Quiet unique. Very good explanation. Ivy was a great tour guide.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Admission fee
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Best Tour Guide (English)
Excludes
- Meals
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- City Hall Subway Station Exit 6 (in front of the The Plaza Seoul)
Itinerary
Meeting Point 1: Meet your bus and tour guide at Myeongdong Subway Station Exit 8.
Meeting Point 2: Jump on our tour bus at Seoul City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
Immerse yourself in the allure of winding alleys and timeless Korean heritage in Bukchon Hanok Village! Discover vibrant local arts and crafts, savor tantalizing street food delights at an old market in central Seoul, explore majestic palaces, and immerse in the rich cultural tapestry of Korea.
Step back in time and feel Korea's beating heart at Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul. It's a 600-year-old wonderland packed with hundreds of charming Hanok houses from the Joseon Dynasty! Once the exclusive playground for top officials and nobles, this Northern Village now buzzes with real locals living in these traditional houses today. Wander and get lost in its secret alleys, but please be respectful of people's homes. Your adventure awaits!
(Every day except Tuesday) Pass by Gwanghwa Square in the heart of Seoul, a revitalized area featuring beautiful and relaxing spaces perfect for taking photos or resting. It is also often used for festivals or other outdoor organized events with pop-up stalls, displays, and performances. Whilst we head past, you can also see the large statues of Kim Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who are both monumental figures in Korean history.
(Every day except Tuesday) Stand in awe at Gwanghwamun Gate, the majestic main entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Catch the electric Changing of the Guard ceremony, a vibrant reenactment from the Joseon Dynasty with guards in colorful traditional outfits marching to drum beats and salutes! Traditionally, the palace guards (Wanggung Sumunjang) served as a safety precaution during the Joseon Dynasty, being responsible for opening and closing the palace gates and inspecting visitors to the king. It's a thrill that brings ancient Korea roaring back to life. Get ready for goosebumps!
(Every day except Tuesday) Enter the majestic world of kings and queens at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, the grandest jewel of the Joseon Dynasty! Built over 600 years ago, this sprawling palace boasts stunning throne halls, secret gardens, and colorful pavilions that whisper tales of ancient royalty. Stroll through its vast courtyards and imagine the royal court's lively days. It's a must-see burst of history and beauty—pure magic! Note: On Tuesdays, Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony are replaced with visits to Changdeokgung Palace and Insadong.
(Every day except Tuesday) Catch a thrilling glimpse of presidential power as we pass by the iconic Blue House in Seoul. Once the heart of Korea's leadership, it sits dramatically perched against Bugaksan Mountain. This striking blue-tiled complex, which housed presidents from 1948 to 2022, now stands as a symbol of modern history. Its majestic exterior will leave you wide-eyed with wonder!
(Tuesdays Only) Unlock the serene secrets of Changdeok Palace in Seoul, a UNESCO World Heritage site from the Joseon Dynasty, built in 1405! Wander its elegant halls and pavilions that blend seamlessly with nature, where it served as the main royal home for over 200 years and 13 kings. It's a tranquil escape where emperors once dreamed, pure harmony and wonder!
(Tuesdays Only) Dive into the vibrant soul of old Seoul at Insadong, the ultimate hub for Korean traditions! Stroll this lively street lined with antique shops, handmade crafts, charming tea houses, and art galleries bursting with color. Pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs and sip historic teas amid street performers. It's a fun, cultural playground you won't want to leave!
Stop by the Cheongha Korean Ginseng Center to uncover the magic of Korea's legendary ginseng and its time-tested health wonders. Called "insam," this prized root has energized generations with its natural boosts to vitality, immune strength, and fatigue relief. Dive into its story from careful growing and refining to blending into everyday wellness essentials. Plus, taste-test and snag top-quality goodies like potent extracts, soothing teas, and glowing skincare treats!
Ignite your taste buds at Gwangjang Market, Seoul's oldest and most buzzing food paradise since 1905! Dive into a whirlwind of sizzling street eats, including crispy bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), spicy tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes), and fresh kimbap (seaweed rice rolls), from over 400 vendors. Browse nearby stalls for vibrant hanbok fabrics, handmade crafts, and quirky souvenirs, too. It's a feast for the senses where locals and flavors collide in pure, joyful chaos!
Drop-off 1: Spend some extra time here and make the most of Gwangjang Market by finishing your tour here. Try some additional street flavors, take some extra time to purchase souvenirs, or browse local wear.
Drop-off 2: Hop off in Myeongdong, a lively shopping paradise famous for trendy beauty buys, stylish clothes, and mouthwatering Korean street eats. Swing by the stunning Myeongdong Cathedral, enjoy a lively traditional show, or dive into real-deal snacks like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and hotteok (sweet stuffed pancakes).
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
You are taken to GinWorldArt for “Buy Gensing from Us” visit which cuts into time on visits on the itinerary. The visit to the Hanoi village, was a 10 minute walk from bus, 5 minute photo op in village and 10 walk back to bus. The Guangdong mkt was basically a drop off. If the ginseng sales stop which is not listed on the itinerary had been left off more time could have been spent at Hanok village and market. A very disappointing tour. GenWorldArt should pay for my tour.
Awesome tour! Our tour guide was Max and he was so friendly, accommodating and spoke really good English! Would recommend 100%
Max has been an incredible tour guide! I enjoyed every moment of the tour! Highly recommend :)
Eva our guide was great! Friendly, knowledgeable, flexible and good communication skills. My family of 3 ladies felt like we had known Eva much longer. This was our first trip to Seoul and we felt welcomed. Locations were interesting and just enough. She provided great tips and answered all our questions. Ken was great driver, punctual, safe and flexible. Always waiting for us no extra steps! Thank you Eva and Ken for your great service and friendly manner.
Our guide Ivy was super nice! She provided a lot of interesting facts and the tour was a good mix between the old Seoul and the Daily life. Highlight recommend!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an amazing experience with Ivy! She was incredibly friendly, helpful, and made our time in Korea even more special. We are currently on our engagement trip, and this experience was a wonderful addition to our journey. Everything was well organised, and Ivy made sure we felt comfortable and enjoyed every moment. We truly appreciated her kindness and positive energy. Thank you, Ivy, for making our trip even more memorable! We highly recommend her!
Great experience! Ivy did a great job & made it special, super helpful and a lot of great things to discover
Awesome tour! Max was great, very good on information and took the time to help us all out
Very interesting. Ivy, our guide was friendly and super dynamic. We recommend this visit.
Great streetfood, a marvelous palace, the cutest of villages and some insight into traditional medicine. Basically a bit of everything, wrapped up to a memorable afternoon by our knowledgeable guide Jack. Guess what: he even made sure we got good family photos.
Our tour guide was amazing! She was very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. She explained everything clearly, shared interesting facts, and made the whole experience enjoyable. She was always helpful and made sure everyone felt comfortable. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a great tour experience! Thank you Alice
Jack was friendly and informative. It was our first time in Seoul and it was great tour to get some history and great photos.
Thanks Max for the great moment. The best guide south Korean. Maybe one day you Come visite my country. Marseille bb.
Max is a very nice guide, it was a great adventure!!! Thank you very much, we come back! Dankeschön!
Great experience with Max who was a fantastic guide! I went solo and there were plenty of others too.
I enjoyed this experience a lot!
Great tour. Meeting location was disorganized and schedule is not firm on departure and return. Guide Max was great and very personable. Excellent English!
Had a great tour with Jack. Super knowledgeable and I enjoyed his insights. He’s a great photographer; knows all the best spots and had me looking my best.
I had a wonderful morning. Max was so friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great way to see some key sights in a short time. Thank you!
Max is the best guide we ever had. Really Nice and énergétic. Always willing to help us take pictures and bringing us in the perfect spots to take them. English is just perfect. On top of that, he’s really funny and patient. I would 100000% recommend going on tour with Max.
Max was great, very friendly and helpful. Told us the best photo spots.
Tour with Ivy was really nice as she explain us everyplace woth a really good english, tool time for picture, also nice spots. Cherry on spot, is that she showed us traditional dishes and which stand to enjoy them. Hope to see her again to show another tour
We had a wonderful day trip with Diane! It was an informative and enjoyable afternoon visiting Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Gwangjang Market. Diane is such a lovely lady, with a warm personality, lots of spontaneity, and excellent English. Her explanations were clear, engaging, and full of fascinating stories that really brought each place to life. She made the whole experience fun, relaxed, and memorable. We truly enjoyed the afternoon and would highly recommend Diane to anyone looking for an authentic and insightful experience in Seoul!
This tour is time efficient and informative, I would recommend this. Our guide Max was excellent, Thank you
TEAM MAX! Great tour with Max through so many spots in Seoul. Bus pick up and transfer super convenient. Brilliant way to see popular places in a half day
This was a nice, informative tour and Max was great at explaining what we were looking at. He’s friendly and took pics as well!
Max was the most friendly tour guide we could've asked for, he made the experience so much more enjoyable despite the poor weather. Would absolutely book again!
The tour was exceptional and our tour guide Max was incredibly welcoming, kind, and passionate about the tour.
Max was great. Very informative and cheerful. Despite bad weather, he made the entire tour delightful.
We had a great experience on our tour! Max was so informative and kind. We learned so much and saw some beautiful sights. Highly recommend this tour!
The trip was amazing! Coco (our tour guide) is very knowledgeable, kind and fun. We had a great time at the palace, the village and the museum. The driver is very kind and safe driver. It was amazing trip. Highly recommenced. Thank you
Coco was very kind and gentle with us, the information about the monuments were really interesting, we also took time to enjoy the places and take pictures. I recommend the experience !
Max is the best the tour was perfect
Ivy was fantastic, loved the tour and couldnt do enough for us
Rose was such a friendly guide, very patient and easy to understand, we had a good time at all the spots.
Rose is very helpful and very kind highly recommended her if you wanna a tour in Korea she’s the best also she speak good English
We had a great time with Rose! She shared a lot of interesting info about the palace and royal life, she had great recs for the market too!
Excellent quick overview of some of the key highlights of Seoul. Rose was an outstanding guide. Friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about the sites. She was so kind as to even help us after the tour.
Recommend this it’s well fun and Roz is a great guide
Very nice experience with Rose! A lot of interesting insights.
max was a good tour guide and i refer him and would be willing to be guided by him again in the future
Max and kim is the best tour guide and kim for accomodating our afternoon tour and give the best memories of our first tour in korea
The tour was amazing, with plenty of beautiful spots to take pictures!
Very interesting tour with a friendly, informative and witty guide - Max. He clearly has a deep knowledge and love for these locations and his enthusiasm shine through. Would recommend
We had a wonderful and insightful day, thanks to our guide, Max.
Would highly recommend. Coco the guide was very good
If you want to see different places in Seoul in a short time, this tour is for you. Ivy is very knowledgeable and has a good sense of humour. She speaks very good and clear English which made it easy to follow her explanations. We enjoyed it very much and highly recommend this tour with Ivy.
We had a great time with jack! We got picked up by bus, want to the palace and hanok village.
Great experience, with a nice size group (not too big). Alice was a great tour guide, very friendly and engaging.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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