Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hanok Village & Gwangjang Market

Seoul's Palace, Villages & Markets in One Morning or Afternoon

You'll see the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace, walk through a traditional hanok village, take in panoramic city views from Bugak Skyway, and end at Gwangjang Market to eat street food. Transport, admission fees, and an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch costs are separate on the full-day option. The tour runs rain or shine, and you'll need comfortable walking shoes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace1h · entry included
2. Bukchon Hanok Village30m

Seoul palace, village, and market tour

• Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Watch Royal Guard Changing Ceremony
• Walk through Hanok Village
• Enjoy panoramic views at Bugak Pavilion
• Explore Cheongha Ginseng Museum
• Taste local food at Gwangjang Market

The experience

Soldiers in crimson uniforms and tall black hats stand motionless at the gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace while tourists gather behind velvet ropes, phones raised. At a signal, they pivot in unison: the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, one of Seoul's most photographed moments, and it's the first stop on this tour. The palace itself spreads across manicured grounds and stone courtyards, one of Seoul's largest and most intact royal compounds, built in 1395. Your guide walks you through the architecture and history while crowds thin out on the side paths, and you get the sense of how the space actually functioned, not just how it looks in pictures.

After the palace, you head into Bukchon Hanok Village (or Namsangol, depending on which option you book), where narrow lanes wind between traditional Korean houses with curved tile roofs and wooden lattice windows. The hanok buildings are real homes and small shops, not a recreation, and the light hits the walls differently depending on the time of day and which alley you're walking. You'll have time to move at your own pace here, stop for photos, duck into a café if you want. Then comes Bugak Skyway, a pavilion on the slopes of Bugaksan Mountain where the city spreads out below you in layers: mountains, apartment blocks, the Han River in the distance. It's quieter than the palace, less crowded, and the kind of view that makes you understand why Seoul sprawls the way it does.

The tour wraps at Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest, where the air smells like grilled meat and fermented vegetables and the stalls are packed shoulder-to-shoulder. This is where locals actually eat, not a tourist version of a market. You'll have time to wander and buy food: bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), gimbap (rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and eat standing up or at a communal counter. If you've booked the full-day option, lunch is on your own here. The half-day tour ends after the market. The Cheongha Ginseng Museum is also included if you want to stop, though it's less essential than the other sites. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan or coach, and your guide handles the talking and timing, so you just show up at Myeongdong Station Exit #10 and follow along.

What’s included

• Your day includes admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, entry to either Bukchon or Namsangol Hanok Village, access to Bugak Skyway for panoramic views, a visit to the Cheongha Ginseng Museum, and time at Gwangjang Market.
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan or coach and a professional English-speaking guide are provided throughout.
• On the full-day option, additional stops include the War Memorial of Korea, Jogyesa Temple, Tapgol Park, and Myeongdong Cathedral.
• Lunch is at your own expense.

Options for this experience

4 options

Half-Day Group Tour (Namsangol)Guide in English · 08:20Includes a visit to Namsangol Hanok Village. Meeting point: Myeongdong Station, Exit 9, 62-10 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Half-Day Small-Group Tour (Bukchon)Guide in English · 08:30 and 13:30Visit Bukchon Hanok Village in place of Namsangol Hanok Village. Meeting point: Myeongdong Station, Exit 10, 61-7 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Full-Day Group Tour (Namsangol)Guide in English · 08:20Full-day tour route: ▶ Lunch (at your own expense) ▶ The War Memorial of Korea ▶ Jogyesa Temple ▶ Tapgol Park. This option takes in Namsangol Hanok Village. Lottery: a lottery is held at Tapgol Park (where Squid Game Season 2, Episode 1 was filmed). The tour finishes at Myeongdong Cathedral. Meeting point: Myeongdong Station, Exit 9, 62-10 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Full-Day Small-Group Tour (Bukchon)Guide in English · 08:30Full-day tour route: ▶ Lunch (at your own expense) ▶ The War Memorial of Korea ▶ Jogyesa Temple ▶ Tapgol Park. Bukchon Hanok Village is visited in place of Namsangol Hanok Village. Lottery: a lottery is held at Tapgol Park (where Squid Game Season 2, Episode 1 was filmed). The tour finishes at Myeongdong Cathedral. Meeting point: Myeongdong Station, Exit 10, 61-7 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDepartures at 08:20, 08:30 and 13:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by I Love Seoul Tour

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want Seoul's main historical and cultural sites covered in one outing without arranging transport or entry tickets yourself: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle the logistics, leaving you to focus on the sights and the market food.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What time does the tour start?

The tour departs from Myeongdong Station Exit #10. Specific departure times are not listed in the itinerary. Confirm with the operator when you book.

How long is the tour?

Half-day and full-day options are available. The full-day tour includes additional stops like the War Memorial of Korea, Jogyesa Temple, Tapgol Park, and Myeongdong Cathedral.

Is lunch included?

On the full-day tour, lunch is at your own expense at Gwangjang Market. The half-day tour ends at the market without a dedicated lunch period.

Which hanok village will I visit?

You'll visit either Bukchon Hanok Village or Namsangol Hanok Village depending on the option you select when booking.

What's included in the price?

Admission fees to all attractions, transport by air-conditioned minivan or coach, and a professional English-speaking guide.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour involves walking through villages and up to viewpoints. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and a moderate level of physical fitness is advised.

Can I join late or meet the guide at a palace?

No. You must be at the designated departure point (Myeongdong Station Exit #10) at the start time. Joining after the tour has begun or meeting the guide at Gyeongbokgung Palace is not permitted.

What's the minimum group size?

A minimum of 2 people is required to book this tour.

Is hanbok (traditional dress) rental included?

No. Hanbok rental is not offered as part of this tour.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes, the tour operates rain or shine.