Meeting Point

Meeting Point Options: City Hall Metro-Subway Station, your Hotel, or other.

Old & New City Halls and nearby sights

Introduction to the scale, design, functions and feng-shui (geomancy) of old "Hanyang" (historic central downtown); Japanese Colonial period vs. 21st-cen hypermodern Seoul.

Restored Cheonggye-cheon Stream

Very scenic central waterway, with 600 years of dramatic stories.

Seoul Square Plaza historical monument sights

Statues of two of the greatest national heroes, with context stories about why they're there and what they still mean to Koreans; views of the nation's "Power Center" buildings all around; tales of the massive pro-democracy event that happened on this vast plaza.

Gyeongbok-gung Main Royal Palace

The most important and scenic of the remaining seven Royal compounds. Detailed explanations of the architecture, kings & queens, lifestyle & politics with be told in an academically insightful and amusing way. It could be possible to see the 'Changing of the Guard Ceremony' if our timing is right and you want to take the time.

Folklore & Shamanism artifacts at palace rear-exit

We exit via the grounds of the spectacular National Folklore Museum Building, viewing its outdoor displays -- a great contrast to the formal palace, to really understand common Korean's lives & beliefs.

Great Korean Lunch

Several great restaurants are near our exit-gate. Extra cost for you, depending on what you want to get... could be simple or fancy -- or just a snack with coffee/tea..?

Bukchon Hanok Village intro

A quick look at the historic traditional-houses alleyways, and visit inside one old mansion

Jogye-sa Buddhist Temple

Visiting the national headquarters temple, with fascinating tales -- and it has a museum and the TempleStay Center.

Insa-dong traditional-culture street

Very colorful historic neighborhood to walk through, check-out some alleyways -- perhaps a bit of souvenir-shopping or herbal/green-tea-drinking if desired.

Tap-gol Park

Korea's first "public park", a really interesting place with shrines for the early-20th-century Independence Movement, very important to Koreans until today, and a big medieval pagoda!

Old Jonggak Bell-Pavilion

Last stop, the Old City Bell in a traditional pavilion, with hyper-modern buildings all-around!

Jongno-2-ga Area

Finished! I'll get you a subway ride or taxi back to your hotel, or show you the colorful dinner / beer options around there....

Ending Point

As said above.