Last checked: October 20, 2026 · Sources: N Seoul Tower and YTN Seoul Tower official sites, Namsan Cable Car, Seoul bus information, linked below.
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An adult ticket to the N Seoul Tower observatory costs 29,000 won, and children (3–12) and seniors (65+) pay 23,000 won. You buy it at the tower on the day; no booking is needed. The observatory opens at 10:00 and closes at 22:30 on weekdays and 23:00 on weekends and holidays, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Cars can’t drive up Namsan, so you go up by the Namsan cable car, by circular bus 01A or 01B, or on foot. The cable car is the quickest ride; the bus is the cheapest.
How much does N Seoul Tower cost?
| Ticket | Price | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 29,000 won | Age 13 and over |
| Child | 23,000 won | Age 3 to 12 |
| Senior | 23,000 won | Age 65 and over (same as child) |
| Under 36 months | Free | One small child per adult |
The ticket is for the observatory only and is valid on the day you buy it. You buy it at the Tower 1F ticket booth or the Plaza 5F information desk. The tower also lists a 30% discount for registered disabled visitors and some national merit holders, described in Korean grades; ask at the booth.
You can eat at The Place Dining on Tower 2F without an observatory ticket.
What time does the observatory open, and when is last entry?
| Day | Open | Close | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10:00 | 22:30 | 22:00 |
| Saturday, Sunday, public holidays | 10:00 | 23:00 | 22:30 |
The tower is open every day of the year. It can still close for a while in bad weather, and the tower says it may close if the park authority shuts vehicle access to Namsan.
On a clear day you can see up to about 50 km, from Bukhansan in the north to Gwanaksan in the south. The observatory sits about 400 m above sea level.
Which way up Namsan suits you?
| Way up | From | Cost one way (adult) | Time | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namsan cable car | Myeongdong Station Exit 3, 7–10 min walk | 12,000 won (15,000 return) | About 3 min ride | 10:00–23:00 |
| Bus 01A | Chungmuro Station Exit 2 or Dongguk Univ. Station | One bus fare by transit card | About 10–15 min | 06:30–23:00 |
| Bus 01B | Chungmuro Station Exit 2 or Dongguk Univ. Station | One bus fare by transit card | About 10–15 min | 06:30–23:00 |
| Walk | Namsan Library, National Theater or the “Samsuni stairs” | Free | About 30–40 min | Not officially listed |
Our pick: take the bus up if you’re on a budget, since it stops at the tower itself. Take the cable car if you want the view on the way, but expect queues at weekends. A good mix is the cable car one way and the bus or a walk the other.
How do I ride the Namsan cable car?
The cable car runs from 10:00 to 23:00 every day. Tickets are sold on site only, so you can’t book ahead on the official site.
| Ticket | Adult (13+) | Child (36 months–12) and seniors |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip | 15,000 won | 11,500 won |
| One way | 12,000 won | 9,000 won |
To get there from Myeongdong:
- Leave Myeongdong Station (Line 4) by Exit 3.
- Turn into the alley by the 7-Eleven and walk between the Pacific Hotel and the GS25.
- After about 7–10 minutes you reach the cable car building at 83 Sopa-ro.
- Buy a ticket at the counter, then ride for about 3 minutes to the top.
Ticket sales stop at 22:30 for round trips and 22:45 for one way, and can close earlier on busy nights. The senior rate needs ID; bring your passport and ask, since the site doesn’t say which IDs it accepts.
Strong wind or heavy rain can stop the cable car on the day. It also closes for maintenance now and then: in 2026 it was shut from February 23 to March 20. Check the notices on the cable car site before you go.
Is there an easier way to the cable car?
Yes. The Namsan Oreumi is a free incline lift that saves you the steepest part. From Myeongdong Station Exit 4 (or Exit 5, as the tower’s site says), walk straight to the Hoehyeon junction, turn left and take the lift up to the cable car.
The YTN Seoul Tower site lists the lift’s hours as 09:00 to 23:00, with no service on Monday mornings (09:00–14:00) for inspection. That’s not on a Seoul city page we could find, so check before you go.
The cable car also runs a free shuttle bus between Myeongdong Station Exit 1 and the cable car. The first bus leaves the cable car car park at 12:00 and the last at 20:30, and the ride to Exit 1 takes about 10 minutes. Some departures are skipped (14:30 and 17:30, plus 17:00 on Saturdays), so check the timetable on the cable car site.
Which bus goes to N Seoul Tower?
Two circular buses go all the way up: 01A and 01B. Get off at the stop called 남산서울타워 (Namsan Seoul Tower). Both run from 06:30 to 23:00 every day.
| Bus | Route (main stops) | How often |
|---|---|---|
| 01A | Chungmuro Stn Exit 2 → Dongguk Univ. Stn → National Theater → N Seoul Tower → Namsan Library → Namdaemun Market → Gwanghwamun → Gyeongbokgung → Insadong → Myeongdong Cathedral | About every 9 min (10 min at weekends and holidays) |
| 01B | Chungmuro Stn Exit 2 → Dongguk Univ. Stn → National Theater → N Seoul Tower → Namsan Library → Namsan cable car → back to Chungmuro | About every 14 min |
The easiest stop is Chungmuro Station (Lines 3 and 4) Exit 2: walk straight out of the exit for about a minute. The ride up takes about 15 minutes. From Dongguk University Station (Line 3) Exit 6, it’s about 10 minutes.
These buses are cashless. Pay with a transit card such as T-money, and tap again when you get off to keep your transfer. Seoul’s fare table lists circular buses at 1,400 won by card, while the tower’s site says 1,500 won; the card reader charges the right amount either way.
A Climate Card short-term pass covers Seoul circular buses, so 01A and 01B are included. Our T-money, WOWPASS and Climate Card comparison explains which card to get.
Going down, 01A carries on past Namdaemun Market to Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung. It’s a handy way to reach the palace and the changing of the guard without changing buses.
Can I walk up Namsan?
Yes, and it’s free. The YTN Seoul Tower site gives four walking routes to the Palgakjeong pavilion, right next to the tower:
| Start | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Namsan Library | South circular road entrance in front of the library | About 30 min |
| National Theater | Stairs path off the south circular road | About 30 min |
| National Theater | South circular road, past the ticket office | About 40 min |
| “Samsuni stairs” | The stairway next to the Seoul Education Research & Information Institute | About 40 min |
The quickest are the Namsan Library route and the stairs path by the National Theater, at about 30 minutes each; the Samsuni stairs take about 40 minutes. Search the start point in Naver Map or another map app to get walking directions to it.
Can I buy tickets online?
You don’t need to. The observatory needs no reservation; you buy a same-day ticket at the tower. The cable car sells on site only. So the official way is to just turn up.
Travel platforms also sell observatory e-tickets. One example is Creatrip’s N Seoul Tower observatory ticket (affiliate link); when we checked on October 20, 2026, its page said the booking is confirmed instantly and can’t be cancelled or changed after payment. Check what’s included, the date rules and the price against the 29,000 won at the booth before you buy.
What should I know before I go?
- Pets: dogs can’t go into the tower. The cable car takes pets in a carrier.
- Food: you can’t eat your own food inside the tower; use the plaza in front of Palgakjeong.
- Strollers and wheelchairs: the cable car takes both, and staff can help.
- Lost something: call the tower’s information desk on 02-3455-9277.
What does a typical evening up the tower cost?
Our own sums from the official prices, for one adult:
| Plan | Up | Down | Observatory | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Bus 01A/01B | Bus | 29,000 | About 31,800–32,000 won |
| Cable car both ways | Cable car return | Cable car | 29,000 | 44,000 won |
| Cable car up, bus down | Cable car one way | Bus | 29,000 | About 42,400–42,500 won |
Bus fares assume no free transfer (1,400–1,500 won each way); with a subway transfer you may pay less. Fares and transfers are in our Seoul subway fares guide.
For sunset and the night view, aim to be at the top about an hour before dark. On weekdays, remember the last entry is 22:00, earlier than the cable car’s last round-trip ticket at 22:30.
Read next
Sources
- N Seoul Tower — Opening hours (KR), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — Admission fees (KR), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — Admission fees & information (English), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — FAQ (English), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — FAQ (KR), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — Getting here by bus (English), checked Oct 20, 2026
- N Seoul Tower — Observatory (KR), checked Oct 20, 2026
- YTN Seoul Tower — Public transport (Korean), checked Oct 20, 2026
- YTN Seoul Tower — Cable car directions and Namsan Oreumi hours (Korean), checked Oct 20, 2026
- YTN Seoul Tower — Walking routes (Korean), checked Oct 20, 2026
- Namsan Cable Car — Visitor information: fares, hours, directions, shuttle, checked Oct 20, 2026
- Namsan Cable Car — Official site: FAQ and notices, checked Oct 20, 2026
- Seoul Bus Information — Route search (01A, 01B), checked Oct 20, 2026 (Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Bus fares, checked Oct 20, 2026 (Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card short-term pass FAQ, checked Oct 20, 2026 (Korean)