This view is free. Seoul City Hall 9th-floor observatory

In conclusion, if you want to fill 30 minutes of free time in the Myeongdong–Euljiro area, the most cost-effective choice right now is “Haneul Observatory (하늘전망대)” on the 9th floor of Seoul City Hall (서울시청). Admission is free, no reservation is required, and there is no need to line up at a ticket counter.

This is a new attraction that was just opened to the public on July 6, 2026, after the 8th and 9th floors on the west side of City Hall were renovated. From the rooftops of Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) and Jeongdong (정동) to Sungnyemun Gate (숭례문) to the south and Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장) to the north, the heart of Seoul is laid out right before your eyes.

It has barely appeared in Japanese guidebooks yet. Even so, more than 6,700 people visited within 10 days of its opening (reported by Munhwa Ilbo on July 20). In other words, it is only a matter of time before it becomes widely known.

Getting there is as simple as “taking the elevator on the 1st floor”

The route to the observatory is almost comically simple. From the 1st floor of City Hall, take the elevator to the 9th-floor café “Haneul Plaza.” That is all it takes to reach the observatory. There is no need to write your name at a reception desk or reserve a time slot on a website in advance.

This space was originally a waiting area connected to a multipurpose room on the 8th floor. It was not open to the public and was merely a place where staff attending events could take a short break. After people began saying, “Let’s share this view with the citizens,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government began remodeling it last year, eventually leading to its opening this time. The interior is also scheduled to be improved in stages going forward (Kyunghyang Shinmun, July 6, 2026).

The observatory also has a dedicated seating area. Rather than being designed for “taking a photo and leaving,” it lets you sit down and enjoy the view for a while, which is a quietly welcome feature when you are traveling on a tight schedule.

Item	Details
Location	Seoul City Hall, west side, 9th floor “Haneul Observatory (하늘전망대)”
Admission	Free
Reservations	Not required
Hours	Weekdays 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Access	City Hall 1st floor → Elevator to the 9th-floor café “Haneul Plaza”
Views	Deoksugung Palace and Jeongdong / Sungnyemun Gate (south) / Gwanghwamun Square (north)

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What you can see is the complete “textbook” of Korean travel

The value of this observation deck lies not in its height, but in what comes into view. Below are Deoksugung Palace and the Jeongdong area. The stonewall road and the palace’s tiled roofs, with the modern city buildings beyond them, spread out as a perfect microcosm of Seoul.

Turn your gaze south and you’ll see Sungnyemun Gate. Face north and you’ll see Gwanghwamun Square. In other words, you can take in from above all the places you’re likely to walk around on the first day of your trip. Stop by in the morning on your arrival day and get the overall layout in your head—it will make getting around afterward surprisingly easy.

Editor’s note: If the observation decks at N Seoul Tower and Lotte World Tower offer the experience of “looking down over the city from afar,” this one lets you “look down at the city you plan to walk through, from within walking distance.” In terms of getting your bearings, it’s the kind of observation deck that’s especially useful at the start of a trip.

The deciding factor is “whether you can fit it into a weekday”

The only—and biggest—condition is that the listed hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. If your itinerary is packed with plans for the weekend, you may not be able to enter at all. To be safe, check the open days again before visiting.

Conversely, if you have a weekday itinerary, there’s hardly a spot easier to fit in. Here are three recommended ways to include it.

• First thing in the morning: It opens at 7:30 a.m., so visit before or after breakfast. Look down over the quiet city center when it’s less crowded
• After lunch: Eat around City Hall → observation deck → take a walk along Deoksugung Palace’s stonewall road, creating a smooth afternoon route
• Between shopping stops: Slip away for just 30 minutes as a break while shopping in Myeong-dong or Euljiro

City Hall Station sits directly above the intersection of Subway Lines 1 and 2. It’s within walking distance from both Myeong-dong and Gwanghwamun, making it ideal for fitting into the gaps “between plans.” If you want to avoid the crowds, aim for the morning right after opening.

Another free observation deck nearby

Seoul has long had the Jeongdong Observation Deck (정동전망대) on the 13th floor of the Seosomun Annex (서소문청사). Along with the Haneul Observation Deck, it is attracting attention as a new viewpoint in the city center. You can even enjoy the luxurious option of visiting both, with Deoksugung Palace between them✨

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Summary

Seoul City Hall's 9th-floor Haneul Observatory is free, requires no reservation, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Simply take the elevator from the first floor to the 9th-floor café “Haneul Plaza,” and you can enjoy a panoramic view of central Seoul, from Deoksugung Palace and Jeong-dong to Sungnyemun Gate and Gwanghwamun Square.

What you need to do is simple: set aside 30 minutes of free time in your itinerary on a weekday. That alone will get you a view that has not yet been widely featured in Japanese travel information—for 0 won. If you plan to walk around Myeongdong or Gwanghwamun, stopping by beforehand is the most efficient order🌇

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation for Seoul City Hall's Haneul Observatory?

No reservation is required. Admission is also free; simply take the elevator from the first floor of the city hall to the 9th-floor café “Haneul Plaza,” and you can enter the observatory directly. There is no ticket purchase or advance application process.

What are the available hours?

The listed hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Since it opens early in the morning, you can also stop by before work or after breakfast. If you plan to include it in a weekend itinerary, it is safest to check the open days before visiting.

What can I see from the observatory?

The area around Deoksugung Palace and Jeong-dong spreads out directly in front of you, while central Seoul can be seen all the way south to Sungnyemun Gate and north to Gwanghwamun Square. There is also a rest area, so instead of taking photos and leaving right away, you can sit down and enjoy the view at your leisure.