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Half-day Traditional Seoul Walking-Tour
This tour is a fascinating orientation & overview of the older, more traditional parts of central downtown Seoul, with further/deeper introduction to who the Koreans are, and the key points of their history and religions/customs. There is a standard itinerary for this tour, but it is completely flexible on the number and nature of the sites visited. It is essentially the 2nd-half of my Full-day Intro Tour. We can move faster or slower, as you wish. I will be telling colorful stories!
Meeting Point
Anguk Metro-Subway Station, your Hotel lobby, or other. "your hotel" may involve extra cost for transport.
Bukchon Hanok Village
A quick look through the traditional-houses alleyways, with many quirk cafes, artisanal workshops, teahouses and small museums, and visit inside one old mansion from 1900. I will explain all the function of this aristocratic neighborhood and the hanok architecture.
Jogye-sa Buddhist Temple
Visiting the national headquarters temple of all Korean Buddhism, with fascinating artworks & tales, and a historic 630-year old unique tree. Jogye-sa also features a Arts Museum and the TempleStay Center, optional for us to visit.
Insa-dong traditional-culture street
Very colorful historic neighborhood to walk through, check-out some twisting alleyways with great offerings -- perhaps a bit of souvenir-shopping or herbal/green-tea-drinking if desired. OPTIONAL visits to Unhyeong-gung Grand Prince's Palace and Cheondo-gyo Cathedral (native religion, very important 1880-1930), if there is time and you are interested.
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 stone pagoda!
Old Jonggak Bell-Pavilion
Last stop, the Old City Bell in a traditional pavilion, with hyper-modern buildings all-around! We're finished here, at the busy Jongno-2-ga "Main Street" area -- I will get you transport to where you want to go next, or show you the many restaurant options there.
Ending Point
Your hotel, or any place downtown, as you wish. "your hotel" may involve extra cost for transport.
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Inclusions & Exclusions
guiding only. this tour has no expenses, except the transportation if we start at your hotel.
transport (taxi, subway), meal, snack, drinks
Tour Important Information
All by walking. I will be telling colorful stories from academic sources all along the way, about pre-modern kings & heroes, and recent presidents and activists, and socio-cultural issues. You will learn so much, and in context!!
Important message from the guide
I do this full-time now, any day -- but only in Spring & Autumn.
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
Seoul Tour Reviews
Vasilios K.
Half-day Intro to Seoul and Korean History
“knowledgeable and flexible”
David is a fountain of information and was very accomodating in meeting our needs. Book with confidence.
David a. M.
(3 reviews)Thanks VK, it was great to host you guys!! D
“Grab Your Walking Shoes & Spend The Day With David!”
David is absolutely splendid! A human, walking encyclopedia of anything you could hope to know. If you enjoy learning and desire to truly grasp the history and culture of South Korea- he is your guy! There wasnt a question we asked that he didnt have a full, in-depth explanation for. He offers a variety of tours to cover most anything you'd be interested in- he truly knows it all and is an excellent storyteller and teacher. He went out of his way to accommodate our wishes. We even had a medical situation arise and he took the time to go with us to the hospital and ensure we got checked in since we only speak English. Highly, highly recommend!
David a. M.
(3 reviews)I was so glad to guide you two for two days; you were great company and very attentive, curious listeners! DM
“A delightful walking tour listening to fascinating stories about Korea’s history ”
David took us to the Jogye-sa where we learnt in details about the country’s history of religions that helped shape the Korean culture. Then we walked to the Seoul Plaza to see the historical monuments, listening to fascinating stories about the national heroes. I was in particular inspired by the stories of Yi Sun S
David a. M.
(3 reviews)It was my pleasure to serve your first visit to Korea!
