Seoul｜Sunset and Night Views Here Surpass Itaewon and Namsan Tower

During this trip to Seoul, I visited three spots for sunset and night views: Namsan Seoul Tower, the viral Itaewon photo spot, and a hidden gem I stumbled upon by chance. These locations are very close to each other, so you can easily plan to visit all three. ☕️ Itaewon: Many online guides recommend chasing the sunset in Itaewon, especially along the street where The Royal Café is located. However, I wasn’t a huge fan. First, during my visit, the sun was blocked by distant buildings 🫣. Second, some places labeled as cafés only serve dinner. Want to just grab a coffee and head to the rooftop for sunset views? No way! 💛 Hidden Gem: While walking down the mountain road, I followed the scent to GRANHAND’s Namsan branch and discovered a hidden treasure for sunset and night views! GRANHAND’s 4th floor features a 270-degree observation deck, while the 3rd floor is a café with floor-to-ceiling windows—absolutely stunning! The 2nd floor is GRANHAND’s store. If you make a purchase there, you get a discount at the 3rd-floor café. This spot became my favorite. I ordered a coffee and quietly enjoyed the sunset and nightscape from the 4th floor. Compared to Namsan Tower, this place is closer to the city, offering an intimate view of the sun dipping below the urban skyline and the city lights flickering to life. 🗼 Namsan Tower Namsan Tower is fantastic for sunset views, and its night views provide a sweeping, bird’s-eye perspective—though the glittering city lights appear quite distant. One downside is that, being on Namsan Mountain, large dark areas without lights are visible up close at night. Also, the glass panels are quite dirty, making it hard to take good photos. For Namsan Tower, I recommend taking the bus or cable car up and walking down (20 minutes to the cable car station, 30 minutes to Myeongdong Subway Station). 📍 Transportation: Itaewon Sunset: Navigate to The Royal Food & Drink Hidden Gem: Navigate to GRANHAND Namsan Both spots are actually quite close to the Namsan Cable Car Station.