N SEOUL TOWER Night View Guide: Observatory Tickets, Hours, and How to Get There
N SEOUL TOWER (남산서울타워) stands on top of Namsan at 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 남산공원길 105). It is a broadcasting tower and an observation venue. You don’t pay to enter Namsan Park, and observatory tickets cost 29,000 KRW (~$22 USD) for adults and 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) for children and seniors. The tower is open every day of the year. The observatory stays open until 22:30 on weekdays and 23:00 on weekends and public holidays, so you have plenty of time to see Seoul after dark.
What Is N SEOUL TOWER?
N SEOUL TOWER was Korea’s first integrated broadcasting tower. It sends and receives broadcast signals, and a tourist observatory was added to it. For more than 40 years it has been one of Seoul’s best-known landmarks. The tower is tall and has a distinctive shape, so you can see it from most of the city, and it still draws large numbers of Korean and international visitors.
It has also appeared in many variety shows and TV dramas, so Korean Wave fans often know it. Inside the tower there is a gift shop and several restaurants as well as the observatory, so you can have dinner and see the night view in one visit.
Best Times and Spots for the N SEOUL TOWER Night View
The observatory isn’t the only place to see the city at night. You can also walk through Namsan Park, take the Namsan Cable Car, or follow the Namsan Dulle-gil trail (남산둘레길).
| Viewing spot | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| N SEOUL TOWER observatory | Weekdays 10:00–22:30 / Weekends & public holidays 10:00–23:00 | No entry in the last 30 minutes before closing |
| Namsan Cable Car | 10:00–23:00 | Last tickets sold 30 minutes before closing |
| Namsan Park trails & Namsan Dulle-gil | Open year-round | Free |
The observatory stops letting people in 30 minutes before closing. Arrive before 22:00 on weekdays or before 22:30 on weekends and public holidays. In bad weather the cable car may stop running or close early, so check before you go on windy or rainy days.
N SEOUL TOWER Hours and Ticket Prices
Namsan Park is free. You only pay for the tower’s observatory.
Observatory Tickets
| Ticket | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | Age 13 and over | 29,000 KRW (~$22 USD) |
| Child | Ages 3–12 | 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) |
| Senior | Age 65 and over | 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD) |
| Infant | Under 36 months | Free (one infant per adult) |
Hours by Facility
| Facility | Weekdays | Weekends & public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Observatory | 10:00–22:30 | 10:00–23:00 |
| N GIFT SHOP (PLAZA 5F) | 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–22:00 |
| T1 / T5 | 10:00–22:30 | 10:00–23:00 |
The tower is open all year, but hours may change because of weather or other conditions.
Restaurant Hours Inside the Tower
| Restaurant | Hours | Last order |
|---|---|---|
| n.GRILL | 12:00–22:00 | 20:00 |
| HANCOOK | 12:00–22:00 | 20:00 |
| THE PLACE DINING | 11:00–22:00 | 21:00 |
| DURUMI BUNSIK (두루미분식) | 11:00–22:00 | 21:00 |
| N TERRACE | 11:00–20:00 | — |
| N BURGER | 11:00–21:00 | — |
| N SWEET BAR | 10:00–21:00 | — |
On weekends, HANCOOK serves in set seatings. Lunch is 12:00–13:40 or 14:00–15:40, and dinner is 17:30–19:10 or 20:00–21:40. The restaurant takes a break from 16:00 to 17:30.
Contact
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 남산공원길 105) |
| Phone | 02-3455-9277, 02-3455-9288 |
| Website | https://www.seoultower.co.kr/ |
How to Get to N SEOUL TOWER
Private cars can’t drive up to the tower, because the road is closed to protect Namsan Park’s natural environment. To get up, take the Namsan Circulation Bus (남산순환버스) or walk.
Bus and Subway
| Option | Where to board / route | Frequency | Hours | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namsan Circulation Bus 01A | Starts at Namsan Yejang Bus Transfer Parking Lot (남산예장버스환승주차장). Passes Chungmuro Station Exit 2, Namdaemun Market, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and more | Every 9 min | 06:30–23:00 | 1,500 KRW (~$1 USD), transit card only |
| Namsan Circulation Bus 01B | Starts at Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot (남산예장버스주차장). Stops at N SEOUL TOWER, Namsan Library, Namsan Cable Car, and the Namsan trail entrance | Every 14 min | 06:30–23:00 | 1,500 KRW (~$1 USD), transit card only |
| Subway + circulation bus | Change to the circulation bus at Chungmuro Station (Lines 3 & 4) or Dongguk University Station (동대입구역, Line 3) | — | — | — |
| Subway + walking | Walk up from Hoehyeon Station (Line 4), Exit 3 | — | — | — |
The Namsan Circulation Buses don’t take cash, only transit cards. Top up your card before you board.
Parking
| Vehicle | Rules |
|---|---|
| Private cars | Barred from driving to the tower since May 1, 2005. Park nearby, then take the circulation bus or walk up |
| Diesel buses | Barred from Namsan Sunhwan-ro (남산순환로) since August 2021. Passengers get off at Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot and change to the circulation bus |
N SEOUL TOWER Tips
- Check when the observatory closes. Entry stops 30 minutes before closing, so arrive before 22:00 on weekdays or before 22:30 on weekends and public holidays.
- Bring a transit card. Namsan Circulation Buses 01A and 01B accept transit cards only.
- Plan dinner around last orders. n.GRILL and HANCOOK take their last orders at 20:00. THE PLACE DINING and DURUMI BUNSIK take theirs at 21:00.
- You can see the night view without going up the tower. The Namsan Park trails and Namsan Dulle-gil are free, which helps if you’re on a budget.
- Check the cable car in bad weather. It may stop running or close early depending on the weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a ticket to the N SEOUL TOWER observatory?
Adult tickets cost 29,000 KRW (~$22 USD). That price covers anyone age 13 and over. Children (ages 3–12) and seniors (65 and over) pay 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD). Namsan Park itself is free.
Do children need an observatory ticket?
Infants under 36 months get in free, but older children need a ticket. Each adult can bring one infant in free. Children ages 3–12 pay the child rate of 23,000 KRW (~$17 USD).
What time does the N SEOUL TOWER observatory close?
It closes at 22:30 on weekdays and 23:00 on weekends and public holidays. It opens at 10:00 every day, and no one can enter in the last 30 minutes before closing.
Can I drive up to N SEOUL TOWER?
No, private cars can’t drive up. They have been barred from the tower road since May 1, 2005. Park at a nearby lot, then take the Namsan Circulation Bus or walk up.
Where do I catch Namsan Circulation Bus 01A or 01B?
Bus 01A starts at Namsan Yejang Bus Transfer Parking Lot, and bus 01B starts at Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot. Bus 01A passes Chungmuro Station Exit 2, among other stops. Bus 01B stops at N SEOUL TOWER, Namsan Library, and Namsan Cable Car. Both routes run 06:30–23:00, and the fare is 1,500 KRW (~$1 USD), paid by transit card only.
What time does the Namsan Cable Car stop running?
It runs until 23:00. Service starts at 10:00, every day of the year. The last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing, and the cable car may stop or close early in bad weather.
Which subway station is closest?
You can change to the Namsan Circulation Bus at Chungmuro Station (Lines 3 & 4) or Dongguk University Station (Line 3). You can also walk up from Hoehyeon Station (Line 4), Exit 3.
Is N SEOUL TOWER ever closed?
No, it’s open every day of the year. However, each facility in the tower keeps its own hours, and hours may change because of weather or other conditions.
