/
South Korea
/
Seoul
/
Tours & Activities
/
Full-Day Essential Seoul Tour
1 day
Full Day
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
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, 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu, Seoul, 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
Stop At: DMZ, Munsan-eup, Majeong-ri Imjingak Tourist information center, Paju, Gyeonggi-do South Korea
If you select a tour option of Afternoon DMZ tour, please leave a message on your booking or email when you want to have this tour.
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
Read more
Show less
This is a typical itinerary for this product
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, 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu, Seoul, 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
Stop At: DMZ, Munsan-eup, Majeong-ri Imjingak Tourist information center, Paju, Gyeonggi-do South Korea
If you select a tour option of Afternoon DMZ tour, please leave a message on your booking or email when you want to have this tour.
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
Included
- Local guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions by air-conditioned minivan or van
- Entry/Admission - Gyeongbokgung Palace
Not included
- Lunch
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Infant meals
- Gratuities
- Entry/Admission - Insadong
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Infants must sit on laps
- On Tuesdays, Gyeongbok Palace is closed and will be replaced to Deoksu Palace.
- On Sundays, Bukchon Hanok Village is replaced to Namsan Hanok Village.
- This tour requires a lot of walking. and some places have uneven surfaces for wheelchair users.
- The tour schedule can be adjusted depending on the circumstance of tour site, weather, and traffic
- The sequence of attractions in the itinerary can be changed without prior notice
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- DMZ admission fee is included only for the Tour Option 2
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
75%
Reviews
You may also like
See all 28 Collections
Click to discover other experiences
See all
Collections
Seoul Tower
11 Activities
Collections
Theme Park & Games
27 Activities
Collections
Shows & K-Pop
24 Activities
Collections
Museums
14 Activities
Collections
Hanbok
10 Activities
Collections
DMZ & JSA
21 Activities
Collections
Spa
15 Activities
Collections
Art, History & Culture
36 Activities
Collections
By Bus
11 Activities
Collections
Gourmet
37 Activities
Our tour guide, Minh Ho, did a fantastic job with the tour. HE was knowledgeable, engaging and kept us on time to the various sites. Well organized tour and enjoyed all the sites. Definitely worth taking it!
Guide has very poor English skills which was frustrating for our group and on top of that has only lived in Seoul for a year!
I was in Seoul for business and had a day over the weekend to enjoy this tour - I was alone but joined some lovely people for this great experience and would highly recommend. Annie the tour guide was lovely and the communication ahead of the trip was great too. Lots is covered and at a great pace too - thank you
Our tour guide Annie is very knowledgeable, helpful and organized. I recommend this tour. I love it bec. she included the part of Korean traditional clothes dress up in Insandong for us and we she took a group picture for us. Thank you, Annie . You made our Seoul experience worthwhile.
We found our tour guide to be very nice and very knowledgeable. We were very happy we had chosen this tour as we had a short stay and this covered many attractions.
Quite unexpectedly we were first taken to a Korean costume shop where all of us chose what Korean outfit we wanted to wear and then the staff helped us into the outfits and did our hair. We then went to the Palace all dressed up and many people took our photo. I would never have done this type of activity normally but it was such great fun. The whole day was wonderful and I strongly suggest everyone considers this type of tour
It was chucking it down with rain so it was never going to be easy. Started badly when I received a call 45 mins after pick up asking where I was. Guide was at a different Lotte hotel. If there was more than one why didn’t you check? How was I suppose to know? Guide contacted me night before but that was only to sell me lunch which turned out to be the most important aspect of the trip. Should have checked hotel then. Was finally picked up 1 hour 45 mins late and missed the first place visited. That said, Cindy was a very nice lady, eager to please and took trouble to take and send on photos. The costume dressing up was quite entertaining but not the best use of one day to see Seoul. There were plenty of good places we could have gone to. So very bad start which could easily have been avoided. Not the greatest city tour and I’ve been on a few.
This was a fun and varied experience, especially with our tour guide Min-ho and our driver (whose name I don't know). There was a good balance between culture (Temple and Palace), experience (Traditional Village), fun (Traditional Costume photo-shoot) and free-time to look around and pick up a few souvenirs. Definitely worth doing, if you're in Seoul.
Learned so much about Korean history. It’s a good option if you have just a day or two to sightseeing. Cindy was fun, friendly and dedicated guide.
Cindy, our guide was very warm and explained everything clearly. Although lunch not included she showed us to a very reasonably priced restaurant. Overall a very relaxed and awesome experience.
Guide Annie made this tour unforgettable. Her explaination was crisp and her knowledge about the palace and other places was phenomenal. Our group went at a very reasonable pace and had enough time for most of the things. I always find Viator tours very well managed and value for money.
We had the pleasure of having Annie as our tour guide for our Full Day Essential Seoul Tour and couldn't be happier! Annie toured us through all of the must see attractions around Seoul with a small group in an air conditioned shuttle van. At no time were we rushed and we were able to answer all the questions we wanted. Being from America and not fluent in Korean I feel like this tour was the best way to get to see everything you need to see in one day. What I also liked is after we toured locations we were given free time to explore ourselves and then meet back up later at a designated time. This time was extremely organized and thorough.
Included many essential sites, but most memorable was the Gyeongbok Palace. Small group of us, 15, dress in traditional costume as we toured palace grounds and viewed the changing of the guard. A fun packed day with a fun group. Guide and driver were terrific!
We highly recommend this tour as it covers all essential places to visit in Seoul. A good introduction to Seoul by highly competent tour guide.
The tour included dressing up in rental hanboks, which was fun. Our guide James told us a lot about the Palace buildings and features and history. The visit to Buchon Hanok village was just a walk up and down a street, not much. We had lunch at Insadong but really had no time for any shopping. We had nice views of Seoul. Overall not a bad overview for our first day in Seoul.
Small group, very comfortable transportation, and our tour guide June, was very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended! Highly recommended!
The guide was very knowledgeable Places to visit were very nice however spend a little more time and ISA-DONG and the BUKCHON VILLAGE would have been good. Food option was limited we went to this Korean restaurant where the menu was not extensive so not many option to pick from. Wearing a Hanbok and getting pictures taken is a MUST! Pick up was on time HOWEVER the drop off was DISAPPOINTING. they promised to drop us off to our Hotels and this was not true they made us walk after a long and tired day. When you have knee problems this is not suitable. They did the same to another family they even dropped them off SO FAR from their hotel they had to take a taxi from that spot. Other than that all good!
Excellent tour of Seoul's great attractions. Tour guide Jun was very knowledgible and very easy to get on with .
For first timer in Seoul, this tour is generally a good coverage of popular historical side and modern day Seoul.
Thought it would be a good start to our 3 day stopover to get an overall feeling for the city -the tour was ok. Difficult to understand and hear what guide was saying. Some of the places taken weren't very interesting - you don't need a guide to go shopping! What's the point of going to a high point for a view over the city when the Smog was so bad you couldn't see a thing? It said the tour would vary depending on the weather so this would of been one to change for something more suitable. The lunch (price not included) was not good. It was expensive for what it was - we ate better for less in the evening. Seoul is an amazing place and we really enjoyed it but couldn't reccomend this tour - sorry.
The program was quite poor particularly for the price I paid for it.. For lunch we were taken to a street and we were told that we had 1,5 hours on our own to eat lunch and do shopping. The same was repeated at the end of the program. At 3 pm we were released and asked to come back after 2 hours of shopping :( I don't need a guide and transportation to do shopping on our own. So half of the program/day was wasted.
It was good, to explore around seoul. But i guess we were unlucky that day with tour because it was raining whole day due to typhoon. It would be more fun if the weather is good. We did enjoy the tour.
Our guide was amazing, such knowledge, experience and enthusiasm....she made the entire tour a joy and a true memorable experience. Take this tour, you will have no regrets.
We had a great tour with Stella! Well worth it. We really loved the hanbok pictures. Stella was very knowledgeable about the palace and all of the sights that we saw. We got a true taste of Seoul!
Tour guide left me behind on first stop, as a result I didn't tour the palace, instead I waited in the information office for her to come back. She apologized.