Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory Guide (2026): Free Views & Tips

No entrance fee, no reservation needed!

This is a must-visit spot near City Hall Station (시청역) offering panoramic views of downtown Seoul.

I visited the Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory (서울시청 하늘전망대).

How to get to the Seoul City Hall Observatory, operating hours,

my personal viewing tips, and

even the autumn scenery of Seoul as the leaves begin to change –

I'll share my honest review from my recent visit!

01. Basic Information on Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory

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The Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory opened last July.

Located on the 8th and 9th floors of the west side of the Seoul City Hall Main Building,

it's a new observation space opened for citizens.

What was once an exclusive staff-only area for city hall employees

has been remodeled and opened to the public for the first time this year.

From the Seoul City Hall Observatory, you can see the heart of Seoul, including Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁), Seoul Plaza (서울광장),

and the Gwanghwamun (광화문) area.

On the 8th floor, the Sky Plaza Gallery offers free exhibitions,

while on the 9th floor, you'll find a cafe and merchandise.

With no need for reservations or admission fees,

it's a perfect spot for a Seoul date, a day out with international friends,

or even a family outing with parents and children!

02. How to Get to Seoul City Hall Observatory

First, to reach Seoul City Hall, take Exit 5 from City Hall Station

and walk for about 1 minute until you see the main entrance.

Once inside the main entrance, near the robot cafe on your right,

you'll spot a dedicated elevator covered in vines.

Line up in front of this elevator

and take it up to the 9th floor, where the Sky Observatory awaits.

When you arrive on the 9th floor, you'll find a cafe.

There's plenty of seating available,

and while it's not quite the same as the main observatory, you can still catch a glimpse of the downtown Seoul view.

With coffee and a variety of merchandise on offer,

you might enjoy a relaxed cup of coffee at the cafe first

before heading to the observatory!

If you're heading straight to the Sky Observatory,

walk straight past the cafe and continue to your left

to find the observatory entrance.

03. My Honest Review

Stepping into the observatory entrance,

the main tourist attractions of Seoul

and future attractions under construction are introduced with illustrations on the wall railings.

When I visited, there were quite a few foreign tourists,

and they seemed genuinely fascinated by this wall.

From the Hangang Bus (한강버스) completed last year,

to the Changdong Seoul Arena (창동 서울아레나) currently under construction!

It was great to see Seoul's present and future at a glance,

so I stopped and took a good look too.

If you ever go with a foreign tourist friend,

make sure not to just pass by, but to take your time and explore it!

Once you step into the observatory space,

the panoramic view of Seoul's city center unfolds before your eyes.

Since it's exactly the time when autumn leaves are just starting to change,

the scenery with the vibrant fall foliage amidst the city was truly beautiful!

There's also a **space provided where you can sit and enjoy the view**.

While there aren't many seats, the observatory space isn't very large,

so the **viewing time is approximately 30 minutes**.

Even a quick stand-and-look is enough to soak it all in.

**📌 What views can you see?**

If you stand at the observatory and look to your right,

you can vaguely see Cheong Wa Dae,

but honestly, I couldn't really make out Sungnyemun on the left (to be honest!) ㅠㅠ

Still, the sight of busy citizens,

Seoul painted with autumn leaves, and the major buildings —

The fact that you can **enjoy all these sights for free, in a tranquil setting, for a long time**

is what I really loved about it~

For your information, the observatory is on the 9th and 8th floors.

You need to go all the way into the 9th-floor observatory space,

where you'll find the stairs leading down to the 8th-floor observatory.

Here's a little viewing tip for you:

**Don't miss the 8th-floor Sky Square Gallery (하늘광장 갤러리) exhibition!**

Currently, there's a free exhibition called 'Traces of Seoul' ('서울의 흔적'),

but today is its last day...

Aside from this exhibition, it's planned that free exhibitions

will continue to be held in the future,

so while you're visiting the Sky Observatory (하늘전망대), pop down to the floor right below and

Enjoy the exhibition for free too~

There's also a wall introducing Seoul's key tourist attractions,

and a downtown view where you can see Seoul at a glance,

making it great to bring foreign friends,

but most of all, it's wonderful to visit with our parents and children.

Except for Sundays, which are closed,

the fact that you can see such a Seoul view for free anytime

made me truly grateful once again.

A fun spot near City Hall Station (시청역) where you can enjoy Seoul's scenery for free,

make it a fall outing when you have time 😊

📌 In a nutshell?

✅ An observatory located on the 8th and 9th floors of the west side of Seoul City Hall (서울시청)

✅ Operates on weekdays/weekends except Sundays, free admission

✅ Take the vine elevator near the robot cafe on the 1st floor

✅ Viewing time is about 30 minutes, also enjoy the free exhibition on the 8th floor