N Seoul Tower · Seoul, South Korea
The tower on top of Namsan in the middle of Seoul: two observation floors with the whole city around you, love locks on the terraces and a cable car up from Myeong-dong.
Namsan Tower
Namsan Tower, officially YTN Seoul Tower and better known as N Seoul Tower, was built as a broadcasting tower and still carries TV and radio transmitters. Visitors ride an elevator to the observation floors near the top.
Only the observatory needs a ticket. The terraces around the tower, the love locks and the restaurants and shops of Seoul Tower Plaza below it are free to walk into.
- Location
- Namsan, Seoul, South Korea
- Height
- 236.7 m
- Top of the tower
- 479.7 m above sea level
- Built
- 1969–1975
- Open to visitors
- Since 1980
- Visitors
- About 12 million a year
What to see at N Seoul Tower
Two observation floors
Enclosed decks on T4 and T5 look out in every direction, over the Han River and the hills on the edge of Seoul.
n.Grill
A rotating French restaurant on T7, the top floor. Tables are booked by phone.
Lights that read the air
From sunset to 23:00 (22:00 in winter) the tower glows in the colour of the day's fine dust: blue for clean air, then green, yellow and red.
Love locks
Couples have hung padlocks on the railings around the tower since 2006; by 2018 they weighed 82 tonnes. The terraces are free.
Palgakjeong and the beacon towers
Beside the tower on the summit: an octagonal pavilion and the Namsan beacon towers, rebuilt in 1993.
Namsan Tower tickets
Children under 36 months go in free. Online, everyone from age 3 pays the adult price, which is still below the booth's child fare.
Observatory online
- Elevator and both observation floors
- Open date, no cancellation
20,500 KRW
At the ticket booth
- Adults 13+
- Children 3–12 and seniors 65+ 23,000 KRW
29,000 KRW
With the cable car
- Observatory and a cable car round trip
- Tickets collected in Myeong-dong by 18:00
35,000 KRW
Fast Track
- Skips the queue for observatory entry
55,000 KRW
Location and opening hours
On the summit of Namsan, above Myeong-dong. Cars and taxis cannot drive up: the last stretch is by shuttle bus, cable car or on foot.
- Operating hours
- Monday – Friday
- 10:00 – 22:30
- Saturday – Sunday
- 10:00 – 23:00
- Last admission
- 30 minutes before closing
- Public holidays keep the weekend hours, to 23:00. Open every day of the year; hours can change in bad weather.
- Address
- 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04340, South Korea
Visiting N Seoul Tower: questions
Is Namsan Tower worth visiting?
Yes, for a first visit to Seoul: from the middle of the city the decks show all of it around you. If you would rather not pay, the terraces and love locks outside are free and still look out over the city.
When is the best time to go up N Seoul Tower?
Shortly before sunset. Stay until dark and one ticket gives you the city by day and lit up at night.
How long does a visit take?
Allow 1–2 hours for the observatory, and more if you ride the cable car or walk around the summit.
Can I see the love locks without a ticket?
Yes. The locks hang on the railings of the terraces outside the tower, open to everyone. Locks are sold in the gift shops.
N Seoul Tower or Lotte World Tower: which is better?
They differ more than they compete. Seoul Sky is a skyscraper deck in Jamsil with a glass floor; N Seoul Tower stands on a wooded hill in the city centre, with free terraces, the love locks and a cable car ride up.
Can I bring food or a pet?
No pets are allowed at N Seoul Tower, and outside food cannot be taken into the tower. There are restaurants and cafés on several floors.
Are N Seoul Tower and YTN Seoul Tower the same?
Yes, they are the same place. The tower belongs to the broadcaster YTN, and its own website and floor guide call it YTN Seoul Tower.