Last updated: October 2026
Here’s a thing that breaks every visitor’s brain: in Seoul, you can take the subway to a mountain. Not “near” a mountain. To it. Get off the train, walk past a row of hiking-gear shops and a makgeolli bar, and 40 minutes later you’re on a granite peak looking down at a city of ten million people.
Seoul is ringed by mountains, and Koreans take hiking very seriously. Full matching outfits, telescopic poles, a picnic that would feed a small army. Whether you want a sunset stroll or a proper summit with ropes and rock, here are the 8 best hikes in Seoul, from “wear sneakers” to “wear real boots and bring gloves.”
⚡ TL;DR: Easiest: Naksan and Namsan. Best effort-to-view ratio: Inwangsan at sunset. Best views for serious hikers: Bukhansan Baegundae (836 m, the top of Seoul). Want rocky ridges: Dobongsan and Gwanaksan. Every one of them starts at a subway station.
Seoul hikes at a glance
| Hike | Level | Height | Time (round trip) | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naksan (city wall) | 🟢 Very easy | 125 m | ~1 hour | Hyehwa Stn, Exit 2 |
| Namsan | 🟢 Easy | 262 m | 1.5–2 hours | Myeongdong / Dongguk Univ. Stn |
| Ansan Jarak-gil | 🟢 Easy | 296 m | 2–2.5 hours (loop) | Dongnimmun Stn |
| Inwangsan | 🟡 Easy–moderate | 338 m | ~2 hours | Dongnimmun Stn, Exit 2 |
| Achasan → Yongmasan | 🟡 Moderate | 295–348 m | 2–3 hours | Achasan Stn, Exit 2 |
| Gwanaksan (Yeonjudae) | 🟠 Hard | 629 m | 4–5 hours | Gwanaksan Stn (Sillim Line), Exit 1 |
| Dobongsan (Sinseondae) | 🟠 Hard | 726 m | 4–5 hours | Dobongsan Stn (Line 1/7) |
| Bukhansan (Baegundae) | 🔴 Hard | 836 m | 3.5–5 hours | Bukhansan Ui Stn / Gupabal Stn |
Times are for an average, healthy pace with breaks. Add more for photos, snacks, and the inevitable “just one more viewpoint.”
🟢 The easy ones (sneakers are fine)
1. Naksan Park and the Seoul City Wall
Barely a hike, completely worth it. From Hyehwa Station, walk up through Ihwa Mural Village to Naksan Park and follow the 600-year-old Seoul City Wall along the ridge. Go at sunset and stay for the night view: the wall lit up, the city glowing below. Romantic enough to be a K-drama set (it literally is one).
2. Namsan
Seoul’s most famous hill, topped by N Seoul Tower. Skip the cable car line and walk: the stairs from Myeongdong take about 30–45 minutes, or take the flat, shady Namsan Dulle-gil loop around the mountain. Cherry blossoms in spring, red and gold in fall, city lights all year.
3. Ansan Jarak-gil
A 7 km wooden boardwalk loop wrapped around Ansan, with no stairs on the main loop. It’s wheelchair and stroller friendly, shaded, and passes through a tall metasequoia forest and views over Inwangsan and the city. Perfect for a lazy morning or a jet-lagged first day.
🔥 Hot take: Ansan Jarak-gil is the world’s most beautiful excuse to say you “went hiking” without breaking a sweat. I fully support this.
🟡 The sweet spot (real hike, short time)
4. Inwangsan
Best effort-to-view ratio in Seoul, no contest. From Dongnimmun Station, follow the city wall straight up a rocky ridge to the 338 m summit. In about an hour you’re looking down on Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Blue House area, Namsan Tower, and the whole downtown skyline. Sunset here is unreal.
- Some short, steep stone stairs and rock near the top. Wear shoes with grip.
- Bonus: Inwangsan connects to Bugaksan (the mountain behind the palace) along the city wall if you want more.
5. Achasan → Yongmasan
A gentle ridge on the east side of Seoul with big Han River views. From Achasan Station, climb to the Goguryeo-era fortress site and the Haemaji sunrise spot, then keep going along the ridge to Yongmasan. Locals come here on January 1 to watch the first sunrise of the year.
🟠🔴 The real mountains (for serious hikers)
6. Gwanaksan (Yeonjudae)
Gwanaksan is rocky, steep and brilliant. The prize is Yeonjudae, a tiny hermitage perched on a cliff edge at 629 m. It’s one of the most photographed spots in Korean hiking. Start from Gwanaksan Station on the Sillim Line or Seoul National University side and expect plenty of scrambling.
7. Dobongsan (Sinseondae)
Dobongsan is a jagged wall of granite peaks in northern Seoul (full route guide: Dobongsan hiking guide). The true summit, Jaunbong (740 m), is for rock climbers only. Hikers aim for Sinseondae (726 m) right next to it, with ropes and rails on the final section. Lighter option: hike to Cheonchuksa temple only, about 30–40 minutes each way.
🤫 Friend tip: Dobongsan Station is ground zero for Korean hiking culture. Walk out the exit and you’ll pass outdoor-gear outlets, street snacks and pajeon spots. Come back down hungry.
8. Bukhansan (Baegundae)
The big one. Baegundae (836 m) is the highest point in Seoul (full route guide: Bukhansan hiking guide), a huge granite dome inside Bukhansan National Park. The last stretch is steep bare rock with steel cables to pull yourself up. At the top you get a 360° view over the city, the ridges of Insubong, and the mountains beyond.
- Shortest route: from the Baegundae Trail Center on the Ui side, roughly 2 km to the top. Steep but short.
- Scenic route: from Bukhansanseong Trail Center (bus from Gupabal Station), past the old fortress gate Daeseomun, about 3.4 km and roughly 2 hours 40 minutes up.
- Wear real hiking shoes and bring gloves for the cables. It gets crowded on fall weekends.
🙅 Skip: climbing Baegundae in sneakers on a rainy day.
👉 Do this instead: wait for dry weather, wear proper shoes, and bring gloves. Wet granite is basically a slide.
No gear? Seoul has you covered
Seoul runs Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers at the foot of Bukhansan (about 5 minutes from Bukhansan Ui Station, Exit 2), Bugaksan, and Gwanaksan (Gwanaksan Station, Exit 1). They give trail advice in English, Chinese and Japanese, and foreign visitors can rent hiking shoes, clothes, poles and crampons for cheap. Some centers also have lockers and changing rooms.
🤫 Friend tip: Check the center’s opening hours and rental availability before you go, especially on weekends and in winter when crampons are in demand.
Korean hiking culture 101
- The outfit. Koreans hike in head-to-toe technical gear, even on a 1-hour trail. You don’t have to. But you will feel underdressed.
- Say hello. A quick “annyeonghaseyo” to people passing is normal on the trail.
- The summit snack. Expect to see people unpack gimbap, fruit, boiled eggs and coffee at the top. Bring your own and join the party.
- The after-party. Hike down, then pajeon and makgeolli near the trailhead. This is the most important part of the hike.
- Fire rules. No smoking or cooking on the mountain. National parks fine people for it.
Seasonal tips
| Season | What to know |
|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | Cherry blossoms and azaleas. Some trails close for a few weeks in spring wildfire season. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Hot, humid, monsoon rain. Start early, bring lots of water, avoid rock after rain. |
| Fall (Oct–Nov) | Peak season. Gorgeous foliage, big weekend crowds. Some high trails close in mid-November for wildfire season. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Icy trails. Crampons are a must on Bukhansan, Dobongsan and Gwanaksan. |
Want a bigger mountain trip? Read my Seoraksan autumn guide. Visiting in the cold months? My Korea in Winter guide has you covered.
FAQ
What is the best hike in Seoul for beginners?
Inwangsan is the best mix of easy and spectacular. For something even easier, try Naksan Park or the Ansan Jarak-gil boardwalk.
What is the highest mountain in Seoul?
Bukhansan’s Baegundae peak, at 836 m. The final section uses steel cables, so wear proper shoes and gloves.
Can I rent hiking gear in Seoul?
Yes. Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers near Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan rent shoes, clothes, poles and crampons to foreign visitors at low prices.
Can I reach Seoul’s mountains by subway?
Yes. Every hike in this guide starts at or near a subway station. Bukhansan’s scenic route needs a short bus ride from Gupabal Station.
Which one are you doing first? Tell me in the comments. Read my full Bukhansan hiking guide with English route maps. Dobongsan, Inwangsan and Namsan guides are coming next.
Trail conditions, closures and center hours can change. Check the Korea National Park Service and official Seoul tourism sources before you go.
👋 Written by Brian. A Seoul-based physician who performs aesthetic skin treatments, and a Seoul local for 30+ years. I’ve traveled much of Korea, spent two months living in Jeju, cook at home a lot and will happily cross the city for one good bowl of noodles. More about me →
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