What Is the Seoul City Tour Bus? (And Why You Need It)
Seoul’s subway system is honestly one of the best ways to get around the city.
But if you’re trying to visit several major attractions in one day, there’s a little more to it than just hopping on a train.
You have to figure out which line to take, where to transfer, which exit to use, and how far you’ll have to walk once you get out of the station. And after doing that a few times in one day, those stairs and extra walking can really add up.
That’s where the Seoul City Tour Bus comes in.
Instead of spending your day underground, you can ride through the city and actually see Seoul along the way. You’ll pass busy shopping streets, traditional neighborhoods, palaces, modern landmarks, and some of the city’s most recognizable sights—all while getting from one place to another.
It can also be a really good option if you’re traveling with parents, kids, or anyone who doesn’t want to spend the whole day going up and down subway stairs.
And the best part? You can hop on and off.
How Does the “Hop-On Hop-Off” System Work?
The Seoul City Tour Bus works a little differently from a regular sightseeing bus.
You don’t have to stay on the bus for the entire route. You can get off at a stop you want to explore, spend as much time as you like there, and then hop back on a later bus to continue your trip.
For example, you could get off near Gyeongbokgung Palace, explore the palace and nearby streets, then get back on and continue toward another part of Seoul.
This makes the bus especially useful if you want to see several popular areas without constantly checking subway routes and transfer stations.
Where Does the Seoul City Tour Bus Take You?
The daytime Seoul City Tour Bus starts at Gwanghwamun and makes a loop through some of the most popular sightseeing areas in central Seoul.
The route has 15 stops, connecting everything from Myeongdong and N Seoul Tower to DDP, Seoul’s royal palaces, Bukchon, the Blue House, and Gwanghwamun Square. If you stay on the bus for the entire loop, it takes about 1.5 hours.
The Route at a Glance
Gwanghwamun → Myeongdong → Namsangol Hanok Village → N Seoul Tower → DDP → Daehak-ro → Changgyeonggung → Changdeokgung → Insa-dong & Bukchon → Blue House → Gyeongbokgung → Gwanghwamun Square → Gwanghwamun
There are a few extra stops along the way, mainly around hotels and Namsan, but these are the ones most travelers will probably care about.
And no, you don’t have to get off everywhere. Please don’t try to. You’d spend the whole day getting on and off the bus instead of actually seeing Seoul.
For example, you could get off at Gyeongbokgung Palace, walk around the palace and head over to Bukchon or Insadong, then catch the next bus when you’re ready to move on.
Or maybe you’re already planning to visit N Seoul Tower and Myeongdong. In that case, just use the bus to get between them and enjoy the city views along the way.
You can even stay on the bus for part of the route if you just want a break from walking. Sometimes it’s nice to sit down, look out the window, and actually watch Seoul go by.
That’s what I like about the Hop-On Hop-Off setup. You’re not locked into a tour group or a strict schedule. You can get off when something catches your eye, explore for a while, and hop back on when you’re ready to go.
From Gwanghwamun to Dongdaemun
Gwanghwamun Station is where you’ll start the tour. It’s right by Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung Palace, so it’s an easy place to begin if you’re sightseeing around the historic center.
Next comes Myeongdong, which is probably the most convenient stop if shopping, Korean cosmetics, or street food is on your list.
A little farther along is Namsangol Hanok Village, where you can get a quick look at traditional Korean houses without making a separate trip outside the city center.
Then there’s N Seoul Tower on Namsan. This is one of the stops where getting off is actually worth it, especially if you want a good view of Seoul from above.
After Namsan, the bus heads toward Dongdaemun. The stop near DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) is a good one to remember if you’re interested in Seoul’s more modern side. You’ll also be close to Dongdaemun’s shopping area, which stays lively well into the evening.
If you’re more interested in palaces and traditional Seoul than shopping, though, I’d stay on the bus and continue to Changdeokgung, Insa-dong & Bukchon, or Gyeongbokgung. You’ll get more out of the route that way.
Where to Buy Seoul City Tour Bus Tickets (And the Smartest Way to Do It)
There are two main ways to get your hands on a Seoul City Tour Bus ticket: buying it on-site at a physical ticket booth or booking it online in advance.
| From Gwanghwamun | Stops | Full Loop | Bus Interval | Closed |
| First bus: 09:20 Last bus: 16:50 | 15 stops (Unlimited boarding and getting off) | About 1.5 hours | Every 25 minutes | Every Monday |
Buying at the On-site Ticket Booths
If you prefer to buy your ticket on the day of your tour, you need to head to one of the official ticket booths. Keep in mind that there are two different operators in Seoul, so you must go to the correct booth depending on the route you want to take:
- Days Off: Closed on Mondays
(If Monday is a public holiday, it operates on Monday and closes on Tuesday instead). - Audio Guide: Headphones provided; multilingual audio guide supported in 12 languages.
- All seats are first come, first served, so there’s no assigned seating. Just get on, find a seat you like, and settle in.
How to Get to the Gwanghwamun Ticket Booth (Tiger Bus)
- From Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 6, walk straight for about 50 meters, and you’ll see the ticket booth.
- From City Hall Station (Lines 1 & 2), Exit 3, walk toward Gwanghwamun for about 5 minutes (around 300 meters), and you’ll find the ticket booth.
How Much Is the Seoul City Tour Bus?
| Tour | Operator | Adult | Child | Type |
| Downtown Palaces Namsan Course | Tiger Bus | ₩27,000 | ₩19,000 | Hop-on Hop-off |
| Night Tour | Tiger Bus | ₩25,000 | ₩16,000 | Non-stop |
If you’re taking one of the ‘Namsan or Night Tour routes’, booking online in advance is usually a little cheaper than buying your ticket on the day.
Want to save a little? Check the online prices and book your ticket here.
Tips for Riding the Seoul City Tour Bus
Since you can hop off wherever you want, spend as much time as you like, and jump back on when you’re ready to move on, I’d recommend starting your day early. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to actually make the most of the Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
- Check the Next Bus Before You Hop Off
The buses come about every 25 minutes, but trying to keep track of the timing in your head
can get annoying. Before you start your tour, take a quick photo of the timetable and save it
on your phone.
Then, when you’re exploring each stop, plan your sightseeing around the next bus instead of
just showing up and hoping one comes soon. It’ll save you a lot of unnecessary waiting time.
- The Open-Top Deck Is Great… Until the Weather Isn’t
But keep the weather in mind. It can be surprisingly chilly and windy up there, especially in spring and fall. In summer, the sun can be brutal.
A light jacket, sunglasses, and sunscreen are a good idea. And if the weather looks questionable, don’t feel bad about moving downstairs. The view is still pretty good.
- You Can’t Choose Your Bus Type
Depending on the departure, you may get an open-top double-decker, a glass-top double-decker, or a semi-open single-decker bus.
You can’t request a specific type when you book, so if you’re hoping for the classic open-top bus you’ve seen in photos, just keep in mind that it isn’t guaranteed.
- Don’t Try to See Everything in One Ride
The route has a lot of stops, but you really don’t need to get off at every single one.
I’d pick a few places you really want to visit, then use the bus to connect them. For example, you could spend the morning around Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon, then hop back on and continue toward Namsan or Myeongdong.
And sometimes, just staying on the bus for a few stops is worth it. Sit back, look out the window, and let Seoul go by.
- Your Ticket Isn’t a Regular T-Money Ride
This is a tour bus, so you can’t simply tap your regular T-money card when you get on.
You need a City Tour Bus ticket to ride, and the City Tour Bus ticket does not work like a regular Seoul bus or subway fare with free transfers.
So if you’re planning to use the subway before or after your tour, you’ll need to pay for that separately.
Is the Seoul City Tour Bus Worth It?
For a first trip to Seoul, I think it can be a really fun way to spend part of a day.
Not because it’s cheaper than the subway—it isn’t.
Not because it’s faster—it usually isn’t.
The reason to take it is that the journey itself becomes part of your sightseeing.
You get to sit back, see Seoul above ground, listen to the audio guide in your language, and get a better sense of how different parts of the city connect. The daytime course also lets you hop on and off throughout the day, so you’re not stuck on a fixed sightseeing schedule.
It also works well if you’re trying to fit several major sights into one day without spending the whole day figuring out subway transfers.
You don’t have to ride the entire loop or get off at every stop. Pick a few places you actually want to explore, spend your time there, and use the bus when you’re ready to move on.
That’s really where the Seoul City Tour Bus makes the most sense.
It’s not a replacement for Seoul’s subway system. It’s a different way to experience the city.
If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to see how Seoul actually looks and feels between the major sights—not just check places off a list—I’d give it a try.
Start at Gwanghwamun, grab a seat, and let the city come to you for a while.
👉 See the current route, schedule, and ticket information
Want to see Seoul after dark instead?
The Seoul City Tour Bus also offers a ‘non-stop night tour’, with a different route and a stop at N Seoul Tower for the night view. Unlike the daytime Hop-On Hop-Off course, you stay on the bus throughout the tour.