Seoul Sky Tower Observatory: Incredible Sky-High Views
Seoul Sky Tower, or Lotte World Tower, is Korea’s soaring silver skyscraper with incredible city views from a panoramic observation deck.
Exhilarating heights.
Magnificent sunset views of the Han River.
Twinkling city lights under a moonlit sky and a sense of romance through the night.
Roam with me to South Korea’s tallest building, also referred to as Lotte World Tower (롯데월드타워 or 서울 스카이). Here, we’ll see the city from above the clouds.
This landmark guide includes in-person photos from my visit, personal insights, and travel notes with the essentials you need to plan your itinerary.
Ready to see the city from a different perspective🌆?
Then, let’s roam!
More Things To Do in Seoul
Seoul Sky Tower: My Experience
Building Entrance
Modern Interior of the Tower
The tower structure has a contemporary mall at the base. It has a glass ceiling and an atrium.
Sign at the Entrance
Waiting Area with Art Installations
Digital Art
Digital Art on the Ceiling
Mini Statues
Elevator Up Covered with TV Screens
Television screens surround the inside of the elevators.
The screens show what Seoul looks like outside as you ride the elevator up to the top of the tower.
It felt like I was on a VR rollercoaster ride.
Panoramic Observatory Deck
Observation Deck
The best time to visit is slightly before sunset to see the daytime, sunset, and nightscape scenery.
Going when the skies are clear and without smog will give you the best experience.
Looking closely at the photo above, you can see Seoul Tower in the distance.
Unfortunately, I didn’t check the weather forecast beforehand. So there was tons of smog and foggy weather.
It was freezing outside. So, I enjoyed Seoul winters inside a warm building.
Han River & Skyline Views of Seoul
Here’s a view of the Han River from the windows of the observatory deck.
At night, the buildings and bridges light up.
During the day, you can see the mountainous terrain and Seoul skyline.
Clear Glass Floor
Another fun thing to do is stand on the clear glass floors.
You can see the cars passing by on the road or just stuck in traffic from high up.
Digital Telescopes
There are digital telescopes that 36X zoom into various landmarks in the city.
Using them costs 2,000 Won for three minutes.
I’m not sure they’re that worth it, though.
Sunset Views of Seoul’s Cityscape
But the sunset views were totally worth it.
Tablet with Interactive Digital Map of Seoul
There were also touchscreen tablets with interactive maps visitors could use.
You can change the language to English or one of your choice from the right-hand corner.
Signs of Seoul Attractions from the Observatory Deck
As I walked around, there were signs of popular attractions in Seoul.
The signs point out landmarks and districts, which you can see from the windows above.
Seoul Sky Cafe
Coffeeshops on the observation deck have cityscape views of Seoul.
There are seating areas to hang out with people and enjoy the scenery, but it can get crowded.
Colorful Lattes & Iced Tea
The lattes were in blue and purple pastel colors.
You could order iced tea, too.
Seoul Sky During Christmas
Around holidays and events, the observatory is decked in themed decor.
During Christmas time, beautiful Christmas trees were hanging from the ceiling with ornaments.
Seoul Sky Tower: Travel Information
Ticket Price
Hours
Best Time To Visit the Observatory
The best time to visit the observatory is from sunset to nightime on a weekday to see the nightscape city lights and sunset views with less wait time.
I always avoid visiting on the weekends. Weekends (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday) always have the longest queue. Sometimes, you can end up waiting multiple hours!
If you’re visiting here, the sunsets can’t be missed. They’re a fabulous sight because you can see the mountains and Hangang River in the background.
When the weather is cold outside, it’s an ideal travel destination. You can enjoy the city while staying warm inside.
Other popular times to visit are when there’s no smog and the sky is clear, so you can see the Han River and the city better.
Tower History
Also known as the Lotte World Tower, the skyscraper building was built by the Lotte Corporation.
It was officially opened to the public in 2017.
The tower was designed by the renowned architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.
The design blends both traditional Korean styles and modern aesthetics.
Architecture
Standing tall at a staggering 1,821 feet (555 meters), the skyscraper dominates the Seoul skyline.
It has 123 floors.
| Floors | Facilities |
|---|---|
| 123 | Lounge 123: Korea’s bar lounge |
| 122 | Seoul Sky Cafe & Angel in Us Cafe |
| 121 | Seoul Sky Souvenir Shop & Exit |
| 120 | Observation Deck & Exit |
| 119 | Observatory Deck & Sky Friends Dessert Cafe |
| 117 | Entrance for Observatory Deck |
| 86 | Spa |
| 82 | Bicena Korean restaurant |
| 81 | Stay French restaurant & Bicena Korean restaurant |
| 7 | Lotte Museum of Art |
| B1-B2 | Base observatory entrance |
Address
Travel Map
How to Get There
The easiest way to get to Lotte World Tower is by taking the subway line 2 (green) or line 8 (pink) to Jamsil Station.
When you arrive, take exit 1 or 2.
Lotte World Tower is not located inside Lotte World theme park.
Traveling from Lotte World Tower to Seoul Station
Lotte World Tower is a 50-minute to 1-hour subway ride from Seoul Station.
Bar or Restaurant at the top of Lotte World Tower
There’s a bar lounge and restaurant at the top of the tower where you can have a drink or bite to eat with Seoul’s cityscape.
It’s called Lounge 123 and is Korea’s highest-elevated bar.
A few Korean and Western restaurants are also in the middle of the building.
Free ways to get to the observatory deck
There’s no free way to get to the observatory deck.
You can visit the Lounge 123 Bar & Restaurant, which has views similar to the observatory’s.
There used to be a food court open to the public called SKY31 Food Avenue, but it is now permanently closed.
Date Night at Seoul Sky
Yes, Seoul Sky is good for a date night in Seoul.
A bar lounge and restaurant at the top of the tower serve romantic nightscape dining through the evening, perfect for date nights and special occasions.
Inside the Lotte World Tower
Inside the Lotte World Tower is an observation deck, mall, coffee shops, hotel, Lotte Museum of Art, bar lounge, and restaurants are inside Lotte World Tower.
My Closing Thoughts
This observation deck has excellent contemporary architecture, interior design, and panoramic views of Seoul.
At the top, you can see Seoul from a different perspective.🌆
When planning a trip to Seoul, it’s a fun destination to add to a Seoul itinerary.
Happy roaming, Roamers! I hope you found this guide helpful when visiting Seoul Sky Tower.
