Tour starts from my pick up at ICN - Go to Seoul station by express train (45mins) or normal train(65min) - Buy return ticket of expresee train for ICN - Tour - We'll go to Seoul station by my escort - Customers leave Seoul st for ICN and tour ends at Seoul station.
Tourist destinations are the best places in Seoul, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the essence & highlight of palace architecture, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong street for half days. Price include all transportation costs.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Arrival terminal of Inchon Airport
- Tour starts from meeting at ICN - Go to Seoul station by express train or normal train - purchase of return ticket for express train for ICN - Tour to highlight of Seoul cultural places - Go back to Seoul station by my escort - Customers leave Seoul station for ICN and tour ends at Seoul station. According to above schededule, we meet at 7am at ICN, and tour ends at 1pm at Seoul station. It is 6 hours tour. Distance from downtown of Seoul to Incheon airport is about 60km. The fastes way to move from Seoul to Incheon airport is airport express train. It takes 45min. In case of car, it takes 1.5 hr or more depending on traffic. Express train moves almost every one hour, and in peak season, it is sold out and so we need to buy ticket in advance. Express train is a designated seat system with comfortable amenity. According to situation, we will take normal train. It takes 1 hour by normal train to go to Seoul. There is 20 min difference between express & normal train. We will take normal train, when we have to wait over 20 min for express train. Terminal no of arrival should be given to guide in advance time. Meeting time can be adjusted by guest's flight schedule.
Context about culture and history of Joseon Dynasty
Sharing of cultural context about history, culture and Confucianism, that Gyeongbokgung reflects.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Tour to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Tour to Bukchong Hanok Village.
Insadong street and Jogyesa Buddhist temple
Insadong is the representative cultural street of Seoul, showing the mixture of traditional and modern atmosphere.
Seoul station
Terminal for express train to depart for Incheon airport.
It takes 45 minutes from Seoul station to Incheon airport by express train.
Ending Point
Seoul express train station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
1. guide fee
2. public transportation during tour.
3. entrance fee for Gyeongbokgung
1. express train tickets per person from Incheon airport to Seoul and from Seoul to Incheon airport.
Price of express train: 13,000Kor.Won(10USD)
2. food, meal, drink
Exploring of Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty!
Tour starts from my pick up at ICN - Go to Seoul st by express train or normal train - Buy return ticket of expresee train for ICN - Tour - We'll go to Seoul station by my escort - Customers leave Seoul st for ICN and tour ends at Seoul station. All transportation costs and admission price are included in the price of tour.
Tour places are Gyeongbokgung Palace - Bukchon Hanok Village - Insadong street.
Architecture is the center of culture and center of tour. Architectural style represents spirit of times. Confucianism is spirit of Joseon Dynasty.
Confucianism culture of Joseon Dynasty is unique & differentiated characteristic of Korean culture, compared to Chinese and Japanese.
The beauty and value of traditional architecture consists of architectural feature & its historical significance and spirit of times.
With the basic information offered by guide, you can fully appreciate the beauty and value of not only Gyeongbokgung but entire Korea’s traditional culture.
Without the basic information, you are just fascinated by their superficial beauty.
The information helps tourists can fully enjoy not only this tour but also entire tour in Korea.
Gyeongbokgung is 1st must-see architectures in Korea, because Gyeongbokgung represents Korea's cultural identity, and Gyeongbokgung is the most beautiful place in Korea. Gyeongbokgung is 1st palace of Joseon, built as main palace in 1395, and it is largest palace and the only palace built on flat land and according to traditional palace architecture.
Bukchon is hanok(traditional Korean house) village with long history, largest cluster of about 1,000 hanoks. Buckon village shows beautiful scenery that blends the traditional with metropolitan landscape.
Jogyesa Buddhist temple is small but the headquarter Buddhist temple of Korean Buddhist Organization, built in 1926 in Insadong and located adjacent to Gyeongbokgung.
Increase of guest by only additional transportation cost
My primary tourist destination is Seoul and metropolitan area, consisting of 5 palaces, Royal Ancestral Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village, National Museum of Korea, War Memorial of Korea and other museums & galleries and contemporary architectures, and Namsan Mt. with N-Seoul Tower, traditional & trendy market places such as Gwangjang market & Hondae street, and also Korean Folk Village & DMZ tour.
Hello, I am Paul, a professional tour guide-docent with proven record track of over 200 tours for international tourists.
I am the only tour guide in Seoul, who introduce Korean traditional culture, based on Confucianism. Confucianism is spirit of Joseon Dynasty that was last dynasty just before current Korea, and Confucianism is Korea's cultural identity.
Based on basic knowledge of Confucianism, you can fully appreciate the beauty of Korean traditional architecture and culture, and so your travel to Seoul will be unforgettable and memorable in your life.
My tour is to explore Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty, based on simple-but-elegant beauty of Confucianism!
Center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, but are just fascinated by its superficial beauty.
My primary tourist destinations are focusing on Seoul and metropolitan area, consisting of Gyeongbokgung palace & Changdeokgung Rear Garden, Jongmyo Shrine, Bongeunsa Buddhist temple & Sunjeongneung Royal Tomb, Bukchon Hanok Village, National museum of Korea, War Memorial of Korea, other museums & galleries and contemporary architectures, and Namsan Mt. with N-Seoul Tower, traditional & trendy market places such as Gwangjang market & Hongdae street, and COEX-Starfield library in Gangnam area, and also Korean Folk Village & DMZ tour in neighboring cities.
Alongside, I am specialist for hiking to Bukhansan Mt. and Inwangsan Mt. that are located in downtown Seoul, where you can enjoy beautiful natural sceneries and stunning view of Seoul.
With my hands-on experiences and deep knowledge of Korea's culture & history, you can discover true insight and delight in Korea.
Thank you for your interest!
As your guide, I hope to see you soon in Seoul!
Warren L.
“Changdeokgung and the Rear Garden, Bukchon Hanok Village and N Seoul Tower.”
We had a wonderful time on this tour, visiting all three locations. The Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret Garden were peaceful and relaxing, offering a more informal setting compared to the formality of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Seeing the well-preserved houses in Bukchon Hanok Village was a delightful experience. N Seoul Tower was also interesting, providing great views of Seoul and the surrounding mountains and rivers.
Paul K.
Seoul is a fascinating destination that seamlessly blends the traditional with the modern. Our tour to explore Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty! Center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Confucianism is the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Confucianism is Korea's cultural identity, that is reflected on palaces architecture and Korean traditional culture. Based on basic knowledge of Confucianisms, your tour will be unforgettable and memorable in life.
Warren L.
“Gyeongbokgung-Folk Museum, National Museum of Korea”
We were very impressed with Paul's knowledge and explanations of Gyeongbokgung, the former royal palace in Seoul. The palace's placement considered both practicality and various philosophical traditions. The main features are placed symmetrically and along a north-south axis, in accordance with Feng Shui and Confucian principles. We highly recommend Paul to anyone wishing to truly understand and enjoy Gyeongbokgung and the National Museum of Korea.
Paul K.
Seoul is a fascinating destination that seamlessly blends the traditional with the modern. Our tour to explore Korea’s unique cultural identity and beauty! Center of tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Confucianism is the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Confucianism is Korea's cultural identity, that is reflected on palaces architecture and Korean traditional culture. Based on basic knowledge of Confucianisms, your tour will be unforgettable and memorable in life.
Albertus S.
“Full day tour with Paul”
Paul is very knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of his country and he gave us a profound introduction of Confucianism.
Paul K.
Appreciation of traditional architecture, works of art and crafts require background knowledge. Based on the background knowledge of Korean traditional culture, your appreciation can create an intense impression and long-lasting memory of tour. I introduced core ideas of Confucianism and the Confucian principles that are the basis of Gyeongbokgung architecture. I am only tour docent in Korea who introduce Korean history and culture based on Confucianism.
$230/ per group