Seoul After Dark: Riverside Walks and City Views

Start at Yeouinaru Station if you want to avoid a long approach before your evening stroll. At Yeouido Hangang Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, the station exits are close to the park's central area. The listed walk from exits 2 and 3 of Yeouinaru Station on Line 5 is 1 minute. You can spend less time reaching the river and more time walking in the park.

The park stays open at night, with free admission. If you start at Yeouido Station instead, allow 15–20 minutes on foot from exit 1. Choosing between these similarly named stations changes how much walking your evening involves. Yeouinaru Station is the easier option for a short stroll.

Seoullo 7017 suits a walk overlooking the buildings and railway tracks around Seoul Station. This former overpass in Jung-gu is now an elevated walkway, with about 1km of city-viewing space. You can enjoy the city after dark from a little higher up without heading out to climb a mountain.

The listed approach from Seoul Station exit 7 is 148m. This is separate from the walkway's full length. Explore the city-viewing route if you want a longer walk, or start with the views around the station for a short visit. Free access 24 hours a day also makes evening arrival times easy to plan.

Head to Naksan Park in Jongno-gu if the city-wall walk itself is the point of your evening. The path beside the wall offers views across Seoul. The Naksan section stretches 2.1km from Hyehwamun Gate, over Naksan, to Heunginjimun Gate. It suits anyone who wants to take in the panorama while walking along the wall.

The listed walk from Hyehwa Station exit 2 to the park is 10 minutes. Add more walking time if you plan to cover the full wall section. The park is always open and admission is free. Decide how far along the route you want to go before setting off.

Choose Banpo Hangang Park in Seocho-gu for riverside views around Banpo Bridge. The park sits on the south bank of the Hangang, centered on the bridge, and connects to Seoraeseom Island. As you walk, you can decide whether to stay near the bridge or continue toward the island.

You also need to walk from Express Bus Terminal Station to the park. Seoul tourism information gives the distance from exit 8-1 as 1.1km. The city's Hangang headquarters lists a walk of about 15 minutes from exits 8-1 and 8-2 toward Banpo Bridge. Unlike Yeouido, where the riverside is right by the station, count this approach as part of your walk.

The park is free and open 24 hours, year-round. The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain operates separately, depending on the season and weather. For a night-view walk available year-round, plan around the park and riverside.

The N SEOUL TOWER observatory suits an evening devoted to sweeping views of Seoul from Namsan. This observatory on Namsan in Yongsan-gu offers 360-degree views, with an elevator taking you to the viewing floor. It works well when you want to see Seoul in several directions from one place.

You can reach the mountaintop on circular buses 01A and 01B from Chungmuro Station or Dongguk University Station. If you choose the cable car, the 10-minute walk from Myeongdong Station exit 3 only gets you to the lower boarding station. Do not treat it as the total journey time to the observatory.

Standard adult admission to the observatory is ₩29,000. An adult round-trip cable car ticket costs a separate ₩15,000. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. This visit works best when you leave time both for transport up the mountain and for entering the observatory.