Namsan Tower, Seoul Tower or N Seoul Tower (its official name since 2005) – whatever you call it, there’s no denying that this 237 metre structure is an icon of Seoul. It’s as synonymous with the heart and spirit of the city as Namdaemun, Gyeongbokgung Palace or Cheonggyecheon Stream.
Namsan Tower is one of the best places to get a view of Seoul. Photo by CYAN [CC BY-SA 4.0]
In this guide
Namsan Tower | Travel Essentials
Travel Visas
Travel requirements, visas, and passport photos for a trip to South Korea
Hotels and Other Accommodation
Booking | Agoda | Klook | HotelsCombined
Travel Insurance for South Korea
Malaysian Residents | Singapore Residents | Thai Residents
Wifi, SIM Cards, and Portable Wifi
4G unlimited data SIM card | Portable and Pocket 4G WiFi
Airport Transfers and Luggage Delivery
AREX Incheon Airport Express Train
K Airport Limousine Bus from Incheon Airport
Incheon Airport to Seoul Private Transfers
Gimhae Airport to Busan Private Airport Transfers
Luggage Delivery To / From Hotel or Airport
Money-Saving Transit and Transport Passes
Visit Busan Pass with FREE admission to 31 attractions + 77 discounted
Korea Tour Card (T-Money) Transit Card
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours
Seoul City Hop-on Hop-off Tour Bus Day | Seoul Night View Course
Daegu Hop-on Hop-off Tour Bus Tour
Day Tours and Discounted Admission Tickets
Get Your Guide | Klook | Trazy | Viator
Visiting the N Seoul Tower Observatory
I’m slightly ashamed to admit that despite having lived here for 8 years, I had yet to make my way up to the top of one of Seoul’s most iconic structures, especially since the N Seoul Tower Observatory is THE most visited attraction in Seoul.
It regularly tops the list of best sights in the city according to tourists, and offers a complex cultural space that includes performances, restaurants, exhibitions and multimedia projections.
-
- The N Seoul Tower
-
- Birds eye view from the N Seoul Tower Observatory
-
- The vast city below
-
- Seoul loves you
Namsan Tower Locks
Around the Tower, hang thousands upon thousands of Namsan love locks, each written on and wistfully hung by couples romantically hoping for a symbol of their love as enduring as the N Seoul Tower itself. The multitude of colourful locks surrounded by the natural green beauty of Namsan is something that must be seen.
As you make your way up to the Namsan Tower observatory, be sure to stop in the 4th floor Sky Restrooms for what might be the best possible view from a toilet in the history of civilization. 😉
On the 5th floor N Seoul Tower observatory level, you’ll find breathtaking views of the entire city in every possible direction. Each of the windows is creatively marked with the names of various countries and cities along with their respective distances from Seoul.
Stick around for sunset and nightfall, and you’ll be rewarded with the dazzling sight of a constellation of twinkling lights below you.
The Namsan Cable Car
There are multiple ways to reach the N Seoul Tower, including taxi, or bus, but the best is perhaps the N Seoul Tower Cable Car, which leaves from Myeongdong Staion.
The Namsan Cable Car is one way to get up to Namsan Tower
What are the icons in your city? Have you been to visit them?
Agness of e Tramping
Seoul tower seems so charming. I would love to explore it more. I especially loved the observatory!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
It’s definitely one of the main places to catch great views of the city, but I think it’s got a serious competitor in the new Seoul Sky Observatory in Lotte World Tower. It’s 124 stories tall!! 🙂
Travel with Karla
I’ve been to N Seoul Tower more than ten times but I never went to the observatory. Haha! I always think that I can enjoy the same view in the area with love locks. Congrats on finally making it to the top!
The Soul of Seoul
I think I need to go back. It’s been about five years since I was there last I believe. It’s amazing how time flies. But now that I’ve been up to the Lotte Building Observatory, I’d like to go back to Namsan to compare. It sure is iconic though.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, we both know there’s no comparison 😉 BUT, it is significantly cheaper, and still a great way to get a view of the city. Seoul Sky is out of budget for a lot of people I think, but Namsan is super affordable comparatively speaking.
odessaabroad
Oh man, I envy you. I lived there 3 1/2 years and have been drug to that tower at least three times. I’ve only gone up the observation deck once. I do appreciate the concept of going up to one of the highest points of a city and looking out over it (and I’ve done it in quite a few cities). But I think once is enough. The hike up and down the mountain and the lock covered platform might be points of interest, but I’m sick of that thing! Haha
Shelley @Travel-Stained
I agree that once is enough in most places…though I actually visited the Tower before sunset, and then Seoul and one of the best sunsets I’ve seen in a long time that very night. Grr. It really made me wonder what things would look like up there at sunset!!
Kadi Koroma
Sadly, I never visited the N.Seoul Tower whilst I lived in Korea but that bathroom view is making me regret not going!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha well it took me 8 years to get myself up to the top so ya know? ? I’ve realized I’m the worst traveler in my own city. I only just made it to Olympic Park today and it’s bikeable from my house!
wrpalomo
Oh my! when was the last time I visited the Namsan Tower? Yes, you’re right it’s an icon of Seoul. so beautiful at night. Glad to know that we can get it cheaper through the BnB Hero website. I’d only been to the tower once but 2x or 3x in the grounds…. Time to head back, I guess.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
I’ve been there several times, but this was my first time up to the top! My favourite time to visit there is definitely in the fall when the skies are clear and you can see all the leaves changing colour below you! 🙂
AndysWorldJourneys
the toilets facing the wrong way!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Are they? I admit I didn’t “have to go” while I was there, so didn’t venture inside!! 😉
Sha
Ahh, you can hike up to the tower too! I did that before to try out a different way of getting there. Not recommended to go alone though – all those couples cuddling away around me made me too sad…sigh.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Yes, you can! but def not a pleasant option in summer. It’s SOOOO hot and sticky. Haha, yes it is a “romantic” destination in Seoul I guess, but there’s a big trend for 혼 everything these days – people living alone, eating alone etc…etc…
Sha
Oh yes, I definitely caught on that trend…haha…I like that trend so I hope it will continue for some time…will be really good for future solo trips…hehehe
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Well, let me know next time you come, so at least you can have one meal that’s not 혼 😉
Sha
hahaha sure, I’ll definitely make it there again soon…haha 🙂
Mabel Kwong
Better late than never to visit the N Tower! Looks like amazing panoramic views. That love lock display looks massive…that tower can take the weight of love ? Lol, the toilets actually have views? If so then that really is one amazing toilet ??
Shelley @Travel-Stained
It’s true…and I’ve actually been there so many times, just never up to the top. The love locks is crazy, and there are even MORE of them than what’s in the picture. I think the city cuts them down periodically and moves them. I think they even had to build a few more areas to accommodate them. 🙂
mytimetotravel
Have been to Seoul twice but did not consider the tower. Cool view.
(Despise love locks. Vandalism.)
Shelley @Travel-Stained
N Seoul Tower is a good place to get an affordable view of the city I think…and if you go at sunset and get lucky with sunset, it’s pretty incredible. Haha…I can’t believe how many thousands of love locks there are there…the city must be constantly cutting them off and moving them!!
songyugoh
Honestly, in all my trips to Korea, i’ve never been up the observatory (because of the price) but i think the area near the locks provide an amazing view already!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
It took me forever to get up there too, because like you said, the views are already so amazing from the love locks…but I will say that you get a different view from inside the observatory, and you can really see the whole city from every angle. N Seoul Tower ticket price is a steal though compared to Seoul Sky – about 6,000krw with BnBHero, or 27,000 for Seoul Sky. Yikes!