Seoul Private Tours by Locals: 100% Personalized, See the City Unscripted
Description
You’ll join one of our hosts to flit your way around some of the best the city has to offer, the unmissable if you will. Obviously, we’d be lying and you’d be silly to believe us if we said you could see it all in a day, but you can have a good go! If you’ve got a Seoul bucket list, now would be a good time to whip it out, or let your host share with you the spots which they think are unmissable for a unique spin on things. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Get to know an authentic side of Seoul with a host by your side - visit the ancient village of Bukchon Hanok, located on the top of a hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, and Jongmyo Royal Shrine IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
See the city’s most famous sights in one day - time is of the essence here! Visit iconic attractions like the Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces to Cheonggyecheon park IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Your host will design a bespoke route just for you that takes in the city’s highlights, sprinkled with a few hidden gems they have up their sleeve - does packing your own lunchbox at Tongin Market appeal to you? IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Avoid those pesky tourist traps and ditch the guidebook - why not go on a shopping spree in trendy Gangnam, home to gleaming skyscrapers and designer brands IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
See street art or visit art galleries in Samcheong-dong like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art or the architecturally beautiful Hakgojae Gallery IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- After booking, you will receive a short questionnaire, so you’ll be able to tell us more about your interests and preferences. Based on your responses you’ll be matched with a like-minded Local Host.
- Cancellation Policy
- Cancel up to 7 days before your experience and get a full refund.
- Meeting Point
- Your meeting point is flexible, and to be agreed with your Local Host. Meet-up at your hotel or accommodation can be requested, or your Local Host will meet you at a convenient location close to the start of your experience.
Reviews(4)
My daughter and I connected with English-speaking Korean tour guide, Young Y. thru theToursbyLocals website. Our tour was for several days, mostly around Seoul, but we also went to the DMZ. Young Y. truly brought Seoul to life with his insights and stories. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he was able to answer all our questions with depth and clarity in clear, concise English. Each site we visited felt richer with his explanations, and he encouraged us to engage with the culture in a way I hadn't anticipated. When it rained unexpectedly for an hour, he had a backup plan for something interesting we hadn't considered....libraries... and it created an understanding for ffor an aspect of the Koreans current way of life based on historical philosophies that was foreign to us. Despite my preparation, I was struck by how much more there is to discover. Young Y. highlighted nuances in Korean history and traditions that I hadn’t encountered in my studies. It was a reminder of the beauty of travel: you can learn so much more when you immerse yourself in a place and connect with its people. The experience left me eager to continue my studies and explore more of Korea. I can’t wait to share everything I learned with friends and family back home! In a part of the world where the use of the English languge is sparse, having someone like Young was essential.
We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had such an enriching experience with Young Y. His insights and enthusiasm truly make a difference. We're glad he was able to adapt the tour to include unique aspects of Korean culture and history, even on a rainy day. It’s fantastic to know that your journey inspired you to learn more about Korea. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!
I booked the tour, my guide reached out with a list of options to explore around the city and asked for my preferences. And then the morning of we began what I can only explain as a whirlwind tour of Seoul: it was my first time, so I wanted to see as much as possible with an emphasis on history and culture (and pictures!). I would highly recommend GJ (Jee Eun) as a guide! We had so much fun! There was a detailed itinerary, and though some places we were only able to spend a short time there, I was left with enough explanation to revisit on my own later during my trip.
We had an all day layover in Seoul. With limited time, this was a great way to get around and see what we wanted to see as well as what we didn’t know we wanted to see. Giwon was an excellent guide. She planned a great itinerary, knowledgeable about the sites and culture, and added impromptu stops as we shared interests.
I took the 8 hour personalized tour. My guide was Rossi. We had communicated via Whatsapp on what I wanted to see. Since the tour fell on the second day, I had already seen some of the things he wanted to show me. He was extremely flexible and we adjusted the schedule on the fly. He was easy to get along with and we had some good conversations while crisscrossing the city walking and using public transportation. A highlight was Ewha Women's University where I never would have gone on my own. Highly recommended.
