Seoullo 7017: Seoul’s Sky Garden Walkway

I didn’t set out to find anything special that afternoon. I was simply walking from Hoehyeon Station toward Seoul Station when Seoullo 7017 came into view. What was once a highway overpass is now a pedestrian walkway filled with plants, city views, and places to pause. After spending the day wandering through familiar parts of Seoul, walking above the streets gave me a different perspective of a city I thought I already knew.

I wasn’t rushing to another attraction or trying to squeeze more into my day. I just walked, looked around, and enjoyed seeing Seoul from a slightly different angle. There was something relaxing about being above the traffic while still feeling the city moving below me.

Maybe that’s what I liked most about Seoullo 7017. It wasn’t a major stop on my itinerary, but it gave me a little space to slow down and take in the city before continuing toward Seoul Station.

Seoullo 7017: Seoul’s Walkway in the Sky

What is Seoullo 7017? I found myself asking that as I walked toward Seoul Station and noticed the elevated walkway stretching above the streets. It turns out this former highway overpass was transformed into a pedestrian walkway and urban garden, with greenery, cafés, and city views along the way.

• 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.

I wasn’t expecting much from a simple walk, but I ended up enjoying the chance to slow down and see this familiar part of Seoul from a different perspective. Sometimes, that’s all I need when I’m traveling: a little time to walk without rushing anywhere.

What I Noticed Along Seoullo 7017

There’s more to Seoullo 7017 than just getting from one end to the other. As I walked along the elevated path, I noticed little details that made the former highway feel surprisingly different from the busy streets below.

• 🌿 The Sky Garden: I liked how the greenery softened what used to be a busy highway overpass. More than 24,000 plants and trees from 228 species are arranged according to the Korean alphabet, which gives the garden its own quirky character.
• 🌆 The City Views: Walking above the streets gave me a different view of Seoul Station, Sungnyemun Gate, and the Seoul City Wall. It was nice to see familiar landmarks from a slightly different angle.
• 🌌 The Night Lights: I can imagine how different the walkway feels after dark, when LED installations turn parts of Seoullo 7017 into a glowing path above the city.
• ☕ Places to Pause: There are cafés and seating areas along the way, which I appreciated because sometimes you just want to sit down, have a drink, and watch Seoul move around you.
• 🎭 Art and Culture: Performances and exhibitions occasionally add another layer to the walkway. I liked the idea that you can come across something creative without necessarily planning for it.

After a while, I realized I wasn’t really walking to get somewhere anymore. I was simply enjoying the walk itself, which is probably what made Seoullo 7017 such a nice part of my day.

How to Get To Seoullo 7017

Getting to Seoullo 7017 is pretty easy, especially if you’re already exploring the Seoul Station or Namdaemun Market area. I found it convenient to access the walkway from either end, depending on where I was coming from and where I wanted to go next.

• 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.

Both entrances work well, so your choice really depends on the direction of your walk. I’d choose the starting point based on what you want to see before or after Seoullo 7017 rather than treating it as a destination you have to visit from just one entrance.

Is Seoullo 7017 Worth Visiting?

For me, yes. I enjoyed Seoullo 7017 because it gave me a chance to slow down without having to make it a major stop on my itinerary. I wasn’t there to check off another Seoul attraction. I simply walked, looked at the greenery, watched the streets below, and enjoyed seeing Seoul from a different angle.

So, would I go back? Probably, especially on a day when I want to walk without a strict plan. It may not be the most dramatic attraction in Seoul, but for me, that’s part of its appeal. It gave me a little breathing room in the middle of a busy city, and that was enough to make the walk memorable.

Tips for Visiting Seoullo 7017

Seoullo 7017 is easy to add to a day around Seoul Station, Namdaemun, or Myeongdong. A little planning helps you choose the best time to walk and make the most of your visit without rushing.

• 📍 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. For current opening information and events, check the official Seoullo 7017 website.

For me, the best part wasn’t trying to see everything along the walkway. It was having enough time to slow down, look around, and enjoy the walk itself. If you’re already nearby, Seoullo 7017 is an easy detour that doesn’t require a whole day to appreciate.

Walking Seoullo 7017

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.

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.

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