Autumn Hike to N Seoul Tower | Recommended Trail, Views, Cable Car & Namsan Loop Bus

We went hiking up Namsan to welcome the autumn season! We visited during the Chuseok holiday, and it was unbelievably crowded. I expected fewer people over the holiday, so I wondered if we had picked the wrong day. Hahaha.

Here is our Namsan hiking route, whether an early-autumn hike is a good idea, and what the views are like!

First, here is the route: We started at Hoehyeon Station on Subway Line 4, then walked past Namsan Park and Baekbeom Square to N Seoul Tower before taking a forest trail down the opposite side toward Haebangchon and Itaewon.

After walking it ourselves, the ascent and descent felt completely different. The Hoehyeon side has more stairs and paved paths, so it was easier going up, while the Haebangchon descent mixes dirt paths and woodland trails and feels more like a proper hike.

We visited between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM during the Chuseok holiday, and everywhere from the summit plaza to the shops, convenience store, and bus stop was packed. There were loads of international visitors, along with quite a few people hiking Namsan in workout clothes.

Still, the sky was clear enough to take in views across Seoul, from Bukhansan Mountain to Lotte World Tower and 63 Square.

Why did we take this route from Hoehyeon Station to N Seoul Tower?

We chose Hoehyeon Station as our starting point because the route follows stairs and paved paths rather than rough mountain trails. The endless steps will naturally leave you a little breathless, but they were much easier than climbing an uneven trail.

If this is your first Namsan hike or you are traveling in lightweight sneakers, the Hoehyeon route should feel relatively manageable. The climb took us about 40 minutes.

Walk toward Namsan from Exit 4 of Hoehyeon Station and the route connects to Namsan Park and Baekbeom Square. City views gradually open up from the beginning, and in autumn you can see the leaves starting to change among the foxtail grass and trees.

There are several lookout points along the way where you can pause and gaze down over Seoul. Instead of rushing toward the summit, remember to turn around and enjoy the scenery. With places to take photos, drink some water, and rest, the climb was less demanding than expected.

Around Baekbeom Square, a lovely picnic spot

Judging by our route, the wide, level park we passed appeared to be around Baekbeom Square, the Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Hall, and the Seoul Education Research & Information Institute. The lawns and rest areas attracted people with picnic mats, while many others sat down for a break before continuing to the summit.

If going straight from Hoehyeon Station to the summit feels daunting, this area also works well as an intermediate destination. Around Baekbeom Square, the Seoul City Wall and several historic sites offer more things to see than a simple walk alone.

Seoul views you can enjoy without entering the observatory

Here is the N Seoul Tower photo we took after reaching the top. Somehow it looked even taller up close! 😅

At the summit of Namsan, you can see not only N Seoul Tower but also Palgakjeong Pavilion, the Mongmyeoksan Beacon Mound, the love-lock area, and several photo spots.

You can explore the summit plaza and outdoor viewing spaces without buying an observatory ticket, so this time we stayed outside and enjoyed the Seoul skyline.

Because Namsan stands in central Seoul, it is better to walk around the summit than to look in only one direction. On this clear day, we could see the Bukhansan ridgeline to the north, Lotte World Tower in Jamsil to the east, and 63 Square to the west. It was surprisingly fun to identify the buildings one by one.

There are plenty of places to sit at the top. Many visitors had brought packed lunches, and we also enjoyed a quick roll of gimbap!

On weekends and public holidays, the best seats fill quickly and both the convenience store and snack shop can become very crowded. (The convenience-store crowd was especially intense.)

On a busy day, it is easier to buy water and a light snack before starting the climb.

Besides the love locks, there were artists drawing portraits on the spot. I only glanced over, but their work was far better than expected. With more time, I might have picked one up myself.

We also saw photo sculptures and stores selling Korean-themed souvenirs. Bracelets, keychains, jade-like ornaments, and accessories inspired by traditional clothing all looked like appealing keepsakes for international travelers.

How to use the N Seoul Tower observatory and cable car

You do not need a separate admission ticket to visit the Namsan summit or N Seoul Tower plaza. A paid ticket is only required to enter the observatory inside the tower.

We did not go up to the observatory and viewed the scenery only from the outdoor summit area. The indoor observatory may be more comfortable if you want a 360-degree panorama from higher up or if the weather is cold and windy.

Observatory hours and prices may change depending on the operating schedule, so check the official N Seoul Tower website immediately before your visit.

The observatory is indoors behind glass and, according to the official guide, offers a 360-degree panorama and digital telescopes.

Namsan Cable Car tickets and queues

I used to call it the Namsan lift too, but its correct name is the Namsan Cable Car. Hahaha. It is not an open chairlift like those at ski resorts, but a large cabin in which several passengers stand together. Officially, it carries up to 48 people and the one-way ride itself takes only about three minutes.

The queue looks short in the photo, but there was still a wait for the cable car during our holiday visit. (The area was crowded overall.)

If you stand in the middle of the cabin, the view through the windows may be limited and moving around among so many people looks difficult. It could feel a little cramped. If riding the cable car is part of the experience, try a quieter morning; if you only need transportation, compare it with walking or the Namsan Loop Bus.

The cable car is currently listed as operating from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with tickets purchased on site without a reservation.

If walking is difficult, take the Namsan Loop Bus

Private vehicles are restricted from entering N Seoul Tower, so visitors must use public transportation or walk. At present, Namsan Loop Bus routes 01A and 01B run via Chungmuro Station and Dongguk University Station to the Namsan Seoul Tower stop.

For reference, the line on the left side of the photo below is the bus queue. It looked as though the wait to descend would be around 20 minutes.

Descend through the forest toward Haebangchon and Itaewon

Instead of taking the bus from the summit, we entered the forest trail across from the stop. The entrance is easy to miss, hidden away like in the photo below. (It does appear on Naver Map and other map apps.)

Unlike the route up from Hoehyeon Station, this path was quiet and continued over dirt and stones, making it feel more like hiking than strolling. With forest and walls resembling the Seoul City Wall together, it had a completely different atmosphere despite being on the same mountain.

The ground is less even than on the paved stair route, so sneakers are essential. Fallen leaves or rain can make it slippery, and the trail looks as though it would become dark after sunset. For that reason, I do not recommend heading this way once the sun has gone down.

At the bottom of the forest trail, the neighborhood leading toward Haebangchon and Itaewon begins. If you want a café or a good meal after hiking Namsan, this is an excellent direction for the descent.

Rather than ending the outing at a subway station immediately after the summit, we could turn it into a date course that flowed naturally into Haebangchon.

If you want to climb Namsan from Haebangchon, use the entrance shown below as a reference. I had passed it several times before and only discovered on this trip that it leads to N Seoul Tower. Haha.

Our final hiking route was as follows!

Things to know before an autumn hike on Namsan

Although we visited in late September, the daytime temperature rose above 27°C, making the uphill walk quite hot. The sun was stronger than expected, and even in short sleeves we worked up a sweat.

Personally, I think a day with a high of around 20–24°C would be the most comfortable for walking. Once it rises above 25°C, it can feel hot, so be sure to bring water, a hat, and sunscreen.

The summit, however, can quickly turn chilly when the wind blows, so a light outer layer is useful. It gets hot on the climb but cooler while resting at the top or after sunset, making adjustable layers the most practical choice.

During our Chuseok visit, a traditional martial arts performance was also taking place in the summit plaza.

Ceremonies around the beacon mound, traditional performances, and seasonal festivals vary by date, so check the Seoul Culture Portal or N Seoul Tower event notices first if a show is the main purpose of your visit.

FAQ

In one sentence, our route was a climb from Hoehyeon Station along paved paths to enjoy Seoul views from the Namsan summit, followed by a forest-trail descent to Haebangchon. It was much more enjoyable than retracing the same route because the scenery felt different on the way up and down.

For a lighter walk, Baekbeom Square alone makes a good destination; if you feel energetic, continue to the summit and add the forest descent.

Namsan offered plenty to enjoy without using the observatory or cable car. Next time, I would love to return when the autumn colors are deeper or the city lights are glowing after dark!