If you crave for more view of Seoul from the top and you have the money to splurge on, you might want to experience it from Seoul Sky Tower. It's another business venture of Lotte Group.
Going up here is a bit expensive at the price of 27,000 KRW (1080 PHP, 2017), yet with limited attractions they can offer at the top. Since it was just open to the public early 2017 expect for long queues before you can reach the observation deck. It is suggested to visit during early morning for shorter queue. Or you may want to visit by late afternoon to experience both day and night with sunset on the background.
Going up here is a bit expensive at the price of 27,000 KRW (1080 PHP, 2017), yet with limited attractions they can offer at the top. Since it was just open to the public early 2017 expect for long queues before you can reach the observation deck. It is suggested to visit during early morning for shorter queue. Or you may want to visit by late afternoon to experience both day and night with sunset on the background.
When you thought that you are about to ride the elevator, not yet! We passed by around 3 or 5 of these waiting pathways before reaching the elevator. Don't expect for a glass wall or see thru elevator. But instead it will be a LCD and mirror surround elevator from ceiling to the sides.
Compared to bird's eye view in Namsan Tower, the scene on Seoul Sky Tower feels more closer to the city. You'll see a lot of residential buildings, bridges over Hangang River, offices and roads surrounding Jamsil area.
You can also see Lotte World Outdoor area from above.
If you see this pool of people looking on the floor, don't worry much. There are about 2 or 3 more floors which you can experience taking photos of your feet standing above the roads and cars.
There is also an open area (no additional fee) where ceiling is just covered with net and you can enjoy the cold strong winds from the higher floors of the tower.
Kids can enjoy candy store, playing pilots or drivers on these monitors and creating souvenir penny.
For couples and adults, they have a section where artists can paint or draw your photo into caricature.
Comparing to other towers I have visited, the area used for art display in the Lotte World Tower Observation Deck is just too small. Perhaps they can dedicate a bigger space for art exhibition, to have more value to guests visiting the tower.
For the postcard collectors, you can try the slow post service, where Seoul Sky Lotte Tower will send the postcard after a year it was posted.
Tips
If it's your first time to visit South Korea, I'd still go for one-way cable car to Namsan Tower especially if its during spring or autumn. Namsan offers a larger area for art exhibition rather than Sky Tower. Other activities available in Namsan are watching the changing of guards, locking love locks and a bit of hiking.
However, other places to enjoy in Jamsil area are Lotte World Amusement Park, Folk Museum (diorama on a grand scale) and Seokchon Lake Park.
I'll not try both (Namsan and Seoul Sky) towers in one visit. Not unless they add more attraction (i.e. glass wall walking or sky walking) or discount coupons to the top of Seoul Sky Tower.
Filming Location of Drama
Temperature of Love (SBS, Sept 2017) Ep 07
How to go to Seoul Sky Tower
Take Jamsil Station, Exit 1 or 2. Reach the Lotte Mall, you'll see direction arrows counter to buy the Seoul Sky tickets.
I'll not try both (Namsan and Seoul Sky) towers in one visit. Not unless they add more attraction (i.e. glass wall walking or sky walking) or discount coupons to the top of Seoul Sky Tower.
Filming Location of Drama
Temperature of Love (SBS, Sept 2017) Ep 07
When Park Jung-woo (Kim Jae-wook, an entertainment agency CEO) confesses her love to Lee Hyun-soo (Seo Hyun-jin, aspiring screenwriter). But she was torn with her long lost love, On Jung-seon (Yang Se-jong, chef-owner of Good Soup).
How to go to Seoul Sky Tower
Take Jamsil Station, Exit 1 or 2. Reach the Lotte Mall, you'll see direction arrows counter to buy the Seoul Sky tickets.
Summary: Autumn Itinerary for 5 days in Seoul, South Korea, 2017
Day
|
Places to see
|
Food and Restaurants
|
Where to Sleep
|
1
|
World Cup Park [Autumn/Bong Soo]
Seoul Forest Station [Autumn/K2] Konkuk University [Autumn/Goblin] Underground Market (Seoul Bus Terminal) | ||
2
|
W Hand Steak [Battle Trip]
|
Cocoon Guest House
| |
3
|
Digital Media [Best Punch]
Samcheong-dong [Autumn/Goblin]
Choongang High School [Goblin] Sungkyunkwan University [Autumn] Seoullo 7017 [Fight My Way] Cheonggyecheon Stream Lanterns |
Poop Pastry Insadong
Miss Lee Café [Yonghwa] Tea House White Birch Story [Goblin] Pork BBQ (Sookmyung) [Bong Soo] |
Cocoon Guest House
|
4
|
Seoul Sky Observatory [Temperature]
Deoksugung Observatory [Autumn] Seoul Museum of Art [Bok Joo] Yakhyeon Church |
Cocoon Guest House
| |
5
|
Cocoon Guest House
|
How about you? What were your highlights of visiting towers in Seoul? What would you say are must do's and tips for other travelers seeking sites for their next adventure? Post your comments below.
I visited Seoul Sky during a weekday morning, and it was very quiet. Namsan is definitely a great place to see views of Seoul on a budget, but for me, the view from Seoul Sky was incredible. I could see so far in every direction! I'd love to go back at sunset (but def wouldn't like the crowds)! ;)
ReplyDeleteFantastic pictures and post! I visited the tower with my family in the winter and the queue was... Insane. It took about 2-3 hours of standing to even reach the elevator! Was it as bad when you visited? But I am happy we went, the view is amazing and something everyone should experience at least once!
ReplyDeleteNot that bad, less than an hour of waiting and enjoying the lcd shows.
DeleteI have read lots of blog posts about the Sky Tower but I haven't been there yet. I'll wait for a free event to go up there, hahaha. I can't spare 27k just yet for a Seoul view. But I do appreciate photos from up there I get to see and read in posts like yours:-).
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the tips you mentioned. To be honest, I've been to Namsan Tower more than ten times and I haven't reached the observatory deck. I'm not a fan of paying just to see the view. Btw, great itinerary! Very suitable for Kdrama fans. I'm now struggling in making a new one because I've been to almost all the tourist spots. Haha!
ReplyDeleteWaoo! Nice article.. I was there last month too and without doubt Lotte Tower is one of my favorite places in Seoul now :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.koreadiaries.com/lotte-world-tower-will-make-you-fall-in-love-with-seoul/
I've not been to the top of the Lotte Tower yet. I noticed the the views from the window are really quite different from the Namsan Tower. Jamsil is quite grid-like in design and in my opinion, the neighbourhood is just too modern for my taste. Nice write-up.
ReplyDeleteThanks Natasha!
DeleteOh cool, a penny press! That brings me back to high school's memories of visiting Disney World in Florida and making pennies in different parts of the park. Its nice that they also incorporated multiple areas for seeing your feet on the see through floor, otherwise I think everyone would fight for that IG shot. 27,000 is agreeably steep compared to other places like Taipei 101, Govn't Buildings in Tokyo or Montparnasse Tower in Paris.
ReplyDelete