What is the Seoul City Wall?
The Seoul City Wall is a historic fortress wall that once surrounded Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty.
Built in 1396 to protect the capital and mark its boundaries, the wall stretched for about 18 km, connecting four major mountains around central Seoul: Naksan, Inwangsan, Bugaksan, and Namsan.
Today, parts of the wall have been restored, making it one of the coolest ways to explore Seoul on foot. You can walk along the historic stone walls while taking in a mix of old Seoul and the city’s modern skyline.
What Is the Naksan Section?
The Naksan Section is the eastern part of the Seoul City Wall, stretching about 2 km from Hyehwamun Gate to Heunginjimun Gate.
Compared to some of the more rugged sections of the wall, this route is relatively gentle, so you don’t need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it.
As you walk, you’ll have the old stone wall on one side and views of downtown Seoul, including Daehangno and the Dongdaemun area, on the other.
Around Naksan Park, the city really comes into view, with the historic wall and Seoul’s modern skyline sharing the same scene. It’s also one of the best spots along the route to stop for photos.
How Long Does the Naksan Walk Take?
The Naksan section is one of the shortest and easiest parts of the Seoul City Wall.
The walk is about ‘2.1 km (1.3 miles)’ and takes around ‘1 to 1.5 hours’ at a relaxed pace.
- Distance : About 2.1 km (1.3 miles)
- Difficulty : Easy and beginner-friendly
- Admission Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: Open 24/7
Compared with steeper fortress-wall trails like Inwangsan or Bugaksan, Naksan is much more laid-back. The slopes are fairly gentle and most of the path is well paved, so it feels more like a scenic walk through the city than a serious hike.
That said, don’t rush it. You’ll probably want to stop for photos, take in the city views, wander through ‘Ihwa Mural Village’, or grab a coffee at one of the nearby rooftop cafés. If you want to do all of that, set aside ‘2 to 3 hours’.
Where Does the Naksan Fortress Wall Walk Start?
Step 1: Start at Dongdaemun Station
Come out of Exit 1 at Dongdaemun Station (Lines 1 & 4)turn around, and just keep walking straight.
You’ll see a hill next to the CU convenience store, and you might be tempted to head up—but don’t!
Walk past it and keep going straight.
Keep walking straight for about 3~5 minutes from the Dongdaemun station, and you’ll come across Heunginjimun Park (흥인지문 공원), where the fortress-wall walk begins.
Just look for the path shown by the arrow in the photo and head up from there.
Head up toward the church you can see ahead.
What You’ll See Along the Way
As you make your way up the gentle slope, you’ll soon hit your first great viewpoint, with ‘Heunginjimun Gate and the fortress wall stretching out below you’.
The best part? It’s only about a ’10~15minute walk from the subway station’, so you don’t have to commit to a long hike just to get a nice view. It’s a pretty easy spot to reach, even if you’re traveling with kids or older family members. Just keep in mind that there are some uphill sections and stairs, so it’s not wheelchair- or stroller-friendly.
And honestly, you don’t have to make it all the way to the top. If you’re mainly here for the views, photos, or the city lights after dark, this is a great place to stop, hang out for a bit, and head back down. Honestly, some people just stop here and call it a day. And you know what? Totally fair.
We decided to do the full loop and make our way back down after walking the fortress-wall trail, so off we went.
There’s a bit of uphill walking at the start, but nothing too steep. The views are so pretty along the way that we kept stopping for photos—and honestly, we barely noticed the climb.
And yes, this is the same stretch of the fortress wall where ‘Rumi and Jinu walk together in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’.’
One thing to keep in mind as you make your way up: ‘people actually live in the neighborhood along the trail.’ It’s especially peaceful at night, so if you’re walking after dark, just keep your voice down and be mindful of the neighbors.
As we walked along the fortress wall, we came across a café with a pretty amazing view. If your legs are starting to feel it, this would be a pretty nice place to take a break. We already had coffee in our hands, though, so we just kept walking. 😂
The walk takes about ‘1 to 1.5 hours’, and there’s a restroom along the way, so no need to hold back on that coffee or bottle of water. You can take your time, stay hydrated, and enjoy the walk without worrying about finding a bathroom.
Once the sun goes down, the fortress wall takes on a whole different vibe. The city lights start to sparkle below, while the old rooftops and modern skyline blend together in the distance. It’s one of those views that makes you want to slow down and stay a little longer.
Once you reach the top, take a moment to enjoy the Seoul night view. Since we wanted to stay on the fortress-wall trail as we made our way down, we chose to head toward Hansung University Station(한성대역) instead of taking the route down toward Hyehwa Station(혜화역) and Marronnier Park.
Hyehwa and Hansung University Station are just one stop apart on Line 4, so if you’re not planning to grab dinner around Daehangno near Hyehwa, heading down toward Hansung University Station is a great option too.
Down the Fortress Wall to Hansung University Station
Go through the small gate that lets you continue along the fortress wall, then turn left. You’ll find yourself heading down another section of the fortress trail with a completely different feel.
Hanyangdoseong is one of the longest-standing city walls in the world, serving as Seoul’s city wall from 1396 to 1910—514 years in total.
As you walk along the trail, you’ll notice that the stones aren’t all the same. Their size and shape change depending on when and where that section of the wall was built, which makes the walk even more interesting.
The Naksan route takes you along the old fortress wall and all the way to Ihwa Mural Village, giving you a chance to see a different side of Seoul right in the middle of the city—from nighttime views and history to the charm of its little neighborhood streets.
Once you reach the stairs at the end of the fortress wall and make your way down, the walk comes to an end.
From the bottom of the stairs, just keep going straight in the direction of the arrow, and you’ll soon reach the entrance to Hansung University Station on Line 4. From there, you can hop on the subway and head to your next stop.
There are several ways to get to Naksan Park, but the route I shared here is an easier option if you want the views without too much of a climb. Feel free to use it as a starting point and tweak the route to make it your own.