Namsan has long been a refuge from north Seoul’s crowded urban neighborhoods, offering Seoul residents and visitors forests, greenery, gardens, parks, and open space. Namsan is home to Namsan Park, a vast area that encompasses much of the small mountain. It is the largest civic park in Seoul and is divided into four districts: Hoehyeon, Yejang, Jangchung, and Hannam. The park is home to the Children’s Forest Experience Center, Namsan Tower, and the Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Hall. Here are five activities for any visitor to the Namsan area.
1. Stroll, Relax, Hang Out, or Exercise in Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden
Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden is nestled in the hillside of Namsan, central Seoul’s most visible mountain. The park is located on Namsan, and has beautiful gardens, pagodas and benches, and exercise equipment. It is accessible from Itaewon, Kyungridan, and Haebangcheon, though the walk to the site has some steep inclines. The section of Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden across from the Hyatt and the upper stretch of Kyungridan-gil is uniquely situated. It is one of the nicer sections of the park, and has well-maintained terrain. A myriad of activities can be engaged there, including walking, work outs, foot massage, picnics, a pit stop, place for chats, meditation, reflection, and reading. At the center of the park, there is the Children’s Forest Experience Center. There are also aquatic gardens, a pond, a pine garden, and a wildflower garden. There is a moss garden as well. The park is a great place to see the beauty of the outdoors.
Namsan Outdoor Botanical Garden can be accessed at the address 323 Sowell-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It has free admission.
2. Ride the Namsan Cable Car
Namsan’s Cable Car offers visitors a unique experience. It is located in Myeongdong and takes passengers to the summit of Namsan in three minutes. The cable car gives passengers fantastic views of Seoul’s cityscape and Namsan both day and night.
It’s located at the address 04630 83, Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Fees: Adults: 15,000 KRW (round trip) / 12,000 KRW (one way)
Children: 11,500 KRW (round trip) / 9,000 KRW (one way) It is open everyday from 10:00 – 23:00 KST. For more information, check out the website http://www.cablecar.co.kr/eng/
3. Chill and Daydream at Baekbeom Park
Baekbeom Square Park a large, grass filled square with views of the nearby high rises and buildings. It is near Hoehyeon-dong. The park has statues of Kim Gu, a Korean leader and patriot, General Kim Yu-shin’s horse, and Yi Si-yeong. The park is a nice place to catch sun rays, delight in the open air, and marvel at the views of the surrounding areas. While it is a simple park, it is often overlooked and its openness is a contrast to the many forests on Namsan.
4. Visit Namsan Tower
Namsan Tower is a top attraction for tourists and locals alike. The tower is officially titled the N Seoul Tower and was built in 1969 at a cost of about $2.5 million USD. The tower has a number of rooms and has an observatory. The tower is located at the summit of Namsan and has breathtaking views of the surrounding city. The area around the tower also has restaurants, restrooms, bus stops, and museums. On weekends and holidays there are musical performances in the square in front of the tower. Other cool attractions on the site are the famous “love padlocks” and the Teddy Bear Museum. The love padlocks are padlocks with personalized messages that are left on metal fences that surround portions of the tower’s structure and lookouts. Namsan Tower often has large crowds and an exciting atmosphere. Namsan Tower is a must-see spot for a number of reasons.
5. Exercise at the Namsan Free Gym
Work out at the open air gym Yaweui Chelyeokdanryeon Jang, located uphill from Dongguk University. There are free weights and various weight training machines for the chest, legs, back, arms, and abdomen. The gym is a popular place for older Korean men, some of whom help maintain and manage the equipment and facilities. This gym is one of the better free outdoor gyms in Seoul and the only negative it has going for it is that it’s a bit of a trek to get to it. The map below can be used to find its location. Any hike of Namsan isn’t complete without a quick stopover at the gym.
Photo Credits
1. The view of Namsan Tower from the botanical garden. Photo by Rooftop on the Hanok.
2. An aquatic garden in the botanical garden. Photo by Rooftop on the Hanok.
3. An acupressure path in the botanical garden. Photo by Rooftop on the Hanok.
4. Namsan Cable Car over Seoul. Photo by Andrew Bell.
5. Tomb of Baekbeom Kim Gu in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Lawinc82.
6. Namsan Tower on Namsan, Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Jessica Gardner from Adelaide, Australia.
This article was written in 2021 and completed and published in 2024.
The site Visit Seoul has detailed information about Namsan Park.

David Kute has an appreciation for Seoul’s distinct neighborhoods. From Dongdaemun’s market stalls to Hongdae’s rock music venues, the city continues to fascinate him. After spending many years living and working in Seoul and South Korea, he started the blog Rooftop on the Hanok. The blog is a place to share information as well as explore facets of life on the Korean peninsula. He enjoys writing fiction and playing basketball when he’s not researching or writing Rooftop on the Hanok posts.