Getting Up Namsan to N Seoul Tower (There's No Subway)
No subway to the top, no cars in the park. The cable car, the ₩1,400 shuttle bus, and the walking routes — with cost and time for each, and why the plaza doesn't need a ticket.
Partly personally verified — Daniel checked some of these in person
How we verify →·Updated Sep 2026·4 min read
First thing to know: there is no subway station at the top of Namsan. And no taxis or private cars are allowed into Namsan Park — it's an environmental rule. So there are exactly three ways to the top: the cable car, the Namsan circular bus, or walking.
First — the mistakes people make
- Assuming a subway goes to the top. From the nearest stations — Myeongdong, Chungmuro, Hoehyeon — it's still the cable car, a bus, or a walk from there.
- Taking a taxi. It drops you at the edge of the park and that's it. You pay the fare and you're still not at the tower.
- Buying a cable car + observation deck combo when you only want the plaza. The plaza at the base of the tower — the terrace, the padlock wall, the view — is free. The only paid part is the indoor observation deck up the tower.
- Not checking the cable car queue on a weekend or at sunset. In peak season the wait runs 30–60 minutes. Take the bus instead when it's like that.
Option 1 — the cable car
- Getting there: The base station is at 83 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu. You reach it from Myeongdong Station (Line 4):
- Free shuttle bus from Exit 1 (on the hour, 12:00–20:30, about 5 minutes) — easiest when it's running.
- Walk from Exit 3 — uphill past the Pacific Hotel, 10–15 minutes.
- From Exit 4, walk about 10 minutes to the Namsan Oreumi, a free outdoor inclined elevator, then ride it 2 minutes (runs 9:00–23:00, closed Mondays 9:00–14:00).
- Cost: Adult ₩15,000 round trip / ₩12,000 one way. Seniors and children (3–12) ₩11,500 / ₩9,000.
- Time: About a 7-minute ride. There's a short walk and an escalator from the upper station to the tower plaza.
- Who it's for: Anyone starting from Myeongdong who doesn't want to walk. Just expect a queue at sunset on a weekend.
Option 2 — the Namsan circular bus (the "Haechi Bus")
- Getting there: Two routes, both starting from the Namsan Yejang bus transfer car park (4 minutes from Myeongdong Station Exit 1) and passing Chungmuro and Dongguk University stations. 01B is the direct loop to N Seoul Tower via the National Theater and Namsan Library — the simpler pick if the tower is all you're after. 01A continues past the tower to Cheongwadae, Gyeongbokgung, and Anguk Station — useful if you're combining Namsan with a palace visit.
- Cost: A standard city-bus fare, about ₩1,400. Pay with T-money.
- Time: 01A every 6–9 minutes, 01B every 15–18 minutes, both running roughly 06:30 to 23:00. It's a 10–15 minute walk up to the plaza after you get off.
- Who it's for: Anyone avoiding the cable car queue, and anyone starting near Chungmuro or Dongguk University. Take 01A if you're pairing Namsan with Gyeongbokgung. It's the cheapest way up and it runs early and late.
Option 3 — walking
- Up from Myeongdong or Hoehyeon: 20–30 minutes on stairs and a path, uphill. Trainers are enough.
- Down from the tower toward Namsan Library (the Sowol-gil path): 30–40 minutes, downhill, the easiest of the routes. It's a cherry-blossom path in spring. Riding up and walking down this way is a common combination.
- Toward the National Theater / Dongguk University Exit 6: a mix of path and stairs, moderate.
- The Namsan Dulle-gil circular trail: a 7.5km loop, for when you have time and the walk is the point.
Once you're at the top
- The plaza is free. The view, the terrace, the wall of love padlocks, the city at sunset — all of it, no ticket.
- Only the indoor observation deck is paid. Unless it's an exceptionally clear day, the plaza view is often enough.
- It's windy up there even at plaza level. Bring a layer.
What this means if you're visiting
- Starting from Myeongdong = the cable car or the 01 bus. Make it the bus if it's a weekend at sunset.
- Starting from Chungmuro or Dongguk University = the 01 bus. Cheapest, no queue.
- Ride one way, walk the other. Cable car or bus up, the Sowol-gil path down — 30–40 minutes downhill, cherry blossoms in spring. If you end up coming down late, here's what to do if you miss the last train.
- Don't buy a combo ticket if you only want the plaza. The view and the padlock wall are free.
A Note From Daniel — our real human editorI went up to the N Seoul Tower observation deck recently with my family for the night view, and it was pretty clear that most people up there were visitors rather than locals — locals don't tend to make the trip specifically for the view, since Seoul already has plenty of other tall buildings for that. If you're taking the cable car, the area around the boarding station is known for a cluster of donkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurants — they've turned up on Korean variety shows more than once, though the food itself isn't anything especially special.
No subway and no cars to the top of Namsan — it's the cable car, the circular bus, or a walk. Cable car: base station reached from Myeongdong Station (Line 4), ₩15,000 round trip / ₩12,000 one way, 10:00–23:00. Circular bus ("Haechi Bus"): 01B for a direct loop to the tower, 01A if you're also going to Gyeongbokgung — board at Namsan Yejang car park, Chungmuro, or Dongguk University, about ₩1,400 with T-money. Walking: 20–30 min up from Myeongdong, or 30–40 min down to Namsan Library. The tower plaza (view, padlock wall) is free; only the indoor observation deck is a paid ticket.
Soo's TipDecide before you set off whether you want the free plaza or the paid observation deck. If it's the plaza — which is where the view and the padlocks are — you don't need to buy anything, so take the ₩1,400 bus up, spend nothing at the top, and walk the Sowol-gil path down. Save the cable car for a day the queue is short, or for going up with someone who can't manage the walk.
