City: Seoul
Top Things to do in Seoul
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10 Observation Decks & Towers in Seoul That You Shouldn't Miss
Seoul is the business and cultural hub of South Korea, where skyscrapers tower over Buddhist temples. Take it all in from the N Seoul Tower, built atop a peak in Namsan Park. The teahouses and shops of Insadong give you a taste of Korean flavor, which you can further experience with a visit to the grounds and museums of Gyeongbokgung. UNESCO World Heritage Site Changdeokgung Palace is a fine example of authentic ancient architecture.
Restaurants in Seoul
1. Jeongdong Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By sms405 - Shanghai, China
I walked past this Seoul City Hall Seosomun building and curiosity made me go inside and up to the 13the floor. The view of Jeongdong in this observatory is awesome. It seems like you don't have to buy any beverage or dessert in the cafe inside to see the view. I walked in and looked at the view and took pictures. There are also historical pictures of the area in a nearby small room and a brochure to tell you the history of this place. It is not on the main path of things to see, but it is definitely worth checking out.
2. Seoul City Wall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By letsexplorenow
Did you know that Seoul is surrounded by a wall for over 600 years? Thanks to Funday Korea Networks I got to know about the background of the Wall. The Seoul City Wall goes by the name of Hanyangdoseong and was built for defensive purposes. Today it is the longest wall of its kind in the world and is under state protection as Historic Site No. 10. If these facts are not enough to motivate you for a visit, then here are five more reasons why it is a must for everyone who comes to Seoul. 1. Historical significance: The Seoul City Wall was built in 1396, four years after King Taejo established the Joseon Dynast and moved the capital to Hanyang (modern-day Seoul). The fortress wall witnessed a number of rulers, the Japanese occupation and the Korean War, which makes the 600-year old city wall a major historical monument. The Seoul City Wall Museum provides great and detailed information of the Hanyangdoseong for everyone who wants to know it all. 2. Special architecture: The wall, just as the whole city, was planed in consideration of the natural topography, Confucian principles, and various political, economic, and military factors. It is built along the ridges of four mountains (Baekgaksan, Naksan, Mongmyeosan, Inwangsan) and has four main gates, which represent the four virtues of Confucianism, and four ancillary gates. Interestingly, the structure of the wall is not uniform, as the wall was repaired over the centuries. By seeing the stone shape, you can easily determine in which period the section was built. You can also look out for one of the 297 stones with inscriptions, which contain names of workers and dates of the repair. 3. Witness history: Besides the unique architecture that shows you different periods at once, you can witness modern history by visiting the Seoul City Wall. The Baegak Mountain trail is the perfect example for that. Public access to this area was omitted for about 40 years, after the “Blue House Raid”, where North Korean commandos tried to assassinate the South Korean president Park Chung-hee in 1968. The mountain is not only the highest within Hanyangdoseong, it also bears a 200-year old pine tree, which has fifteen bullets from the battle between South Korean police and the North Korean Special Forces. After presenting your ID you can visit this historic place. 4. Hiking spot: As the Hanyangdoseong leads through the mountains, it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature and a beautiful view of Seoul. There are different courses that that differ in difficulty and duration, so one can find the perfect trail for oneself. With a length of 18.627 kilometers, a complete tour of the wall would take about 10 hours. The track I participated in, started at the Seoul City Wall Museum near Dongdaemun station, covered the Naksan Mountain and ended in Hyehwa. While you can enjoy a breathtaking scenery of Seoul on your way, you will also discover a lot of unique spots like the artistic Iwha Mural Village, the Myogaksa Temple and Naksan Park. 5. Discover Seoul from anywhere: Because the wall embraces the old city center of Seoul, you can start or end your journey at any gate and you will be able to visit touristic places nearby. Donuimun Gate in the West for example is really close to Gyeonghuigung Palace and the Seoul Museum of History while the Sungnyemun Gate is close to Namdeamun Market, which is a historic marketplace and remained popular until today. I would highly recommend a visit to Hanyangdoseong, as it is right next to all the popular attractions. It does not matter which trail you choose, because you will be able to see Korean architecture through time, enjoy nature and discover various places near the City Wall.
3. Lotte World Tower & Mall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 804 reviews
Lotte World Tower & Mall offers stores, cafes, restaurants, galleries, and even a concert hall. The Tower is the fifth highest in the world and has an observation deck, a skywalk, and a luxury hotel.
Reviewed By thomasbg - Gran Canaria, Spain
One of the best tallest buildings I have visited. Very, very modern (opened in 2017), beautiful architecture, very high observation deck (478m), including a nice glass floor section, great views to all Seoul.
4. Seoul Sky
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
The Seoul Sky Observatory is located at the top of the Lotte World Tower, the world's fifth tallest building standing 123 stories and 555 meters high. As the tallest building in South Korea, it is the only place where you can take in a gorgeous 360-degree view of Seoul, the capital city of South Korea roaring with brilliant history and dynamic modern culture.
Reviewed By elysiansoul - Seoul, South Korea
A must go. The views are so worth. Visibility was 20-25km the day we visited, a clear day or maybe even a snowy day for a second visit would be my preference. Sky bridge anyone?? But really. Lol. There are 5 floors overall for the observation deck, 2 main floors with the lounge being at the top. Use an elevator on F121 to reach it. While visiting the Sky Lounge for snacks or drinks is nice, we didn’t care for the main entrees. There is better food in the tower. Lots of photo zone opportunities that you can purchase. There was a lot of glare when trying to take photos, so be prepared for that. Parking is ample at Lotte Tower or Mall. You can get a discount for parking if you show your receipt for the tower upon leaving if you parked near the tower. Seoul Sky entry is on Floor B1. We bought the Lotte Aquarium/Seoul Sky combo tickets for just under 80k KWN for both of us (a promotional event I think). We were able to go visit the aquarium and shop after lunch time and then go back to Seoul Sky whenever we wanted (we chose to catch sunset at the observation deck). Once you enter the observation deck you cannot re enter if you leave but there is no time limit.
5. N Seoul Tower
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9,455 reviews
Built on a 262 meter peak in Namsan Park, the tower reaches to 480 meters above sea level. When the weather and pollution levels cooperate, visiting the observation tower (370 meters above sea level) allows you to view the entire city and surrounding areas.
Reviewed By kalebschumann - Fort Worth, United States
I did not mind spending the money for the cable car ride or the ticket to the top. They view was absolutely worth the cost. The coffee shop at the top had *amazing* desserts, there were stools/tables to snack at, the 360 degree view was amazing, the elevators moving quickly, and the bathroom had quite the view.. seriously!
