First-Time Visit Guide to N Seoul Tower: Views from 479.7 m at the 1969 Broadcasting Tower

From a broadcasting transmission tower begun in December 1969 to N Seoul Tower

The official name of N Seoul Tower is YTN Seoul Tower. Three private broadcasters—Tongyang Broadcasting, Dong-A Broadcasting, and Munhwa Broadcasting—jointly invested in the project, which broke ground in December 1969. After completing the concrete tower shaft and steel antenna in 1971, they completed the observatory in August 1975. It is an example of Korea's first comprehensive transmission tower, built to broadcast to the Seoul metropolitan area, being expanded into a tourist facility.

It opened to the public in October 1980 under the name “Seoul Tower.” YTN acquired it in April 2000, and it reopened as “N Seoul Tower” in December 2004. Here, N stands for both Namsan and New. The Seoul Metropolitan Government designated this site as Seoul Future Heritage No. 2018-006 in 2018.

A height of 479.7 m, combining the 236.7 m tower and 243 m Namsan

The tower itself is 236.7 m tall, comprising a 135.7 m tower shaft and a 101 m steel antenna. Because it stands on Namsan at an elevation of 243 m, its summit reaches an elevation of 479.7 m. The observatory spans the tower's 4th and 5th floors, and official information describes the viewing area as being at an elevation of approximately 400 m.

Media art is installed in the elevator ride to the observatory entrance, while digital telescopes support up to 36x optical zoom. The telescopes are located on the Tower 2F Roof Terrace, Tower 4F, and Tower 5F, making them useful for first-time visitors who may find it difficult to orient themselves in front of the windows.

• T1: Ticket office, N Burger, N Terrace, convenience store, and souvenir shop
• T2: Roof Terrace, Love Locks area, and The Place Dining
• T3: Korean restaurant Hancook
• T4·T5: Observatory, photo facilities, and digital telescopes
• T7: N Grill, a revolving French restaurant

Weekdays 10:00–22:30, adults KRW 29,000 — ticketing until 30 minutes before closing

The observatory is open year-round. It operates from 10:00 to 22:30 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 23:00 on weekends and public holidays, with new admissions closing 30 minutes before closing time. It is therefore safest to arrive at the observatory entrance no later than 22:00 on weekdays and 22:30 on weekends and public holidays. The main telephone numbers are 02-3455-9277 and 02-3455-9288.

As of August 2, 2026, on-site observatory admission is KRW 29,000 for adults aged 13 and over, and KRW 23,000 for children aged 3–12 and seniors aged 65 and over. Children under 36 months are admitted free, limited to one child per guardian. No separate reservation is required; visitors may purchase same-day tickets at the T1 ticket office or the information desk on Plaza 5F. The official operations and ticketing website is https://www.nseoultower.co.kr/.

If you plan your meal time first, note that restaurants close earlier than the observatory. N Grill and Hancook operate from 12:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 20:00. The Place Dining and Durumi Bunsik operate from 11:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:00. Hancook has a break from 16:00 to 17:30 and operates in two sittings for both lunch and dinner.

01A every 9 minutes, 01B every 14 minutes — from Chungmuro Station and Dongguk University Station to the summit

The simplest public transportation to the summit is the green Namsan Circulation Bus 01A or 01B. Both routes pass Chungmuro Station Exit 2 and the Dongguk University Station–Jangchung-dong stop before stopping at “Namsan Seoul Tower.” Route 01A runs approximately every 9 minutes daily, while 01B runs approximately every 14 minutes. Both operate from 06:30 to 23:00, and the fare is KRW 1,500 with a transit card.

For a single route connecting Myeong-dong, Jongno, and Gwanghwamun, 01A is better. It circulates from the Namsan Yejang Bus Transfer Parking Lot through Chungmuro Station, Dongguk University Station, the National Theater of Korea, and Namsan Seoul Tower, then continues to Namsan Library, Baekbeom Square, Sungnyemun, Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2, Gyeongbokgung, and Anguk Station. For a quick round trip to the summit from Myeong-dong or Dongguk University Station, 01B has a shorter route because it passes both Namsan Seoul Tower and the Namsan Cable Car stop.

• Chungmuro Station: Transfer station for Lines 3 and 4; board 01A or 01B near Exit 2
• Dongguk University Station: Route 01B is available at the stop behind Exit 6 of Line 3
• Namsan Seoul Tower stop: About 357 m and an 8-minute walk to the tower plaza after getting off
• Seoul City Tour Bus: You may choose to get off at the “N Seoul Tower” stop

From Myeong-dong Station Exit 3: cable car, with a free 2-minute Namsan Oreumi connection

To use the cable car, walk for approximately 10–15 minutes from Exit 3 of Myeong-dong Station on Subway Line 4, following the road to the right of Pacific Hotel, to reach the station. The Namsan Cable Car operates from 10:00 to 23:00. Adult fares are KRW 15,000 round trip and KRW 12,000 one way; child fares are KRW 11,500 round trip and KRW 9,000 one way. Children are defined as those from 36 months old through elementary school age.

The 70 m uphill section to the cable car station on the Myeong-dong side can be shortened by using the “Namsan Oreumi.” Board the Oreumi near the monument at the entrance to Namsan Tunnel No. 3; it takes about 2 minutes and is free. However, it does not operate on Mondays from 09:00 to 14:00 due to maintenance, or during strong winds or heavy rain. A separate uphill walking section remains from the upper cable car station to the tower plaza.

If you plan to hike up Namsan, it is best to consider observatory admission time and transportation for the descent separately. Especially at night, tower operations may be suspended if traffic restrictions occur on the Namsan Ring Road, even if the observatory is open. On days with heavy-rain or strong-wind forecasts, it is sensible to first check operating notices for routes 01A and 01B and the cable car.

The Love Locks on the T2 Roof Terrace and the T5 Observatory are separate spaces

The place to hang locks is the Tower 2F Roof Terrace, not inside the paid observatory. Therefore, even without buying an observatory ticket, you can visit the tower plaza and the Love Locks area on T2. Rather than leaving keys attached to the locks, it is better to keep or take them with you for safety and environmental management.

After purchasing an observatory ticket, you can view Seoul in all directions from Tower 4F and Tower 5F. During the day, it is easy to identify the mountain ranges north of downtown and the position of the skyline south of the Han River. After sunset, the road network and building lights become more distinct. In summer, heat lingers after sunset, while in winter the perceived temperature can drop significantly near the windows, so it is advisable to bring an outer layer.

The tower's exterior lighting also communicates air-quality information through color. According to Seoul Tourism Organization guidance, blue means good, green means moderate, yellow means bad, and red means very bad. Before taking nighttime photos, the lighting color serves as an indicator of Seoul's air conditions that day.

Private passenger cars restricted since 2005 — start by considering the 72 spaces at Namsan Library Parking Lot

Private passenger vehicle access to the Namsan summit has been restricted since May 1, 2005. Rather than planning for a taxi to enter the summit area, it is more realistic to transfer to 01A or 01B from Myeong-dong, Chungmuro, or Dongguk University Station. Entry is permitted, subject to documentary requirements, for registered vehicles for people with disabilities and elderly people with mobility difficulties who use walking aids.

If you bring a vehicle, use the Namsan Park Parking Lot and Hannam Jarak Parking Lot below the summit as reference points. Namsan Park Parking Lot, behind Namsan Library, has 72 spaces, while Hannam Jarak Parking Lot, across from Grand Hyatt Hotel, has 33 spaces. Both charge KRW 160 per 5 minutes for passenger cars. After parking, you must walk or use the Namsan Circulation Bus, so an itinerary expecting parking directly in front of the tower is unsuitable.

For wheelchair and stroller users, taking 01A or 01B to the “Namsan Seoul Tower” stop is less demanding than taking the steep Namsan walking routes. Facilities inside the tower are divided by floor from T1 to T5 and T7, so if you are traveling with companions, calling the main number, 02-3455-9277, before departure to check elevator operation and the same-day route to the Roof Terrace can reduce unnecessary detours.