What Is the Seoul City Tour Bus Night Course?

The Seoul City Tour Bus night course is a guided bus ride that shows you Seoul's night view from the upper deck of a double-decker, without the walking. You don't get off along the way except at one photo stop, so it works as a 90-minute moving viewpoint: river, bridges and skyline, then the city from Namsan.

Two companies sell a night tour under the city tour bus name, and they leave from different places. The one most visitors mean is the night course of the red Seoul City Tour Bus, also called the Tiger Bus, which starts at Gwanghwamun. The yellow Yellow Balloon City Bus runs its own night tour from Dongdaemun. Here's how they compare.

Fares and times are from each operator's official website for the current season. The Tiger Bus sells its night tickets at a discount online, which is why its adult fare is a range. Book the Tiger Bus night course or the Yellow Balloon night tour on their official sites. If you'd rather see Seoul with a guide on foot, our guide to Seoul tours for first-time visitors covers palace, market and DMZ options.

The Route: Han River Bridges, Then N Seoul Tower

The Tiger Bus night course is a one-way loop that never stops except on Namsan. Here's what you'll pass, in order, according to the operator's route map:

• Gwanghwamun: The bus leaves from the ticket office on Sejong-daero and heads southwest toward the river.
• Mapo Bridge and the north bank: You cross onto the riverside expressway and follow the Han River east.
• Five more bridges: Hangang, Dongjak, Banpo, Seongsu and Hannam bridges pass one after another, each lit in its own colors, with the Yeouido and Gangnam skylines across the water.
• N Seoul Tower: The bus climbs Namsan and stops for about 25 minutes. Get off, walk to the lookout and take photos of the city below.
• Sungnyemun and Cheonggye Plaza: The bus comes down past the lit Sungnyemun gate and finishes at Cheonggye Plaza, a few minutes' walk from where you started.

Twenty-five minutes on Namsan is enough for photos at the tower's base, but not enough to go up to the observatory. If you want the observatory, the cable car or a longer evening on the mountain, see our N Seoul Tower guide and go on a separate night.

A winter note. The Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain runs only from March to October, according to the Seoul city government. From November to February, you'll see the bridge's lights, not the fountain show. If the fountain is a must, come in spring or autumn, and our guide to Seoul's best night views lists other spots to add on foot.

Leaving From Dongdaemun: The Yellow Balloon Night Tour

If you're staying near Dongdaemun, or you'd like an earlier and shorter ride, the Yellow Balloon City Bus night tour is the easier choice. It's the yellow double-decker you'll see around DDP, and it's also sold as a Seoul City Tour Bus, so check the departure point on your ticket.

Where to board. The ticket office is at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Leave Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station by Exit 1, take the sloping path on your left (not the tall stairs on the right) for about 200 meters, and you'll find the office by the road, across from the Migliore building.

Times and fares. The night tour runs once a night without stops. From November to February it leaves at 6:30 p.m., and the ride takes about an hour. Adults pay 22,000 won and children 18,000 won, with free rides for children under 48 months, according to the operator. The night tour has no audio commentary, so it's best as a relaxed look at the lights rather than a history lesson.

What you'll see. The route loops through the old downtown: Euljiro, Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Station, Namdaemun Market, Myeong-dong, Jonggak and Insa-dong, back to DDP. It stays north of the river, so choose the Tiger Bus if the Han River bridges are the reason you're going.

How to Book, Board and Stay Warm in Winter

The Tiger Bus night course runs only once a night, so a little planning goes a long way.

• Book a day ahead. Online booking on the official site closes the day before. Same-day bookings aren't possible online; call the ticket office on 02-777-6090 to ask about seats, or ask at the office in person.
• Collect your ticket. Even with an online booking, give your name at the Gwanghwamun ticket office to get a boarding pass. The office is near the Koreana Hotel, about 100 meters from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 6 on Line 5, or 300 meters from City Hall Station Exit 3 on Lines 1 and 2.
• Arrive 40 minutes early. Boarding starts 40 minutes before departure, seats are first come, first served, and the bus leaves on time.
• Don't count on a specific bus. Depending on bookings, you'll ride an open-top double-decker, a glass-roofed double-decker or a half-open single-deck bus, and you can't choose. Every seat has an audio guide in 12 languages.
• Know the rules. Food, coffee and drinks aren't allowed on board, pets can't ride, and the bus runs in rain and snow. Child fares apply from 48 months through high school, and children under 48 months ride free without a seat.
• Check the day. The night course doesn't run on Mondays. When Monday is a public holiday, it runs that day and takes Tuesday off instead.

Dress for the upper deck. An open-top bus at 7 p.m. in December is cold, and the wind on the bridges is stronger than on the street. The operator itself suggests a hat, a warm jacket, a blanket or hot packs. Add gloves so you can still hold your phone, and wear layers you can adjust.