Namsan Mountain Park — Attraction in Seoul

After a few days in Seoul we felt like some walk and this park was more or less just behind our Hotel (Pacific). A short walk brought us to the cable car station. A one-way ticket cost just 6000 won (two-way 8000). The plan was to have a stroll around on top and walk back down to the city.

There was quite a line. It was always moving, but still took a bit more than an hour to get us into the actual cable car. The ride up is a matter of only a few minutes....in a very very packed cable car.

The top was a lot busier than expected. And had lots of shops and even more restaurants, really didn't see that coming.

The first thing that catches you eye surely is the Seoul Tower. But the views of the city are already quite nice from the several platforms, so we didn't go up the tower (and avoided wasting more time standing in another line).

Like I said, there are several platforms offering really nice city views. You can see quite far. Then there's the wall with the love locks. You can purchase some locks if you are interested in doing so. We didn't ... too old for this kinda thing :)

There are at least two restaurants with great city views. One is a beer / fast food place, which looked fun, but all tables were taken. The other one (indoors, but with huge windows) still had tables....but menus that cost way too much (50'000 won and up). So we just enjoyed the views without some food or drinks.

We were also lucky to catch a free show.... some warriors doing weapons-training. Quite impressive!

After an hour or so we started walking down. It's a pretty easy walk and there are several roads and trails leading back to the city. We took the one that ends around the public library at the bottom with the city walls. An very lovely walk, pretty easy with a nice little park (Baekbeom Square Park) at the end. From there it's not far to the Namdaemun Market, where we did some (more) shopping. Walk along the city wall, a nice thing to do.

All in all a good way to spend a few hours. If you have time on your hands, surely a thing that you shouldn't miss. Get some views, get some...

South of Myeongdong on Mt. Namsan isNamsan Park, popular for hiking trails, tourist attractions, N Seoul Tower, and panoramic views of downtown Seoul. Namsan, meaning “South Mountain”, is the largest park in Seoul attracting over 20,000 people a day who visit here to experience a little slice of nature in the middle of the urban city.

Some of the most spectacular views of downtown Seoul and the surrounding area can be had at the peak of Namsan at 262 meters (860 feet) and better yet, at the top of N Seoul Tower which soars another 237 meters (777 feet) into the sky. If you’re going to go to the top of N Seoul Tower you need to bring something stronger than binoculars, like a hunting spotting scope, just to see the street below you.

During the rule of Taejo, the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Namsan was considered a sacred shamanistic site. He ordered the construction of a fortress wall that would protect the city from invaders. The wall that ran through Namsan marked the southern boundary of the city. Some sections of the wall still exist to this day.

In 1925, the Japanese, who occupied Korea at the time, built an important Shinto shrine known as Chosen Jingu at the peak of Namsan as part of their policy of Japanization. The shrine was dedicated Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun and universe and Emperor Meiji, the 122nd Emperor of Japan who reigned from 1867 to 1912. After the independence of Korea in 1945, the shrine...

The Mountain That Thinks It’s a Park

Namsan Park isn’t some cute little city garden. It’s a whole mountain pretending to be a park just so your legs underestimate the coming betrayal.

It starts gentle. Trees. Benches. Birds chirping like Disney interns. You think: this is nice. I am healthy. I am strong. Then the incline kicks in and suddenly you’re negotiating with your spine. You look up and the mountain politely says “keep climbing, loser.”

The good news. Every drop of sweat buys you better and better views. Seoul spreads out below like someone spilled a bucket of skyscrapers. It’s actually worth the workout. Pure endorphin magic. You will feel alive. Also possibly on fire.

Nature trying its hardest to stay in the city without getting bulldozed. A giant green escape room with fresh air and zero pigs chewing judgmentally. Couples holding hands. Joggers pretending they like it. Tourists realizing gravity still exists.

Seoul Tower pokes the sky like it owns the place. You can see forever. People attach love locks here because nothing says romance like weighing down a fence with metal. Take a picture. Feel majestic. Question your shoe choices.

Final verdict Mountain disguised as a park. City disguised as a jungle. You climb it. It rewards you. Unlike some cafes...