2 Days Seoul Tour: DMZ and Essential Seoul Tour (Small Group and No Shopping)

Itinerary

Day 1: Full-Day Essential Seoul Tour

Stop At: Gyeongbokgung Palace, 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul South Korea
Start off your journey at Gyeongbokgung Palace (on Tuesdays it is replaced by Deoksugung Palace or Changdeokgung Palace). the Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony will welcome you at the main entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Observe the ceremony and then, explore the Palace! Your knowledgeable tour guide will take you to major parts of the Palace with secret stories about the Palace and Joseon Dynasty that you would have never heard of before. If the weather allows you will enter the Palace, wearing Korean traditional costume, Hanbok and take life shots.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Jogyesa Temple, 45 Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-170 South Korea
Begin your tour with a visit to Jogye Temple, famous for its beautiful lotus lanterns hanging from the ceilings. Jogye-sa is one of the largest and most important temples in Seoul. Here you will see how locals pray in front of Buddha and meditate.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Insadong, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul South Korea
Stop at Insadong to enjoy lunch, an area filled with old streets and shops. Walk through the beautiful alleys lined with handicrafts shops and street food stalls. This is the best place to purchase souvenirs and gifts. If the weather is raining your guide will take you to one of the most famous hanbok shops in Seoul, where you can try on hanbok and take pictures in the studio
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Bukchon Hanok Village, 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03059 South Korea
Bukchon Hanok Village maybe South Korea's best kept secret. Bukchon has become a favorite attraction of Korea's trend-conscious youth and tourists. The real charm of Bukchon lies in its tiny alley, which wind and twist between its age-old, still-lived in hanoks.
Duration: 50 minutes

Pass By: The Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), 1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-820 South Korea
Cheongwadae, also known as the Blue House is the Korean Presidential residence. On the way up to the Bugak Skyway, you will pass by this Presidential Blue House with your guide's explanation.

Stop At: Bugak Skyway, San 6-94, Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu,, Seoul South Korea
Then, admire panoramic views over Seoul from Palgakjeong, a huge gazebo on Bugak Mountain. Bugak Skyway has been known as the beautiful driving route in Korea. Palgakjeong is located at an elevation of 342m, allowing visitors to appreciate not only the beauty of mother nature but also a panoramic view of the whole city of Seoul.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Myeongdong Shopping Street, Jung-gu, Seoul South Korea
Our day will end with free time at Myeongdong shopping area. This bustling district is packed with people at all hours enjoying shopping, street food and nightlife. You can buy trendy beauty products and try local street food such as hotteok (sweet pancakes with honey), skewered fish cakes, gimbap (a seaweed rice roll), and more. Choose to stay at Myeongdong or enjoy the drop off back at your hotel. 
Duration: 50 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: DMZ tour - Small group and No Shopping

Stop At: DMZ, Munsan-eup, Majeong-ri Imjingak Tourist information center, Paju, Gyeonggi-do South Korea
Your tour starts with pick-up at your hotel in downtown Seoul. Firstly, your driver will take you to Imjigak Park in comfort, which is located one-hour distance from Seoul. After the visit of Imjingak Park, you will pass through the Unification Bridge, which is the first door to DMZ. Don't forget to bring your passport because you need to gain a license to cross this Bridge. The highlight of this DMZ tour is the 3rd infiltration tunnel. Discovered in 1978, this tunnel was dug by the Northern army to invade the South. You will be stunned at how hostile the relations between the two Koreas were and witness the prime example of the South – North confrontation. On the Dora Observatory deck, do not miss on the chance to get a glimpse of North Korean village life. There is no where else in the South Korea where you can look at so close to the North Korea Then, head towards the Dorasan Station, a zone that strictly restrict general civilian access. This station has got international attention since the previous Korean President Kim Daejung and the American President George H.W. Bush visited.
Duration: 7 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.