Sanmasil🙂 Hiking in Seoul for Beginners — Easy First Mountains
Easy hikes in Seoul for your first time: short trails, subway access and what to bring.
Seoul is surrounded by mountains, and several make great first hikes: short, well marked and right next to a subway station.
Easy first hikes
- Inwangsan (340 m) — about 1–1.5 hours, city-wall trail with the best views of Gyeongbokgung and downtown. Lots of stairs.
- Achasan (287 m) — gentle ridge with Han River views, great at sunrise.
- Ansan (297 m) — a wooden deck “jarak-gil” loop that is almost flat, good for families.
- Daemosan (293 m) — quiet forest paths in Gangnam.
When you are ready for more
- Bukhansan — Seoul’s most famous peak (Baegundae). Steep granite near the top with cables; allow 4–5 hours.
- Gwanaksan — rocky ridges and a temple hanging on the cliff near the summit.
What to bring
- Shoes with good grip (not fashion sneakers) — granite slabs are slippery.
- 1 L of water, snacks, a light jacket.
- A T-money card and a charged phone with Naver Map or KakaoMap.
- In winter: microspikes, sold at most hiking shops near trailheads.
Seoul runs Hiking Tourism Centers for foreign visitors near Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Gwanaksan, with gear rental and lockers.