Seoul Night Palace & Market Food Tour: 11 Korean dishes

Three Seoul landmarks after dark: palace stories, market tastings, temple lanterns

A 4-hour night tour of Seoul combining Changgyeonggung Palace, Gwangjang Market and Jogyesa Temple with an English-speaking guide, vehicle transfers between stops, and over 11 Korean dishes including Makgeolli rice wine. Groups stay under 15 people. Inform the operator of any food allergies in advance, and note that a vegan option is available for $10 USD paid to the guide before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Changgyeonggung Palace1h · entry included
2. Gwangjang Market1h 30m · entry included
3. Jogyesa Temple30m

Explore Seoul's night palace and market

• Stroll through Changgyeonggung Palace
• Taste Korean dishes at Gwangjang Market
• Learn about Korean drinking culture
• Visit Jogyesa Temple and see lanterns

The experience

The tour starts with a walk from Hyehwa Station to Changgyeonggung Palace, where the night lighting reveals why this palace holds the saddest history among Seoul's royal sites. Your guide walks you through the grounds and hidden corners (the kind of spaces that photograph well after dark), and explains the stories that shaped the place. From there, vehicle transport takes you to Gwangjang Market, where the real eating begins.

At the market, you taste over 11 authentic Korean dishes in the order locals eat them: Makgeolli rice wine paired with Modeumjeon (vegetable pancakes), Mandu (dumplings), Sundae, Gimbap, and Kkwabaegi (twisted Korean donuts). Your guide shares insights into Korean drinking culture as you move between stalls, and with insider tips, you skip the line at the donut stand instead of waiting with the crowds. If you're adventurous, live octopus is available as a personal choice. It's the dish featured in the film "Old Boy" and offers a texture and freshness most travelers don't encounter at home. Between tastings, the guide explains what each dish means in Korean food tradition.

As the evening deepens, vehicle transport brings you to Jogyesa Temple, where lanterns cast a gentle glow over the grounds. The guide explains how Korean Buddhism took root and what the temple represents in the city's spiritual life. The contrast between the market's energy and the temple's quiet is the shape of the whole night: history, flavors, and night scenery in one sequence. The tour operates in rain or snow unless weather makes it impossible to proceed. You'll be contacted separately only in that case.

What’s included

• Vehicle transfers between Changgyeonggung Palace, Gwangjang Market and Jogyesa Temple.
• over 11 Korean dishes including Makgeolli rice wine, Modeumjeon, Mandu, Sundae, Gimbap and Kkwabaegi with skip-the-line access to the donut stall.
• beer and rice wine.
• all entrance fees.
• English-speaking licensed guide.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 18:00

Book up to1h before

Live guideEnglish and Korean

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Guide will be standing in front of the exit with a picket ( Tripper ) at Hyehwa Station Exit 4.”

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by TRIPPER KOREA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Seoul with a free evening and want to taste the food locals eat without spending the night figuring out which stalls to visit. The guide handles the ordering, the tastings flow in sequence, and the palace and temple stops frame the market experience instead of leaving it isolated.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Korean.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I eat at Gwangjang Market on this tour?

You taste over 11 authentic Korean dishes including Makgeolli rice wine, Modeumjeon (savory vegetable pancakes), Mandu (dumplings), Sundae, Gimbap, and Kkwabaegi (twisted Korean donuts). Live octopus is offered as an optional choice. The guide orders the dishes in the sequence locals eat them and explains the story behind each one.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the starting point?

The tour starts with a walk from Hyehwa Station to Changgyeonggung Palace, so you meet the guide at the station. Vehicle transport is provided only for transfers between the three main attractions: the palace, the market, and the temple.

What if I'm vegetarian or have food allergies?

A vegan option is available for $10 USD (14,000 KRW) paid in cash to the guide before the tour starts. A separate vegetable bibimbap will be provided. Inform the operator of any allergies in advance so the guide can plan accordingly.

How long does the tour take, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 4 hours total. Guide contact details including the exact start time will be sent at least 10 hours before departure via platform message or email, so check your messages before you meet.

Why is Changgyeonggung Palace special at night compared to other Seoul palaces?

Changgyeonggung Palace has the most beautiful night view among Korean palaces, and the lighting reveals architectural details and hidden corners that photograph well after dark. The guide also shares the palace's tragic history, which is why it carries the saddest story of all Seoul's royal sites.