The Best Places To See The Sunset In Seoul

Last Updated on August 5, 2026

One summer, as part of the Global Seoul Mates there was a mission to showcase Seoul’s gorgeous sunsets and oh how many beautiful sunsets did I enjoy. We were sharing sunsets for the whole month of August and this summer as August rolled around again, I was thinking back to some of the best places to see the sunset in Seoul.

Do you want to see pink and orange skies over skyscrapers? Or want to see the sunset while you picnic along the Han River? Ever wondered where the best places to see the sunset in Seoul are? Well, let me tell you, I’ve lived here since 2006, and chasing a good sunset has become a bit of a habit, especially in the summer.

There are just a ton of beautiful places to see the sunset in Seoul. Here’s what you should know to plan your evening out.

• What Time Is Sunset In Seoul?
• Free vs. Paid: Which Sunset Spot Is Right For You?
• Tips For Seeing A Beautiful Sunset
• Where To See The Sunset In Seoul
  • Hotels
  • Riverside Parks & Cruises
  • Mountain Tops
  • Building Tops & Observatories
• FAQ

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

---

What Time Is Sunset In Seoul?

Summer: Sunset viewing becomes quite the summer activity in Seoul… if you’re staying out late enough. The sun sets as late as 8:00pm around the summer solstice in late June, and you should definitely be staying out to see it.

Winter: While the winter sunset is a bit less popular just due to the possible frigid temperatures, it does set earlier so you can catch it on the way home from work if you’re in the city for business. Don’t stare at your phone on the bus ride, look out the window whenever you can. The sun sets as early as 5:15pm in early December.

Here’s the shape of the whole year, so you can plan around it wherever your trip falls. These are approximate times for the middle of each month, always double check closer to your date, since sunset shifts a few minutes every week:

Month	Approx. Sunset Time (KST)
January	5:35pm
February	6:00pm
March	6:20pm
April	6:45pm
May	7:15pm
June	7:55pm
July	7:50pm
August	7:20pm
September	6:35pm
October	5:50pm
November	5:25pm
December	5:15pm

You can check the updated time for when you’re looking to see the sunset here on TimeandDate.com

My honest take on timing: Summer is the best season for sunset chasing in Seoul, and not just because you can be out late without freezing. The skies do something almost miraculous with color in July and August, especially right after a hot, humid day breaks. The tradeoff is that summer is also monsoon season, so keep an eye on the forecast, some sections of the Han River parks close temporarily for safety when water levels rise after heavy rain, so a riverside plan can get rained out or shut down with little notice during that stretch. Autumn is a close second and honestly the more reliable bet, since the air is drier and clearer.

---

Free vs. Paid: Which Sunset Spot Is Right For You?

Not every great sunset view in Seoul costs money, and a few of the best ones don’t cost a thing. Here’s how everything on this list breaks down:

Spot	Cost	Best for
Banpo Han River Park	Free (yacht rental optional)	Picnics, the Banpo Bridge fountain show after dark
Nanji Han River Park	Free	Solitude, fewer crowds
World Cup Park: Sky Park/Haneul Park	Free	Wide-open city views, autumn silver grass
Namsan Mountain (park grounds)	Free	Walking up, romantic golden-hour views
N Seoul Tower Observatory	Paid (verify current ticket price before you go)	360° views, couples, love locks
Haengjusanseong Fortress	Free	West-side residents, an easy walk with a stroller
Namhansanseong Fortress	Free	Photographers wanting skyline shots with Lotte Tower and Namsan in frame
Bugak Palgakjeong	Free (parking fee applies)	Drive-up mountain views, night lighting
Seoul Express Bus Terminal rooftop	Free	A quick view while you’re already passing through
Sewoon Sangga (Makercity Sewoon) rooftop	Free	Downtown views over Jongmyo Shrine and N Seoul Tower
Signiel Hotel (Bar 81)	Paid — drinks or stay	A special night out, no reservation needed to just visit the bar
Four Seasons Seoul	Paid — stay	A quieter luxury view over Gyeongbokgung Palace
ELand Han River Cruise	Paid	Watching the sunset from the water itself
63 Building Observatory	Paid	Combining the view with an aquarium for kids
Lotte World Tower: Seoul Sky Observatory	Paid	The single highest view in the country

---

Tips For Seeing A Beautiful Sunset

I’m often seen staring out the window in the evening trying to guess if we should head to our rooftop or race down to the river or a park to catch the sunset. Here is what I look for when trying to decide if we should go out to see the sunset or not:

• There should be some clouds. I find the most beautiful sunsets have been when there are some clouds in the sky. I don’t know if it’s scientific, but it seems like the light really bounces around the clouds a bit more. When there are no clouds, the colors don’t seem to get as much reach.
• It should be sunny/partly cloudy day. If it’s rainy, there MIGHT be a break in the clouds, but it’s more difficult to guess. If it rains in the morning, but hasn’t all day, it could be a pretty good evening. But if it’s been raining most of the day, which can absolutely happen during monsoon season in Korea, it is more likely not to be that beautiful but just grey and cloudy.
• It shouldn’t be dusty. Unfortunately, we have a dust issue in Korea. Should you be wearing a fine dust mask in Korea? Absolutely, on the bad days. On high dust days, I don’t go out much at all if I don’t have to because it immediately gives me migraines. But on the sunset point, sunsets suck when the smog and dust are high. I check air quality before heading out using AirKorea, Cleanair.Seoul, or the MiseMise app (I switched to MiseMise a while back, it’s Korean-only but the colors and emojis make it intuitive, and it updates faster than most English apps). I’ve written a full breakdown of which masks and apps actually work in Korea if you want to go deeper: Do I Need A Fine Dust Mask In Korea? Look for green or blue on the app, and clear skies for the best views.
• A note on golden hour vs. the sunset itself: if you’re chasing photos rather than just the moment, know that the best light in Seoul usually happens in the 20–30 minutes before the sun actually dips below the skyline, that’s your golden hour. The 20 minutes after sunset, once the sky starts shifting into deep blues and purples, is “blue hour,” and it’s when the city lights and the sky are both still bright enough to shoot together. If you’re only going to show up once, aim to arrive a solid 30–45 minutes before your target sunset time so you catch both.

---

Where To See The Sunset In Seoul

Hotels

Signiel Hotel

Four Seasons

Riverside Parks & Cruises

Did you know there are 11 riverside parks in the city of Seoul? And there are more beyond Seoul too. Here is my full guide to the Han River parks and what you can see and do in each one. A few notes before you head down, though: the Han River parks can get genuinely busy in summer, especially on clear weekend evenings, but don’t let that talk you out of it. People spread out on blankets all along the riverbank and the whole scene turns into a bit of a sunset party. Just get there a little early to stake out your patch of grass. The one real caveat is monsoon season: heavy rain can push water levels up enough that certain sections of the riverside parks close for safety, so if it’s been pouring, check before you make the trip out.

Here are some of my favorite parks for views of the sunset.

World Cup Park: Nanji Han River Park (월드컵공원, 난지한강공원)

There will often be much less people in the Nanji Han River Park so you can enjoy that sunset on your own. This park also has an ecological park, campgrounds, cosmos fields, and more so a lot to see along with that sunset.

• Address: 487-359 Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 성산동 487-359)

Banpo Han River Park (반포한간공원)

• Address: 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 신반포로11길 40 (반포동))

Han River Cruise

Want to see the sunset FROM the Han River? Your best bet is one of the ELand Han River Cruises. There are a few to choose from so make sure you check the times to get the right one. There’s a moonlight cruise which actually departs right around sunset time in the summer, with earlier options for spring and autumn too. This is a great option and a super fun way to enjoy the city.

You can book tickets on their cruises on Trazy or on book your cruise on Klook.

• Address: 290 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 290 (여의도동) 한강유람선 선착장)

Mountain Tops

World Cup Park: Sky Park/Haneul Park (월드컵공원, 하늘공원)

Already mentioned for the riverside park, but World Cup Park also has the popular Sky Park/Haneul Park. Usually popular in the autumn, you can visit the rest of the year for sunset views too. While I tend to head down to the riverside in the autumn when this spot is more popular, I head up to the top in the summer and in late autumn for the views.

It’s beautiful up there but even better when the crowds of the autumn silver grass festival aren’t there. Plan your visit wisely.

• Address: 487-359 Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 성산동 487-359)

Namsan Mountain (남산)

A popular mountain to visit in Seoul and easily visited due to the cable car that takes visitors up, I always recommend a visit here just before evening to get views of the city from day into night. Head to Namsan Mountain and then up even further to Namsan Tower for some of the best views out over the city of Seoul at sunset. This spot can be pretty busy at times, but it’s still worth a visit and gets on to must see lists every year for a reason. Don’t miss this romantic location.

• Address: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 남산공원길 105)
• If you want to take the cable car up and go up the tower, make sure you get your tickets online to take advantage of the discounts.

Namhansanseong Fortress (남한산성)

This is one of those spots that a lot of photographers head to for some of the best shots of the sunset out over the city. You’ll be able to include Lotte Sky Tower, Namsan Tower, and a ton of beautifully lit up buildings. I’ve only been during the day as Namhansanseong is on the complete other side of the city from me so I opt for Haengjusanseong Fortress if I want to walk along a fortress ridge, but this is one to note if you really want to go hard on sunsets this year.

It’s not the easiest place to get to, but it’s not the hardest either. Here is more information about the Namhansanseong Fortress.

• Address: 731 Namhansanseong-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 광주시 남한산성면 남한산성로 731 (남한산성면))

Haengjusanseong Fortress (행주산성)

This fortress is a bit less popular than the one mentioned above, but that’s why I’ve enjoyed it and the views you can get from up there. Located on the northwest side of the city, it’s exactly opposite from Namhansanseong Fortress so offers a very different view but still beautiful.

If you live on the west side of the city, try this fortress first because it’ll probably be a bit easier to get to. I even went up the first time with my daughter in a stroller… it’s that easy to walk up. Here’s more information about Haengjusanseong Fortress.

• Address: 89 Haengju-ro 15beon-gil, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 고양시 덕양구 행주로15번길 89)

Bugak Mountain: Bugak Palgakjeong (북악팔각정)

Building Tops & Observatories

Seoul Express Bus Terminal (고속터미널역)

63 Building (63빌딩)

Sewoon Market (세운상가)

Lotte Sky Tower Observatory

---

FAQ

What time does the sun set in Seoul?

It depends heavily on the season. Sunset is as early as around 5:15pm in early December and as late as around 8:00pm near the summer solstice in late June. Check the month-by-month table above for a closer estimate, or TimeandDate.com for the exact time on your travel date.

What is the best free place to watch the sunset in Seoul?

Banpo Han River Park and Nanji Han River Park (part of World Cup Park) are my top free picks, both face the right direction over the water, and Nanji tends to be far less crowded.

Is Namsan Tower or Lotte World Tower better for sunset?

They offer genuinely different experiences. Namsan/N Seoul Tower gives you a more romantic, classic Seoul skyline view and is easier to combine with a walk through Namsan Park. Lotte World Tower’s Seoul Sky is the higher, more dramatic 360-degree view and pairs well with the Signiel Hotel’s champagne bar if you want to make an evening of it.

Do I need to book tickets in advance for sunset viewing at observatories?

It’s not required at most spots, but I’d recommend booking online ahead of time for N Seoul Tower, Seoul Sky, and 63 Building, you’ll usually get a discount over walk-up pricing, and you avoid the ticket line eating into your actual sunset window.

What’s the best month to see the sunset in Seoul?

Summer, hands down, for color, the skies do something close to miraculous on clear evenings in July and August. Just watch the forecast, since monsoon rain can wash out a plan or temporarily close riverside park sections. Autumn is my backup recommendation because the air is drier and the skies are more reliably clear.

Can I see the sunset from the Han River without a boat?

Yes, most people do. Any of the riverside parks (Banpo, Nanji, and the rest of the 11 Han River parks) give you a great water-level view for free. The ELand cruises are for people who specifically want to be on the water, not a requirement for seeing it.

Is Bugak Palgakjeong open at night, and how do I get there without a car?

The pavilion itself is generally open around the clock. Without a car, take Subway Line 4 to Hansung University Station Exit 6 and catch a local bus toward the area, or the simplest option for most visitors is a taxi, it’s a winding mountain road that’s much easier by car than on foot in the dark.

---

Did you like this post? Pin IT!