Small-Group Full-Day Royal Palace & Seoul City Tour (Pick-up)
Description
Explore the highlights of Seoul on a full-day tour with an informative guide. Highlights include Jogyesa Temple, the Blue House, the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate, and tours of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Immerse yourself in traditional culture at the National Folk Museum of Korea, Insadong Antique Street, Namdaemun Gate, and Namdaemun Market. The tour includes entrance fees and hotel pickup in Central Seoul. Please note that Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays or during special events. In such cases, the itinerary will change to Deoksugung Palace without prior notice. * Full-day Seoul tour with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace * View traditional shops and goods at Insadong Antique Street and Namdaemun Market * Learn about Korean Dynasties when visiting two royal palaces * Includes all Entrance fees, Local English-speaking guide, and Hotel pickup in Central Seoul
Tour Options
Itinerary
Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea, and is famous for being located in the city. From the busy streets of Jongno, follow the road towards Anguk Subway Station, and you will see Jogyesa Temple. The first things you will notice at the temple are the lovely trees. These locust trees and baeksong trees in front of the Daeungjeon, the main temple building, are about 500 years old.
Keep your camera handy for the changing of the guard ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate.
After visiting Jogyesa Temple, you will move on to the next place called Gwanghwamun to watch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony. It is a ceremony to announce the changing of the royal guards, as well as to clarify the guards' identities. Then, you will head toward Gyeongbokgung, which was the main palace and the most beautiful palace during the Joseon Dynasty. Please note that Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays or during special events. In such cases, the itinerary will change to Deoksugung Palace without prior notice.
Within the compound, visit the National Folk Museum to learn about how people have lived in Korea from ancient times to today. Your guide shows you displays that demonstrate daily life for members of the aristocracy and ordinary citizens, including traditional farming and hunting techniques, weaving, cooking and other tasks.
The Blue House (Cheongwadae) was built on the grounds of the royal garden from the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) using traditional Korean architectural styles. Constructed on the grounds of a Joseon Dynasty royal garden, the Blue House features traditional Korean architecture. On our tour today, we will take a drive-pass to see its main buildings and exterior.
Before reaching Insadong, you will have the opportunity to visit the Government-Approved Korean Ginseng Center, where you can taste Korean ginseng tea and a variety of products. You will also learn about the benefits of Korean ginseng and gain valuable information about its qualities. Korean ginseng is globally recognized for its exceptional quality, particularly for its effectiveness in boosting immunity, combating fatigue, and preventing aging. Extracted from roots that are over six years old, it contains a high concentration of saponins, offering various health benefits. In Korea, it is a highly popular gift exchanged to improve health. A visit to the Korean Ginseng Center is included in the itinerary, providing a chance to explore and purchase ginseng products. Discover one of nature’s finest plants and find a special, precious traditional Korean gift.
Insadong is a place of traditional culture near Gyeongbok palace. Insadong was famous since the Joseon dynasty for having lots of antique shops. Today Insadong is popular among tourists for having lots of traditional tea houses, antique shops, traditional handcraft shops, and lots of other shops. Insa-dong is especially popular with foreign tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture firsthand, and also purchase pieces of fine art. On the street you can see many foreigners lost in all the joyous festivities of the street. Insadong is a place of traditional culture. We will provide time for lunch there.
Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1405. It was the principal palace for many of the Joseon kings and is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces. It is recorded as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1997 for having its beautiful appearance of that time. The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden. - On Mondays, Changdeokgung Palace is closed, so we will visit Bukchon Hanok Village instead.
Soongryemun (Namdaemun) is a main gate of former Seoul fortress in Joseon dynasty. It is commonly called as Namdaemun. The gate was built in 1396, in King Taejo's reign. And it was reconstructed in 1447 by king Sejong and in 1479 by king Seongjong. In 2006 the Seoul city opened the passage to the gate to public. The gate is now listed as Korea's national treasure #1. But in February 10th 2008, the gate was all burnt away by arsonist and the wooden gate was all burnt away by that accident. The Cultural Heritage Administration has announced to rebuild the gate similarly to its original appearance. The rebuilding was done by early in 2013.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up is available only for hotels located within Central Seoul that are accessible by our mini-bus. If your accommodation is outside this area or situated in a narrow alley where vehicle access is restricted, we will guide you to a designated meeting point or the nearest major subway station instead.
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
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Royal guard changing ceremony might be cancelled due to weather conditions
- Please be advised that Changdeokgung Palace is closed every Monday. Accordingly, the tour will visit Bukchon Hanok Village or Namsangol Hanok Village instead. In the event of inclement weather, the itinerary may change to the National Museum of Korea to ensure a comfortable indoor experience.
- Please note that Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays or during special events. In such cases, the itinerary will change to Deoksugung Palace without prior notice.
- This tour is proceeding with minimum 2 people
- Lunch (Not included): We provide free time for lunch in Insadong, allowing you the flexibility to explore and enjoy a variety of local restaurants of your choice.
Reviews(1,702)
Sook-hee was absolutely great ! She was patient, well informed tour guide. They are very punctual with time , volunteered to take pictures of us, answered all of our questions and helped us understand the culture and history of Korea.
It's really hard to describe how large these palaces are. The pictures don't do them justice, and getting to experience a changing of the guard was an added bonus. The temple was large and full of colored lanterns, adding to its spectacular decor. We also had an informative lecture about the history and benefits of ginseng, and a fun shopping time to end our tour. Good day in Seoul.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted that you enjoyed exploring Seoul's grand palaces, witnessing the changing of the guard, and visiting the vibrant, lantern-filled temple. It is great to hear that you also enjoyed the ginseng session and shopping. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Seoul again soon! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
My Seoul tour exceeded my expectations. Having only one day in Seoul, I am very glad I chose this small group tour. Our guide, Mrs. Hee-soo is very knowledgeable and friendly. She kept us on track and provided a very good history. This tour is fast paced and A LOT of walking - so be prepared. Also, it was very, very hot, but was to be expected in July. Very interesting sites and Korean history. I highly recommend this tour. My only regret is that I didn't have another day to continue seeing the sites in Seoul.
Thank you for joining us! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your full day in Seoul was so memorable and exceeded your expectations. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Mrs. Hee-soo. She always works hard to share the rich history of Seoul while keeping our tours engaging and smooth for everyone. As you mentioned, July weather in Seoul can indeed be quite hot and the tour involves plenty of walking, so we truly appreciate your energy and great preparation! We hope you get another chance to visit Seoul in the future to explore even more of this beautiful city. It would be our absolute pleasure to welcome you back anytime. Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
It gives a good idea of Seoul and we loved it. Hee Soo was a great guide throughout and we loved it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that the tour gave you a great introduction to Seoul and that you loved the experience. Hee Soo will be delighted to know that her efforts made your day special. Your kind words mean a lot to our team, and we hope to welcome you back to Seoul for another memorable trip in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
The guide was very nice and informative. It was very hot and humid so it made the afternoon difficult (certainly no fault of the guide) so we opted to Uber back to the hotel after the second palace... but that was NOT because of the tour or guide - both were excellent and we enjoyed learning about the Korean history.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and 4-star rating! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed learning about Korean history and that our guide made a positive impression with their informative service. Summer days in Seoul can indeed be quite hot and humid, so we fully understand your decision to return early to rest. Your comfort and well-being are always the top priority! We truly appreciate your kind understanding and look forward to welcoming you back to Seoul in the future under cooler skies. Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
We had such a wonderful day exploring Seoul with Sook-hee! Her knowledge and ability to paint a picture of history, culture and life had even my 13 year d son enthralled. The pick up was easy, transport was comfortable, the tour was well planned and executed and her flexibility, adaptability and patience were truly impressive. Our tour group was, well challenging, but I cannot fault her handling of all the complications of the day. Thank you Sook-hee for showing us your beautiful city!
Thank you for your wonderful review! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your son had a memorable day exploring Seoul with Sook-hee. Sook-hee is indeed a exceptional guide, and we are so glad her passion, flexibility, and patient handling of the day made your trip so special. We will be sure to pass your lovely words along to her—she will be delighted! Thank you again for choosing Seoul N Tour. We hope to welcome you and your family back to Korea in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
Despite the tour being around the city center, there was a lot to see. We got to see the changing of the guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace, complete with beautiful pond and Mountain Views, try fresh Ginseng tea, and got to eat amazing food. Eddie was very kind and knowledgeable about each destination. Attractions are not too far apart, only requiring rides that are a maximum of half an hour. We learned a lot from this tour regarding the rich history of South Korea.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed exploring Seoul's rich history, from the guard changing ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace to the local food and fresh ginseng tea. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Eddie—he will be delighted to know he made your day special. We hope you bring home wonderful memories of Korea, and we would love to welcome you back again in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had a wonderful day exploring historic Seoul! Our guide, Sookhee (Veronica), was knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly patient, especially since we somehow managed to get separated from the group more than once! She shared the fascinating history behind the royal palaces, explained Korean history in a very engaging way, and answered all of our questions. We also visited a beautiful Buddhist temple, which was one of the highlights of the tour. Sookhee took us to an excellent Korean restaurant where we enjoyed delicious traditional food. She also showed us many hidden corners and interesting details of Seoul that we would never have discovered on our own. My favorite part was the traditional market. I wandered off to explore it and ended up discovering so many hidden little shops! First, I found beautiful hats, then I stumbled across an off-price beauty store, and finally I even found the perfect Replica fragrance for my son. It turned into a fun little adventure, and I realized that getting "lost" in a traditional Seoul market is actually one of the best ways to discover the city! Thank you, Sookhee, for such a wonderful experience! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to discover the history, culture, and charm of Seoul with an exceptional guide.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful and detailed review! We are thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable day exploring historic Seoul with us. We will be sure to pass along your glowing words to Sookhee (Veronica). She truly strives to make every tour insightful and comfortable, and she will be delighted to know that her patience, deep knowledge, and restaurant recommendation made your experience so special. It’s wonderful to hear about your fun mini-adventure at the traditional market as well! While getting separated can sometimes be stressful, you turned it into a fantastic discovery of hidden local gems—from hats and beauty finds to that perfect fragrance for your son. That spontaneous curiosity is indeed one of the best ways to truly experience Seoul! Thank you once again for choosing Seoul N Tour and for recommending our tour to fellow travelers. We hope to welcome you back for another great journey in South Korea in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
Eddie taught us a tremendous amount of Korean history through our visits to two palaces, a Buddhist temple. a ginseng museum, the Korean Folk Museum, and the night market. His tour was the perfect balance of guided conversations and free time. Highly recommend!! Thank you Eddie! You were so sweet and fun!
Thank you for your wonderful review! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your delightful review on TripAdvisor! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a fun and informative day exploring Seoul with us. Eddie will be so happy to know that his passion for Korean history, thoughtful guidance, and friendly energy made your tour so memorable. Balancing insightful stories with comfortable free time is always our top goal! We truly appreciate your high recommendation. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back to Korea for another wonderful journey in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
Excellent trip - our guide Evan was the best. You can’t come to Seoul without making this trip.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are delighted to hear that you had an excellent trip and that Evan made your time in Seoul so special. Your strong recommendation means the world to us. We hope to welcome you back to Korea again in the future! Warm regards, SeoulNTour Team
