Have you ever heard of Seoul Sky? Or have you heard about the Lotte World Tower (๋กฏ๋ฐ์๋ํ์) ? Lotte World Tower is a 556 metres, 123-story skyscraper located in Seoul, South Korea. The tower is currently the tallest building in South Korea and the fifth tallest in the world.
The Seoul Sky is located at the top of the Lotte World Tower, from the 117th to the 123rd floors. The Seoul Sky offers visitors the best 360-degree panoramic view of entire Seoul regardless of morning, afternoon or at night throughout the four seasons.
A World Record-breaking Architecture
The Seoul Sky Observatory holds three Guinness World Records:
- The highest glass-floor observation deck is the Sky Deck, which is 478 meters on the 118th floor.
- The fastest double-deck elevator is the Sky Shuttle, which runs with a speed of 600m per minute
- The tallest double-deck elevator is the Sky Shuttle, which is 496m tall.
Highlights
#1 Sky Deck and the observatory
The Sky Deck is located on the 118th floor of the Lotte World Tower. Standing on the indoor glass floor which is 478 meters from the ground and experience the feeling of floating in the sky is indeed a trilling experience for me. However, it was a loss that the weather is foggy when we reached there in the evening. Thankfully, the clouds started to clear out when the night fell.
The cityscape was absolutely stunning and beautiful. All those tall skyscrapers look incredibly tiny here. Can you see the bridges across the Hangang River?
It was undeniable that Seoul Sky shows a perfect picture of the beauty of Seoul city. I took my time walking along the observatory deck and admiring the night view. Looking at those city lights in the distance somehow makes me feel peace and calm. What a magic!
Not to mention the transparent glass floor of the Sky Deck is the best photo spot for your Instagrammable photo!
#2 Sky Shuttle
The Sky Shuttle is the world’s first double-deck elevator with large screens installed on each of the three walls and the ceiling. The media play features the beauty of Korea through clips of amazing landscapes and some representative attractions. Overall, the whole presentation was impressive and mesmerizing.
The journey from the basement to the 117th floor is very fast, taking around one minute. I did feel that my ears got clogged up as I rode up the elevator due to the rapid change in altitude.
#3 Seoul Sky Secret Garden
The Seoul Sky Secret Garden is located on the 117th floor. You will see it as soon as you walk out the elevator. The space is decorated with greeny leaves and LED string lights, giving out tropical vibes.
#4 Exhibition Zones
There are a few media halls in the Seoul Sky. At the standby zone on B1 floor, you can find displays on ceiling and walls featuring the theme โThe Pride of Koreaโ. The media art involves the use of various colors and lively movement to present the harmony of Yin and Yang through which growth and prosperity was achieved.
There are numerous media artworks featured along the path hall. The contents mainly show the beauty of South Korea’s architectural.
#5 Cafes and Lounges
The Sky Friendly Cafรฉ and Seoul Sky Cafรฉ is located on the 118th and 119th floor respectively. To my surprise, the menus are not expensive even though it is located at a tourist attraction. The price is what we would usually pay for a cafe on the streets. We bought some macarons as dessert.
The top floor of Seoul Sky holds 123 Lounge, a place where you can enjoy a glass of wine with stunning views.
#6 Seoul Sky Shop
The final stop of the Seoul Sky adventure is the Seoul Sky Shop. The shop sells various type of souvenirs for visitors to take away and treasure the precious memories.
The mascot of Seoul Sky: Pix Lolo, Chu Tete, Yum Tao and Tower Lota (second row, from left to right).
Overall experience
The visit to Seoul Sky is indeed the best observation tower experience I have ever had! I would like to pay a visit here again in the morning or afternoon next time. The staffs were all friendly and always had a smile on their faces. There is no time limit set so you say stay here all day up. It was a pity as the Sky Terrace was close when I paid my visit. It would be great to enjoy the fresh air because the Sky Terrace is equipped with an open top. Therefore, it is important to check the weather before going.
I strongly recommend people to put Seoul Sky on the South Korea bucket list!
Read more: 63 Building- A Spectacular Skyscraper Granting Breathtaking Views
Operating Hours
Sun-Thurs: From 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m
Fri-Sat: From 11.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
Admission Fee
Adult: 27,000 won (ages 13 and up)
Child: 24,000 won (ages 3-12)
Free: (age below 36 months)
How to get there?
Walk out from Jamsil Station (Line 2, Exit 2). Seoul Sky is 3 minutes walking distance from the station.
Address: 117F-123F, 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์กํ๊ตฌ ์ฌ๋ฆผํฝ๋ก 300)
