seoul city tour bus reviews

Seoul City Tour Bus

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Seoul Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Palace Course

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SEOUL CITY TOUR BUS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Seoul City Tour Bus

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Seoul Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Palace Course

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Seoul City Tour Bus - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Seoul City Tour Bus

• See all photos

Seoul Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Palace Course

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Seoul City Tour Bus - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Living and traveling in Korea

The Seoul City Tour Bus Guide: What To See & Do When You Hop On Hop Off

If you’ve never joined a City Tour Bus, Seoul is the place to do it. City Tour Buses are a great way to see a city and not have to worry about transportation. See the hot spots of Seoul from the upper level of a bright red bus. I rode my first City Tour Bus in New York City and absolutely loved the experience. It’s just something that is so touristic and fun.

Don’t waste money on taxi fares and buses. Don’t get confused in the subway. For your first trip to Seoul, take the time to ride this bus and get views of the city while getting a lay of the land. 

PS, if it’s your first trip to Seoul, check out this guide to Seoul for first-timers . It’s epic and will ensure you don’t miss anything.

The Seoul City Tour Bus, though, will not only show you the biggest must see places in Seoul, but it’ll give you a good idea of how Seoul is laid out and how to get around easier when you want to go off on your own. This is the fastest and cheapest way to get around to the Seoul tourist sites including Namsan Tower/N Seoul Tower, Gangnam, Lotte Sky Tower, a Seoul palace and so much more. Use it if you don’t have a ton of time and don’t want to waste the time you do have figuring out transportation.

Skip around and check out what is in this post:

What To Know

Basic information, route a: downtown palace namsan course, route b: panorama course, route c: around gangnam course, route d: night course, package routes.

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

The Seoul City Tour Bus is a government run system launched in 2000 to help visitors to get around Seoul and see the attractions with ease. The buses are super comfortable and clean and really convenient for everyone. There are twelve language audio guide options including English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Indonesian, and Malay.

Buses depart from a central location in Seoul every 30 minutes to an hour depending on the route and passengers can choose from the single-level and double-decker buses. You can choose just one route, or there are package options where you can combine two different routes. This is a great otpion since there are day and night bus routes.

The city tour bus is a great way to get around but if you want to hop off and back on again, it’s important to know what is really feasible within a day and that’s where this guide comes in. There are plenty of areas that you can just drive through and you don’t really need to get off to get the picture BUT there are some spots I would recommend getting off to see. At the same time, some spots you could easily spend a whole day seeing and that’s important to know too.

With that in mind, I’ve included the admission, departure points and route info and recommendations for where to get off on each route. Buses come to each stop in 30 minute intervals so you could get off for just 30 minutes and get on the next arrival or stay at a spot for an hour and a half and hop back on again later. If you want to make the most of the day, get that first bus at 9:00am!

Hours: 9:00am ~ 5:30pm for day routes. Different time for night tours listed with that route.

Days: Route A is open all year round. Route B & C is closed on Mondays.

Routes: There are four different routes: Downtown Palace Namsan Course, Panorama Course, Night Course, Around Gangnam City Tour Course

Bus Options: There are three different bus options to choose from for the routes and they include the standard 1-story bus, a double-decker open top bus, and a trolley bus.

Where To Purchase Ticket:  There are various ways to get tickets for this trip so read through them all and check out what works best for you. Also of note, ticket purchase can also depend on your departure point. They recommend that you book in advance if you’ll be riding during vacation season or on a weekend as the routes can have higher demand at those times.

• Gwanghwamun has a City Tour Bus booth specifically for ticket purchase if you want to rock up on the day and get them then. To note though, you can also rock up to any stop on the route and purchase a ticket directly from a bus driver with cash. I have not tried getting the ticket mid-route and have only done it from start to finish but have read from other reviews that they did it and it worked out fine so that’s something to be aware of if you want to start someplace closer to your hotel/home. If you are starting from a different location rather than the departure point, note that the first bus won’t get to you until it’s regularly scheduled time though and those will be listed on the bus stand.
• Pre-Purchase: You can pre-purchase tickets on Klook . The Night Course can fill up and on the flip side won’t run until at least 10 people buy tickets so you should book this one in advance if you want it. OR you could pre-purchase your tickets using Trazy . Both services will allow you to pre-purchase. I’d just choose whichever site you’re booking other various tours/experiences on. Pre-purchasing on those sites will also get you discounts so look into the best option for you.

Discounts: There are some possible discounts that you can get on tickets. Note that Klook and Trazy mentioned above already offer discounted tickets, but here are some other discounts you can look out for. Choose whichever one is best for you.

• You can get 1 free pass for a child under 5 that is accompanying an adult.
• There is a 10% discount available for parties of 10 or more.
• For foreigners with a KR Pass , you can get a 15% discount.

Guides & Attendants: There are tour guides on each bus. They do not get off the buses but stay on to help you as you get on and off. If you’re unsure about the stops, let them know where you want to get off and they can remind you when it’s time.

Seating: The seats are unassigned so sit anywhere you want… as long as no one is in the seat.

Seoul City Tour Bus Routes

This route has 22 stops and starts and ends at Gwanghwamun Square just south of Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul. It takes visitors past some of the city’s historical highlights and some of the must-see Seoul tourist spots. Some things to note about this route though: the bus will NOT stop at Deoksugung Palace on Saturdays and national holidays. This course is run on a single-decker bus.

• Departure   Point:  Gwanghwamun Subway Station, exit 6 near Koreana Hotel.
• Admission: Adults: W18,000; Children 5- 17: W12,000
• Stops:  Gwanghwamun -> Deoksugung Palace -> Namdaemun Market -> Seoul Street -> The War Memorial of Korea -> Yongsan Station -> National Museum of Korea -> Itaewon -> Myeongdong -> Namsangol Korean Town/ House of Korea -> Sofitel Ambassador Hotel -> Shilla Hotel -> Namsan Tower Hotel -> Hyatt Hotel -> Dongdaemun Market -> Daehakro -> Changgyeonggung Palace -> Changdeokgung Palace -> Insadong -> Cheongwadae (The Blue House) -> The National Folk Museum of Korea -> Sejong Center for the Performing Arts -> Gwanghwamun

Where To Get Off:  There are a lot of good stops on this route and some that I’d recommend just driving on by as well as some that you should see, but can probably and will probably see at another time so let’s dig on. If I don’t mention it below, it’s because I think you should just drive by. Some I’ll mention just so you know WHY I think you can forgo the stop though.

• Deoksugung Palace: This is a gorgeous palace area that is actually not as large as others and contains a variety of different architectural styles. Deoksugung Palace very unique in that it has some more modern structures. If you’re not interested in a more modern look of a palace, stay on the bus here and stop at another palace. The thing with this route though is that you actually have three palaces on the route and I wouldn’t recommend seeing them all in the same day. So if you choose this one, then pass the other two. But do note, that Changgyeonggung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace are also on this route.
• Seoul Street: This is where Seoul Station is and where the Seoullo Walkway is. This one you could get off and check out Old Seoul Station and Seoullo, but I think I’d pass this one because most likely you’ll be at Seoul Station at some other point in your trip. This where the KTX Train Station is and the train to get back out to the airport as well so there may be a variety of reasons you’d stop here at another point in your itinerary. If you won’t be back around Seoul Station later in your itinerary, then definitely check out the old station which often has an exhibition and Malli-dong at the end of Seoullo.
• The War Memorial of Korea: This is a fascinating museum that houses a substantial number of war related relics including planes and military machines outside as well as a ton of memorabilia indoors as well. You could get off here, but do note that you could potentially spend  hours here if you’re a history buff or interested in the wars that ravaged Korea. Thirty minutes to an hour wouldn’t really be enough time to see everything here so if you’re REALLY interested in this, go another day when you can spend more time there. Here’s more information about what can be found at the War Memorial of Korea so you can decide.
• National Museum of Korea: The National Museum of Korea is another spot that is REALLY HUGE and isn’t feasible to see in just 30 minutes to an hour. There’s a beautiful outdoor park and lake here as well as a children’s museum and the Hangul Museum (Korean language) here too. You could spend the entire day seeing everything that is here. Or get off and just check out the Hangul Museum which is in a separate building from the National Museum of Korea or check out the museum and choose one section to focus on.
• Myeongdong: This is a shopper’s paradise and has a lot in terms of restaurants and cafes too. Stop in for a bite to eat whether it’s in a restaurant OR make multiple street vendor stops because some of the best street food is found here in Myeongdong.
• Namsangol Korean Town/House of Korea: If you want to walk into a historic Korean village and take a look at some of the old hanok style houses, this is the place to do it. It’s a beautiful place to visit and they often host activities and experiences for visitors.
• Changgyeonggung Palace: This is one of the lesser visited palaces in Seoul so if you want to walk through the beautiful grounds of a palace with less people, then head here. Another great thing about this palace is that it features a beautiful greenhouse that was added during the Japanese colonization period in Korea. It’s just something unique and different to see. Learn more about Changgyeonggung Palace here.
• Changdeokgung Palace:  This palace is famous for featuring the secret garden. What’s important to note, however, is that you need to be there at a very specific time in order to enter the secret garden. This palace usually requires you to get there and get tickets in advance and you can’t just rock up because of the tour situation there so that’s important to note if you want to see Changdeokgung Palace.
• Insadong: Insadong is the most popular district for tourists as it houses a substantial number of traditional tea cafes, restaurants, and lots of traditional souvenirs as well. Take a walk in the area and enjoy a rest at one of my favorite cafes in Insadong . It’s not a big area so you can get in and out pretty quickly.
• Cheongwadae (The Blue House):  This is the president’s house in Korea and you can’t just rock up and go in so I mention it so you know to get a seat on the top of the bus and just take a picture as you pass. That’s about all you can do anyway.

This route has 16 stops but do note that on weekends and holidays, the bus doesn’t stop at Saebit Island. This route takes visitors to some of the best spots to get views of the city and you can see from city center to Han Riverside in one route. This course is run using the double-decker buses and trolley buses.

• Stops: Gwanghwamun -> Myeongdong -> Seoul Animation Center -> Namsan Cable Car -> Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel -> Namsan Public Library -> Grand Hyatt Hotel -> Gangnam Station -> Sebitseom* -> 63 City/Hangang Cruise -> Yeouinaru Station -> Hongik University -> Airport Railroad Hongik University Station -> Sinchon Station/ Ewha Woman’s University -> Museum of Agriculture -> Seoul Museum of History -> Gwanghwamun

Where To Get Off: This route gets you all around the city and includes some spots that are pretty difficult to get to on public transportation or require a separate trip to get out of the way a bit so it’s good to get to some of those spots that require separate taxis. Spots to check out include:

• Myeongdong:  This is a shopper’s paradise and has a lot in terms of restaurants and cafes too. Stop in for a bite to eat whether it’s in a restaurant OR make multiple street vendor stops because some of the best street food is found here in Myeongdong.
• Seoul Animation Center : This stop is fun if you’re interested in the domestic cartoon and animation industry. If you have kids, they’ll definitely enjoy the stop.
• Namsan Cable Car: Since this is the panorama course, you definitely need to get that panoramic shot! Take the cable car up and take in the view from Namsan Tower/N Seoul Tower . It’s a pretty romantic spot in the city and provides just gorgeous views.
• Gangnam Station: Gangnam became super famous after Psy’s world-famous song. The area is home to a ton of business buildings so if you’re heading there, make sure you check out my guide to Gangnam so you know what to see.
• Sebitseom: This is one of those spots that is a bit more difficult to get to on your own, so if you are interested in the view of the three glowing islands that brighten the Han River, definitely get off here. Their architecture is cool and there are cafes, restaurants, and some cool things to be found on them. This wouldn’t need to be a super long stop, but it is cool for photos.
• 63 City/Hangang Cruise: Though the 63 building isn’t my personal favorite for views, the Hangang Cruise stop is an awesome way to enjoy the Han River . Take a walk in the Yeouido Han River Park and then take a little ride on the water before heading back to the bus stop.
• Hongik University:  Hongdae is one of the most popular areas for cafes , restaurants, and fun. There are Kpop dancers, bands playing live, street art, and really just all manner of fun in the artsy district of Hongdae. Check out this guide to things to do in Hongdae .

This route has 21 stops and takes visitors to the historical highlights of Gangnam as well as the KPop and KBeauty must sees. It’s a mixture of new and old which is exactly what Gangnam is.

• Departure Point:  Gangnam Station
• Admission: Adults: W15,000; Children 5- 17: W12,000
• Stops:  Gangnam Station -> Le Meridien Seoul, Novotel Hotel -> Samjung Hotel -> Seolleung & Jeongneung Royal Tomb, Ramada Seoul Hotel -> Bongeunsa Temple, Casino, Lotte Duty Free -> COEX/SMTOWN -> Lotte World -> Lotte World Tower -> Olympic Park -> Jamsil Sports Complex -> Samseong Station -> K-POP Entertainment Company -> Korean Wave Star Street -> Apgujeong Rodeo Street -> Gangnam Tourist Information Center/Hyundai Department Store -> Garosu-gil Road -> Some Sevit -> Express Bus Terminal/Shinsegae Department Store -> Seorae Village -> Seoul National University of Education -> Gangnam Station

Where To Get Off:  So you want to see all there is to see and do in Gangnam. There is a lot on this route and it will get you all over the district. If you want to add some specific cafes and spots on your route, check out this guide to Gangnam for some ideas.

• Bongeunsa Temple, Casino, Lotte Duty Free: Get off here if you want to check out one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Seoul, Bongeunsa Temple . Or head into the casino, but be careful because you can lose all track of time in there.
• COEX: If you’ve heard about the world’s largest underground mall and want to see it for yourself, check out COEX . It’s easy to get twisted, and turned around inside though, so head in for a bit and then find your way out again. There are plenty of places to eat here and an aquarium too.
• Lotte World Tower: This tower features the BEST and HIGHEST views of the city of Seoul. It is absolutely stunning and as the tallest building and observatory in Korea, it’s really a must-see. Definitely get off here! Additionally, if you hope off here, you’re also right outside of Lotte World if a theme park is on your destination list.
• Olympic Park:  This park is gigantic and beautiful and one of the best things to do in Jamsil . There are flower fields and paths, and a lot to see if you want to get out and just enjoy a bit of a walk on your day out in the area.
• Garosu-gil:  This road is really popular for cafes, restaurants, and shopping. It can be more expensive in this area than others though, so keep that in mind. It’s popular for good reason though. A lot of hot places in one area.
• Some Sevit: This is one of those spots that is a bit more difficult to get to on your own, so if you are interested in the view of the three glowing islands that brighten the Han River, definitely get off here. Their architecture is cool and there are cafes, restaurants, and some cool things to be found on them. This wouldn’t need to be a super long stop, but it is cool for photos. You might also make this a later stop in the day to see the  Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Show .
• Express Bus Terminal: While I wouldn’t usually recommend this spot unless you’re headed somewhere, the Express Terminal actually has a hidden rooftop that people don’t often visit and it is great for some epic photos if you can find it !

This route has 12 stops and is a great way to get the gorgeous view of the massive city of Seoul in the sparkling night lights. There must be at least ten people that sign up for this tour to go ahead. Also note that the bus only stops at Some Sevit on the weekends. This route stops at vistas high above the city as well as sightseeing spots right on the Han River. Get lights and action from every vantage point on this route.

• Departure Point:  Gwanghwamun Station, exit 6 in front of the Koreana Hotel.
• Departure Time: Once a day at 7:30pm; 8:00pm in July and August. The entire route takes 1.5 hours.
• Admission:  Adults: W15,000; Children: W9,000
• Stops:  Gwanghwamun -> Mapo Bridge -> Seogang Bridge -> Gangbyeon Expressway -> Banpo Bridge -> Somesevit -> Dongjak Bridge -> Seongsu Bridge -> Hannam Bridge -> N Seoul Tower -> Namdaemun Market -> Cheongye Plaza
• What To Know: The night course is a bit different in that you get all around the city but don’t stop as much as the day trip ones. It’s more about getting across the numerous bridges on the Han River and seeing the lights dazzle. The bus will stop at either Some Sevit OR at Dongjak Bridge depending on the day. You can also get off for 15 minutes at Namsan Tower/N Seoul Tower. This route is run with the double-decker open top buses and trolleys.

Route E: 1 Day 2 Courses

• This course is a combination of Route B and Route C.
• Admission:  Adult: W24,000; Child: W18,000

Route F: 2 Days 2 Courses

• This course is a combination of Route A and Route B.
• Admission: Adult: W28,000; Child: W20,000

Route G: 2 Days 3 Courses

• This course is a combination of Route A, Route B, and Route C.
• Admission:  Adult: W35,000; Children: W22,000

The hop on hop off bus is a great way to get your bearings in the massive city of Seoul, Korea. Take a seat and see what you can see. I’ve taken the bus with multiple family members while they’ve visited and whether you just want a relaxing trip around the city or if you want a fun way to get from spot to spot, it’s definitely a great option to have here.

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15 comments, ray hedstrom.

Are any of the hop-on hop-off buses wheelchair accessible

Hallie Bradley

Hi Ray, I believe they are. But to be sure, please get in touch with Danurim ( https://www.seouldanurim.net/en/index ). Seoul started an initiative for accessible travel and has a lot of services including airport pick up and transportation information. They would definitely know.

Daniel Barker

I just had to drop a comment after reading your Seoul City Tour Bus Guide. What an informative and well-organized post! I’ve been planning a trip to Seoul for a while now, and this guide couldn’t have come at a better time.

Samsung D’Light is closed for good. You might replace it with T.Um

Thank you for the info!

Bahia vinci

Where exactly do you embark at the National Museum stop please?

Muy bien explicado! Consulta, puedo cambiar en el día de la ruta A a la C por ejemplo? Y si es así en un solo lugar?

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately there is no panorama and gangbam course. They are gone. Just the Palace and night course. We did you use some the information on your panorama course. We went to some of the places by subway.

Christelle Reyes

Thank you for this! Just 1 question can I use a night course and a day course for my 48hr pass? or is the pass entitled to only 1 free ride for the whole validity?

If you’re trying to use the Discover Seoul Pass, you can choose one course to use with it.

Thanks for your great information! It really points us in the right direction.

A question: Can I pay with my T-Money card for the hop on hop off bus ? Many thanks.🙂

Richard F Jackson

Are you operating all of the bus tours during the last week of June 2022?

The bus tours do seem to be operating so you should be able to catch one then.

Jamie-lee Holmes

Want to book 2 adults for 27/12 a, b, c, d hop-on hop-off. Can we book online for all 4 trips? Can all trips be done in 1 day?

If you’re just going to stay on the buses and not disembark to see anything, you could probably do them all in one day, but they are set up to allow you to get off and see things and then get back on again so you then wouldn’t have time to do all 4 in one day.

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Seoul City Tour Bus

• See all photos

Seoul Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Palace Course

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

SEOUL CITY TOUR BUS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Seoul City Tour Bus: Is it Worth it?

I live in Busan, and when I visit Seoul, I do so for very short periods of time – normally just the weekend. There is so much to see in Seoul, and it’s always difficult for me to decide where to go and organize a route, especially since I do not know much about the city. So last time I visited Seoul, I decided to try the Seoul City Tour Bus!

Seoul City Tour Bus Fares

For normal courses, the price for adults is 20,000 won, while the price for people aged 6 to 19 is 15,000. For the night course, it is 15,000 for adults and 12,000 for underage visitors. However, we were lucky to get the tickets during an event and only paid 8,000 won!

Sometimes there will be discount events online, and I also saw one in the ticket office when we went to get our tour wristband. So make sure to check online beforehand or in the ticket office. There are discounts everywhere!

With your ticket, you will have access to the Seoul City Tour Bus for the entire day along your route.

Tours and Routes

There are a few different companies that run Seoul City Tour Buses. We chose the Yellow Balloon City Bus (노랑풍선 시티버스). They had four different tour options; the Traditional Culture Course, Han River, Jamsil Course, and the Night Landscape Course.

We decided to go with the Traditional Culture Course. The tour route hit all of the major destinations in the center of Seoul so it seemed like an affordable way to see some of the best spots in Seoul in a single day.

To learn more about Yellow Balloon City Bus, Click Here .

The Traditional Culture Course

The course starts and ends in Dongdaemun Design Plaza. However, it stops at so many places, we didn’t have time to visit every attraction on the course.

We went to the Blue House first. Then, from there we walked to Tongin Market; and then took a bus to the Namsan Outdoor Escalator. We got on the first bus and went back on one of the last ones! It stops in many other places, such as the Sejong Center, Seoul Station, the Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong, the Jongmyo Shrine, and more.

In addition, the views from the bus were amazing, especially from the second floor. It is definitely different to see the streets of Seoul from a high point! The speed was just perfect to be able to see everything from the bus without getting bored at all.

How the Seoul City Tour Bus Works

As long as you have your wristband with you, you can get off and on the bus as many times as you wish! You just have to go to the designated bus stations and wait for the next bus to come. We were given a schedule of the buses when we got our wristbands; make sure to keep it with you!

Our experience

Even though we only saw three of the stops, we enjoyed so many things!

We saw the Blue House from the outside. Sadly it was closed on Tuesdays, which is when we visited it. But even from the outside, it was big enough to walk around and enjoy.

Then we had lunch at Tongin Market, where we tried the famous Dosirak Café or Lunch Box Café. You change your money for Yeopjeon (ancient Korean coins), and then pay the vendors with them! You also have a lunch box you can fill with the food and then eat upstairs in the café. It was really fun to do it this way and we tried a lot of good food.

Lastly, we went up to Namsan Tower, where we could enjoy a demonstration of samul-nori (Korean percussion music) and traditional Korean martial arts. It was honestly amazing, and one of my favorite experiences in Seoul!

Why I recommend it

We felt like we had seen so many things in just one day. It is definitely an advantage to be given places to visit in the city and not have to worry about transportation! It is especially great for those who are not good at planning or get lost easily. This is the perfect option for a short and convenient trip to Seoul and on a budget!

If you are traveling to Busan, there are Busan City Tour Buses too! Click Here to learn more about them.

Spanish student in Busan, South Korea. Wandering around this beautiful country. An aspiring photographer who also loves writing. Sharing Korea with the world!

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N Seoul Tower Tickets & Guide

N Seoul Tower is a major landmark located on top of Namsan Mountain, overlooking a panoramic view of Seoul. Under the N Seoul Tower is a wall of locks, where lovers come to hang a lock symbolizing their never-ending love. Another highlight of the N Seoul Tower is the fantastic night view. The lights on the launch tower, observation deck, tower and tower floor are all as magnificent as they are varied, and even change with the weather and seasons.

N Seoul Tower Reviews

Went on Friday and was surprised that there were not many people. I got my ticket on this app half price, then got a cup of coffee in the observatory and enjoyed a couple of hours of amazing views and tasty coffee ☕️

A very clear birds eye panoramic view of Seoul, really comes alive at night with all the skyscrapers in full glitter. Loved the climb to the summit and would do it all over again❤️

Really easy to book tickets via trip.com and save queuing at the top! Really beautiful and highly recommend you visit here when in Seoul. Buy tickets in advance, confirm immediately, it is cheaper than buying on-site, it is recommended~

N Seoul Tower Ticket Prices, Express Pass & Promotions

Observation Deck Ticket

N Seoul Tower Observation Deck Ticket (50% Off) Standard Ticket

Roundtrip Adult Ticket

Namsan Cable Car Roundtrip Ticket Adult (12 and over) Ticket-Weekday Ticket

Roundtrip Child Ticket

Namsan Cable Car Roundtrip Ticket Child (At least 3 but under 12 years old) Ticket-Weekday tickets

Recommended Hotels Near N Seoul Tower

Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador

50 ft straight-line distance from N Seoul Tower

Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan

1.9 miles straight-line distance from N Seoul Tower

Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower

Trip.com offers a detailed guide with all the information you need about N Seoul Tower, including practical tips and points of interest. Read our blog if you want to visit N Seoul Tower!

What is N Seoul Tower?

N Seoul Tower, situated atop Namsan Mountain, is renowned for its stunning views of Seoul's cityscape. N Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower located on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, South Korea. It serves as a prominent cultural landmark, offering panoramic views of the city. N Seoul Tower has attractions like the Love Locks, a rotating restaurant, and an outdoor observation deck. Standing at 236 meters (774 feet) from its base, N Seoul Tower is one of the tallest structures in South Korea.

• Where is the N Seoul Tower located: Positioned atop Namsan Mountain, the tower is situated at 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu in Seoul, South Korea.

N Seoul Tower Opening Hours

Source from: KKday, Guitar photographer via Shutterstock

Observatory Opening Hours

N seoul tower attraction opening hours.

Please note that opening hours may vary based on weather conditions and operating schedules. Entry to the Observatory is allowed up to 30 minutes before closing time.

N Seoul Tower Gift Shops Opening Hours

How to go to n seoul tower.

Source from Bemariekorea

By Namsan Cable Car

• Route: From Myeong-dong Station exit 3, walk for about 10-15 minutes to the boarding place.
• Travel Time: Quick ascent to the tower.
• Cost: Adults $10.80 round-trip, $8.64 one-way; Children/Seniors $8.28 round-trip, $6.48 one-way.

By Shuttle Bus

【Shuttle Bus No. 01A】

• Route: Extensive route covering key locations in Seoul, including Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot, various city landmarks, and Namsan Seoul Tower.
• Travel Time: Varies based on traffic and stops.
• Cost: $1.01 (transportation card only).

【Shuttle Bus No. 01B】

• Route: Direct route from Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot to Namsan Seoul Tower with key intermediate stops like Chungmuro Station and Dongguk University.
• Travel Time: Shorter than Shuttle Bus No. 01A due to fewer stops.

By Seoul City Tour Bus

• Route: Offers various tours around Seoul including an ancient palace course and a night panorama course before reaching the tower.
• Travel Time: Varies by selected tour (approximately 1 to 2 hours).
• Cost: Varies by tour.

By Namsan Oreumi Elevator

• Route: Connects from Namsan Tunnel 3 to the cable car station.
• Travel Time: 2 minutes to the cable car station.
• Cost: Free.
• Route: Use nearby parking lots since direct car access to Namsan Mountain is restricted.
• Travel Time: Depends on traffic; however, parking and walking or transferring to another form of transit is necessary.
• Cost: Parking costs approximately $0.72 per 10 minutes at Seoul Square Parking Lot, with variations during weekends and discounts available for observatory ticket holders.
• Prices are converted to USD based on April 17, 2024 exchange rates (1 KRW = 0.00072 USD). Rates may vary.
• Taxi: Accessible for the journey to the base of the cable car; entry to Namsan Park is restricted.
• Walking: A picturesque 10-15 minute walk from Myeong-dong Station to the cable car station.

【50% Off】Where to Get N Seoul Tower Tickets

A variety of cheap N Seoul Tower ticket options available at up to 50% Off when you book online on Trip.com. From observatory access to multiple attraction packages, each ticket offers a unique experience tailored to different age groups and interests.

Best time to go to N Seoul Tower

The best time to visit N Seoul Tower can depend on your preferences for weather, crowds, and specific experiences. Here are some general guidelines to help you plan your visit:

• Spring (March to May) : The weather is mild and the gardens around N Seoul Tower are in bloom, making it a picturesque time to visit. The cherry blossoms are particularly spectacular in April.
• Autumn (September to November) : Like spring, autumn provides cool and comfortable temperatures. The foliage around Namsan Mountain turns vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, offering stunning views both from and of the tower.

By Time of Day

• Daytime : Visiting during the day lets you enjoy clear views of Seoul’s skyline and landscape. The attractions and shops within the tower are less crowded in the morning.
• Evening : Evening visits are magical as you can watch the sunset and see the city lights illuminate. The tower itself is beautifully lit, and the nighttime cityscape is a must-see.

By Day of Week

• Weekdays : To avoid large crowds, visiting on weekdays is advisable, especially earlier in the day. Weekends and holidays tend to attract more visitors.

Special Events

• Festivals: Local festivals and events can add a cultural element to your visit. For instance, the tower often participates in city-wide festivals or holiday celebrations with special decorations and events.

Each season and time of day offers unique advantages for visiting N Seoul Tower, so the best time depends on what you want to experience during your visit.

N Seoul Tower Map

Source from N Seoul Tower Official

Note : Level 3 is a restricted area with broadcasting facilities.

Things to do at N Seoul Tower

• Ssentoy Museum & Show Room: Perfect for fans of Marvel, DC, and Disney, has a wide array of toys and figurines.
• Hello Kitty Island: An immersive area dedicated to everything Hello Kitty, decked out in pink~
• Panda Garden: A themed garden ideal for quick photoshoots, although it doesn't house real pandas.
• Love Padlocks Area: Visitors can attach padlocks as a symbol of love, similar to the famous spots in Paris.
• Namsan Octagonal Pavilion: Offers live performances, including Korean Martial Arts demonstrations.
• Wishing Pond: A place to toss a coin and make a wish, adding a traditional touch to your visit.

N Seoul Tower Atrractions

Locks of Love

Seoul Tower Plaza (1F to 4F):

• This base area of N Seoul Tower is a bustling hub with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, serving as the starting point for visitors exploring the tower.

N Seoul Tower Levels (1F to 7F):

• Locks of Love (Various Levels): Iconic for its romantic setting, this attraction invites couples to attach padlocks as a symbol of their love, creating a vibrant display on the railings.
• Observation Decks (Various Levels): The decks offer 360-degree panoramic views of Seoul, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that provide stunning vistas both day and night.

Romantic Attractions:

• Proposal Staircase (Outdoor): Situated in a charming spot, this staircase is adorned with heart-shaped structures, perfect for marriage proposals and romantic gestures.
• Bridge of Love and Tunnel of Love: These are beautifully illuminated with LED lights, enhancing the romantic atmosphere and offering delightful photo opportunities.

Sunset Zone

Digital Art and Interactive Displays:

• OLED Panels: Distributed across several floors, these panels include the OLED Tunnel, Panorama OLED, OLED Circle, OLED Waves, and 3-D World, offering immersive digital art experiences.

Special Viewing Areas:

• Sunset Zone: Specifically designed for viewing sunsets, this area provides outdoor seating where visitors can enjoy the skyline's transformation during the golden hour.

Themed Zones for Families and Children:

• Linlin Land and Yoohoo Land: These areas feature fun and educational themes with animated characters like red squirrels, fennec foxes, and capuchin monkeys, appealing to children and families.

What to eat at N Seoul Tower

N Seoul Tower offers a variety of dining options that cater to different tastes and preferences. Each restaurant within the tower provides a unique ambiance and different style cuisines, like French, Korean, Italian and American food.

Restaurants at N Seoul Tower

N seoul tower restaurants opening hours.

For visitors planning to dine at these restaurants, it's advisable to check the opening hours, as they may vary and affect your scheduling.

Other Attractions in Seoul

N Seoul Tower Guide

• 1. What is N Seoul Tower?
• 2. N Seoul Tower Opening Hours
• 3. How to go to N Seoul Tower
• 4. 【50% Off】Where to Get N Seoul Tower Tickets
• 5. Best time to go to N Seoul Tower
• 6. N Seoul Tower Map
• 7. Things to do at N Seoul Tower
• 8. N Seoul Tower Atrractions
• 9. What to eat at N Seoul Tower
• 10. Other Attractions in Seoul

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Japan Likes Tourists, Just Not This Many

The country has politely handled travelers for years, but as international visitors spill into previously untouristed spots, some residents are frustrated.

By Yan Zhuang

The writer spent several days elbowing through crowds in Kyoto and Fuji City, Japan.

On two recent occasions, a foreign tourist walked into Shoji Matsumoto’s barbershop, through a front door that grates loudly when opened more than halfway, wanting a haircut.

One was Italian, the other British. Mr. Matsumoto, who is 75 and speaks neither of their languages, didn’t know what to tell them. He picked up his scissors and began to cut, hoping that his decades of experience would carry him through the stilted encounters.

Tourists, propelled in part by a weak yen that makes their money go further in Japan, have been pouring into the country ever since it eased its coronavirus-related entry restrictions in 2022. Some officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have raised concerns about overtourism. In March, there were more than three million international arrivals, a monthly record, and a more than 10 percent jump compared with March 2019.

Nearly two thirds of international visitors tend to be from South Korea, Taiwan and China. Last year, spending from foreign tourists made up about 9 percent of Japan’s gross domestic product.

Popular sites in cities like Kyoto, Japan’s ancient royal capital, feel increasingly unmanageable. Visitors are spilling into previously untouristed places, like small towns near Mount Fuji or the commercial district of Kyoto where Mr. Matsumoto cuts hair.

“Before, it was normal to see tourists in certain spots,” Mr. Matsumoto said from a low chair in his barbershop on a recent Saturday. “But now, they’re spreading out to random and unexpected places.”

That influx is testing the patience of a generally polite society.

In Kyoto and other heavily visited cities, some residents grumble about being priced out of hotel rooms or crowded out of buses and restaurants. Others say that tourists sometimes disrespect local customs by, say, chasing after geishas to photograph them or eating while walking, a behavior that is considered rude in Japan.

One day last month, it took Hiroshi Ban six hours — twice as long as usual — to visit Kyoto’s Heian Jingu shrine. Mr. Ban, 65, attributed the delay partly to tourists who hold up buses by counting out coins for the fare.

“Every day feels like a carnival here,” said Mr. Ban, an event organizer. “We can’t enjoy our daily lives in peace.”

Even those who directly benefit from tourism revenue worry that it might be unsustainable.

Hisashi Kobayashi, a taxi driver in Kyoto, said business was so good that taking a day off felt like passing up easy money. But many tourism-related industries were struggling to keep up with demand as they recovered from pandemic-era labor shortages, he said.

“When Japanese people come here, they feel they’re in a foreign land because there are so many tourists,” Mr. Kobayashi, 56, added as his taxi approached a bottleneck near a popular temple. “It’s not Kyoto anymore.”

Some rural locations are feeling the strain for the first time. One is Fuji City, about 200 miles by road east of Kyoto in Shizuoka Prefecture.

After a bridge with a direct view of Mount Fuji started to become popular on social media late last year, Shizuoka’s tourism department said on Instagram that it was a good spot for “beautiful, dreamlike pictures.” Left unsaid was that the bridge sat in a residential area with no visitor parking spaces, public toilets or garbage cans.

Many visitors littered, parked in driveways and in some cases dodged traffic to take photos from the bridge’s median strip, residents said in interviews.

Over a public holiday last month, about 300 tourists arrived daily for four days, standing in a line for photos that coiled down the street, said Mitsuo Kato, 86, who lives by the bridge.

“They just park here,” Mr. Kato said outside his home on a recent Sunday, as groups of tourists from South Korea diligently took photos of clouds that were obscuring Mount Fuji. “So we had to put up signs.”

Officials across Japan have been responding to the tourism surge with varying degrees of efficacy.

In Fuji City, the authorities erected a makeshift six-car parking lot and started to build a larger one that would fit 15 cars and include a bathroom, said Motohiro Sano, a local tourism official.

In a neighboring prefecture, Yamanashi, officials in the town of Fujikawaguchiko put up a billboard-size screen last month to deter tourists from photographing a Lawson convenience store whose blue awning sits beneath the mountain and became a staple of social media posts. The screen is now dotted with holes large enough to fit a phone camera lens, the local news media reported .

In Shibuya, a heavily visited area of Tokyo, officials announced plans to ban drinking alcohol outdoors at night in an attempt to curb bad behavior by young people and tourists.

And in Kyoto, where signs in train stations ask visitors to “mind your manners,” the government began running special buses for tourists this month.

At the city’s Nishiki market, where some residents have complained of finding grease stains on their clothing after squeezing through throngs of snacking tourists, Yoshino Yamaoka gestured to two signs hanging outside her barbecue eel restaurant.

Both said in English, “No eating while walking.” One had a larger font, and its text was underlined in red.

“People weren’t following it, so I put up this one with a stricter tone,” Ms. Yamaoka, 63, said of the bolder sign. But she wondered whether her new approach was too strict.

“Business depends on the tourists,” she said.

To beat the crowds on a recent weekend, some tourists visited popular Kyoto sites at sunrise or waited 40 minutes to eat at a popular ramen joint at 11 p.m. A few complained about the congestion they had helped to create.

“It’s a disaster,” said Paul Oostveen, 70, a tourist from the Netherlands, after leaving the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a popular attraction.

From his empty barbershop, Mr. Matsumoto said that he had successfully cut the hair of his two foreign clients and that he wouldn’t turn away others who stumbled through his door.

But he worried about providing good quality service to customers he couldn’t understand, he said, and would prefer that non-Japanese speakers go elsewhere.

Even though tourism is good for the nation, he added over the drone of a radio, “There’s a part of me that’s not fully content.”

Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news. More about Yan Zhuang

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Seoul City Tour Bus

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Seoul Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown Palace Course

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

SEOUL CITY TOUR BUS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go