Seoul Royal Palace and Shopping Tour with Hotel Transfers

Begin your day with a hassle-free pick up from your Seoul hotel. Enjoy comfortable transfers to several royal, historical and cultural landmarks and places in the booming capital city of Seoul along with an expert guide, who makes this tour an even more informative and fun experience.

Check out the 11-km long Cheonggyecheon Stream that runs through downtown Seoul. Now a public recreation space, Cheonggyecheon is a massive urban renewal project at the site of a river that once flowed freely during the Joseon Dynasty! Stop next at the main gate of the presidential residence of the Republic of Korea - Blue House or Cheongwadae, a fantastic background for memorable photographs. You will also see Cheongwadae Saranchae, a Korean presidential exhibition center.

Prepare for another highlight of this tour – Gyeongbokgung Palace, built by the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) as its main palace. You also get to explore the National Folk Museum of Korea, located within the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace that houses 4000 items on Korea’s traditional way of life, history and culture. Enjoy another special part of this day by observing The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, a rare traditional scene in Korea. Don’t forget to take some memorable pictures of the guards in their impressive costumes. (On Tuesdays, you get to visit the Deoksugung Palace instead, one of the five grand palaces built by the kings of Joseon Dynasty, known for its distinctive western style garden and fountain.)

Enjoy a final visit before lunch to Jogseya Temple, the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea. Relax during lunch time and savour a traditional Korean hot dish called dolsot bibimbap, popular for its balance and exceptional taste. Continue to explore more by heading to the Octagonal Pavilion of the 19-km long Bugak Skyway, Palgakjeong, a road that offers lovely views of Bukhansan Mountain's Bibong of Peak and Munsubong Peak on one side and Namsan Mountain on the other side!

Next in the itinerary is the UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage site - Changdeokgung Palace, claimed to be Korea’s most successfully preserved palace. (If your tour is on a Monday, visit another UNESCO World Heritage instead - Jongmyo Royal Shrine, a Confucian shrine dedicated to the upholding of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.) Then, visit the cheerful streets of Insa-dong, filled with art galleries, traditional craft stores, antique art dealers, traditional tea houses and restaurants.

Reach the foothills of Namsan Mountain, where the charming Namsangol Hanok Village is located. Witness the beauty of traditional Korean wooden houses, called ‘hanoks’ that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. (On Mondays, this tour takes you to the BukchonHanok Village for a close to similar experience.) Your next stop is Sungnyemun Gate, unofficially known as Namdaemun gate, one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul which surrounded the city in the Joseon Dynasty.

During the final leg of your city tour, visit the Namdaemun Market, one of the most important open-air traditional markets for household, food, fashion and other merchandise, located in the heart of the city.

This extensive tour comes to end with a convenient transfer back to your Seoul hotel.