NAMSAN TOWER: A VIEW FROM THE TOP

NAMSAN TOWER: A VIEW FROM THE TOP

By Team Philippines for Seoul Summer Sale 2011

  Mark to the bears: "Say cheeze..."

The Icon of Seoul: Namsan Tower

Your Seoul tour is incomplete if you will not hike to Namsan and go up at its Observatory Area. The Seoul Tower opened to the public on October 15, 1980 is now a major tourist attraction. The 236.7m Seoul Tower sits atop Namsan Mountain (243m); Seoul Tower offers a panoramic 360 degree view of Seoul and the surrounding areas.

 It is a sight to behold many considers Seoul Tower as the best tower in Asia. By simply presenting the card you can get a 20% discount…From KRW9, 000 you will just pay KRW8, 000 but this only applies on the Observatory Area. If you want to avail the package which includes an entrance to the Teddy bear Museum you need to pay a total of KRW14, 000.

 Couples leaves padlocks and lockets bearing their names here at the view deck as a symbol  of their long lasting love.

Thirty years later, as the structure was renamed ‘N Seoul Tower.’ The letter ‘N’ stands for the tower’s ‘new’ look, which resulted from a 15 billion won remodeling in Decemebr 2005. With the new lighting system and changes to the tower’s overall color scheme, event coordinators can now decorate the tower for each new season or event. Currently, an ongoing lighting theme titled ‘Flower of Seoul,’ uses searchlights to light up the tower each night from 7pm to midnight.

The Glass were decorated with various places indicating its distance from the tower itself.

At the base of Seoul Tower visitors can find the Media Zone, a Pavilion Experience Hall, exhibition rooms, and performance halls. Visitors are encouraged to try the N Grill western-style restaurant revolving restaurant (one rotation every 48 minutes) and the Sky Restroom (an artfully decorated space). Both offer breathtaking views of the cityscape.

At the Namsan Teddy bear museum, they use these cute and cuddly bears to depict various events on Korean History.

 Modern Korea: Partying in HongDae

Installation of King Taejo

A horse race

 Ladies busy preparing food for Chuseok

Red devils at the City Hall

Opening date: Open all year round

Closed: N/A

Operating Hours: Sunday-Thursday

Observatory: 10:00-23:00

Restaurant: 11:00-23:00

Teddy Bear Museum: 10:00-22:00 (Last entry: 21:00)

Friday-Saturday

Observatory: 10:00-24:00

Restaurants (n.GRILL/Hancook): 11:00-23:00

The place dining: 11:00-24:00 (Last seating: 23:00)

Teddy Bear Museum: 10:00-22:00

Parking Facilities

Cable car parking lot

First 30 min: Free for cable car customers

Each additional 10 min: 500 won

Namsan park parking lot: 300 won/10 min

Directions: Subway line 4, Myeong-dong Station, exit 3 -> 15 minute walk through the alley next to Pacific Hotel -> cable car

Food and Drink: Restaurants at both ends of the cable car offer Korean food. You can also buy snacks and drinks around Seoul Tower.