The Seoul City Wall: Walk One Section, and Make It Naksan
Four sections, rated out of five stars. The easy first walk, the real one, and what changed on the Baegak section in 2026.
Research-verified — cross-checked against independent sources
How we verify →·Last verified ·5 min read
The Seoul City Wall runs 18.6 km, and nobody needs all of it on one afternoon. One section is a day. The verdict first: if you're a first-time visitor, walk the Naksan section and nothing else. Save Baegak for the day you want a real walk.
- Beginner pick: Naksan section (낙산). Hyehwamun Gate (혜화문) to Heunginjimun Gate (흥인지문), about 1.5 hours, ★★☆☆☆ (2 of 5), open around the clock, with a subway station at each end.
- Baegak section (백악): Changuimun Gate (창의문) to Hyehwamun, 4.7 km, about 3 hours, ★★★★★ (5 of 5). It opened 24 hours a day in March 2026.
- Inwang (인왕): Donuimun Site (돈의문 터) to Changuimun, 4.0 km, about 2.5 hours, ★★★★★ (5 of 5).
- Namsan (남산): Gwanghuimun Gate (광희문) to Donuimun Site, about 3.5 hours, ★★★☆☆ (3 of 5). Walk it if you're going up to the tower anyway.
- Old guides say bring ID and reserve ahead for Baegak. That system ended in 2023, and the trail has been open around the clock since March 2026.
Which section of the Seoul City Wall should you walk first?
Naksan. It has the lowest difficulty rating of the four main sections (2 of 5), the slopes are gentle enough for a stroll, and it's open 24 hours. It starts at Hansung University Station (한성대입구역) on Line 4 and ends near Dongdaemun Station (동대문역) on Lines 1 and 4, so there's no hunting for a bus. Near sunset, Naksan Park (낙산공원) puts the city and the light in one view.
| Section | Route | Time | Difficulty (of 5) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naksan (낙산) | Hyehwamun to Heunginjimun | About 1.5 hours | ★★☆☆☆ | The beginner pick. Easy, central, good near sunset. |
| Namsan (남산) | Gwanghuimun to Donuimun Site | About 3.5 hours | ★★★☆☆ | A side trip when you're headed to the tower. |
| Baegak (백악) | Changuimun to Hyehwamun | About 3 hours | ★★★★★ | The day you commit to a real walk. |
| Inwang (인왕) | Donuimun Site to Changuimun | About 2.5 hours | ★★★★★ | For people with hiking legs. |
Difficulty and times come from the Seoul City Wall's official route pages and the Seoul city government's guide. The wall also has two short city sections, Heunginjimun and Sungnyemun, each about 1.8 km and an hour of easy walking.
Where do you start each section?
- Naksan: From Hansung University Station Exit 4 it's about a three-minute walk to Hyehwamun. At the other end, Dongdaemun Station (동대문역) Exit 5 or 10 is a short walk to Dongdaemun Fortress Park (동대문성곽공원). The route passes through Jangsu Village and Ewha Village, where people live, so keep your voice down.
- Baegak: For Changuimun, take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역) Exit 3, then green bus 7212, 1020 or 7022 to Jahamun Pass (자하문고개); check the bus numbers in a transit app. Hyehwamun is a short walk from Hansung University Station.
- Namsan: Many people start at Jangchung Gymnasium (장충체육관), a minute from Exit 5 of Dongguk University Station (동대입구역) on Line 3. The back path runs through housing, and the stretch between the Shilla Hotel and the Banyan Tree has set hours of 9:00 to 18:00.
For a walk that pairs with Naksan, see Hyehwa and Daehangno in the evening. If Inwangsan is the mountain you want, Seoul's beginner hikes covers its trails by difficulty. And for the Namsan side, getting to Namsan Tower has the routes.
What changed on the Baegak section in 2026?
- Baegak sits next to a security zone, and for years you needed ID and time limits. The reservation system ended in 2023, and the Presidential Security Service said in March 2026 that the trails would be open 24 hours a day.
- Six information centres on the mountain (Changuimun, Cheongundae, Gokjang, Sukjeongmun, Malbawi and Samcheong) reopened in March 2026 after about two years closed.
- A 30 m stretch of wall near the Baegak shelter collapsed in heavy rain in July 2024 and the area was closed. Check the Seoul City Wall site for notices before you go.
- The official recommended visiting hours are 7:00 to 18:00 in March, April, September and October, 7:00 to 19:00 from May to August, and 9:00 to 17:00 from November to February. Be down before dark, and see Seoul in winter if it's cold.
Is there a certificate for finishing the wall?
Yes. You take a photo of yourself at four marked points (Baegaksan, Naksan Park, the Mongmyeoksan beacon site and Inwangsan), apply online, then collect the certificate in person at the Hanyangdoseong Museum in Jung-gu or the Hyehwa-dong visitor centre in Jongno. Pickup is Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, closed 12:00 to 13:00. Check the official page for the current rules.
Mina's TipDon't try to finish the wall. Pick Naksan, and go when the light is right.
Beginner pick: Naksan, ★★☆☆☆ (2 of 5), about 1.5 hours, open 24 hours. Start: Hansung University Station Exit 4, three minutes to Hyehwamun. Baegak (★★★★★): Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3 plus bus to Changuimun, about 3 hours, open 24 hours since March 2026. Inwang (★★★★★): about 2.5 hours. Namsan (★★★☆☆): about 3.5 hours. Enquiries: 02-779-9870 (closed Mondays).
