3 hours
E-voucher
Multiple
Overview
Your morning starts with pickup from your hotel in Seoul. Enjoy a comfortable ride aboard an air-conditioned coach that first takes you to Jogyesa Temple, the leading Buddhist temple in Korea and an oasis of calm in the bustle of central Seoul.
Your guide leads you into the temple’s tree-lined entryway and shows you a seven-story pagoda. Then walk into the main temple structure to view an important Buddha statue. After strolling through the temple, return to your coach and head to Cheongwadae Sarangchae, an exhibition hall that features displays about Korea’s presidents, Korean cultural traditions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Korea. You'll have plenty of time there to peruse the exhibits and learn more about Seoul’s history.
Continue by coach to the Blue House (Cheongwadae), which serves as the Korean presidential home, akin to the White House in Washington DC. Then go to the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was the primary royal residence for during the Joseon Dynasty. Built in 1394, Gyeongbokgung is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces and considered the most beautiful palace in Seoul. Your guide shows you the palace compound and stops at Gwanghwamun Gate for the changing of the guard ceremony.
(Please note: On Tuesdays when Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed, instead visit Deoksugung Palace, a traditional palace situated in a walled compound. The Seoul Museum of Art is also located on the grounds and can be visited).
Wrap up the morning with a stop at a ginseng center or amethyst factory before saying farewell to your guide. You will be dropped off at City Hall or Itaewon to end your tour, leaving the afternoon free to explore further on your own.
Operated by
VIP TRAVEL Co.Ltd
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
4.61
/ 5
321 traveller ratings
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Great tour at good price
874jamiei, Apr 2025
A great tour! Bus was comfortable. Guide was freindly and knowledgeable. Took us to all the best spots with enough time to take it all in. Would recommend
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Customer. Hello, this is Melanie from VIP Travel. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us feedback. It was wonderful having you on our tour, and we can't wait to welcome you again soon!
Quick One-Day Visit in Seoul - This is for you
EduardoC1811, Apr 2025
This was exactly what I was looking for during a recent trip where I only had one day in Seoul. I opted for the 1/2 day tour and it gave me enough of a vibe of the tourist hotspots and still allowed me to explore on my own before taking a train later that early evening. The tour bus arrived promptly on time and I was greeted by Lynn who was our tour guide for the day. She was excellent. Great English, was organized, and a pleasure to have as our tour operator. You can only be so lucky if you get her as your guide. With stops at the Buddhist temple and later the palace (including a changing of the guards ceremony), it was a good amount of time for both. The walking is moderate, mainly at the palace and only because it is so big. Lynn was very good at keeping the group together and stopping periodically to allow the slower ones to keep up. I saw a few previous reviews about the hard sell at the ginseng museum. Yes, we stopped there too. It was very interesting to see its history and importance to Korean culture. There definitely is a sales pitch to buy at the end, but upon a polite declination, they are not hounding you. If you are interested in purchasing any of it, do some research to make sure you can carry it on the plane (checked luggage) and pricing. A few of the options they had were well over $100USD. There were more modest options in the gift shop with various teas that had ginseng. We started at 9am and finished right at 1pm where we broke for lunch and the full-day tour continued afterwards. If you are looking for a quick guided tour with comfortable transportation and are on a tight timeframe, then this tour is for you.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Customer. Hello, this is Ruby from VIP Travel. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your time to give us a 5-star review. ???? Your comments will help to improve our service and offer to other customers. Thank you for your review. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea.
Seoul half day tour with K
636swapnab, Apr 2025
We took the VIP half day city tour. The tour guide was on time and shared lots information about Seoul history and culture. The tour guide was K and she also shared lots of tidbits about K-Drama and drama shooting locations. I would highly recommend VIP city Tour and our guide K.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. This is Julie. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With warm regards, Julie VIP Travel
Seoul half day city tour
Lesc3941, Apr 2025
Diane was amazing!! She greeted us warmly and took us on a great tour of the palace, Korean Folk Museum, Buddhist temple, and Ginseng museum. I love architecture and history so Diane was a wealth of information in both areas. The tour consisted of my husband and I , and we enjoyed every moment. At the end of the tour, we felt like family!!! Thank you Diane!!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Customer. Hello, this is Jane from VIP Travel. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our tour guide. We appreciate a lot for your time to give us a 5-star review. ???? We are looking forward seeing you again.????
Itinerary
Jogyesa Temple
The Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is one of the most important landmarks of Korean Buddhism, first established all the way back in 1935. The temple is located in downtown Seoul and is graced by an ancient white pine tree. There are a few important steps to entering the temple.
First, you must go through “Iljum”, which is the one pillar gate. The “Iljumun” symbolizes the division between the world of the living and that of the holy Buddha world. You will have a beautiful spiritual experience and be able to admire the splendid, golden statues.
40 minutesGyeongbokgung Palace
Changing of the Guard Ceremony – witness a spectacular Korean tradition
You will see the meticulously choreographed ceremony that takes place in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. This tradition originated during the Joseon Dynasty and the city decided to bring it back for reenactment in 1996. The soldiers wear colorful blue and red uniforms and gracefully patrol the gates of the palace in protection of the king. The tradition is very elegant and simply beautiful to watch!
Gyeongbok Palace (Except Tuesdays) – live like a royal
Next up on our Seoul City Tour is Gyeongbokgung Palace. This was the main home of the Joseon Dynasty constructed in 1395. This is a stunning building with 7,700 rooms! The palace did take a few hits over the years, which makes it all the more interesting to see today!
Some of the highlights here are Gangnyeongjeon, the king’s main quarters, Geunjeongjeon where the king accepted formal visits, Gyeonghoeru – the special banquet hall, and more!
1 hourAdmission IncludedNational Folk Museum of Korea
The National Palace Museum of Korea was initially established as the “Korean Imperial Museum” in 1908; however, it was renamed and relocated many times throughout its history.
Today the museum holds approximately 45,000 artefacts and royal treasures from Joseon Dynasty palaces and the Korean Empire. In addition, you can find 14 of South Korea’s National Treasures located here.
With 500 years of history on display, you can get a real sense of the past and discover what it was like to live as a Joseon King and Queen.
30 minutesAdmission IncludedCheongwadae Sarangchae
Ginseng Museum & Shopping
30 minutes
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Professional guide (Englishs or Chinese)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Hotel pickup
Exclusions
- Lunch
- Hotel drop-off (dropped off at City Hall or Myeongdong)
- Gratuities
- Gyeongbok Palace (& Changing of Guard Ceremony) & National Folk Museum are closed on every Tuesday.
- Tuesday : Gyeongbok Palace - National Folk Museum -> Changdeok Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village
Additional 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 poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Guide Languages
English
Mandarin
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.