Namsan Cable Car — Attraction in Seoul

Namsan cable car is a fun and convenient way to enjoy the panoramic view of Seoul from the top of Namsan mountain. It is a short and scenic ride that takes you from the busy streets of Myeongdong to the tranquil and beautiful N Seoul Tower. The cable car is an attraction that has been operating since 1962, and it is the first commercial cable car service for passengers in Korea. I visited Namsan cable car on a clear and sunny day in September, and I was impressed by the smooth and comfortable ride. The cable car was spacious and clean, and it had large windows that allowed me to see the cityscape and the nature around me. The ride lasted for about three minutes, and it was a thrilling and relaxing experience. I could see the skyscrapers, the bridges, the river, and the green hills of Seoul from different angles. I also enjoyed the view from the top of Namsan mountain, where the N Seoul Tower is located. The tower is a landmark of Seoul that offers various facilities and activities, such as an observatory, a museum, a restaurant, a gift shop, and more. I visited the observatory, where I could see the whole city in 360 degrees. The view was stunning and breathtaking, especially at night when the lights were shining brightly. I also took some photos with the tower and the love locks that people left on the fence. I spent about two hours at Namsan cable car and N Seoul Tower, and I felt that it was a worthwhile and memorable visit. The service was friendly and efficient, the price was reasonable, and the view was spectacular. I would definitely recommend Namsan cable car to anyone who wants to see Seoul from a different perspective. Namsan cable car is a place where you can appreciate the beauty and...

Beware: Touristy place.

Nonetheless, if you do include N Seoul Tower in your itinerary (and are not hiking up), my suggestion is to take a taxi and get dropped off at Namsan Cable Car to get your round trip tickets. Don’t bother with the lift which takes you up to the lower cable car station, cause that alone is at least a 20-min wait during busy times.

Arguably, we did go on Labour Day and the few hours before sunset, so maybe that was why there was so many people, when we finally reached up the lower station via the lift, it was a lonnngg queue. We abandoned and had early dinner instead at a nearby restaurant down the road (actually had two flavourful bowls of seolnongtang in the cool evening breeze), and tried the cable car and tower again the next day after lunch.

Note that you also need to queue to get admission into the tower (this is a separate purchase, if you’re a foreigner you can purchase non-refundable open date tickets via Klook), and you also need to queue to get down.

The views are good, there is also a Twosome Cafe serving coffee (and beer) at the top.

If we have the chance next round, we’ll do the hike up, maybe this time to...

I should point out a couple of things, the Ride itself is not a problem, everything were as expected. The waiting times can be tedious ! it was about 60 minutes for us. If you don't want to do any hike at all, I should say that this is the ONLY viable way to go up to the Namsan Tower area.

At the time when we were there, there was a man in particular that was touting tourists quite aggressively to take his "taxi" because of the long wait times. Please avoid ! That is not entirely true that it can be done, because the highest spot that a car can go is not that far off from where the cable car starting point is... which then you have to actually climb up the stairs for about 15-25 minutes just to meet at the same point with the top cable car station. Yes, based on time it will be shorter than waiting for cable car, but not everyone can sustain climbing up the stairs for that long. Then you have to climb up some more to reach the top.

so, if you're not in the mood to climb up... just stay with the cable car option. Please add 1 more cable car ! so the wait times...