Namsan (Seoul) Tower

            I would say the top tourist site that you must visit in South Korea is Namsan or Seoul Tower! Located on top of Mt. Namsan, Seoul Tower is the tallest point in the city with the best view. From the observation deck inside, you can see the entire city of Seoul including all the mountains surrounding it. In my opinion, try to get to the tower on a clear night so that you can see the city lights. It is a breathtaking site that is worth the long journey to see.

Information on Namsan Tower is as follows:
Ticket Counter:
Once you enter the area surrounding the tower, look for the ticket booth located to the right of the main entrance to the tower.  Here you can buy tickets to enter the observation deck of the tower and to also get into the teddy bear museum located at the bottom of the tower as well. I would recommend that you do both activities, as the Teddy Bear museum gives an extremely cute way to look at history. Information leaflets are also available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese to provide better convenience to those visiting.
N Seoul Tower Observatory Admission fee: Children (Ages 4-12): 3,000 won/ Teens and Adults (Ages 13-64): 7,000 won / Senior (Ages 65+): 5,000 won

Inside the Tower:
       Inside there are 7 floors in which you can travel to. Most of these floors include gift shops and restaurants, but one floor is an observation deck. To get to this floor, present your ticket at the end of the line for the "shocking" elevator. The line can take up to an hour, but it does have tv's and a light show inside the line, which presents the view of Seoul Tower. If you are with friends, this line takes no time at all and is worth the wait. Once inside the elevator, you will automatically be taken up to the observation deck where you can gaze out into the city. When you are done looking around, simply go down the stairs one floor located next to the gift shop and get in the line to go down the elevator, which takes considerably less time. Here is an outline of the floor plan:
N Seoul Tower Floor Guide

① N TOWER T5 : ‘N Grill,’ a revolving restaurant
② N TOWER T3 : Digital Observatory / Shocking Edge/Digital Telescope
High-powered Telescope
③ N TOWER T2 : Analogue Observatory / Down Elevator / Sky Restrooms
Souvenir Shop
④ N TOWER T1 : Korean restaurant ‘Hancook’
⑤ N PLAZA P2(F2) : Café Swee Tree / Roof Terrace / Multi Stage / Sky Road
⑥ N PLAZA P1(F1) : Bakery / Characters & Photos / Convenience store / Food Court / Reed of Light Garden / Shower of Light/Glass Terrace / Souvenir Shop / Ticket booth, etc ⑦ N PLAZA P0(B1) : Pavilion/Children’s Theater/Observatory Elevator Lobby/Bakery


Directions to the Tower:
            Since driving to the tower is prohibited, even by taxi, you must either take the cable car or the bus that goes up the mountain. To get to the cable car take subway line 4 to Myeongdong station and take exit 3. take the wide road next to the convenience store and walk straight to the left of Pacific Hotel. Continue walking the commercial quarter until you reach a small stairway, which you should go up. Keep walking, with the restaurants on your right, toward the direction of Namsan mountain. The vacant lot on your right will contain the cable car platform. Ticket sales are on the 3rd floor and you enter the cable on the 4th. Costs are as follows:
Fare: Round-trip: 6,300 won, One-way: 4,800 won
Hours: 10:00~22:30

To take the bus up the mountain,  and take Subway Line 3 or 4 to Chungmuro Station, and go out of Exit 2 to the right of Daehan Multiplex entrance.Take the yellow bus 2 at the bus stop in front of the subway station, paying with your T-money card. Then all you have to do is ride the bus till you get to the top of the mountain. Out of both of these methods, I prefer taking the bus because it is easier to find and use, without a lot of walking. If you want a good view as you travel up the mountain though, take the cable car.



Here are some photos of Namsan Tower: