Jamsil is the part of Songpa-gu in southeast Seoul where a very tall tower stands next to a pair of lakes. This guide pairs the tower with a lake walk and a dinner stop so the day has a clear order: lake first, tower second, dinner third.
We have not visited these places for this guide. It is a summary of what the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) says, checked on 12 October 2026. Distances marked as estimates are straight lines between listing coordinates, not walking routes. Ticket prices and booking rules were not in our source, so we do not give any.
Quick answer
- Walk the trails around Seokchon Lake (석촌호수). KTO lists it as open 24 hours, all year.
- Go up Seoul Sky (서울스카이), the observatory at the top of Lotte World Tower. KTO lists last admission one hour before closing.
- Eat at Carols (캐롤스 본점), a family restaurant listed at the same address as the tower. Last order is 21:00.
- Olympic Park (올림픽공원) is a separate trip. KTO says it takes over three hours to explore.
Where to Go: Seokchon Lake and Seoul Sky
Seokchon Lake (석촌호수)
KTO lists the park under the name Songpa Naru Park, and says it is commonly called Seokchon Lake. It describes a citizen park with a jogging course and walking trails around two lakes, with Songpa-daero running between them. According to KTO, a branch of the Han River once ran through the site and formed one large lake. The lake was divided into two when Songpa-daero was built.
KTO gives the total size of the two lakes as 217,850 square meters and the depth as 4 to 5 meters. It lists the park as open 24 hours, open all year, with parking available. The information line is +82-2-412-0190.
The photo above shows a flowering tree over the water, with office buildings behind it. It was taken in blossom season. We cannot tell you what the lake looks like on the day you visit.
Seoul Sky (서울스카이)
KTO describes Seoul Sky as the observatory at the highest point of Lotte World Tower, and calls it the highest attraction in Korea. It says the observatory is 500 meters above the ground and gives a 360-degree view of Seoul. The address is 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu.
The ride up is part of the visit. KTO says the Sky Shuttle goes from B1 to the 118th floor in about one minute, and that it has monitor screens on the ceiling and three walls. It also describes media tables that show the current Seoul cityscape and 3D scenes of the Joseon Dynasty, a place where you can have coffee above the clouds, and tower-themed souvenirs.
Hours. KTO lists Sunday to Thursday 10:30 to 22:00 and Friday to Saturday 10:30 to 23:00. Last admission is one hour before closing. It lists the observatory as open all year, with parking available. The information line is +82-2-1661-2000.
How far from the lake? About 0.5 km in a straight line (our estimate). We did not verify a walking route, so use a map app.
The sunset photo above shows the lake in the lower right corner, next to the tower. That is why the two stops fit one outing.
What to Eat: Carols
Carols Main Branch (캐롤스 본점) is listed by KTO at 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, the same address as Lotte World Tower. The floor is not in our source, so ask at the tower or check a map app.
KTO describes it as a family restaurant that recreates traditional American meals, with a cozy and family-friendly atmosphere. Its first-listed menu item is Baby Back Rib. KTO also lists Prime Rib-eye Steak, Prime Strip Loin Steak and Carols’ Monte Cristo, and mentions spaghetti, burgers, parfaits and a kids’ meal.
KTO lists the hours as 11:30 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00, open all year, with parking available. The information line is +82-2-3213-4370. We found no prices, no English menu information, no card payment information and no reservation rules.
To order, point at the menu and say 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo), which means “This one, please.” This is a general phrase, not something specific to the restaurant. If you have allergies or dietary needs, ask staff about the ingredients and sauces, because we found no source on them.
Plan Your Visit: A Half Day in Order
This order is our suggestion. It puts the lake walk first so you arrive at the tower with time to spare.
- Seokchon Lake. Walk the trails. It is open 24 hours, so timing is flexible.
- Walk to Lotte World Tower. About 0.5 km in a straight line (our estimate). Route not verified.
- Seoul Sky. Enter at least one hour before closing, and check tickets first.
- Dinner at Carols. Order before the 21:00 last order.
An optional add-on: Olympic Park
KTO describes Olympic Park as a leisure area where Baekje-era remains share space with sports stadiums, a forest and grass fields. It is the legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and covers about 1.45 million square meters. KTO lists a leisure sports park, a cultural art park, an eco-park and a History Experience Park.
KTO says the park takes over three hours to explore and advises visitors to learn the entrances, exits and routes first. It mentions the Hodori Train, a road train next to Peace Square. For walkers and cyclists KTO lists 05:00 to 22:00, with the plaza area until 24:00. After 22:00, entry is limited to Peace Square and Meeting Square for safety.
Olympic Park is about 2 km from the tower in a straight line (our estimate). We would treat it as a separate trip, not a quick stop on the same evening.
Hours at a glance
| Place | Listed hours (KTO) | | — | — | | Seokchon Lake | Open 24 hours, open all year | | Seoul Sky | Sun to Thu 10:30 to 22:00; Fri to Sat 10:30 to 23:00; last admission one hour before closing | | Carols | 11:30 to 22:00, last order 21:00, open all year | | Olympic Park | Walkers and cyclists 05:00 to 22:00, plaza area until 24:00 |
First-Timer Tips
These are our suggestions, not sourced facts.
- Check Seoul Sky ticket details on the day, since we have no prices.
- Keep Olympic Park for another day unless you start very early.
- Use a map app for the walk between the lake and the tower.
FAQ
Is Seokchon Lake open at night? KTO lists it as open 24 hours, all year.
What time does Seoul Sky close? KTO lists 22:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 23:00 on Friday and Saturday, with last admission one hour before.
Is there parking? KTO lists parking as available at the lake, the tower, Carols and Olympic Park.
Can I book Seoul Sky ahead? We found no booking information. Check the official site.
What We Could Not Confirm
- Seoul Sky ticket prices, queue times and the best time of day.
- Walking routes and times between the lake, the tower and Olympic Park.
- Prices, English menu, card payment and reservations at Carols, and the floor it is on.
- Whether the cafe and shops in the observatory are open on a given day.
Related guides
- N Seoul Tower, the National Museum and Yongsan: A Guide
- Seoul City Tour Bus Guide
- Seoul Palace Closing Days
We post short first-timer guides on Instagram too: @rolo.koreaguide.
Sources
Checked on 12 Oct 2026.
- Korea Tourism Organization, TourAPI (English service): Songpa Naru Park (Seokchon Lake) (content ID 1542646, KOGL Type 3 photo), Lotte World Tower SEOUL SKY (2493015, KOGL Type 1 photos), Carols Main Branch (3574495, KOGL Type 3 photos), Olympic Park (789703, KOGL Type 3 photo). Photographs used unaltered.
- Distances: straight-line calculations from the KTO listing coordinates, not walking routes.
