Private Tour
Essence of Seoul, 100% Private Full Day City tour
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Seoul has been the capital of Korea for over 600 years since the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
It was called as "Hanyang" during Joseon Dynasty, but after liberation from Japan in 1945, World war II, it has been called "Seoul".
Seoul, the capital of Republic of Korea, is the most popular tourist attraction throughout Korea.
With countless sights to see and places to go, such as royal palaces, traditional markets, and high-end shopping districts, Seoul is a city with so much to offer that you might not know where to start first.
The best tour for foreigners to learn about culture and life of Seoul and Seoulites. All in one, Awesome full day city tour enjoying Past, Present and Future of Seoull.
In short, recommended for the first time visitors and it is the orientation tour for them.
Additional Info
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 travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Free pick-up and drop off service
Ticket to Kyungbokkung palace
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
What To Expect
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because its location is furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace) Palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of all five palaces. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (Japanese Invasions, 1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong (1852-1919). Remarkably, the most representative edifices of the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pond have remained relatively intact. Woldae and the sculptures of Geunjeongjeon (The Royal Audience Chamber) represent past sculptures of contemporary art. The National Palace Museum of Korea is located south of Heungnyemun Gate, and the National Folk Museum is located on the eastern side within Hyangwonjeong.
National Folk Museum of Korea
Located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea presents historical artifacts that were used in the daily lives of Korean people in the past. Through the displays, visitors can learn about the domestic and agricultural lifestyles, as well as Korea’s cultural beliefs. The National Folk Museum of Korea has three permanent exhibitions and two special exhibitions as well as a library, souvenir shop, and other subsidiary facilities.
Options
Essence of Seoul, 100% Private Full Day City tour
Pickup included
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The perfect day in Seoul South Korea!
SebringGM,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Chris was super communicative from the moment that I booked. He was on time and extremely friendly, making sure that we were taken care of and every step of the way. He was extremely knowledgeable about Korean history and culture and took us to the most incredible Korean lunch with their own private room. Get ready for a fun filled day learning about this incredible city and country.
Great day in Seoul
264jeromeh,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a 10 hour layover in Seoul during our Asian journey from the US. Chris picked us up on time at the airport and took us on a tour of Seoul. I love history however I know very little about this part of the world, especially pre WWII. We spent most of our time at the Gyeongbokgung Palace learning about the history of Korea pre WWII. Was a great day, Chris is a wealth of knowledge. We enjoyed it so much that on our return trip we did a tour with him to the DMZ.
Very informative Seoul city tour with knowledgeable guide
452marnip,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We learned so much from our guide , Chris. We had very little knowledge of Seoul and Chris helped us to appreciate the history, traditions and customs of Korea. He is a very learned guide with excellent English and a pride for his country that he passionately shares.
good city tour
Jenniffer E,
Jun 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Chris spoke english and was able to provide us with a lot of information and history. His itinerary he took us to the Palace , we saw the changing of guards , then to folklore museum for about 30 mins, hanok village, lunch, insadong market , seoul tower.
VIP experience
Glenn L,
Jan 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Chris gave us knowledgeable insights into Korean history, culture and way of life. The tour itinerary was excellent and was flexible if required.
Visit the ancient part of Seoul
ursula giustina,
Nov 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Chris Lee was a fantastic guide, very helpful and prepared. We visited all the most important historical places, he told me the highlights of Korean history, but in the meantime he updated me on contemporary topics as well. He understood perfectly what I wanted to see and even suggested places I had not planned, such as a delicious family restaurant to eat local cooked express dishes. As soon as I have the opportunity I will contact him to make another visit to the city in other areas. He drives his comfortable and spacious minivan carefully, which can accommodate even more people.
Superb City tour with a great knowledgeable guide
Anh G,
Jul 7, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Chris H. was our tour guide and also our driver. I believe he is an independent tour operator and has been doing these Seoul city tours for many years. He was totally professional and super knowledgeable. He arrived at our hotel early and picked us up in his large air conditioned van. He was an excellent driver and gave us all sorts of information about Seoul, S. Korea, and every one of the sites we visited. He had a lot of knowledge and adapted the itinerary based on time and traffic and our preferences. I felt like he just really knew what he was doing and enjoyed his job. I liked that he addressed both my husband and I and our two young adult (collegiate) daughters and our teen son, even though they are all young enough to still be called "kids". He engaged our entire group. He also knew how to take good pictures! I am surprised that so many tour guides have not mastered the art of taking pictures for their clients. Doing a private tour is the way to go! We got so much done in one day and hit all the "must sees". Possibly this pace is too fast for some who prefer to linger at each spot, but we prefer to get a good overview of the city and then choose later if we want to return anywhere. We would never have been able to see all of this and get all of this information on our own or with a large bus group tour. And with a group of at least 4 or 5, the price per person is nearly the same as with a group tour, so it is totally worth the money. 5/5 stars, I would totally recommend this tour to anyone coming to Seoul for the first or tenth time!
Great full service tour!!
kaenhu,
Jun 22, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great tour! Chris communicated with us 2 days prior to our tour and then again on route to pick us up. He picked us up promptly at our hotel and drove us to various landmark tourist spots. It was great to be able to just relax on the first day of our Seoul trip and get a good layout of the city and see a lot of the "must see" spots. Especially cool was all the information he provided as he led us around Gyeongbokgung Palace. No way would we have been able to appreciate all the buildings there, as it is a massive complex. Bukchon Hanok Village was also cool, and then he took us to Insadong for lunch at a dumpling place. We got to walk around Insadong as well and then we went to N Seoul Tower and got to see great views of the city. The car was clean and comfortable and the pace of the tour was good. Highly recommend, especially if you have a family or big group. Thumbs up to Chris!Thank you!!!
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Operated by Chris Hyosang Lee