Is it your first time exploring Korean history and culture? If you are a visitor to Seoul, join us for an exciting tour showing you that this bustling city has a lot to offer!
Start your tour with a visit to Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea, famous for being located in the city. 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.
The tour also visits Gyeongbok Palace, built in 1395, which is arguably the most beautiful and the grandest of all the five palaces. Every day, visitors to Gyeongbok palace can watch a re-enactment of the changing of the royal guards' ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace.
The newly opened Cheongwadae Sarangchae, which opened to the public on January 5th, 2010, is a history center that gives visitors a chance to follow in the footsteps of presidents of Korea and gain insight into the history of Seoul. It encompasses the past, present and even the future of Seoul as well as the entire nation
We'll also visit Insa-dong, the most reliable place to purchase antiques in Seoul. Here you may browse antique shops, art galleries and second-hand bookstores.
Next up on our Seoul City tour is another traditional market, but this one is entirely different from Insadong. Gwangjang Market comprises around 5,000 vendors and is one of the oldest and largest in Seoul. It was also the first permanent market in Korea.
What better way to end our Seoul City Tour than a ride up to Seoul Tower on the iconic Namsan Cable Car.
This well-known Korean landmark offers captivating views of Namsan Mountain and downtown Seoul as you ascend the 605-metre-long cable to the top.
The complete itinerary for the day is as follows:
Hotel pick up - Jogyesa Buddhist Temple - Changing of the Guard Ceremony - Gyeongbok Palace (Deoksu Palace Tuesday only) - pass by the Presidential Blue House - Cheongwadae Sarangchae (National Palace Museum of Korea on Tuesday only) - Insadong Arts and Crafts Market (Free time for lunch) - Gwangjang Market - N Seoul Tower (including observatory and round trip cable car) - Drop off at Myeongdong or City Hall
