Seoul Tower
Option 2: Take subway Line 4 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and take the bus from there.
From Seoul Station to Namsan Cable Car
You can easily get from Seoul Station to Namsan Cable Car by bus, which takes roughly 15 minutes.
Bus options: 505, 401, 406
How long does it take to walk up to Namsan Tower?
No matter where you are starting your hike, the climb will take more or less 1 hour.
Other options for seeing Namsan Tower
Go on a Seoul Traditional Culture Course Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour
Book your N Seoul Tower Admission Ticket & Transfers from Myeongdong
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