Tours/Seoul/Best Things to Do - Half Day Seoul Trip (Seoul Palace & Temple)
Viator · group up to 100 pax

Best Things to Do - Half Day Seoul Trip (Seoul Palace & Temple)

4.8(217)Seoul1 hour
VIATOR4.5(26)TRIPADVISOR4.9(191)

Description

Our Seoul City Half Day Tour is a complete and effortless experience. Just be sure to have your camera charged because you’re about to go on an unforgettable journey! You will be in the capable hands of our licensed tour guide who is available to answer any questions at any point, so feel free to ask away! Are you looking to dive into Korea’s history and culture? Then our Gyeongbok Palace tour is the perfect choice for you! Don’t miss the chance to follow in the footsteps of royal history, see the President’s home, and witness an iconic ceremony!

Tour Options

Half Day Seoul Trip-Afternoon
  • Starting points: City Hall Station, Seoul, South Korea Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Half Day Seoul Trip-Morning
  • Pickup included

Itinerary

40 min

The Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is one of the most important landmarks of Korean Buddhism, first established all the way back in 1935. The temple is located in downtown Seoul and is graced by an ancient white pine tree. There are a few important steps to entering the temple. First, you must go through “Iljum”, which is the one pillar gate. The “Iljumun” symbolizes the division between the world of the living and that of the holy Buddha world. You will have a beautiful spiritual experience and be able to admire the splendid, golden statues.

Admission included60 min

* Please note that Gyeongbok Palace is closed on Tuesdays, so it will be substituted for pretty Changdeok Palace. You will see the meticulously choreographed ceremony that takes place in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. This tradition originated during the Joseon Dynasty and the city decided to bring it back for reenactment in 1996. The soldiers wear colorful blue and red uniforms and gracefully patrol the gates of the palace in protection of the king. The tradition is very elegant and simply beautiful to watch! Gyeongbok Palace (Except Tuesdays) It was first destroyed during the Imjin War between 1592 and 1598. Then, Imperial Japan destroyed a large portion of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the 20th century. The palace, however, has been restored time and again, and is now close to its former splendor! Some of the highlights here are Gangnyeongjeon, the king’s main quarters, Geunjeongjeon where the king accepted formal visits, Gyeonghoeru – the special banquet hall, and more!

Admission included40 min

Cheongwadae Sarangchae which serves as an exhibition hall to important Korean artifacts and documents. Here, you can learn about politics, history, and culture. Located just in front of the Blue House, this museum is a two-floor building that has a souvenir shop, so you can buy thoughtful gifts for the history lovers in your family. On the first floor, there is a permanent exhibit that presents traditional Korean clothing, food, and music, and is a must-see! The second floor is where you will go to learn in-depth information about the Korean presidents and their legacies. You will also be inspired by the geography section which displays photos of the regions of the country that every traveler should visit!

30 min

Ginseng Shopping Center

Highlights

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Professional guide(English or Chinese)
Fuel surcharge

What's included

Included
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Professional guide(English or Chinese)
Fuel surcharge
Not included
Lunch
Gratuities
Hotel Drop off Service

Pickup Locations & Times

Pick up from the majot hotels or main subway stations within Seoul area.

Traveller Ratings

4.8
217 reviews
5
189
4
17
3
10
2
1
1
0

Important Information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(217)

D
deidrap415
July 7, 2026
Perfect…even on a rainy day!

This was a wonderful experience! Very informative and friendly. Jenny was amazing and fun!

U
U8405OPrayw
July 7, 2026
Seoul Palace!

Alice is a great guide. Perfect 1/2 day tour.

S
samanthawF7298KH
July 7, 2026
Amazing tour guide!

So organized and the tour guide was very nice! She explained everything really well and gave us enough time to take pictures and walk around!

T
traceygO1389QQ
July 3, 2026
Seoul tour

Very informative and very beautiful. Thank you to our lovely tour guide Alice , so much to know !

Operator response

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear you had a memorable experience with our guide. Your kind feedback means a lot and inspires our team to continue delivering great service. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Korea. With warm regards, Denisa Experience the DMZ from Seoul with VIP Travel

A
A8209HQrobertb
July 3, 2026
Tour of Seoul and the palace. The hot sugary donut was a nice way to end.

Sunny was a very good guide. She was clear and informative. Definitely enjoyed the tour and the information.

Operator response

Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review. We’re delighted to hear you had a memorable experience with our guide. Your kind feedback means a lot and inspires our team to continue delivering great service. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Korea. With warm regards, Denisa Experience the DMZ from Seoul with VIP Travel

R
ranjlenep
June 13, 2026
Amazing Guide

Sunny is an outstanding guide who exceeds expectations with her professionalism and amazing attitude, delivering a through trip.

Operator response

Dear Customer. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your recommendation and your time to give us a 5-star review. 😊 Your comments will be very welcome to other customers and to us. Thank you for your valuable review and recommendation. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea. Kind Regards Stella

S
saideD367UM
June 12, 2026
Great tour with Alice!

Alice was the nicest and super knowledgeable!

Operator response

Dear Customer. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your recommendation and your time to give us a 5-star review. 😊 Your comments will be very welcome to other customers and to us. Thank you for your valuable review and recommendation. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea. Kind Regards Stella

5
541lynziem
June 2, 2026
Half day Seoul tour

Eva was really helpful and informative Very bubbly and positive energy.

Operator response

Dear Valued Customer, Greetings from VIP Travel. We are truly delighted to hear that you had a pleasant and memorable experience with one of our professional guides. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. Your kind words and thoughtful recommendation mean a great deal to us. They not only encourage our team but also serve as a valuable reference for future travelers considering our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable travel experiences. We sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next visit to Korea. With kind regards, Stella VIP Travel

T
timc2014
May 30, 2026
Great half day with VIP tours

Tom picked me up and took me to the meeting point there i met Judy the tour guide. She was outstanding. Very knowledgable,great personality and kept us on pace. Great tour

Operator response

Dear Customer. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your recommendation and your time to give us a 5-star review. 😊 Your comments will be very welcome to other customers and to us. Thank you for your valuable review and recommendation. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea. Kind Regards Stella

K
killol1
May 22, 2026
Good Palace tour.

Coco our tour guide is very knowledgeable & gave us all the details of each spot we went … She also took pictures of us on our phone camera and some on hers which she shared with us at the end. That was very sweet of her. The tour itself is very recommended.

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Dear Customer. We are so happy that you had a wonderful tour with one of our professional guide. We appreciate a lot for your recommendation and your time to give us a 5-star review. 😊 Your comments will be very welcome to other customers and to us. Thank you for your valuable review and recommendation. Hope to see you again with VIP Travel in Korea. Kind Regards Stella

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