After a couple of days of getting swallowed up by the buzz of Seoul, I knew I needed a breather. I’d already spent the morning in Myeongdong dodging selfie sticks. (And debating which hotteok vendor had the shorter line.)
On a whim, I started walking toward the mountain I’d been staring at all week: Namsan. About forty minutes later, I was standing at the summit with the city spread out below me, wondering why I’d waited two trips to hike up here for the first time.
Namsan looms above the heart of the city. The shift from busy shopping streets to forested trails happens faster than you’d expect, which I feel is part of the mountain’s charm. For travelers visiting Seoul for the first time, Namsan offers a great introduction to the city’s (surprisingly epic) hiking scene.
Most time-crunched visitors hike up Namsan as part of a half-day out of Myeongdong. (This is my own fav way to experience it.)
For hikers who are feeling adventurous (and have a dash of extra energy), it doesn’t have to end here, though. Walking down the southern side of the mountain drops you into the Itaewon neighborhood in the Yongsan District.
Itaewon offers a look at a completely different side of Seoul. (Even though I find the area a little grungier than other parts of the city, I’d still say it’s worth exploring if you have the time.)
Let’s see what awaits at Namsan, Seoul’s most accessible hike for first-time visitors…
Hike vs. the cable car: What I’d recommend for first-time visitors
As a traveler who LOVES the fresh air and soaking in epic views over a city, maybe I’m a bit biased here. If I had to choose between hiking up Namsan or taking the cable car, I’d pick the hike.
(Well, at least if the weather was cooperating, and I had the energy for it.)
The most popular trail to the Namsan summit, starting at either Myeongdong (map) or Namsan Baekbeom Square (map), is well-maintained and straightforward.
Unlike other easily-accessible hiking trails in Seoul (final ascent to Bukhansan: I’m lookin’ at you), there’s nothing here that’s going to leave your quads screaming the next morning.
Most reasonably fit hikers should make it to the summit in about 30 to 40 minutes without breaking much of a sweat.
That said, the Namsan Cable Car is a perfectly reasonable option if you’re visiting Seoul in the peak of summer. After spending WAY too much time sweating buckets while traveling around in East Asia in summer, I will warn you: Seoul’s heat & humidity in July and August is no joke.
(Trust me, arriving at the summit drenched before you’ve even started exploring isn’t a great vibe.)
The return ticket for the Namsan Cable Car runs ₩15,000 for adults.
The third option (and one I’ve noticed that most guides don’t bother mentioning) is the Namsan Circular Shuttle Bus. The bus runs from Myeongdong Station (Exit 3), Itaewon Station (Exit 4), and Seoul Station (Exit 9).
At ₩500 with a T-Money card, it’s the cheapest way to get up Namsan (well, other than walking) by a long shot. Of course, it’s not as fun as hiking or as scenic as the cable car. But if you’ve got tired legs or you’re traveling with someone who isn’t up for the climb, it’s a fine option.
A good compromise is to hike up and take the cable car or bus back down. This way, you’ll get the best of both. (Without doubling the effort.)
Hiking up Namsan from Myeongdong
The most popular way to tackle Namsan is on a hike from Myeongdong. And after carving out time for it on that second trip to Seoul, it’s easy to see why.
The most popular approach to this route is from Myeongdong Station (Exit 3). Head past the 7-Eleven, take the left fork past the Pacific Hotel, and follow Myeongdong Cartoon Street uphill until the road bends sharply left.
Go up the steps onto Sopa-ro, turn right, and keep going past the lower cable car station until you see a set of steps on your left just before a research center. That’s the trailhead.
From Myeongdong Station to the trailhead to the summit, budget around 40 to 50 minutes.
The second option (and my recommended “classic” route) starts at Namsan Baekbeom Square, which is about a 5-minute walk from Hoehyeon Station (Exit 4).
This route follows the historic Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong) up to the summit via the same trailhead. It’s a slightly more scenic approach with N Seoul Tower framed ahead of you and the city opening up behind you as you climb.
(And it’s pretty easy to slot into an itinerary for exploring Myeongdong in a day.)
If you’re not already wandering south of Myeongdong, this is the hike I’d pick.
The hike from Namsan Baekbeom Square takes roughly 20 to 35 minutes from Hoehyeon Station to the summit.
(And, thanks to that first section along the Seoul City Wall, the views along the way are, in my opinion, noticeably better with this approach.)
Either way, once you hit the trail, the shift is immediate. One minute you’re dodging tourists on the city streets, and the next you’re climbing through a canopy of pine trees with Seoul falling away below you.
About a third of the way up, I’d suggest making a stop at Jamdubong Photo Island to snap a few photos over Myeongdong. (There are also a few benches to sit on here if you need to rest your legs a bit.)
The trail up Namsan has a regular crowd of locals using it as a morning workout. (Somehow, watching elderly Seoulites power past me on the steps was both humbling and oddly motivating.)
If you’re visiting in spring, I’d recommend timing your hike for late March to mid-April. Namsan is one of the better spots in Seoul to catch cherry blossoms in full bloom, with the trees lining parts of the trail on both sides.
What’s waiting at the summit (and what’s actually free)
After the climb, the summit plaza is the perfect reward. And it’s even better than most first-time visitors expect before they get up here.
The plaza itself is free to access, and the views are spectacular. From up here, Seoul spreads out in every direction. I loved staring in the distance to see the Han River cutting through the city to the south and the mountains ringing the horizon.
On a clear day, the view from Namsan is the kind of panorama that’ll make you glad you made the thigh-burning effort.
I’d argue that for most first-time visitors, the views here alone are worth the hike without even spending a single extra won. But if you’re okay with a little splurge, there’s a little more up here to check out…
The one thing you can’t miss (on the way up, even) is N Seoul Tower looming above. At 236 meters tall, it’s been one of Seoul’s most recognizable landmarks since it opened to the public in 1980.
(I must say that seeing it up close for the first time after spotting it from half the city on my first trip to Seoul was quite satisfying.)
You can stare up at N Seoul Tower from the outside all you want for free. Make sure to take an obligatory snapshot of the tower framed by the Palgakjeong Pavilion. The tower’s modern architecture, contrasted with the pavilion’s traditional Korean architecture, is bound to blow up your feed.
But we didn’t come all this way just to see a pavilion and tower. The big reason to come to N Seoul Tower is to get a more high-flyin’ view of the city from above.
The observatory ticket runs ₩29,000 for adults. In my experience, the best time to go up for epic views over the city from the observation deck is at sunset.
Just keep in mind that the rest of Seoul will also have the same idea.
(Yep, this place can get BUSY.)
Whether it’s worth paying to go up N Seoul Tower is the bigger conversation.
If you’re on a tight travel budget, the answer is probably, “no.” While the views from the N Seoul Tower terrace are no doubt spectacular, so are the (free) ones from the plaza.
That said, if you’re willing to splurge (only a little), N Seoul Tower is a fantastic spot for a romantic travel date night or a relaxing sunset cocktail with superb evening views over Seoul.
Besides the main plaza, the Love Locks area atop Namsan is also free to visit. It’s worth a wander, even if the tradition feels a little well-worn at this point. Thousands of padlocks left by couples cover every available fence around the plaza.
(I’ve seen this whole scene played out in cities as diverse as Tokyo, Helsinki, and St. Petersburg. It’s one of those things I find simultaneously cheesy yet kinda moving and joyful.)
BONUS: The south-side hike down to Itaewon
While the popular Seoul City Wall route up Namsan is hardly a secret, many first-time visitors have no idea that the hike doesn’t have to end where it started.
If you’ve still got legs under you after the summit, I’d suggest hiking down the south side of the mountain to explore a completely different part of the city: Itaewon.
The trail down to Itaewon starts near the bus stop area on the summit (map). Look for the path by the fortress wall next to the Cafe i.O.
From there, the descent takes you through the quieter, more forested south side of the mountain, passing the Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden (323 Sowol-ro) on the way down.
The vibe on this trail is noticeably more relaxed than the Myeongdong approach. I saw fewer tourists and more pine trees, and the city noise seemed to sound a little distant for a little longer. The trail is a bit more difficult for hikers, though, with more uneven paths and steeper descents.
At the bottom of the trail, you’ll land in Haebangchon, a neighborhood tucked between Namsan and Itaewon that’s a cool spot to wander around. It’s got a good concentration of independent restaurants, bars, and craft beer spots that attract more locals than tourists.
From there, it’s a short walk to Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) or into the neighborhood if you want to get a one-day Itaewon itinerary started.
How to get there + practical info
Namsan is easily accessible from central Seoul, even without a car. (Private vehicles haven’t been allowed into the park since 2005.)
By Seoul’s public transportation system, the closest subway stations to Namsan are Myeongdong Station (Line 4, Exit 3) for the main trail and Hoehyeon Station (Line 4, Exit 4) for the Namsan Baekbeom Square route.
The Namsan Cable Car runs daily from 10 am to 11 pm, with the last car departing 30 minutes before closing. A return ticket costs ₩15,000 for adults and ₩11,500 for children and seniors.
The Namsan Circular Shuttle Bus runs from Myeongdong Station (Exit 3), Itaewon Station (Exit 4), and Seoul Station (Exit 9). The fare is ₩500 with a T-Money card.
PRO TIP: In my experience, the Namsan Cable Car queues on weekends can get frustratingly long. (I’m talkin’ over an hour in peak season. Ouch.) If you’re visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, I suggest either hiking up (obviously, you’re gonna get my thumbs-up for this choice) or taking the shuttle bus instead.
