Seoul Tower, also called Namsan
Tower or, more recently, N Seoul Tower, is located
in the centre of Seoul on Mount Namsan. Seoul Tower was
opened to the public for the first time on the 15th of
October 1980. Namsan Tower is 236.7 metres high and, because
it stands on top of Mount Namsan, it rises to about 480
metres above sea level, thus allowing visitors to enjoy
a great panoramic view of Seoul.
Seoul Tower was remodelled in 2005 and it opened to the
public again on the 9th of December 2005, with the name
of N Seoul Tower (N stands for new). The new tower has
a new lighting system that makes the tower spectacular
at night; new facilities such as restaurants, shops, cafés;
a lobby with a media zone where films and music videos
are shown for free; two pavilions, one for exhibitions
and the other for performances; two observatories, the
new digital observatory with new state of the art digital
telescopes and the classic analogue observatory; a new
revolving western style restaurant called N Grill on the
top floor.
How to get to N Seoul Tower
It
is not possible to drive to N Seoul Tower, so the only
options are either walk, take a bus or a cable car.
Getting to N Seoul Tower by cable car:
Getting to Seoul Tower by cable car offers the opportunity
to enjoy a nice view of Seoul and of Namsan Park. You
can get to the cable car station by getting off at Myeongdong
Station (Line n. 4, exit 3) and walking for ten minutes
from the subway station.
Getting to N Seoul Tower by bus: You can take
a bus at Chungmuro Station (line n. 3 or 4) or at Dongguk
University Station (line 3), which will take you to the
parking area of N Seoul Tower. Buses run every six minutes
from 8am until midnight.
Getting to N Seoul Tower on foot: walk
30 minutes from exit 3 of Myeongdong subway station (Line
n. 4).
Namsan Park
Seoul Tower is surrounded by a park, called Namsan Park.
In addition to the tower, Namsan Park contains other facilities
and attractions such as the Public Library, the National
Theatre, an aquarium, the Botanical Gardens and an historical
site, at the top of Namsam Mountain, called Bonghwadae
(beacon mound). Bonghwadae includes five beacon towers
that in the past were used as observation spots to defend
the city of Seoul. Namsan Park is also a good place to
go hiking, jogging or just to relax and walk in a green
area.
