Seoullo 7017: Seoul’s Sky Garden Walkway

Seoul has a way of reinventing itself—layering history, modernity, and creativity into spaces that surprise even seasoned travelers. One of the best examples is Seoullo 7017, a former highway overpass reborn as a pedestrian sky garden. For solo travelers, it’s more than a walkway. It gently reminds us that cities, like people, can transform and bloom again.

Overhead view of railway tracks and city skyscrapers taken from Seoullo 7017 skywalk — Looking out over the tracks from Seoullo 7017, an abandoned highway turned elevated sky garden in the heart of Seoul.

🎨 Hidden Detour: Don't miss Docking Seoul—a quiet art installation built into an old parking ramp right off the Seoullo Skywalk near Seoul Station.

🏙️ What is Seoullo 7017?

Opened: May 2017
Name Meaning: “70” for the year the overpass was built, and “17” for the year it was reborn.
Concept: Urban regeneration—turning car infrastructure into a public promenade with plants, cafes, and cultural spaces.
Location: Right outside Seoul Station, making it an easy stop for anyone arriving by KTX or subway.

A cylindrical beige café building with green Seoullo signage bathed in warm sunset light along the Seoullo 7017 elevated skygarden in Seoul, South Korea. — Enjoying coffee and golden hour views at the Seoullo 7017 Skygarden Café near Seoul Station.

🌱 Highlights for Travelers

🌿 Sky Garden: Over 24,000 plants and trees from 228 species, arranged alphabetically.
🌆 City Views: Panoramic perspectives of Seoul Station, Sungnyemun Gate, and the Seoul City Wall.
🌌 Night Lights: LED installations transform the walkway into a glowing ribbon above the city.
☕ Rest Stops: Cafes and seating areas invite you to pause and think.
🎭 Culture: Occasional performances and exhibitions bring art into the everyday.

🚉 How to Get There

Accessibility: Elevators and ramps make it friendly for all visitors.
Seoul Station (Line 1/4, Exit 2): Main entry point.
Hoehyeon Station (Line 4, Exit 5): Other access.

💡 Walking Flow Tip: Start at Seoul Station (Exit 2) if you want to walk toward Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong, or start at Hoehyeon Station (Exit 5) to end your walk near Seoul Station for sunset at Culture Station 284!

🕒 Travel Tips

📍 Nearby Attractions: Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong shopping district, and Seoul Station.
🕒 Best Time: Evening for city lights, or spring/autumn for pleasant weather.
⏳ Duration: 30–60 minutes for a leisurely walk.
💸 Cost: Free, open 24 hours.

💭 Personal Reflection

Walking along Seoullo 7017, I felt no pressure to achieve, prove, or plan. Just walk, notice, and exist above the rush. In a city as driven as Seoul, finding a space that invites stillness feels rebellious in its own quiet way.

Two travelers walk along Seoullo 7017’s tree-lined path at sunset, framed by autumn leaves and a glowing cityscape. — A quiet moment on Seoullo 7017.

And maybe that’s what Seoullo 7017 taught me: you don’t always need to run forward. Sometimes you need to rise slightly above, look around, and trust that the path will continue.

Some paths are meant to take you somewhere. Others are meant to slow you down. Seoullo 7017 felt like the second kind.

🗺️ Keep Exploring South Korea & Beyond

If you enjoyed this slow, elevated walk through Seoul, continue exploring with these related guides and personal stories:
🏙️One-Day City Walking Itinerary: Solo Travel in Seoul: A One-Day Guide & Personal Reflections
🚆Transit & Heritage: Busan to Seoul by KTX: Solo Travel Guide, Cost & Tips
🍁 Day Trips from Seoul: Nami Island Day Trip from Seoul: A Quiet Autumn Guide

Have you ever visited an urban sky park or elevated green space that made you slow down and take a pause? Let me know your thoughts or travel stories in the comments below!