Seoul Private & Personalized Half-day Tour With A Local Guide

Andrew did an exceptional job! I would highly recommend having a tour with him He made a short amount of time very productive 😊

Steve did a great job sharing culture and history while showing us around for 3 hours. We asked to see the changing of the guard at the palace and he got us to the best vantage point! Really enjoyed too the customized experience and would recommend booking Steve.

My husband and I had a great 3 hour tour with Steve. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Seoul for the first time.

Andrew is a knowledgeable guide. We appreciated his willingness to customize our tour and shows us some hidden gems.

Wonderful walking tour with GJ, a well educated English speaking tour guide with a good sense of humor and warmth.

A lovely gentle tour with guide Felicity using taxis we booked ourselves and deciding together on an itinerary. Great to do things at my preferred slow pace.

Great experience and explanation! Your guide was extremely informative. Will definitely recommend to others.

Young was one of the best tour guides we have ever toured with. Young picked us up in our unconventional meeting location (the Laneige store in Myeong-dong), and proceeded to take us on a wonderful walking tour of Seoul. On our tour, we saw all of the major highlights of the city, as well as some hidden gems. Young took us to make museums and lookout points around the city. At the end of our tour, Young gave us advice for where to eat and what to see in the rest of our limited time in Seoul. Young is a PhD candidate studying Korean history, so he is very knowledgable about the city and he was able to answer any and all of our questions about Korean history, heritage, and culture. Young also knows the city very well and we felt very comfortable joining him all over the city. Apart from this, Young was very friendly and personable. we loved talking to him and learning about his life in Seoul. He told us about his travels as well, and we developed a friendship. We would recommend Young's tours to anyone traveling to Korea. Thank you, Young!

Mr Lee was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and flexible. We started the day with a chat about where I'd been before and what I wanted to see, and then adjusted the tour accordingly.

My guide I think could understand me well, but with the accent it was a little hard to hear, so I would sometimes ask him to repeat things for clarification, which I think annoyed him, because multiple times I would ask him a question, and his response was “I already told you that!” I also don’t think he liked the questions that I would ask - at the palace, he was showing me some of the different buildings, and when I started asking details about rooms, their purpose, etc, his response was “why are you asking these questions? No Americans normally ask these questions. It’s a normal room like the last one.” After that, I severely backed off asking him questions, and pretty much just followed him around. He ended the tour 30 minutes early. I understand that guides don’t know everything, but I would rather have the guide acknowledge they don’t know rather than outright dismiss my questions by saying it’s something that he already answered, or insinuating it’s something I don’t need to know. Honestly, I’m sorry to say this tour wasn’t worth the money I paid for it.

Our guide Andrew Lee was extremely knowledgeable of Seoul. I would highly recommend a private city tour of Seoul for first-time visitors or anyone with limited time. It’s an excellent way to get a broad overview of the city while still enjoying personal attention and meaningful cultural insights.

GJ (JeeEun) was awesome and so kind to our kiddos (6 & 4). We got lost on the subway on our way to meet her and she told us to stay put. She came to where we were and rescued us. We went to the palace and wanted the kids to get dressed up. She brought us to multiple rental shops and every single one was packed with no store staff availble to help. She took the initiative in the shop, took both kids by the hands, and found them the outfits they loved. She took my daughter and got her changed and even did her hair while all the adults were waiting in line for the store employee to do it for them. My daughter loved it. We were out of the shop in 10 minutes! The tour of the palace was crazy, but she helped us navigate away from the crowds. She suggested a lunch place nearby that we liked. Honestly, time went by so quickly. We wish we had a full day instead of a half.

We had a great tour with Hans Kim! He was incredibly well spoken, knowledgeable, went at a good pace, and snapped some fun pics of us, too. Things were a little crazy near the palace b/c of the BTS concert, but he navigated it flawlessly. Definitely recommend!

Andrew is the best! He is a wealth of knowledge giving us history lessons along the way. He was very friendly, funny, personable, and accommodating to our needs. I would personally recommend his services if you’re ever in need of a tour guide. Thank you, Andrew. My family and I are extremely grateful to spend the day with you and hope to drink some makgeolli with you again next time we’re in Korea.

Our Viator tour in Seoul was outstanding, and our guide truly made the experience unforgettable. From serene temples to charming traditional villages and iconic city sights, the day was perfectly paced and thoughtfully curated, giving us a deep appreciation for both the history and modern energy of Seoul. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and engaging—she shared fascinating stories, cultural context, and local insights that you simply wouldn’t get on your own. She made us feel completely taken care of while still keeping things fun and relaxed, and by the end of the tour my wife and I felt like we had genuinely experienced Seoul, not just visited it. Highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants a meaningful, well-run, and memorable introduction to the city.

Bella was fantastic. Knowledgeable and kind. I would strongly recommend her. She made the whole tour so much better and got us around quickly with no hivbups!

GJ was our Tour Guide and she did a fabulous job showing us around Seoul We toured the palace, a museum with full City views Walked the shopping areas/street markets and we shopped at the maga Olive Young store. We also had a delicious lunch at an awesome little noodle/dumpling/kimchi restaurant — everything homemade and tasty GJ is very knowledgeable and friendly — you will enjoy spending an afternoon seeing Seoul with her

I had 24 hours in Seoul, and I wanted to pack in as much as could in a half day tour. I booked this tour, and was matched with tour guide Paul Koo. Paul promptly sent me a welcome email and a detailed itinerary which I appreciated and approved. As a higher education professional and instructor, I was ecstatic to be matched with Paul as my guided. Before we started the tour of the palace grounds, we sat down and chatted. As a teacher, I like when lessons begin with an overview and preview of what we’ll learn and why it’s important with opportunities to ask tons of questions along The way. Paul shared his expertise and knowledge of Confucian philosophy and its roots in Joseon period architectural history. Sound heady? Thank goodness! The way he structured and explained Korean history and its foundation in Confucianism allowed me to appreciate all of the beautiful details of the palace architecture and grounds amidst the throngs of tourists dressed in traditional Joseon dynasty costumes. Paul introduced me to the soul of Seoul. Not only did I have a greater understanding the palace and Korean folk life, I felt that I had a better understanding the beauty of Seoul navigating the subway, walking the streets of Gangnam, and connecting with local Koreans in my short time in Seoul. Also watching k-dramas set in Joseon era, make more sense to me now (with a critical eye and better understanding of culture and history). As a result of Paul’s half day tour, I left Seoul hoping to study more about Korean history and culture. I even hope to study more Korean language when I return to visit again with family. If you’re looking for a tour to learn about the foundations of Korean history and culture in Confucianism and architectural history, I enthusiastically recommend Paul Koo. I’ll surely be back and with more time take longer tour.

The best way to see the city and get to know intricate details of the culture and place. An awesome experience!

Had a great 4 hour private walking tour. Jay was friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. Showed me a number of key sites, and we walked through multiple neighborhoods. The advantage of the private tour was we got to go at my speed (probably a bit faster than most tourist groups), which was great. Highly recommend.

GJ met us at the hotel and walked us around beautiful Seoul! She explained the culture, the history and answered all of our questions. It was our first time visiting and GJ took us around to show us the area and where to go on our free time. It was the perfect way to get acquainted!

Andrew was excellent. Very informative and knowledgeable about the history and culture of Seoul and South Korea. All of the locations he showcased were great experiences for first time visiting the country. He also helped navigate and explain the subway system which was a huge help for a first timer. Overall the tour was great and I would highly recommend.

Wonderful experience and would definitely book again! Courteous and professional. We had a wonderful time and learned a ton! So much to appreciate and respect about the Korean culture. This is the way to learn and experience it.

Jihyun was the perfect guide! She completely customized the tour for our preferences and she was flexible to make adjustments and recommendations throughout the day based upon how it was going and what we were seeing. She was very kind and patient. She was knowledgeable and provided the information and history of the various places we visited. She even provided recommendations for the remainder of our trip based upon our interests. I'm so happy that Jihyun was our tour guide and I would highly recommend her to anyone!

Had a fantastic first ever visit to Seoul thanks to our guide, Ruth, who was very informative, conscientious, flexible with our interests and itinerary and fun. Went to some great spots we would not have discovered on our own and was very helpful with some great suggestions for future points of interest after our tour was over.

We had Ruth show us around the main sights as we only had 1 night I'm Korea. Ruth was so passionate about the city , the history and took us to so many places. We had street food ans Korean BBQ. We will definitely tour with Ruth when we are back in Seoul. It was a great end to our trip. Thank you so much :)

We had a 9 am private tour booked. We confirmed with City Scripted one week before and a second time the day before. We were told “ rest assured “ the tour was paid and confirmed. We waited in our lobby until 9:15. Called City Scripted when no one showed up. Left a message. Shortly thereafter, they called and stated our guide had another obligation and could not take us. We were furious. It was our only day to do this. City Scripted was very apologetic but it was no help to us. We are uncertain where the breakdown occurred. When they assigned the guide we were given his direct email address should we need to contact him. Sent two emails ( to confirm guide was all set) and he never gave us the courtesy of a reply. Unacceptable. City Inspired extended a 60% discount on a tour in the future. We willl not be using it. We are starting to see a pattern with private guards. If a bigger and better request comes in ( full or multiple day tour) you get dropped. We get it. It’s their livelihood. However, have some consideration and at least let your customer know. Going forward we will handle our tours differently.

Step 1 - Book with Andrew, Step 2 - See educational and entertaining sites, Step 3 - Enjoy a very special cup of tea (unique to So. Korea and it's going to surprise you!), Step 4 - Have a delicious and unique lunch at a restaurant adjacent to the market, Step 5 - Enjoy your memories of a very special day! Don't miss this one!

Absolutely fantastic tour, we visited everywhere we wanted plus some. During the tour our amazing guide took our pictures, sent them via WhatsApp & wrote the destination on them. If you do any tour in Korea it should be this one ☺️

From the booking process up to end of the tour the process was done without any hassle. The guide arrived on time and even sent us pictures he took of my Aunt and Uncle wearing the hanbok they requested. Overall I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the best of seoul. Guide was very professional, communicates every step of the way and made sure guest had a great experience.

I felt so lucky to get paired with Andrew. He is a former diplomat and a practicing attorney - he had wonderful stories about his life in the U.S., Korea, and China. His pre-tour communication was wonderful and the tour was very well organized. I really enjoyed our time together and he was so patient with all of my questions. I felt like I was spending the afternoon with a friend enjoying Seoul. I can't wait to visit Korea again and will definitely have Andrew as my guide.

Sujeon was the most knowledgeable and thoughtful guide I've had. She explained the little nuisances of the Grand Palace and answered all my questions. She even helped me understand the transportation ticketing system, making it easier for me to use them. She's very prompt and we went at a pace I was comfortable with. Thanks again

Great tour. It was cold and rainy the day we went, but theres nothing you can do about that on a walking tour! Paul was a great guide. He did the best he could given the weather so we had to hustle a few times to get to places. Saw a lot and had a wonderful time for the amount of time we had between flights. Def a must do if you have a long layover in Seoul or are staying there and just want to get to know the city better.

Bergen was a great guide. Very knowledgeable. We only had a short stay in Seoul and he chose good highlights to show us. Would recommend

First, I'll say that we appreciated the fact that our tour guide, Andrew, met us at the airport, which is an hour away and got us to our hotel. Truly grateful! Second, because we've been traveling thoughout Asia, when we booked we never got around to completing a list of sites to see, so I take a little blame for this. When we arrived, it was also cold and rainy; nevertheless, we felt the tour was ok. While a private walking tour, Andrew, our guide was informative and nice; however, my wife and felt like it was rushed. We saw a couple statues, got some history of the local area, visited one of the nearby temples, had lunch at one of the local "markets", walked around it afterwards, and then went back to our hotel. I say this in comparison to a small group tour we took the next day (10-12 people) which was really fun (although still raining).

Had a great time with Yujin my guide. She made a proposal of places to visit and I am glad I trusted her. I had a GREAT experience. The combination of hot spots, historic places and dining spots was simply perfect. Yujin is knowledgeable and friendly. I learned a lot in just one day. Thanks dear Yujin. You made my day!

I loved the 1:1 interaction. We were able to ask so many questions about the location and Korea in general. Andrew is super personable and has SO much knowledge to pass along!

Very informative in a short window of time. It was our first trip to Seoul, and we were most grateful for the guidance, fun experience, and education! Thank you!

Very enjoyable, a few hours, checking out local sites in the city. We’re able to see a lot even in short amount of time.

I was looking forward to this tour however, due to airline flight cancellation- not in my control, I was unable to make this tour. As soon as understood the implications of the cancellation and impact on our brief trip to Seoul, I cancelled the 1/2 day tour. I cancelled only 5 hours pass the deadline Seoul local time and City Unscripted did not provide any level of refund to me. City Unscripted did not even provide a goodwill partial refund. I'm very disappointed and when I go to Seoul in the future, I know I will be looking at other tour businesses.

Seuchang is a very knowledgeable and kind person who shares her thoughts. She knows the streets, the city's history and local markets by heart.

An amazing 4 hour walking tour of Seoul! Our guide did her homework in advance. We we’re in contact with her and explained our wishes what we wanted to see. We were more interested in seeing things off the beaten path, and she came up with a brilliant plan!

Everything was interesting from ancient culture to modern day places to explore, experience & shop. My tour guide Sujeong was knowledgeable & shared historical stories and how the old city merges with the new. She went above & beyond to ensure I got to see culturally relevant places of value & significance.

Paul has a very deep understanding of the history and background of Korean history, especially the Confusian ideology underpinning the Josean dynastic period. In this way, he is able to put the tours of the Gyeongbokgung Palace and Hanok Village in a context that otherwise would be superficial and much harder to relate. After this tour I feel we had a much deeper understanding of Korean history and how it manifests in Seoul and plays out in the present day. Paul was very patient and generous with his time taking as long as it took to answer our questions and even stopping by a secret delicious snack spot when our son got hungry along the way!

It was a great personalised tour based on what we said we wanted to see in a pre-questionnaire and the history provided was great. I would recommend again.

It was culture day so everything was free, and many people were dressed in beautiful period costumes.

I did a private tour with Yubin and had a really great time on my first day in Seoul. She reached out to me a couple of days in advance to understand my interests (culture and food) and come up with a perfect customised tour. The tour exceeded my expectations and I can strongly recommend Yubin.

What a lovely way to see Seoul. Tailored to my interests and so flexible. My guide was so accommodating and completely understood what I was interested in see. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour!

Paul was a great guide. Good experience. It was very hot weather and Paul managed to keep us moving to see as much as possible.