Namsan Cable Car

The Basics

Travelers can ride the Namsan Cable Car as part of a Seoul sightseeing tour, which come in many forms. Evening tours reveal Seoul illuminated by night and typically include a round-trip ride on the Namsan Cable Car and a dinner cruise on the Han River. Daytime tours provide a comprehensive introduction to Seoul by combining the N Seoul Tower and cable car with major Seoul highlights over the course of either a few hours or a full day.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Active travelers can hike to the summit of Mt. Namsan and then take the cable car back down.

• Be prepared to wait in line if visiting the cable car at night.

• If you’re not willing to walk, you can take an outdoor elevator to the cable car station.

• The cable car ride lasts three minutes.

• The Namsan Cable Car is wheelchair-accessible.

How to Get There

To reach the Namsan Cable Car, take exit 3 out of Myeong-dong Station and follow the street to the right of the Pacific Hotel. It’s around a 20-minute walk, mainly uphill. Alternatively, take the Namsan Oreumi elevator to the cable car station to skip the walk.

When to Get There

The Namsan Cable Car is open daily between 10am and 11pm. The lines for the cable car are at their longest during the evening, from just before sunset to around an hour after dusk, so if you want to beat the crowds it’s recommended to visit in the morning.

Inside the Namsan Tower

Far from just an observation deck, the N Seoul Tower houses attractions to suit every type of traveler. The tower stands a whopping 777 feet (237 meters) and boasts three observation decks, numerous coffee shops, a Hello Kitty museum, and six restaurants, which serve everything from traditional Korean bibimbap (rice and vegetables served in a hot-stone bowl) to gourmet French cuisine.