N Seoul Tower Observatory & Namsan Cable Car Tickets Seoul

The Namsan Cable Car

The Namsan Cable Car is the most scenic way to reach the summit of Namsan, the green mountain in the middle of Seoul. The ride takes only a few minutes, but the cabins climb steeply above the treetops and the city opens up behind you. A Namsan Cable Car ticket saves the uphill walk, which is a steep and tiring climb in hot or cold weather.

Your ticket covers the return trip, so you can come back down the same way after your visit. Cable car queues can be long at sunset and at weekends, so choose your visit time carefully and allow time on both the way up and the way down.

The N Seoul Tower Observatory

N Seoul Tower stands on top of Namsan, and its observatory gives one of the widest views of the city, across the towers of Gangnam, the Han River and the mountains that ring Seoul. Because the tower is on a hill, the viewpoint is far higher than the building itself, and the panorama is especially good on clear days after rain.

Whether the N Seoul Tower is worth visiting depends on your plans, but most first-time visitors say the view over the sea of lights at night is one of the best ways to understand the size of Seoul. Time your visit for sunset if you can, to see the city in daylight and after dark.

Namsan Park, the love locks and the surroundings

The area around the tower is a park, with terraces, walking paths and a stretch of the old Seoul fortress wall. The terraces near the tower are famous for their rails covered in padlocks left by couples. Padlocks are not part of the package, but you can buy one on site if you want to leave your own.

Allow about two to three hours for the whole visit, including cable car queues, time in the observatory and a walk around the terraces. Bring a light jacket, because it is cooler and windier at the top than in the city below.

Picking up your ticket in Myeongdong

Your combination ticket is collected in Myeongdong at Sola Spa, so you exchange your booking for the physical ticket before heading to the cable car. This is convenient if you are staying in the centre or shopping in Myeongdong, and the cable car station is a short uphill walk away.

Arrive at the pick-up point with your booking confirmation ready. After you have your ticket, follow the signs towards the Namsan Cable Car station, and ride up when you are ready. If Myeongdong is busy, allow a little extra time to find the pick-up point, and keep your phone handy in case you need to show the booking reference.