Observatory admission for adults is ₩29,000. The Namsan Cable Car round-trip (₩15,000 for adults) is not included. Same mountain, two tickets — and the official N Seoul Tower fee table does not sell a tower+cable combo. Older figures around ₩21,000 are outdated.
English names: N Seoul Tower (also Namsan Seoul Tower / Namsan Tower) and Namsan Cable Car. The tower is run via the CJ Foodville–linked site; the cable car is a separate operator at namsancablecar.com. That split is why visitors often buy at the wrong counter.
Observatory fares — ₩29,000 adult, ₩23,000 child/senior
Figures below match the official N Seoul Tower admission page. The plaza and outdoor spots such as the Love Locks do not need an observatory ticket. You pay only for the Observatory. VisitSeoul lists the tower height at 236.7 m; that figure is separate from the ticket price, which covers access to the observatory floors. Decide first whether you want plaza photos only or the indoor view — that choice decides whether you buy a ticket at all.
| Type | Adult (ages 13+) | Child (ages 3–12) / Senior (65+) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observatory | ₩29,000 | ₩23,000 | Under 36 months free (1 infant per caretaker) |
| Plaza / outdoor | Free | Free | No observatory ticket |
The Korean fee page lists a 30% disability discount (grades 1–3: guest + one companion; grades 4–6: guest only; not for package/group rates).
Sample costs for couples and families
Two adults for the observatory only: ₩58,000. Two adults + two children: ₩29,000×2 + ₩23,000×2 = ₩104,000. One adult + one senior: ₩52,000. Infants under 36 months are free (one per caretaker), so a couple with a baby pays adult fares only.
Many itineraries add the cable car. Adult round-trip ₩15,000 · child round-trip ₩11,500. For two adults + two children, the cable alone is ₩53,000; with the observatory that becomes ₩157,000. Skip the cable and use Namsan Ormi, the free shuttle, or walk, and you pay observatory only. Love Locks alone needs neither ticket. Two adults doing observatory only spend ₩58,000; add cable round-trips and it becomes ₩58,000 + ₩30,000 = ₩88,000.
Hours and tickets — same-day purchase, no advance booking
The observatory opens 365 days a year. Weekdays 10:00–22:30, weekends/holidays 10:00–23:00; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. On weekdays that means enter by 22:00; on weekends by 22:30. Weather or Namsan vehicle restrictions can close the site with separate notice.
| Facility | Weekday | Weekend / holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observatory | 10:00–22:30 | 10:00–23:00 | Last entry 30 min before close |
| Open | 365 days | 365 days | Weather / vehicle control may close |
Official FAQ: no reservation required. Buy same-day at the Tower 1F ticket booth or Plaza 5F information desk; tickets are valid for 24 hours from purchase. An evening ticket does not work for a return the next afternoon. Restaurant reservations are separate from observatory tickets.
Online “combo” vouchers are usually third-party (Klook, Trazy, etc.). The official English fee table lists Observatory only; as of September 2026 there is no official tower+cable combo on nseoultower.co.kr. Third-party products have different pickup rules and validity — read those before paying. Card/cash/T-money acceptance is not spelled out on the English FAQ; follow the booth on site.
Your route hangs on how many tickets you need. Plaza/locks only → free. Observatory only → one ticket at the tower. Cable as well → a second ticket at the cable booths. A common path is Myeongdong → cable lower station → (optional) cable → summit plaza → observatory. Some people ride the circular bus or Ormi up, buy observatory only, then take a one-way cable down.
For night visits, check last entry first. Weekday close 22:30 means buy by 22:00; cable last ticketing is also 30 minutes before close. Add 30–40 minutes if you expect sunset queues. Leave a gap between observatory entry and any restaurant booking. High wind or heavy rain often stops the cable first — check both operators’ status pages that morning.
Namsan Cable Car — a completely separate ticket
Different operator, different payment. Official cable locales say on-site payment only; there is no official advance app booking. The tower site’s “by cable car” page lists cable fares, but those tickets are not sold at the tower booth — buy at cable lower/upper stations.
| Type | Adult (13+) | Child (36 months–12) | Priority* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip | ₩15,000 | ₩11,500 | ₩11,500 |
| One-way | ₩12,000 | ₩9,000 | ₩9,000 |
\*Priority: ages 65+, national merit, May 18 injured, persons with disabilities (ID). Tower English traffic page: seniors/national merit at child rate. Prefer cable locales for child age: 36 months–12.
Groups of 30+: round-trip adult ₩13,500 / child ₩10,500; one-way adult ₩11,000 / child ₩8,500. Jung-gu / Yongsan residents: round-trip ₩7,500 / one-way ₩6,000 (proof of address).
Cable hours: 10:00–23:00 year-round; last ticketing 30 minutes before close; weather may suspend service. Inquiries: day 02-753-2403 · night 02-757-1308. Choose round-trip vs one-way after you decide how you will go down — cable both ways → round-trip; bus/Ormi/walk down → one-way is enough.
Can you reach the summit without the cable?
Yes. Namsan Ormi (inclined elevator) is free, 09:00–23:00, Monday maintenance 09:00–14:00; wind/rain may suspend. The cable operator also runs a free Myeongdong ↔ cable shuttle (first 12:00, last 20:30 from cable parking). Morning-only plans often work better on foot or Ormi before the shuttle starts.
Walking from Myeongdong
Official tower guidance: Myeongdong Station Line 4 Exit 3, about 10–15 minutes on foot. VisitSeoul sometimes cites Exit 4 — check the signs. Walk to the cable lower station, then choose cable, Ormi, or circular bus. Heavy bags or a stroller make stairs and slopes harder; cable or shuttle is usually easier then.
FAQ
Do I need to book the observatory in advance? No. Official FAQ: same-day purchase at Tower 1F or Plaza 5F. Valid 24 hours from purchase.
Is there an official tower + cable combo? Not on the official fee table. Third-party packages exist but are not the tower’s own online booking system; prices vary.
Do Love Locks require a ticket? No. Plaza/outdoor areas are free. Pay only to enter the observatory.
What about the old ₩21,000 price? Outdated. Seoul Parks–style pages still showing ₩21,000 / ₩16,000 are not current. As of September 2026 the official rates are adult ₩29,000 and child/senior ₩23,000. Some VisitSeoul schema snippets may still show old ranges — use the tower fee page before you buy.
Are pets allowed? VisitSeoul FAQ (as of 2026): not allowed. Plan the route before buying tickets.
Where do group and resident discounts apply? On the cable car fare table (30+ groups; Jung-gu / Yongsan residents). They are separate from basic observatory adult/child/senior fares. Bring address proof for resident rates; confirm group headcount on site.
Sources
Address: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul · +82-2-3455-9277/9288. Fares and hours can change — recheck the official pages before you go.
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