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(3hr) Heart of Seoul highlights - Namsangol Hanok village and Seoul's largest market
Joined 2023
Spend your day exploring the heart of Seoul with the beautiful city views and the largest market in Seoul.
Travel back to the Joseon dynasty and stroll in Namsangol Hanok village. Traditional houses are restored here.
Take a bus to Namdaemun gate (National treasure) and the largest market in Seoul
If you want, enjoy the local food in the market. I'll show you some of my favorites!
* This tour is NOT available on Mondays
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Chungmuro (충무로) subway station (line 4), Exit 4 (outside)
- Chungmuro (충무로) subway station (line 4), Exit 4 (outside)
Namsangol Hanok village
five traditional houses are relocated here from different areas in Seoul
Public transportation
Go to Namdaemun market by subway
Namdaemun market
The largest market in Seoul which was first started in 1414 in the Joseon dynasty. There are more than 10,000 shops and over 30,000 people visit the market everyday. You can try popular street food in the market.
Namdaemun gate
One of the main gate of the City wall in the Joseon dynasty. It became the first national treasure in Korea. An arsonist set fire in 2008, and it was reopened after 5-year of restoration period.
Myeongdong area
It is the most popular area among tourists. There are lots of shops and street food.
Ending Point
Myeongdong area
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guiding fee
Travel Insurance
Pick-up
Food
Souvenir
Public transportation fee
Any personal expenses
* I’m not responsible for any loss, injury, illness, accident or/and damage to persons or/and property incurred during the tour.
Tour Important Information
Only guiding is inclusive
Food, pick-up, Insurance and / or any other personal expenses are NOT inclusive
* The schedule is subject to change
* I’m not responsible for any loss, injury, accident or/and damage to persons or/and property incurred during the tour.
Important message from the supplier
* Please send me a message before booking, if the date is longer than 1 month before.
* I can work any day unless I have another tour.
* I don't offer a driving service. If you rent a car and driver, I will accompany you in the vehicle. If you drive by yourself I will NOT accompany you.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Lee C.
Hi. I'm Lee!
I was born and raised in Seoul, and lived in five different countries, Canada, US, Australia, Russia and Germany. I also traveled over 40 countries mostly alone.
I studied Business in Seoul with a year exchange program in US, and completed MBA in Sydney. After MBA I wanted to pursue a career change as a professor with my field experience. I was a Market researcher, Research analyst and Marketer in big companies. Highly paying and stable job. It was what many called a good life.
But I always liked to be in the nature better than the office. I hiked Kilimanjaro summit alone, Annapurna Base Camp alone, Olympus alone, Everest Base Camp, Fuji, Alps alone and many other mountains in the world. (Alone means literally alone or with a guide. In some countries you must hire a guide).
Also I've led a hiking club over 4 years and fly overseas more than 5 times per year and hike.
So I decided to have my own travel agency and operate hiking and city tours. Most of my tours are of food and hiking. Now I can hike even more often, have good food with travelers and practice calligraphy everyday which I love too.
70% of Korea is mountainous and amazingly beautiful. And the food is so yummy!
If you visit Korea, please contact me! Just like I enjoy my hometown, Seoul, I really want others to enjoy the culture and nature too.
Thank you for reading it. Hope to meet you in Korea. :-)
Cheers,
Lee
CREDENTIALS
. English language tour guide for foreign guests (Korea Tourism Organization)
. MBA in Sydney/ Bachelor in Business Administration in Seoul
. Korean language teacher certificate (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
. International TEFL and TESOL Diploma in teaching English (ITTT)
. Mountain leader program (Korean National Park Mountain Safety Institute)
. Solo hiked in Kilimanjaro summit, ABC, Olympus, Alps, and much more
. Group hiked in EBC, Kala Patthar, Fuji, Altai, and much more
. Hiking club leader over 4 years
. Calligraphy competition awards (6 times)
Reviews
Annette W.
(5hr) Heart of Seoul highlights - Namsan & Seoul's largest market
“Amazing knowledgeable guide that I learnt a lot from ”
Lee was a wonderful companion. She explained the history of Seoul and Korea beautifully as we looked around Namsangol Hanok Village. We then went to Namdaemun Market where Lee showed me all the best places to shop and let me see some of those hidden gems like Hair tail Alley and the alley where they sell Knife cut noodles. Lee even took me to a glass shop where I used my prescription to buy reading glasses for a fraction of the price I would pay back home, and it took them only 30 minutes to make. Amazing! I tried hotteok and the most divine dumplings for the first time. We saw Namdaemun Gate and finished the day at Myeongdong Street for some KBeauty purchases. Lee taught me Korean phrases and words I could use and gave me a highly prized sheet of these new words and sayings at the end of the tour. Lee even sent an overview of the day on What’s App. She went beyond the expected and was delightful company. Best day ever in Korea! I cannot thank you enough Lee for everything!
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Thank you very much for the great review. I highly appreciate it. It was so much fun being your compay, and I'm very glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! I hope they like the gifts you bought and the phases will be helpful on the trip. Thank you for the great day again. Enjoy your stay in Korea! :-)
Victoria K.
(5hrs) Seoul highlights with a palace - Gyeongbokgung & Food market
“Excellent tour with Lee!”
Our family very much enjoyed our 5 hour tour with Lee. She had many interesting facts and stories to share and perfectly filled our five hours with interesting stops. Lee had a few surprises for us along the way, keeping us entertained in unexpected ways. I would highly recommend Lee for your tours!
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Hi, thank you so much for coming to the tour. It was very nice to meet you and your family. I had really good time, and I am very glad you liked it too. Hope you can come back to Seoul in the future again! :-)
Matti W.
Inwangsan hiking and Namdamun market
Customized
“Hiking and culture in Seoul!”
this was the 2nd day with Lee. I was really happy that I booked her for 2 days. We started with a small palace and then went to hike .. we were lucky that there were very few people and she knows every inch of these mountains as she is a hike addict .. it was the perfect day, fall colors on the leaves and warm weather for the time .. during the hike, I learned so much about the history and also, Lee's respect for Koreas culture and people .. I felt enriched by the places and stories and of course Lee knows the right places to eat. Again thank you, my second day passed equaly quick but was different all together .. See you very soon Lee and 'tschangmal kamsamnida!' Matti
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Thank you so much for coming to the tour. It was fun to hike with you, and I really appreciate your kindness. :-) Have a nice travel in Korea.
