How to get to N Seoul Tower from anywhere in Seoul
Getting to the bottom of the hill
Namsan sits in the middle of the city, so the subway does most of the work whatever you decide afterwards. Myeongdong is the stop for the cable car and for the walk up the Hoehyeon side, and it is where nearly every tour in this catalogue meets. Chungmuro, on lines 3 and 4, and Dongguk University, on line 3, are the official connections for the circular bus. From the Itaewon side you are on the south slope, which is my side and the longer walk.
The three ways up, compared
| Way up | Cost | Time | Where it leaves from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular bus 01 | One bus fare | A short ride, buses every 7–10 min | Chungmuro or Dongguk University | Almost everyone, and anyone in a hurry |
| Cable car | Around ₩15,000 return | Three minutes, plus the queue | Base station on Sopa-ro above Myeongdong | Mornings, weak legs, the ride itself |
| Walking | Nothing | 20–25 min from Myeongdong, 30–40 from the south | Anywhere on the hill’s edge | Autumn foliage, blossom season, coming down |
The single decision that saves people the most time is not taking the cable car at sunset. The queue at the base station in the evening is the largest delay on the mountain, and the bus goes past it every few minutes for a bus fare. That case is made in full on the shuttle bus page.
From Myeongdong specifically
This is the question people actually ask, so: from Myeongdong you have two real options and one detour. Walk it, which is twenty to twenty-five minutes uphill on stairs and made paths and is the option I would pick in October. Take the cable car, which means first walking ten to fifteen steep minutes to the base station on Sopa-ro — use the public outdoor lift partway up, which most people miss. Or ride one stop to Chungmuro and take the bus, which sounds like a detour and is frequently the fastest thing on this list.
What none of these gets you
Height. Every route above ends at the summit plaza, which is free, open air and not bound by the tower’s indoor hours. Going up the tower is a separate ticket, and whether it is worth buying depends almost entirely on the air — the argument is on is it worth it, and what costs nothing at the top is on what is free.
If your day ends at the tower, go up by bus and down on foot. The descent takes less time than the climb, the main paths are lit, and it puts you back at street level near dinner rather than in a queue for a cabin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest subway station to N Seoul Tower?
There is no station on the summit. Myeongdong is the stop for the cable car and the walk up the Hoehyeon side; Chungmuro on lines 3 and 4 and Dongguk University on line 3 are the connections for the circular bus.
How do I get from Myeongdong to N Seoul Tower?
Walk it in twenty to twenty-five minutes uphill, take the cable car after a ten to fifteen minute climb to its base station, or ride one stop to Chungmuro for the circular bus. The walking route is described on walking up Namsan.
What is the easiest way to get to Namsan Tower?
The circular bus 01. It leaves from a subway station, runs every seven to ten minutes and stops close to the tower base, so there is no long uphill approach and no cable car queue to gamble on.
Is transport to the tower included in tours?
Some tours include transport, and several include the round-trip cable car. Read the inclusions carefully, because including the cable car is not the same as including admission — the difference is set out on the cable car page.