How to get to N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower, also called Namsan Seoul Tower, stands at 105 Namsangongwon-gil in Yongsan-gu, on top of Namsan in the middle of Seoul. You can reach the tower by cable car, circular bus or on foot. The free Oreumi lift takes you only to the lower cable car station.
General car access to the mountain has been restricted since 1 May 2005, so a drive to the door is rarely an option. Check the opening hours before you set out.
One practical point before you go: the operator's website showed an "OBSERVATORY TEMPORARILY CLOSED" banner on 31 October 2026, without a stated period. Check the current operating status before you travel and before you buy an observatory ticket.
A tour with hotel pickup and return
If you would rather not work out the buses and subway, this guided day collects you and drops you back.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Seoul tours and day trips
If you would rather not work out buses and stairs, a guided outing can bring the mountain and the city together. Check each itinerary for what is included.
By cable car from Myeongdong
The cable car is the classic route. The valley station is at 83 Sopa-ro in Jung-gu.
From Myeongdong station on Line 4, take exit 3. The tower operator gives 10 to 15 minutes on foot to the station, and the climb is uphill. The ride itself takes about 3 minutes, and from the top station it is roughly another 2 minutes on foot to the tower. That short walk says nothing about step-free access.
Cable car tickets are sold at the counter on the day of your visit. The cable car runs daily from 10:00 to 23:00, and an adult return costs 15,000 KRW (single 12,000 KRW). Details are on the Namsan cable car page.
Namsan Oreumi incline elevator
A free lift that saves the steepest part of the approach.
The Oreumi is a free inclined elevator that starts near Namsan Tunnel No. 3 and carries you up to the cable car in about 2 minutes. It runs from 09:00 to 23:00, with maintenance on Mondays from 09:00 to 14:00. Strong wind and heavy rain can interrupt it.
Buses 01A and 01B
The two ring buses are the only current numbers for the mountain. Older notes with 02, 03 or 05 are out of date.
Fare and hours
Both lines run from 06:30 to 23:00 and cost 1,500 KRW. The English page of the tower states that they accept a transport card only, so load a T-money card first. Bus 01A comes every 9 minutes, bus 01B every 14 minutes.
Where to board
Good subway connections are Chungmuro (Lines 3 and 4) and Dongguk University (Line 3). Bus 01B is the former line 8001, so older timetables may still show that number.
Walking up Namsan
Walking is free and rewarding, but no total walking time from Myeongdong or Huam-dong to the tower is available, so plan generously. The Namsan Sky Forest Trail is a boardwalk of 1.45 km between the Namsan fitness area in Huam-dong and Namsan Library, with 8 viewpoints. It is not a step-free chain all the way to the observation deck. The Seoul City Wall route from Jangchung Gymnasium to Baekbeom Square is 6.7 km and takes about 3 hours. More trails are on the Namsan Park page.
Subway fares and T-money
Since 28 June 2025 the adult base fare is 1,550 KRW with a transport card and 1,650 KRW for a single-journey ticket. A T-money card also pays for buses and taxis; buy it at the airports, subway machines or convenience stores and load credit, as the card itself includes none.
Car, taxi and parking
Because car access to Namsan has been restricted since 2005, park at one of the public car parks at the foot of the hill, then continue by bus or cable car. The Namsan-dong and Hoehyeon-dong public car parks charge 500 KRW per 10 minutes. A taxi can bring you toward the mountain, but do not count on it stopping at the tower's front entrance.
A small-group Seoul highlight tour is a car-free alternative. It includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, an entrance fee, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle; hanbok and a tea ceremony are optional. It does not promise a visit to the tower, so read the itinerary first.
Book a fixed-price transfer from Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul on Kiwitaxi.
Taxi and transfer from Incheon International Airport (ICN)
From the airport, the usual route is the AREX train or an airport bus toward Myeongdong. If you take a taxi, the approved International Taxi zone tariff from ICN to Zone C, which covers Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu, is 85,000 KRW for a mid-size taxi and 120,000 KRW for a large or deluxe one, tolls included. That is a zone tariff, not a fixed price for every taxi at the airport. All trains, buses and fares are on the Incheon Airport to Seoul page.
A pre-booked private transfer is a simple alternative after a long flight, because a driver is waiting and you do not need to work out the train or bus on arrival.
Getting to N Seoul Tower: frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way up to N Seoul Tower?
For most visitors it is the cable car from Myeongdong, followed by about 2 minutes on foot to the tower. Bus 01A or 01B is the other common choice if you prefer to avoid the uphill walk to the valley station.
Which bus goes to N Seoul Tower?
Bus 01A and bus 01B, both from 06:30 to 23:00. The fare is 1,500 KRW and the tower's English page states that a transport card is required.
Can I drive to N Seoul Tower?
General car access to Namsan has been restricted since 1 May 2005. Park at a public car park at the foot of the hill and use the bus or the cable car.
Is the observatory open when I arrive?
Check the operator's current status before you travel, because its website showed a "temporarily closed" banner on 31 October 2026 without a period. The regular hours are on the opening hours page.
How do I get from Incheon Airport to the tower?
Take the AREX train or an airport bus into central Seoul and continue by subway, bus or cable car. The airport page gives times and fares, and the where to stay page helps you choose a base.