Beyond Seoul: Starfield Library, Hwaseong Fortress & Cave Quest
Description
Escape Seoul's bustle for a day of modern marvels and ancient wonders! Kick off at the awe-inspiring Starfield Library in Suwon, a futuristic book haven blending sleek design with endless shelves. Wander the UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress, an 18th-century masterpiece with unique military gates, pavilions offering panoramic views, and a resilient history of restoration amid Korea's turbulent past. Delve into Gwangmyeong Cave, Asia's largest themed underground park in a former gold mine, featuring Wine Cave tastings, Aqua World, the decorative Golden Waterfall, and a Road lined with golden plaques, a massive dragon sculpture, LED-lit horrors, and an underground lake for immersive thrills. Round-trip transport from Myeongdong or Seoul City Hall ensures a hassle-free adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meeting Location 1: Myeongdong Subway Station Exit 9 at 08:50 am.
Meeting Location 2: Seoul City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
Enjoy a day's escape from the capital Seoul City's hustle and bustle and explore a little more of what Korea has to offer on our day tour to Suwon and Gwangmyeong. Our exciting itinerary is a good balance of indoor and outdoor adventure, history, culture, and sightseeing. Enjoy beautiful architecture and mesmerising, magical scenes together with us. Charge your camera and make sure you are logged in and ready to post to Instagram.
Step into a bibliophile's dream at Suwon Starfield Library, a free architectural marvel inside Starfield Suwon mall. Marvel at towering 22m-high bookshelves stocked with 50,000 volumes across four floors, cozy nooks for hidden reads, and a vibrant Vinyl Cafe for tunes and treats. Capture Instagram-worthy shots in this serene haven. Your perfect escape from the ordinary.
Descend into the enchanting depths of Gwangmyeong Cave, a reborn 1912 mine transformed into a 7.8km underground wonderland. Wander a 2km trail through 50 magical attractions like shimmering Light Space and cascading Gold Falls, plus an aquarium, a winery for sips amid crystals, and themed zones that spark adventure. Unearth hidden thrills that will leave you spellbound.
Conquer the majestic Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon's UNESCO-listed Joseon Dynasty gem encircling the city in a 5.74km stone-and-brick embrace. Built by King Jeongjo to honor his father, stride panoramic walls for epic views, secret passages, and living history reenactments. This 1997 heritage icon promises timeless tales and triumphant vibes. Book now to claim your crown.
We have two drop-off locations. Both are central downtown areas with excellent onward public transport links and interesting areas to explore and soak up the atmosphere. Dropoff location 1 (Myeongdong Shopping Street): Get off here for a lively, bustling street stalls overflowing with spicy tteokbokki, sweet hotteok, and other Korean street eats. Surrounding shops brim with top global brands, beauty gems, and chic outfits, as well as plenty of nearby upmarket department stores. Take a wander to the tranquil Myeongdong Cathedral amid all the hustle. Dropoff location 2 (Seoul City Hall): Jump off here for a historic hub famed for its Joseon-era palaces like Deoksugung, lush Cheonggyecheon Stream walks, and the towering vertical garden of City Hall itself. Savor hearty jokbal at nearby eateries or browse the vibrant stalls at Namdaemun Market. Wander the serene Jeongdong Observatory amid the urban pulse.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(292)
Max was amazing, he was able to explain to us in good english about the History of Korea. Each stop was just the right abount of time without feeling rushes. The driver was polite and class act driving being mindful of childrens need stopping safely when an emergency stop was needed. Not only on tourists pictures site it was meaningful to know the rich history behind each stop. If given the opportunity we will book. To learn more and see sites with a respectful eye book with Max, 5 stars! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Had a great experience exploring the caves and fortress. The tour was appropriately paced and we were given ample time for pictures.
Wonderful day spent exploring outside of Seoul. Max is the perfect tour very friendly, knowledgeable, and the best with kids. Thanks for the memories!
This tour was awesome, showcasing culture and history outside Seoul City. Enough time was spent at each site. Coco's knowledge included great trivia, and she adapted the pace to the group's interests. Tom was always on time and smoothly navigated traffic. We had a great tour and great day with Coco and Tom.
Even though we were only two people in the group, the experience was amazing. The tour guide, Ivy, was very good at explaining the places we visited and we also talked about ourselves too. We appreciate Ivy's and Charlie's, our driver, efforts for this tour.
Our guide Ivy was an excellent resource of information for the areas we visited today. She was pleasant, helpful and patient. She help with photos we will treasure for years to come. Very enjoyable experience.
Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. This is Julie. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With warm regards, Julie VIP Travel
What an incredible tour and it was so great do to our wonderful guide IVY. She was so knowledgeable, caring and also was our personal photographer as well. I give her a 10 out of 10.
Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. This is Julie. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With warm regards, Julie VIP Travel
Ivy is great quide, speak great English, share very intresting information about places, everything was excellant :)
Dear Customer. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your recommendation and your time to give us a 5-star review. 😊 Thank you for your valuable review and recommendation. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea. Warm Regards Stella / VIP Travel
Ivy gave a clear explanation of all the places covered under this tour. She was very helpful and recommended good spots for photo taking
Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With kind regards, Stella VIP Travel
Tour guide name was Ivy. Very informative and knowledgeable guide. Well done
Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With kind regards, Stella VIP Travel
