The 12 million annual visitors to Namsan Seoul Tower reach it in a number of ways. Until 2005, it was possible for personal vehicles and taxis to be driven to the base of the tower, but the street leading to it is now restricted to bus and bicycle traffic only. The nearest parking lots are a 30-to-40-minute uphill walk to the tower entrance.
Cable Car The
Namsan Cable Car predates the tower, having opened in 1962 as South Korea’s first aerial tramway. It provides a three-minute ride from its base at the northern edge of
Namsan Park to the tower. An
inclined elevator, the Namsan Oreumi, was opened in 2009 to connect
Sogong-ro to the cable car station; a free shuttle bus also has frequent service from Exit 1 of
Myeongdong Station. The upper station sits below the tower, and users must climb a stairway to reach Palgokjeong Square and the tower's entrance. The
Seoul Metropolitan Government — which built the Namsan Oreumi — announced in 2023 plans to build its own aerial gondola, designed to take passengers directly from Myeongdong Station to the tower in a 5-minute ride. Ground was broken the following year, but construction halted soon after when the longtime operator of the Namsan Cable Car successfully fought the project in court on environmental grounds. Litigation was ongoing as of January 2026, at which time the project remained stalled at 15% complete.
Bus Direct bus service to the tower is provided by city-operated shuttle buses and commercial tourist buses.
Seoul public transit bus lines 01A and 01B operate in clockwise loop routes around Namsan. They serve the tower and other stops including
Metro stations and car parks, as well as the parking facility for chartered tour motor coaches (which are not permitted to drop off groups directly at the tower). Hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses also stop at the tower at half-hour intervals during morning and afternoon, and twice evenings.
Bicycle The tower can be accessed by bicyclists via the South Ringway. The winding, one-way street — also known as Namsangongwon-gil, or Namsan Park Road — is open only to bicycles and
CNG-powered shuttle and sightseeing buses, sparing cyclists exposure to exhaust fumes from vehicles they share the route with. Access is from the northeast edge of Namsan Park, next to the
National Theater of Korea. After visiting the tower, cyclists continue on the South Ringway and exit the park on the northwest end near the
Namsan Public Library. Dedicated bicycle parking at the tower is limited, and some riders resort to locking their bikes to nearby railings in front of the entrance to Seoul Tower Plaza. There is no
Seoul Bike dock onsite, meaning users of that municipal bikeshare service are unable to end their rides at the tower or start new bike rentals upon leaving, and must pay for rental time during their visits.
Walking Namsan Park contains a number of walking trails which connect either directly or indirectly to the tower, including: •
South Ringway: The road used by bicyclists and buses has a separated pedestrian lane along its downhill edge. At points along the route, restrooms and observation areas are available. Multiple trails lead downhill from it to attractions at the park's southern border of Sowol-ro, including the Yong-yi Gateball Court and the Namsan Botanical Garden. •
Namsan Sky Forest Trail: Opened in October 2025, this elevated deckway attracted more than 50,000 visitors in its first three weeks. It uses
switchbacks and spirals to maintain a grade of less than 4.6° along its 1.4 km route, and varies in width to squeeze among the mountain's trees — none of which were felled during construction. Its barrier-free design accommodates those using strollers or wheelchairs. Winding from Sowol Park at its base to a rest area and Health Garden along the South Ringway, the trail features numerous observation points and other attractions. At its end, visitors can continue the remaining 15-to-20-minute walk to the tower using either the South Ringway's pedestrian lane, or an elevated wood stairway alongside. •
Namsan Northern Forest Trail: The only direct link between Namsan Seoul Tower and the North Ringway, which is a wide 3.5 km pedestrian-only paved path along the mountain's northern face. Most of the trail— opened in July 2025 — is an elevated wood staircase with 954 steps along a .5 km route where there was previously a ground-level service stairway for park workers. It connects to the tower via Palgakjeong Square. •
Seoul City Wall Perimeter Path: The longest pedestrian route connecting to the tower, this 4.2 km path along the
Joseon-era Hanyangdoseong extends beyond the park's boundaries as far as
Seoul Station and the
Jangchung Arena. Upon entering the park from Seoul Station, it crosses Baekbom Square and ascends the mountain alongside the wall via the Central Stairway, past the upper cable car station to its highest point at Palgakjeong Square. From there it begins its descent briefly along the South Ringway before rejoining the wall for most of its eastward trajectory through the park. The path can also be accessed from Myeongdong via the Samsoon Steps along Sopa-ro. == Visiting ==