Full-Day Seoul Palace Tour with Royal Guard Ceremony

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony happens at Gwanghwamun Gate, and you watch it live.

A full-day guided tour of Seoul's royal palaces and cultural landmarks, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Jogyesa Temple, and Insadong Antique Street, with the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate. Hotel pickup in Central Seoul is included, as are all entrance fees and an English-speaking guide. The tour runs eight hours and requires a minimum of two people. Gyeongbokgung Palace closes Tuesdays (substituted with Deoksugung Palace), and Changdeokgung Palace closes Mondays (substituted with Bukchon Hanok Village or Namsangol Hanok Village).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Jogyesa Temple30m
2. Gwanghwamun Gate20m
3. Gyeongbokgung Palace1h · entry included
4. National Folk Museum of Korea20m · entry included
5. Insadong1h 20m
6. Changdeokgung Palace1h · entry included
7. Namdaemun Market30m

Full-day Seoul city and palace tour

• Hotel pickup in Central Seoul
• Visit Jogyesa Temple
• Watch Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate
• Tour Gyeongbokgung Palace or Deoksugung Palace
• Visit National Folk Museum of Korea
• Drive-pass the Blue House
• Visit Korean Ginseng Center and taste tea
• Explore Insadong Antique Street and have lunch
• Tour Changdeokgung Palace or Bukchon Hanok Village
• Visit Namdaemun Market

The experience

Eight hours takes you through Seoul's royal history and living culture. You start with hotel pickup in Central Seoul, then move to Jogyesa Temple, where 500-year-old locust and baeksong trees stand in front of the main temple building. From there, the guide takes you to Gwanghwamun Gate to watch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony: a formal ritual announcing the shift of guards and clarifying their identities. After the ceremony, you walk through Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty, and tour the National Folk Museum of Korea inside the palace grounds, where displays show daily life for both aristocracy and ordinary citizens, including traditional farming, weaving, and cooking techniques.

A drive-past of the Blue House (Cheongwadae), built on a Joseon Dynasty royal garden using traditional Korean architecture, comes next. Before reaching Insadong, the itinerary includes a stop at a Government-Approved Korean Ginseng Center, where you taste ginseng tea and learn about the plant's health benefits: ginseng extracted from roots over six years old is a popular gift in Korea. Insadong itself is a street of traditional tea houses, antique shops, and handcraft stores near Gyeongbok Palace. You get free time there for lunch at a local restaurant of your choice.

The day closes at Changdeokgung Palace, the second royal villa built after Gyeongbokgung in 1405 and the most well-preserved of the five remaining Joseon palaces. It was recorded as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997. The palace grounds include a public palace area, royal family residence building, and rear garden. You finish at Namdaemun Gate (Soongryemun), a main gate of the former Seoul fortress built in 1396, now Korea's national treasure #1. The guide is English-speaking throughout, and all entrance fees are covered in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Central Seoul.
• English-speaking local guide.
• entrance fees to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea, and Namdaemun Gate.
• a stop at the Korean Ginseng Center with ginseng tea tasting.
• free time for lunch in Insadong at a restaurant of your choice.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Seoul N Tour

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup in Central Seoul means you do not need to arrange transport to the first stop or navigate to a meeting point on your own. The guide collects you and handles the full eight-hour route, which settles the day for travelers without a car or staying outside the central area.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed when I book?

Gyeongbokgung Palace closes on Tuesdays and during special events. When it is closed, the itinerary changes to Deoksugung Palace without prior notice, so you still visit a major royal palace on the same day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but the tour provides free time in Insadong, where you can choose from a variety of local restaurants and eat at your own pace.

What is the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, and will I definitely see it?

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate is a formal ritual that announces the shift of guards and clarifies their identities. The ceremony may be cancelled due to weather conditions, so it is not guaranteed on every departure.

Does the tour include hotel drop-off at the end of the day?

Hotel pickup in Central Seoul is included at the start of the tour. Drop-off is available at Insadong only. You can arrange your own return from there or ask the guide about transport options.

What is inside Changdeokgung Palace that makes it different from Gyeongbokgung?

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa and served as the principal palace for many Joseon kings. It is the most well-preserved of the five remaining Joseon palaces and was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997 for its beautiful original appearance and rear garden.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour involves moderate walking across multiple palace grounds, temple areas, and street markets over eight hours. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.