Small-Group Seoul Tour with Gyeongbokgung Palace (hotel pick-up)
Recommended by 95% of travelers
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Seoul, South Korea
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Spend a morning in Seoul visiting highlights including Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the National Folk Museum. You'll also stop for photo ops outside the Presindential Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) and Gwanghwamun Gate during the changing of the guards. Your 3.5-hour tour includes transportation, entrance fees, guide, and hotel pickup. You will be dropped off at either City Hall or Insadong.
- 3.5-hour Seoul royal palaces and highlights tour
- Visit Jogyesa Temple for insight into Korean Buddhism
- Get a look at palace life in Korea while touring Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Watch the royal guard changing ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate
- Includes entrance fees, guide, and hotel pickup
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup in Central Seoul
- All Fees and Taxes
- Food
- Hotel drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Start time.9:00 am
Itinerary
After morning pickup from centrally located hotels in Seoul, travel in a climate-controlled vehicle to your first destination, Jogyesa Temple.
At the temple, hear about Zen Buddhism in Korea, and stroll through key parts of the colorful compound. Next, stop in Blue House Square for photo ops of the official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea, Blue House, and Mt Bukak in the background.
Next, go to Gwanghwamun Gate to watch the ceremony of the changing of the royal guards. Then head to the northern palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace, for a tour that details how the royal families and their court attendants lived. Finally, visit the National Folk Museum of Korea to learn about daily life in Korea from the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910).
Stop by the Korean ginseng center on the way to your drop-off location (either City Hall or Insadong), where your tour ends after 3.5 hours.
At the temple, hear about Zen Buddhism in Korea, and stroll through key parts of the colorful compound. Next, stop in Blue House Square for photo ops of the official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea, Blue House, and Mt Bukak in the background.
Next, go to Gwanghwamun Gate to watch the ceremony of the changing of the royal guards. Then head to the northern palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace, for a tour that details how the royal families and their court attendants lived. Finally, visit the National Folk Museum of Korea to learn about daily life in Korea from the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910).
Stop by the Korean ginseng center on the way to your drop-off location (either City Hall or Insadong), where your tour ends after 3.5 hours.
1
Jogyesa Temple
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Gwanghwamun Gate
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Gyeongbokgung Palace
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
National Folk Museum of Korea
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
The Blue House (Pass By)
5
Ginworldart Korean Ginseng Museum
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for participants with back problems or heart complaints or other serious medical conditions
- This tour is proceeding with minimum 2 people and if the participants number is below it, the tour can be cancelled.
- 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/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 87 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Great tour. Our guide Sook-hee was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend this tour for others.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your great review!
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found Sook-hee knowledgeable and friendly. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on your next visit to Seoul!
Warm regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Great experience. Hee Soo was very helpful.gave lot of information and patient. She even helped me with a vegetarian meal selection
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience on our Small-Group Seoul Tour.
It is fantastic to know that Hee Soo took such good care of you throughout the tour, sharing rich insights and patiently assisting with your vegetarian meal selection. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to her—she will be delighted!
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Seoul on your next trip.
Warm regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Mrs. Hee Soo was great! She explained everything to the group. Communicates great in English. Made parts of it relatable and personable.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are thrilled to hear that you had an awesome time on our Small-Group Seoul Tour.
We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Mrs. Hee Soo. She takes great pride in making our tours engaging and personal, and she will be delighted to know her efforts made your experience so memorable.
Thank you for choosing Seoul N Tour, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Warm regards,
SeoulNTour Team
I am so glad that we booked this experience instead of just visiting on our own. It ended up just being me, my wife, and the tour guide. Mrs. Hee Soo was great, and gave us so much information that we would not have had on our own. I wish we could have more time at the Folk Museum. I also wish there wasn't a hard sell on ginseng when we visited the museum. I didn't know the ginseng museum was on the list, as it was only on the itinerary after you click through. I felt pressured to purchase by the museum, and it didn't feel right. We did not purchase anything. We may have, if it wasn't pushed at the museum, but I don't like being offered like this. I would have been satisfied with only the tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review and for joining our Small-Group Seoul Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you and your wife had a wonderful experience with Mrs. Hee Soo and appreciated her rich, detailed guidance. We will gladly pass your kind compliments along to her.
We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the schedule at the National Folk Museum and your experience at the Ginseng Museum. We apologize for any discomfort caused by the sales environment and for any confusion regarding the itinerary details. We take your insights seriously and are continuously reviewing our tour programs and stop descriptions to improve the guest experience.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and we hope to welcome you back to Seoul in the future.
Warm regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Our guide was 10 star. Souk-hee was friendly, knowledgeable and organised. I highly recommend Souk-hee and we booked a second tour because she was the guide. The hotel pick up made all the difference.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful 10-star review!
We are absolutely delighted to hear that the convenient hotel pick-up and overall tour exceeded your expectations.
We will be sure to share your kind compliments with Sook-hee—she will be thrilled to know her guidance inspired you to book a second tour with us!
We look forward to creating another memorable experience for you on your next tour.
Warm regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Great understanding of the Korean history and culture. I wish we would have rented the costumes to walk around the palace grounds- although the people wearing the garments looked pretty hot.
Overall, great experience and the communication was not an issue.
Thanks
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed learning about Korean history and culture with us.
You're so right about the traditional costumes (Hanbok)—they look absolutely beautiful in photos, but they can indeed get a bit warm! Next time you visit, we'd love to help you try them out during a cooler season.
Thank you again for choosing our tour, and we hope to welcome you back to Seoul in the future!
Best regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Excellent tour. Highly recommended. Mr. Eddie explained very well and gave us great information.
He was very attentive and I appreciate it very much. I would love to have the opportunity for Mr. Eddie to be my guide again in the future.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had an excellent tour with us. Mr. Eddie is indeed an incredibly attentive and knowledgeable guide, and we will definitely pass your warm compliments along to him. He will be so happy to hear that you'd like to tour with him again! We look forward to welcoming you back to Seoul in the future.
Best regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Excellent tour. Hee so is nice and friendly. Our driver Mr. Gilbert is friendly too. We will recommend it to friends and family if they come and visit Korea.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review and recommendation!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that you had an excellent time on our Gyeongbokgung Palace tour.
It is heartening to know that you found both Hee-soo and Mr. Gilbert friendly and professional. I will make sure to share your compliments with them—they will be very encouraged by your feedback. We are also truly grateful for your promise to recommend us to your friends and family.
We look forward to welcoming your loved ones to Korea in the future!
Best regards,
SeoulNTour Team
Eddie did a great job especially since we had a rainy day! Very friendly and helpful! We would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Eddie despite the rainy weather. We will be sure to share your compliments with him. We hope to welcome you back to Seoul again soon!
The tour was well planned and paced. Would recommend the half day tour to those who didnt want a deep dive
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind recommendation!
Thank you so much for your great review! We are glad to hear that you found the tour well-planned and enjoyed the pace of our half-day itinerary.
Your recommendation is very helpful for future travelers who are looking for a concise yet fulfilling introduction to Seoul's highlights. We always strive to provide a balanced experience for all our guests.
We hope to welcome you back for another wonderful journey in the future!
Best regards,
Seoul N Tour Team
Lovely and friendly guide with an interesting tour. We really enjoyed the museum part of the tour.
The little gift shop was cute too!
Wear comfortable shoes!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for choosing our Royal Palace & Seoul City tour. We are delighted that you had an interesting time exploring Gyeongbokgung and the museum with our team.
Your advice about wearing comfortable shoes is very helpful for future travelers! We truly appreciate your feedback and hope your memories of Seoul remain wonderful.
Warm regards,
Seoul N Tour Team
Our tour guide, BK, was thorough, friendly, and the information he provided was readily accessible. He provided an excellent introduction to complex topics that made them easy to understand and enjoyable. Also his energy and enthusiasm went a long way in sparking our continued curiosity about Korean cultural topics.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your wonderful review.
We’re delighted to hear that BK’s thorough explanations, friendly approach, and enthusiastic energy made the tour both engaging and easy to understand.
It’s especially rewarding to know that the Royal Palace & Seoul City Tour with SeoulNTour sparked your curiosity and interest in Korean culture.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again on another memorable tour in the future.
Sookhee is a great guide. We learnt interesting facts about history of Korea and Seoul. Highly recommended tour.
If you do it in winter please dress appropriately. Mr Bk was great! Spoke good English and was very informative and accommodating. We did a morning tour that took 3 hours, 9 to 12. It included a tour of the grand palace and a ginseng factory. At the grand palace we saw a ceremonial changing of the guard.
The tour guide was super knowledgeable and kind!!! My friend and I only did the half day tour but we were able to learn a lot.
The tour is well worth the money. Mr. Young who took care of us was a great guide, knowledgeable, kind and accommodating. Very convenient with the hotel pick up. Even the Ginseng museum was interesting as long as you don’t let them pressure you into buying.
Great tour showcasing the Temple and Royal Palace. Tour guide “Young” was outstanding. Outgoing and friendly making for a pleasant day.
The tour was very informative we really enjoyed the attractions and the great descriptions by the tour guide
The tour with Sookhee was great. She did a great job of explaining Korean culture and history in a short time. She positioned us perfectly for the changing of the guard ceremony.
Only complaint: the ginseng stop and sales pitch (which was obviously required by the tour company rather than the guide was too much.
The tour guide Sookhee was very informative. The 3 of the 4 places we visited were very interesting. The visit to the Ginseng Museum was not that interesting
Suki is amazing. Extremely knowledgeable (like a history book). She had good communication prior to the tour, and was prompt to pick up our large family group at the hotel. She also was excellent at taking many family photos for us. Her English language skill was very good.
My San and I had a great time on the tour. Ms. Sookhee was a great guide who provided lots of helpful information. The only negative was the ginseng “museum” - which was really nothing more than a glorified sales pitch.
We spent the morning with Junie and she was wonderful! The tour was informative and the whole family (kids 6 and 10) really enjoyed the tour! It was a hot morning but Junie was great in taking it slow, finding shade and trying to make us all as comfortable as possible.
Unfortunately, the tour was not as described in the details. I feel like we got scammed. We went to a different palace and not Gyeongbokgung Palace. No royal guard ceremony. I wouldn’t do this tour again.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for leaving us such a thoughtful review.
We would like to take a moment to clarify a few important points.
As noted on our website, Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed every Tuesday. For this reason, the Royal Guard Ceremony is also unfortunately not available on Tuesdays. Instead, we visit Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret Garden (Huwon). The Secret Garden, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a unique and enriching experience that many of our guests deeply appreciate.
Due to continued demand from guests wishing to join a Royal Palace tour even on Tuesdays, we created a special Tuesday-only itinerary featuring Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden.
Many guests who hoped to visit the Secret Garden have found this version of the tour especially rewarding and meaningful.
In fact, the total admission fees on Tuesdays are higher. However, we cover the full cost ourselves to ensure the overall value of the tour remains the same for our guests, despite the schedule change.
We regret if there was any confusion regarding the itinerary, and we apologize if any part of the tour operation felt lacking. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to reflect on ways to improve our service.
We hope this explanation helps clear up any misunderstanding. Thank you again for joining our tour!
Our guide Lua was great. She was very knowledgeable and made it an interesting experience. It was an extremely hot day and Lua was kind enough to stop in areas of shade to give her explanations.
Great way to learn more about Korea and explore a few sights in one half day. I learned a lot and enjoyed seeing the sights, but would have liked to explore the Folk Museum on my own
The tour was very informative. The whole family enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend this shorter version rather than the full day. Our tour guide Junie was very knowledgeable.
This tour was definitely worth the money and the experience. Our tour guide (Sookhee) was amazing! She was clear, concise, super nice and most of all, she overextended the tour. She did more than just the Royal Palace. She took us to the South Gate Market, Insadong and the Ginseng Museum! As a Korean-American, I was able to communicate with her in both languages. She was really nice, friendly and extremely funny. All in all, great tour and an extremely wholesome experience!
What a perfect knowledgeable tour guide and friendly korean hospitality. i couldn’t have asked for more. I will be back and I will be looking for more tours! Thank you for everything.
Wild and ver6 wet day. Not the best da6 to do a tour in Seoul. Was fun though and our guide Yung was a giggle. Enjoyable and informative. Would have loved to have seen the palace changing of the guard though.
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