I’ll be taking you on a ride to 3 awesome locations and showing you where to take in some breathtaking views of Seoul. Reaching some of these places will require a bit of a hike, so be prepared to break a sweat and allot at least a few hours to explore. It’ll be worth it though! Other than the well-known Namsan Tower, here are the top spots you probably didn’t know about on the Northern side of Seoul. All pics shot and edited by RL.

ANSAN (아산)

This is my favorite viewpoint since I live right next to Yonsei University and Ansan is practically my backyard. Once you find the trail, the hike isn’t too difficult and you can reach the top in 30 minutes which is a modest trade-off for such views!

Day and night views of Seoul (City Hall, Jongno, etc) from the top of Ansan in the Seodaemun area.

Directions:

Sinchon Station Exit 2. Outside, take the green 03 local bus and stay on for about 10 minutes. After you pass a Chicago Pizza on your right, get off at the next bus stop. Continue walking up the hill and take a right once you see the Seodaemun Fire Station. Follow the road as it curves right, then left, and enter the west side of the Yonsei University campus. As you follow the hill to your right, it curves left and you should see a fenced off area. Enter one of the doorways and start the trail by going right, which eventually takes you to the top ofMt. Ansan. Admire the views during day, but be sure to bring a flashlight (and be familiar with the trail) if you choose to go at night.

BUAM-DONG (부암동)

These 2 locations are within 15 minutes of each other, both providing slightly different angles to view Seoul from.

Poet Yun Dong-ju Hill, and poem “Foreword” on Inwangsan mountain

윤동주시인의언덕, Cheonngun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Read up on Yun Dong-ju’s poem here

Directions:

Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3. Walking straight to the nearest bus stop and take the 7022, 1020, or 7212 green bus. Get off at the Changuimun bus stop (you can also check out one of the 8 original Seoul Fortress gates here), and cross the street to reach Poet Hill Park.

Sanmootongee Cafe (산모퉁이카페)

The 1st Shop Coffee Prince Korean drama was filmed here!

97-5 Buam-dong Jongno-gu, Seoul South Korea, +82-2-391-4737

Directions:

From Changuimun bus stop, head north and the road should start going downhill. Take your first right. Take your first left as the road starts going uphill, then an immediate right. You should take Baekseokdong-gil as it curves right and then left, as it goes up part of Bugaksan mountain, and you’ll eventually run into the cafe.

SEOUL FORTRESS WALL (한양도성)

Nestled in the Bugaksan and Samcheongdong area, hiking enthusiasts will especially enjoy this trail as it gives you scenic views atop of Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Namsam, and Naksan mountains.

Sunny views of Seoul from Bugaksan along one portion of the Seoul Fortress Wall (directly north of Bukchon Hanok Village).

Bugaksan and Seoul Fortress Wall wrapped in fog on a cloudy day.

Directions:

Anguk Station Exit 2. Walk out and go follow the road north for about 800 meters. Follow this main road as it curves left and then right, and you’ll see an entrance to Samcheong Park (삼총공원). Take the trails as you see fit (Prospect Point leads to the top), as they wrap in and around Mt. Bugaksan which ultimately leads you to the Seoul Fortress wall. By the way, if you choose to follow the Seoul Fortress trail once you reach it the top you’ll need a passport at some point since it passes military zones.

We’d love to see your own scenic photographs of Seoul as well or hear about other great locations, so feel free to share them in your comments below! Be sure to check out some of these local lookout points when you get a chance!