N Seoul Tower and Namdaemun Market in One Afternoon
How to get up Namsan to N Seoul Tower (cable car, bus or on foot), the love locks and views, then shop for ginseng and street food at Namdaemun Market, Seoul's oldest market.
Seoul's most famous landmark stands on top of Namsan, the green mountain in the middle of the city. From the tower you can see the whole sprawling metropolis, from the palaces in the north to the Han River and the endless apartment towers beyond.
We planned to take the cable car up, but it was closed for its annual maintenance on exactly that day. So we took the bus and walked the last stretch, which turned out to be a lovely route through the forest. Afterwards we went down to Namdaemun Market to learn about Korean ginseng.
Quick answer: Take the Namsan cable car (about ₩15,000 return, daily 10 am–11 pm, weather permitting), a Namsan circular bus, or walk up through the forest from Myeongdong in about 30–40 minutes. The tower's observatory has a separate ticket. Hang a love lock on the terrace, stay for sunset, then visit Namdaemun Market (closed most Sundays) for ginseng, street food and cheap goods.
Getting up Namsan
- Namsan cable car: from the lower station near Myeongdong (a short walk or the free inclined elevator from Hoehyeon). About ₩15,000 round trip (2026); one way is only slightly cheaper. It runs daily from 10 am to 11 pm, weather permitting, and closes for maintenance on a few days each year, so check before you go.
- Namsan circular buses: run from several subway stations up to the tower.
- On foot: several forest paths lead up from Myeongdong, Namsan Park and the National Theater. It takes about 30–40 minutes and is a pleasant walk except in mid-summer heat.
N Seoul Tower
The tower is 236.7 metres tall, and because it stands on top of Namsan, the observatory sits close to 480 metres above sea level. A high-speed lift takes you up with projections on the ceiling. On a clear day the view is spectacular; on hazy days you may only see as far as the Han River, so check the air quality forecast before you buy a ticket.
Love locks
On the terraces around the tower, thousands of couples have attached padlocks with their names to the fences and "trees" of locks. It is Seoul's most romantic photo spot, especially at sunset, and you can buy locks at the shop if you didn't bring one. Bring a pen.
Namdaemun Market
At the foot of Namsan, next to the Sungnyemun gate, Namdaemun Market is Seoul's oldest and biggest traditional market, with thousands of stalls selling clothes, kitchenware, glasses, souvenirs and food. Most stalls close on Sundays.
What to try and buy:
- Korean ginseng (insam): Korea's red ginseng is considered among the best in the world, sold as roots, teas, candies and extracts. Compare prices, as quality varies.
- Street food: hotteok (sweet filled pancakes), kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) in the narrow noodle alley, and galchi jorim (braised cutlassfish) in the fish alley.
- Cheap souvenirs and Korean socks with funny designs.
Combine it with
- Myeongdong, Seoul's cosmetics and street-food shopping district, at the foot of the cable car.
- Sungnyemun (Namdaemun Gate), the old south gate of the city walls.
- Seoul Station and the elevated park Seoullo 7017.
More Seoul: Seoul's five palaces · Insadong guide
Sources checked: Trvlogue – Namsan cable car guide 2026.
About the authors
Dasza — Writer and photographer behind PTraveler. Polish-born, raised in Germany, happiest renting a flat in a new city for a month.
Tomek — Project manager, fixer and tour leader. Plans the routes, finds the free days and tests every street-food stall.