Namsan Seoul Tower is one of Seoul’s most recognizable landmarks, but visiting Namsan with young children does not have to mean taking the cable car or walking uphill for a long time.
We visited Namsan with our child and found that taking the Namsan Circular Bus was one of the easiest ways to get there.
In this guide, I’ll share how we got to Namsan, what we did around N Seoul Tower, where we ate, and a few small tips that made the visit easier with a child.
Why Visit Namsan with Kids?
Namsan is a good place to add to a family trip because you can combine several different experiences in one visit.
There is the famous N Seoul Tower, a wide view of Seoul, Palgakjeong Pavilion, the colorful love locks, small shops, food, and plenty of outdoor space to walk around.
You don’t necessarily need to spend the whole day here either.
For our family, Namsan worked well as a half-day stop before moving on to another part of Seoul.
How to Get to Namsan with Kids Without Taking the Cable Car
A lot of visitors go to Myeongdong and take the Namsan Cable Car.
The cable car is a classic Seoul experience, but for a family with young children, it can also be relatively expensive.
We chose a different option: the Namsan Circular Bus.
N Seoul Tower officially recommends Namsan Circular Bus 01A and 01B for getting to the tower. Both buses stop at N Seoul Tower.
| 01A | 01B | |
|---|---|---|
| Main route | Namsan + major tourist areas | Namsan-focused route |
| N Seoul Tower | ✓ | ✓ |
| Frequency | About every 9 min | About every 14 min |
| Operating hours | 06:30–23:00 | 06:30–23:00 |
| Fare | KRW 1,500 | KRW 1,500 |
The exact operating information can change, so check the official N Seoul Tower transportation page before your trip.
Why We Took Bus 01A
We personally took 01A.
What I liked about 01A was that it wasn’t only useful for Namsan. After visiting Namsan, you can continue on the same route toward some of Seoul’s major tourist areas, including Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Anguk Station, and Insadong.
That makes 01A especially useful if you want to combine Namsan with another Seoul sightseeing area. For example:
Namsan → Gyeongbokgung → Gwanghwamun → Anguk → Insadong
You don’t have to return all the way to Myeongdong or change transportation immediately.
A Small Tip: Avoid the Uphill Walk
This is one of the tips I especially wanted to include for families.
After getting off at the N Seoul Tower bus stop, there is still a short walk toward the tower. But you don’t necessarily have to walk the uphill section the hard way.
When we got off the bus, we used the elevator on the left side and went up that way. It made the route much easier with our child.
If you’re traveling with a stroller or a young child, I would definitely look for the elevator instead of immediately starting up the hill. This is a small local-style tip rather than something you usually see highlighted in a basic Namsan guide.
Our Namsan Experience with Bus 01A
Once we arrived, we didn’t try to see everything. We simply walked around N Seoul Tower, enjoyed the view of Seoul, looked around Palgakjeong Pavilion and the love locks, and had lunch.
That was enough for a relaxed family visit.
A Quick Lunch at Mom’s Touch
We also stopped at Mom’s Touch, a popular Korean chicken burger chain, for a quick lunch.
Nothing fancy—it was simply an easy and familiar meal while sightseeing with our child.
I wouldn’t make this a destination by itself, but it was convenient because we could have a quick meal without leaving the N Seoul Tower area.
N Seoul Tower and Palgakjeong Pavilion
Of course, the main reason to come here is the view. From Namsan, you can look across Seoul and see the city surrounded by mountains.
We spent some time around Palgakjeong Pavilion, taking in the view and simply watching people enjoy the area.
Namsan is officially described as a place where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Seoul, and Palgakjeong is one of the recognizable spots around Namsan.
Love Locks at N Seoul Tower
One of the most recognizable things around N Seoul Tower is the huge collection of love locks.
We spent some time looking at all the colorful locks around Palgakjeong and the viewing areas.
What I liked was that you don’t need to bring a lock from home. There are places around N Seoul Tower where you can buy a lock and add your own message.
It is usually thought of as a romantic activity, but with a child, it can simply be a fun thing to look at. There are so many colors, names, drawings, and messages that kids can enjoy looking through them too.
Love locks are a long-standing feature of N Seoul Tower and are also highlighted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as one of the area’s signature attractions.
A Small Family Photo Souvenir at N Seoul Tower
We’ve been to Namsan many times. But this time, I wanted to take a proper family photo there.
Near N Seoul Tower, there was a photographer taking photos for visitors, so we decided to give it a try. When we visited, the price was:
- 4×6 photo: KRW 5,000
- 5×7 photo: KRW 8,000
We chose one, and the photo was printed right there.
It wasn’t expensive, and I really liked having an actual printed photo from our Namsan trip. Sometimes these small things become the best souvenirs.
Is Namsan Easy with Kids?
Yes—but I would plan the transportation carefully.
The hardest part of Namsan with a young child is not really the sightseeing itself. It is getting around the slopes.
That is why I would choose the circular bus over making the trip unnecessarily complicated. For our family, the easiest flow was:
01A bus → N Seoul Tower → elevator → tower area → Palgakjeong → Seoul view → love locks → lunch → 01A bus again
It was simple and didn’t require a long uphill walk.
How Long Do You Need at Namsan?
If you’re visiting Namsan mainly to see N Seoul Tower, take photos, enjoy the view, and look around the love locks, I would allow about half a day.
You can stay longer if you want to visit the observatory, walk the Namsan trails, or spend more time around the tower.
But for families with young children, I think a shorter visit works well. You can see the main sights and then move on to another part of Seoul.
Namsan + Other Seoul Attractions
This is another reason I like taking 01A.
After finishing Namsan, you can continue toward other popular Seoul sightseeing areas on the route. The official 01A route includes Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Anguk Station and Insadong Culture Street.
So you could plan a day like:
Namsan in the morning
↓
Gyeongbokgung Palace
↓
Gwanghwamun
↓
Anguk / Insadong
Or simply get off wherever you want and continue your Seoul trip from there. This makes Namsan much easier to fit into a larger Seoul itinerary.
Namsan with Kids: Our Tips
- ✓ Take the Namsan Circular Bus — For families, 01A or 01B can be much easier than walking uphill.
- ✓ Choose 01A if you want to connect Namsan with other tourist areas — 01A continues toward Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung, Anguk and Insadong.
- ✓ Look for the elevator after getting off — We used the elevator on the left and avoided walking the uphill section with our child.
- ✓ You don’t need to bring a love lock — You can buy one around N Seoul Tower.
- ✓ Consider getting a family photo — When we visited, we could get a printed photo for KRW 5,000–8,000 depending on the size.
- ✓ You don’t have to stay all day — Namsan works well as a half-day stop before moving on to another part of Seoul.
Namsan with Kids: Would We Go Again?
Absolutely.
We’ve been to Namsan many times, but I still think it is worth returning to with a child. The view is always nice, but what I liked about this visit was how simple it was.
We took the bus up, avoided the unnecessary uphill walk, looked around N Seoul Tower and Palgakjeong, enjoyed the Seoul view, looked at the love locks, took a family photo, had lunch, and then got back on the bus.
And from there, we could simply continue to another part of Seoul.
For families visiting Seoul, I wouldn’t think of Namsan as a place that requires a complicated itinerary.
Take the bus, enjoy the view, make a small memory, and move on to the next Seoul neighborhood. That’s what worked best for us.
Practical Information
N Seoul Tower
105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Namsan Circular Bus 01A / 01B
- Operating hours: 06:30–23:00
- Fare: KRW 1,500
- 01A: about every 9 minutes
- 01B: about every 14 minutes
Current transportation information should be checked before your visit.