Things to do in Seoul, South Korea: The Best Cultural Tours

April 25, 2022 Carley Gatson

Seoul is the business and cultural hub of South Korea, where skyscrapers tower over Buddhist temples. Take it all in from the N Seoul Tower, built atop a peak in Namsan Park. The teahouses and shops of Insadong give you a taste of Korean flavor, which you can further experience with a visit to the grounds and museums of Gyeongbokgung. UNESCO World Heritage Site Changdeokgung Palace is a fine example of authentic ancient architecture.
Restaurants in Seoul

1. DMZ( demilitarized zone) includes the 3rd Infiltration tunnel and observatory

59-3 Naeja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea best tour services in korea
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)- MAIN ATTRACTION ( 5~6 hr) *Reminder for DMZ Travelers: ID or passport required        Imjingak Resort (Nuri Peace Park)  • The 3rd Tunnel ( admission fees per person: Adults $12 won / Teenagers  & younger $9 for monorail and shuttle bus) • Dorasan Station & observatory .

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Fuel surcharge, Parking Fees, Toll fees- road charges, Bottled water, Wifi during transfer, Landing and facility fees, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By camillesU3592ZV

My husband and I loved this tour. Harry was very knowledgeable and accommodating to a few stops along the way. The tour is absolutely stunning - the sites we saw. We got in some leg work to burn off the calories from eating the delicious Korean food. The van was also very comfortable and I was able to get a few winks in to stave off the jet lag. :)

2. Small Group : Seoul Highlights Tour with Korean BBQ + Food tasting

Paju, Paju, Gyeonggi-do Here Korea Travel
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This tour program is for food lovers who also want to see the major tour destination in Seoul. This tour is combined with food tour and Seoul highlight tour. You can see major tour spots like Gyeongbokgung palace, Jogyesa temple, Bukchon Hanok village, Insadong Art&antique(handcraft,too) street and Gwangjang market. For Lunch, you will have Korean Rip Pork marinated by Korean soy sauce which is improvised on the table. At kwangjang market, you will try representative food here : Mungbean pancake, Korean beef tartar and gimbab(Korean roll) with Japchae,etc this is upto you. As a dessert, you will have Korean traditional street food called Hoddeok. Join us! Let's visit major tour destination and have delicious local food in one day! Why us? - Visiting major tourists spots in Seoul - Good local food and traditional street food at Gwangjang Market - Experienced Local Tour Guide will be with You - Small Group Tour

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Beverages, Food tasting, Lunch, Professional tour guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Gratuities, Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Reviewed By NicolasL312-fr

It was a great tour, Gyeongju was a great city to visit. Our tour guide Mimi, was amazing from the moment she picked us from our hotel to every step of the visit and really tried to make the best trip possible for us. She spoke very well English and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend if you wish to fully understand the Shilla period.

3. Afternoon Seoul highlights Segway Tour with food tasting and Korean BBQ

10-3 Dangju-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Riding
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Are you looking for new way of traveling Seoul instead of getting on Coach or Walking? Here's A NEW WAY OF TRAVELING SEOUL in easy transportation. That's by SEGWAY! You don't need special skill, even you don't have to know riding two wheel bicycle. It's just Easy to learn. In 5 to 15min, you will master how to move around on Segway! By riding on this cool transportation, you will go around the major tourists spots that you must visit in Seoul! Changdeokgung, Ikseondong hanok street, Cheonggyeoncheon, Gwangjang food market,etc! You will also try Korean street food at Gwangjang market and for dinner, you will have Korean BBQ at the famous local BBQ restaurant! Professional tour guide will give you narration about Korean culture, history, customs, etc during the tour Why you should book? - We do small group tour, maximum 10pax - Professional, friendly and experienced tour guide will be with you - Tour guide will introduce authentic local food - You will have Quality Korean BBQ there

Inclusions: Use of Segway, Professional Tour Guide, Bottled water, Dinner : Korean BBQ, Food tasting at the market, Snacks

Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Other activities not on the itinerary

Reviewed By robertb327

After 5 minutes of instruction we headed out into the city for our tour. Jun was a great guide and, although neither of us (in our 50s) had ever ridden a Segway before, it turned out to be easy and incredibly fun. Highly recommended!

4. Seoul Art Tour with a Local Expert: 100% Personalized & Private

Seoul, South Korea City Unscripted Seoul
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Insadong is a neighborhood permeated with everything artistic, eclectic and creative. Explore it with one of our local Seoul hosts, flitting between traditional tea houses and even more traditional porcelain shops. Stroll along the largest street, Insadong-gil, pop into an art gallery or a stationary store, discover ancient writing techniques or stop by Jogyesa Temple. You may want to also see Ssamziegil, a market/mall hybrid - quirky, right? After all of that, you might need a break, and a traditional tea ceremony sounds like just the thing. 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.

Inclusions: A private and personalized experience , 3 hours with a Host, Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options), Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Tickets to any attractions, Additional transportation costs , Gratuities (optional)

Reviewed By katosheppeck

Our guide was both kind and competent. She accommodated our very specific and probably unusual itinerary to orient a new student to the area. I can't recommend highly enough having a local guide in an unfamiliar city, especially for travelers who don't speak the language. It is an absolute must! I will look for a local guide wherever I go in the future and hope they are as kind as Oki.

5. VIP Brompton Bike & Food Tour (with Car Pick Up Service)

Korea Tourism Organisation, Da-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea We Ride Korea
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

The subtitle of this tour is, "lets see everything!" because his tour covers all elements of the ancient city. You'll see the Big 5 tourist attractions (Gwanghwamun gate, Blue house, Jogyesa temple, Chunggyecheon, Bukchon) as well as venture into other areas that represent the everyday life, the not so glamorous and the hidden places that give this city its diverse character. Get off the beaten track, adventure with us and really connect with Seoul! So, who are we? We are We Ride Korea! Korea's award winning cycling tour company. We have over 5 years of experience in tours and will ensure your safety and comfort during the ride We provide: - TWO trained qualified guides on every tour! - Awards winning content (Seoul Tourist Organization, Seoul Startup Hub and Seoul Social Venture award) - Local food and Local guides - Excellent value for money you will receive. - Helmets will be provided. - Easy to ride bikes - Can you make special food requests? Yes, Please just let us know.

Inclusions: Snacks, Use of helmet, Use of bicycle, TWO Guides (for groups over 4ppl), Food tasting, Bottled water, Private transportation

Exclusions: Hotel pickup (but we can arrange this!), Gratuities

Reviewed By gabbo316

To it was excellent the tour guide was very knowledgeable and a great guy to hang out with So I recommend this to tour

6. 1 day Jeonju City tour by KTX Train from Seoul

Tagy Travel Korea
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

1 hour 36 minutes KTX train that travels at the speed of 300km/h ride from Seoul, Jeonju welcomes visitors with its charming and relaxed atmosphere. Jeonju is a city famous for the Jeonju Hanok village, delicious Jeonju bibimbap. This fascinating tour takes you to Jeonju by KTX, tour Jeonju Hanok Village and Geumsansa Temple, and experience making Korean traditional paper. In the evening, you can take a KTX train back to Seoul It is the perfect place to go on a weekend or Jeonju day trip from Seoul. No better place encapsulates the particular atmosphere unique to Jeonju like the Jeonju Hanok Village nestled in the heart of the city. With more than 800 traditional Korean Hanok houses made out of wood, clay and unique roofs clustered in a single area, Most of the things to see in Jeonju are located in the Hanok village, such as Gyeonggijeon shrine, Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian school, traditional Korean paper factory, and Pungnammun gate but Geumsansa temple is in the outskirt of Jeonju.

Inclusions: 1 Day Private tour, Qualified Local English-speaking guide, KTX round-trip fare (Economy class), All admission fees to tourists sites, Hanji (Korea's traditional paper) Making experience fee, Hotel Pick-up (Seoul area)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Drop off Service (Seoul), Accommodation, Gratuities

Reviewed By MAS_CT88

Kyungae, from the travel agency was very accommodating, answered all my questions, she also suggested the best tours we get for the dates we were in Jeju island. Everything was done online, emails and messenger. It was hassle free. My tour guide/driver was Jay. He was awesome, knowledgeable, extremely nice and made sure, I had a fun time on this tour. He was always on time and knows a lot about the places we visited. Truly a wonderful experience. Definitely will book them again.

7. Central Seoul Tour

Top Korea Tour - Private Day Tours
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5.0 based on 68 reviews

Book this private full day tour of Seoul, to enjoy at your own pace with comfort. On this 8-hour journey, in an air-conditioned minivan, you will be accompanied by an expert driver cum guide on an itinerary that was designed to give you great understanding of Seoul. Lunch is not included, you can pay separately.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Driver guide (Driver and Guide for the larger group, more than 8), Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and coffee/tea (available to purchase), Gratuities, Lunch

Reviewed By edlevis

This was my second trip with Miae at Top Korea Tour. Three years ago she took me on a city tour of Seoul. I had so much fun and learned so much that I reached out again on my next visit to the area. This time we traveled 1-1/2 hours outside of Seoul to historic Gangwha Island. We visited Gwangseongbo Fortress, built in the 17th century to protect Korea from foreign invasion, and Jeondeungsa Buddhist Temple dating back to the 4th century. Our lunch was a delicious traditional Korean barbeque. After lunch we visited the Gangwha Peace Observatory where we could look across the Han River through telescopes to the farms and mountains of North Korea. From the observatory we proceeded to the popular Joyang Bangjik Coffee shop built on a former factory site and retaining much of the original decor. We visited the Ganghwa Anglican Cathedral combining traditional Korean architecture with Anglican Christian interior. We walked through the Pungmul Traditional Market offering locally grown foods such as turnips, sweet potatoes, and fish along with handcrafts. Then we returned to Seoul. Pickup and dropoff service was provided to my hotel. Miae is an excellent tour guide. She is very knowledgeable, upbeat, friendly, and fun. Top Korea Tour is highly recommended.

8. Immersive Korean BBQ, Market, and Secret Pub Experience in Seoul

Gongdeok Station, Ahyeon-dong, Seoul, South Korea ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours
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5.0 based on 43 reviews

Go to the same Korean pork BBQ restaurant featured on "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown" on this classic Korean night out of BBQ and drinks. Spend a lively evening with a Korean food expert to learn about Korean BBQ and drinking etiquette, and then experience traditional and trendy alcoholic drinks in an energetic classic pub filled with Koreans from all walks of life. You will also explore a market famous for its pigs feet and a colorful market selling savory pancakes and tempura made from most anything under the sun. Make sure to bring your camera, but don't lose it, or they may fry it. This is the most intense way to immerse yourself in Korean food culture. STARTING POINT Gongdeok Station, exit 7, bottom of escalators

Inclusions: Dinner, Unlimited drinks (within reason), Local guide

Exclusions: Gratuities, Extracurricular activities (karaoke, fried chicken pub) are optional after the main part of the tour

Reviewed By lilmzkimbo

After hearing so many good things about the Dark Side of Seoul Tours I decided to finally get up to Seoul and take one with Shawn. The tour was wonderful. Jam packed with lots of really interesting information and of course tons of creepy stories along the way. Shawn is very knowledgeable and is a great storyteller so it made for an extra fun experience. Luckily no ghosts on our tour (at least that I could see). I would highly recommend the tour to anyone either visiting Korea or living in Korea who want to learn more about Korean history and of course folklore. Also the podcast is really great so after hearing so many different ones it was nice to take a walk in some of the places mentioned.

9. The Non-Touristy DMZ Private Day Trip: North Korea & Nature

Withlocals.com Private Tours in Seoul
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4.9 based on 11 reviews

Enhance your time in Seoul with a day trip to the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) that separates North and South Korea.Take in the main highlights of the area and learn more about the history of Korea. Your local host will answer all of your questions and will provide you with historical insights and facts to help you make the most of your day. On this private day trip,you’ll visit the 4km-wide DMZ and get the chance to peek into North Korea from the Eulji observatory. Check out the 'Punch Bowl', an area where soldiers from both countries fought hand-to-hand. You’ll also get to learn more about the tense history of the area while enjoying the sight of untouched natural beauty around. Get a chance to explore the 4th Invasion Tunnel, located on one of the most strategic routes and built hundreds of meters underground. Please keep in mind that for this day trip you need to bring your passport. This is very important to remember, as it is mandatory to enter the area. Join now to find out more!

Inclusions: Private Tour, Local Guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Entrance Tickets 4th Invasion Tunnel, Entrance Tickets Eulji Observatory, Hotel pick-up and drop off

Exclusions: Optional lunch

Reviewed By andrewfF2693XX

We had a wonderful time doing the Seoul Street Food Tour with Julian this past weekend. He showed us lots of great spots to try both in Namdaemun and on the way to Insa-dong. Julian also showed us some palaces, temples and museums in the area. It was a great day and we learned a lot about Seoul. We highly recommend the tour and picking Julian as a tour guide!

10. Seoul Highlights & Hidden Gems Tours by Locals: 100% Private & Personalised 4hrs

Seoul, South Korea City Unscripted Seoul
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4.8 based on 24 reviews

Discover Seoul as you would if you were visiting a friend who lived there! A like-minded local will create an experience that’s customised for you, whether it’s ticking the most famous attractions off your bucket list, discovering local neighbourhoods and hidden gems or a little bit of both. See Seoul’s highlights, get tips and orientation to the city and immerse yourself in the unique culture. Ditch the guidebook and see Seoul like a local!

Inclusions: Private and personalised 3, 4, 6 or 8 hour meet-up, Working together to build the perfect itinerary for you, A Local Host to show you around, Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location), Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Any tickets into attractions/venues, Gratuities, Public/private transportation during the meet-up

Reviewed By SNKAUS

This was our first trip to Seoul, Yujin our guide made us feel like locals. She showed us sights and experiences we will never forget. The fish restaurant she took us to was the highlight of our tour.

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