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Every travel destination has this on its list of must-visit places: the highest point in the city. Whether it be the top of a building or the summit of a mountain, these places always serve as hip places for travelers. At these elevated locations, you can take in all the attractions you couldn’t visit due to time constraints or a tight schedule. Offering diverse urban scenery throughout different seasons and times of the day, observatories – the points nearest to the sky – are the best tourist attractions.

N Seoul Tower: Seoul’s Landmark Observatory

N Seoul Tower, the unrivaled landmark of Seoul, is the city’s illustrative observatory that comes to mind when thinking of Seoul. Looking at N Seoul Tower from the city center is charming enough, but the view of Seoul seen from the top of the Tower offers an unforgettable impression.

There are different routes to N Seoul Tower. You can take the bus or walk along the Namsan Dulle-gil and enjoy the natural scenery on your way up to the N Seoul Tower. Another way is to enjoy a ride on the Namsan Cable Car, which has been up and running for more than six decades since its first operation in 1962. While heading up on the Cable Car, you can enjoy a unique experience of gradually stepping away from the city and getting closer to the sky.

N Seoul Tower Observatory offers plenty to enjoy, including Inside Seoul, an immersive media art exhibition at the observatory entrance; Observatory Tower 5F, another media art display from the elevator all the way into the observatory; and the Digital Telescope that invites visitors to view the landscape of downtown Seoul. An assortment of restaurants, including hanu(Korean beef) grill, French, and Italian, and dessert cafés make N Seoul Tower a wonderful place to enjoy a stunning view of Seoul in addition to delicious meals and tea.

Enjoy your first trip in the new year at N Seoul Tower, where you can enjoy the spectacle of Seoul, presenting a well-balanced view of mountains, rivers, and gorgeous cityscape.

• ○Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

• ○Phone: +82-2-3455-9277

• ○Operation Hours: Weekdays 10:30-22:00 KST, Weekends 10:00-22:00 KST

• ○Website: https://www.seoultower.co.kr/en/ 

Seoul Sky Observatory: the Highest Observatory in Seoul

The Lotte World Tower, visible from all corners of Seoul and even from some points in Gyeonggi-do Province, is truly one of the most well-known places in Seoul. Located at the very top of the Lotte World Tower, the world’s fifth-highest building and the tallest in Korea, the Seoul Sky Observatory is already a prominent place among Koreans and travelers from all over the globe.

The Seoul Sky Observatory offers a 360-degree view of the entire downtown Seoul. At Sky Deck, the highest glass-floor observatory, you will feel like you are walking in the sky. Seoul Sky Observatory offers plenty of attractions at the height of 500 meters. At Sky Terrace, you can enjoy the landscape of Seoul from an outdoor terrace on the 120th floor. Sky Bridge presents an opportunity to enjoy the skies of Seoul with the greatest proximity. Sky Shuttle travels from B1 to the 118th floor in just one minute, and the digital content Media Table stages a scene of Seoul during the Joseon dynasty. Multiple photo zones and souvenir shops are also available. Note that Sky Bridge is closed during the winter and is scheduled to reopen in March, so check the details on the website.

Celebrating 2023, the new year, different events are taking place at the Lotte Tower Seoul Sky Observatory. Take part in the Wish Tree event at the exhibition zone on the 120th floor, where you can write your new year’s wish on a star-shaped sticker or benefit from family discounts for visitors with a party of three to four. Other admission ticket packages are also available, so check out the details on the website.

Spend a special day at Seoul Sky Observatory, the highest point in Seoul, making your wish for the new year and enjoying Seoul’s winter scenery over a cup of tea.

• ○Address: 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (117F-123F)

• ○Phone: +82-2-1661-2000

• ○Operation Hours: Sun-Thu 10:30-22:00 KST, Fri-Sat 10:30-23:00 KST

• ○Website: https://seoulsky.lotteworld.com

Bugak Palgakjeong: Seoul’s Classic Dating Spot

Along with a glamorous urban setting, Seoul is a city that bears beautiful natural scenery. The natural beauty crafted by the fortress-like mountains surrounding the city, in particular, presents a unique landscape that is merely found in other cities. With additional hints of traditional Korean beauty on Bugaksan Mountain, Bugak Palgakjeong is one of the places that bestows Seoul’s natural beauty, making it a famous romantic dating location and driving course.

Upon your arrival at Bugak Palgakjeong, while enjoying a drive through the forest along Bugak Skyway, you will encounter a beautiful tranquil yet grand vista that seems to take a step back from the city center.

At Bugak Palgakjeong, you can view Bukhansan Mountain to the North, and N Seoul Tower and Lotte Tower to the South. Centering around the Palgakjeong Pavillion are convenient facilities, including a park, observatory, restaurants, coffee shop, and convenience store, making it an excellent place for a romantic date and traveling, where visitors can enjoy a stunning view along with delicious food.

Bugak Palgakjeong is also well-known for its beautiful nightscape. Visit Bugak Palgakjeong for a stunning night view of Seoul that presents a good blend of the city’s mountains, urban scene, and the antique ambiance of Palgakjeong Pavillion. It will become a beautiful memory that will boost your first steps into the new year of 2023.

• ○Address: 267, Bugaksan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

• ○Phone: +82-2-6951-3438

63 Square: from the Tallest to the most Beautiful Building in Seoul

The matchless golden building glittering amongst the numerous buildings along the Hangang River, 63 Square was once the tallest structure in Seoul. Despite yielding the title to another building today, 63 Square still stands as Seoul’s landmark, with its spectacular view and ambiance mirrored on the golden glass surface that changes with the season and amount of sunshine. The Hangang River and sky are reflected on the façade of 63 Square, creating a magnificent vista of Seoul.

Artworks of Korean contemporary artists are installed in the lobby and garden of 63 Square at all times, offering visitors the pleasure of enjoying art. 63 Square also houses Aqua Planet 63, an aquarium, as well as various food and beverage outlets, including Walking on the Cloud, a restaurant on the 59th floor, and the signature buffet Pavilion. 63 Art, on the 60th floor, is a place to take note of at 63 Square. Located in the observatory, 63 Art is a culture and arts complex and exhibition space visited by many local and foreign visitors.

Three special exhibitions are held throughout the year, and currently, 63 Art is presenting the global illustrator Max Dalton’s solo exhibition. With a total of 104 pieces of artwork on display, this exhibition consists of three sections, including “Moments in Film,” “The Wes Anderson Collection,” and “Moments in Max.” An artwork produced especially for Korean fans will also be released for the first time in this exhibition.

At 63 Square’s 63 Art, an art museum closest to the sky, you can enjoy artworks along with the Hangang River and the beautiful panorama of Seoul crafted by the surrounding landscape.

Let’s go on a new year's art tour to the golden 63 Square, glistening like the sun, which went from the tallest building in Seoul to the most beautiful building of the arts.

• ○Address: 50, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

• ○Phone: +82-1833-7001

• ○Operation Hours: Open Every Day 10:00-20:00 KST

• ○Website: http://www.63art.co.kr/  

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※ This article is dated February 2023. Business operations and business hours may change according to government quarantine guidelines. Please check before visiting.