Myeongdong at the foot of Namsan
Myeongdong is a shopping district in Jung-gu, the central district of Seoul, and it is the usual starting area for the cable car up to N Seoul Tower. The tower is not in Myeongdong itself: it stands on Namsan at 105 Namsangongwon-gil in Yongsan-gu. What Myeongdong gives you is a subway stop, a lot of places to eat and a walk to the lower cable car station.
This page shows how Myeongdong connects with the tower and with the neighbouring sights that visitors combine with it: Namdaemun, Gyeongbokgung and Itaewon. It sticks to the connections the operators describe and does not promise walking times between the places.
Our picks: tours around Myeongdong
Our take: the food walk is for tasting your way through Namdaemun and Myeongdong, and the palace tours suit you if you would rather spend the morning in Gyeongbokgung.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and 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.
Walking food tour through Namdaemun and Myeongdong
- Visit to Myeongdong
- Namdaemun Market
- More than 11 food tastings
Also stops at the Seoullo 7017 bridge park. Getting to the starting point is up to you.
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Gyeongbokgung Palace guided tour for up to three
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Gyeongbokgung admission
A small-group walk of two to three hours through the main royal palace. Hanbok rental and transport are not included.
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Palace and hanok village tour from Myeongdong
- Admission fees
- Hanok village visit
- Professional English guide
Four hours by minivan or coach, with Bukchon or Namsangol Hanok Village depending on the option you choose.
Check availability →Myeongdong tours: food, palace and tower tickets
Food walks, palace tours and tower tickets starting in and around Myeongdong, with live prices and availability.
From Myeongdong to the cable car
To reach the cable car, take line 4 to Myeongdong and leave by exit 3. The tower operator gives 10 to 15 minutes on foot to the station at 83 Sopa-ro. Plan the cable car for the climb itself and do not count on a fixed walking time all the way up. The ride takes about 3 minutes, followed by about 2 minutes on foot to the tower.
Tickets for the cable car are sold at the counter on the day of your visit. Some combined products are different: they are collected in Myeongdong before you ride, and the voucher is not valid directly at the station. Read the voucher instructions when you book. For fares and hours see the cable car page, and for the observatory prices the ticket page.
Food tour through Myeongdong and Namdaemun
If you want to taste your way through the area, a three-hour walking food tour covers Seoullo 7017, Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong. Its inclusions list more than 11 tastings, among them kalguksu, naengmyeon, bibimbap, tteokbokki, fish cake, savory hotteok, old-style crispy chicken, dumplings, gelato and one glass of local beer. Transport to the starting point and extra food and drinks are not included.
A night walk that starts in Myeongdong includes a guide and a one-way cable car ticket but no food, so choose by what you want to do. See the evening page for night options.
Namdaemun Market
Namdaemun lies on the route of the circular bus 01A, which has a stop named Sungnyemun and Namdaemun Market at exit 8. The bus runs from 06:30 to 23:00 and costs 1,500 KRW with a transport card. A city article from 2021 describes the market access from Hoehyeon Station exits 5 to 7 as about 5 minutes on foot; treat that as a rough guide only, because the source is old. Market opening hours vary by stall, so check on the day if you plan a specific visit.
Gyeongbokgung Palace by bus 01A
The 01A also stops at Gyeongbokgung and the National Folk Museum, so it links the tower area with the palace. It is a long circular route, not a short direct ride from every stop, so look at the order of stops on the route sign. Admission, opening times and closing days of the palace are not covered here; check them with the palace before you go.
If you prefer a guide, a licensed English-speaking guide with palace admission is part of one small-group palace tour; hanbok rental and transfers are not included there. Another half-day tour meets at Myeongdong exit 9 or 10, with admission fees, an English-speaking guide and transport by coach or minivan, plus Bukchon or Namsangol Hanok Village depending on the option. Read the inclusions of the option you choose.
Itaewon
Itaewon is reached on subway line 6, exit 4, for the antique furniture street. That is a different line from the one for the Namsan cable car, so plan the connection by subway instead of looking for a direct bus. The district has its own mix of restaurants and shops, and it is a second area where visitors stay; more on that is on the where to stay page.
Staying in Myeongdong
Myeongdong is part of Jung-gu, with direct access to the cable car walk and a link to the airport: the airport bus 6015 connects Incheon with Myeongdong, Chungmuro and Hoehyeon, and the subway runs from Seoul Station on line 4. Details are on the airport page. For a comparison with Itaewon and Hongdae, see the accommodation page.
Frequently asked questions
Is N Seoul Tower in Myeongdong?
No. The tower stands on Namsan at 105 Namsangongwon-gil in Yongsan-gu. Myeongdong is the district in Jung-gu from which many visitors start the walk to the cable car station.
Which subway exit leads to the cable car?
Line 4 to Myeongdong, exit 3. The tower operator gives 10 to 15 minutes on foot from there to the station at 83 Sopa-ro.
How do I get from the tower area to Gyeongbokgung?
The circular bus 01A stops at Gyeongbokgung and the National Folk Museum. It is a long circular route, so read the stop order on the sign.
Can I reach Itaewon on the same subway line?
No, Itaewon is on line 6, exit 4, while the Namsan cable car walk starts on line 4 at Myeongdong.