“It’s not official to say you’ve visited South Korea if you haven’t set foot at Namsan Seoul Tower, aka N Tower,” Adrian casually remarked as we lounged in our room at STAZ Hotel Myeongdong II.
“Says who?” I shot back, short and skeptical.
“Well, me, obviously. I just said it,” Adrian retorted with a relaxed grin, making me want to pinch him. Of course, I knew he said it; my question was rhetorical, asking who came up with such a claim in the first place. đ But thatâs just Adrianâhe loves to mess around like that!
“Don’t you want a photo at a landmark? Jakarta has Monas, China has Shanghai Tower, and Seoul has this. So, we have to go there.”
“Hmmm.”
“We’re going, right?”
“Meh.”
“Hey, you can see the top of the tower every time you open the window. It’s basically giving us a signal to hurry over!” Adrian pressed again, dramatically pulling back the curtains.
Goodness, I must be quite demanding. đ
“Fine, fine. Anyway, it’s already on our list,” I replied with a giggle, knowing Iâd successfully teased him by pretending I didnât want to go. But seriously, the towerâs peak was always visible from our hotel window. Every time I glanced out, there it was, like a reminder nudging us to visit. Hahaha.
Namsan Seoul Tower is strategically located atop Namsan Mountain, visible from almost anywhere in Seoul. As travelers on a budget (but still valuing comfort), we decided to take the bus. When we asked the hotel receptionist for directions, they excitedly informed us about a shuttle bus departing every 16 minutes from a stop just 200 meters away. Awesomeâinstant motivation!
“Have fun at our city icon!” the receptionist bid us farewell with a proud smile.
“Will do!” Basti replied cheerfully, waving back with enthusiasm.
We hopped onto the Route 05 shuttle bus, which was a bit crowded with passengers. The weather was pleasantly cool, and though the sky was overcast, it seemed like many people had the same idea to visit the tower. After all, it still serves as a broadcast signal tower for radio and TV in Korea.
But the bustling crowd didnât deter usâwe were determined to see Namsan Seoul Tower! With the shuttle bus making the trip so convenient, it was bound to be a fun adventure.
Ways to Reach Namsan Seoul Tower
There are several ways to get to Namsan Seoul Tower:
- For thrill-seekers or those in a hurry: The quickest option is the gondola or cable car.
- For fitness enthusiasts: You can hike up the trail from the base of the mountain, popularly known as the My Lovely Sam-soon trail. The hike takes about 40 minutes. Itâs a bit steep, so be prepared to catch your breath if you’re not used to it. đ
- By public transportation: Shuttle buses are an excellent choice. There are three shuttle bus routesânumbers 02, 03, and 05âthat serve different paths to Namsan Seoul Tower. Why only 02, 03, and 05? What happened to 01 and 04? Beats me. đ For detailed information on shuttle bus routes, check out: Public Transportation to Namsan Seoul Tower.
Interestingly, thereâs no parking for private vehicles at Namsan Seoul Tower to help maintain low pollution levels. How cool is that? An eco-friendly tourist spotâamazing!
Bus Ride and Scenic Walk
The shuttle bus ride took about 15 minutes before we arrived at the final stop, just 200 meters from the tower. The uphill walk offered stunning views, accompanied by cheerful bird songs that kept us energized. Basti, feeling a bit hungry, started grumbling about having to walk. So, we decided to grab lunch first before exploring the tower, which opened to the public in the 1980s.
Finding Food at Seoul Tower Plaza
At the base of Namsan Tower is a three-story mall filled with various restaurants. Unfortunately, just like the crowded bus, the restaurants were packed as well.
âMom, Iâm hungry,â Basti whined impatiently.
âI know, weâre looking for food. Be patient, okay?â I tried to soothe him, but it didnât work. đ Basti cried and sulkedâtraveling with kids means no hunger or exhaustion allowed, or things will fall apart. Luckily, Adrian calmed him down by carrying him, giving me a chance to scout for a less busy spot.
When we couldnât find a quieter place to eat, we decided to head to the upper terrace for fresh airâbecause, honestly, hunger makes my head spin. Anyone else feel this way? đ
To our surprise, the terrace, named The Terrace, had a restaurant that wasnât too crowded! It seemed pricier than the ones in the plaza, which likely explained why. But who cares? We were starvingâletâs splurge!
A Silly Plan, an Embarrassing Outcome
After lunch, feeling refreshed, we explored the tower, which attracts over 12 million visitors annually. The colorful love locks on the Observatory Deck caught my eye.
âHey, letâs add our own love lock here!â I suggested, trying to sound romantic, inspired by the cool Seoul breeze.
âWhat for?â Adrian asked, completely unfazed.
Sigh. My husband is rarely romantic. đ
âWell, itâs a keepsake! Plus, thereâs a myth that couples who place love locks here will have a lasting relationship.â
âDo you believe that?â
âNot really, but I still want to do it!â I whined, slightly annoyed.
âFine. Go buy a lock; Iâll wait here with Basti,â Adrian relented, probably to avoid my sulky face. Hahaha.
I rushed to the nearby souvenir shop, but within 10 minutes, I returned empty-handed.
“That was quick. Whereâs the lock?” Adrian asked, confused.
âWeâre not doing it,â I muttered.
âWhy? Werenât you excited a moment ago?â
âItâs expensive! The smallest lock costs 150,000 won. Thatâs enough for three servings of Bibimbap,â I replied quietly, as Adrian burst into laughter.
I felt so embarrassedâI had insisted on doing the love lock thing, only to back out because of the price. Classic mom moveâalways calculating costs! đ If only Iâd brought a lock from Jakarta. A 50,000 won lock wouldâve been enough, and a big one at that.
Still, the love locks are adorable. Among the thousands of colorful locks, I even spotted some with messages in Indonesian and Javanese. One read âSri ndang baliyoâ (Sri, come home soon). Too bad I didnât snap a picture before it started raining, forcing us to dash to the nearest shelter.
Fun in the Rain
While waiting for the rain to stop, we stumbled upon a lion dance performance. Despite the drizzle, the performers continued their routine, drawing a large audience. Free entertainment while waitingâwhat a treat!
Namsan Seoul Towerâs Name and Features
Before we continue, letâs clear up the naming confusion. While the tower is commonly called Namsan Seoul Tower, its official name is simply N Tower. The “N” stands for New, Namsan, and Nature. Fascinating how one letter can hold so much meaning, isnât it?
Built in 1969, the tower offers plenty to explore, including:
- Namsan Seoul Tower Hanbok Culture Center (Level B1)
- Hello Kitty Museum
- Proposal Staircase
- K-Pop Star Photo Zone
- Hello Kitty Island
Why the Towerâs Lights Change Colors
Hereâs an interesting secret: at night, the tower lights up in different colorsâblue, green, yellow, and red. These colors arenât just for decoration; they indicate Seoulâs air quality in real time:
- Red: Highly pollutedâstay indoors until the air improves.
- Green: Not greatâwear a mask if youâre heading out.
- Blue: Excellentâfeel free to enjoy outdoor activities without a mask.
How brilliant is that? The tower serves as a tourist attraction, a broadcast tower, and a real-time air quality monitor. Jakarta could definitely learn a thing or two from this!
Wrapping Up
As the rain subsided, we made our way back. This time, we opted for the cable car. The view was stunningâshifting from the green forests to the gray concrete jungle of skyscrapers. Visiting Namsan Seoul Tower turned out to be a perfectly fulfilling adventure!
Namsan Seoul Tower (N Tower)
105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM â 11:00 PM
- Shuttle Bus Hours: 7:00 AM â 11:30 PM