Recommended Tours

The wide, well-kept sidewalks of downtown Seoul make for an excellent walking tour of the city. With no stops, the following route can be covered in just an hour or two, but if you take time to explore the many sites recommended here, the stroll could easily stretch a day or two.

Your walking tour begins at the City Hall Station. Come up exit two and you will be at the gate of Doksu gung Palace. Across the busy intersection ahead of you is the fountain, with the four-story City Hall on the left and the Seoul Plaza Hotel on the right. Far along the road to your right is the Namdaemun Gate, one of four gates originally protecting the city, while far along to your left is the royal palace of Kyongbukkung.

If your timing is good, you may see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the gate before entering Doksugung Palace. Spend a while exploring the palace, Royal Museum and National Museum of Contemporary Art before returning to the main intersection and heading north along Taepyong-no. As you walk along with the mountains directly in front of you, you will pass the Press Center on your right and the Koreana Hotel on your left. Ten minutes further on you will come to the Kwanghwamun Intersection, easy to spot because of the impressive statue of Yi Sun Shin in the middle of the street. He is a national hero, who defeated the much larger Japanese naval fleet with his "turtle ships" in 1597. The Kyobo Building behind the statue houses one of the best foreign language bookstores in Korea. In the background you will see the Millennium Building, a landmark newly added to the downtown skyline.

Continue north along the wide, tree-lined Sejongno Boulevard towards the mountains and Kwanghwamun Gate. This street was of great significance during the Chosun Dynasty, as it led from the city of Seoul to the royal palace gate. It still has a majestic feel, with its wide sidewalks. You will pass the Sejong Cultural Center on your left as you head to the small Sejongno Park, a fine place to take a break and rest before more sightseeing.

Your next stop should be the royal Kyongbuk Palace grounds. Cross the road through the underground passage just after the park, and continue walking toward the gate. Turn right at the end of Sejongro and cross under the road to come out at the corner of the palace wall, where you will see a small pavilion on a high stone base. This is Tongshipjagak, or the ancient watch tower. Inside the grounds, you can explore the Folk Museum, the National Museum of Korea and the palace itself. Art exhibits are sometimes held on the grass, and the grounds provide a pleasant place for a stroll.

Back at the watchtower, a five-minute walk west along the main road will take you to two streets leading to the right, at the blue and yellow Korean Time Travel building on the corner. If you have not tired of Seoul’s royal palaces by now, don’t turn but continue straight for about 20 minutes to Changdok Palace, where members of the nation’s royalty are reputed to live even now, and visit the Secret Garden (tours only). Otherwise, take the first street on the right and after a few minutes you will come to Chogyesa. Not particularly large, but significant as the only Buddhist temple in downtown Seoul, this is the headquarters for the Chogye sect of Buddhism. Smell the incense wafting from the numerous Buddhist supply shops as you make your way back along the route you came. Note the small Central Postal Museum on your left.

After returning to the main street, take the second street on the right to the unique artist and antique district of Insadong. Spend a very pleasant hour or two browsing through the antique, ceramic, paper and painting shops, or visiting small private galleries. Then stop for traditional tea or an alcoholic beverage at one of the many tea rooms along the way, or take a break at the end of this street at the historic Tapgol (Pagoda) Park. This park is the site of the first reading of Korea’s Declaration of Independence in 1919. These days, it is usually full of elderly men, sometimes in traditional Korean clothes, passing the time chatting, playing Korean chess or having their hair cut outside.

You have now reached the busy Chongno Street, buzzing with young and old people alike, meeting friends or shopping. If you head west (right as you leave the park), you will be heading toward the Kyobo Building and Millennium Plaza. Note the two-story Boshingak (belfry) on your left as you go by—the bell inside was once rung regularly to inform people of the opening and closing of the city gates each evening and morning. On New Year’s Eve, it seems that half the population of Seoul comes here to herald in the New Year.

Alternatively, you can head east (left from Tapkol Park). A twenty- or twenty-five minute walk will take you to Dongdaemun, the historic east gate which once guarded the city. At this point, you may choose to end your tour, or if you have your second wind, you can go shopping all night at Dongdaemun Market.

Other Tours
Those who seek a rather unusual guided tour of the city will want to check out the Restroom Tour and Seoul Mystery Tours. Or if a more comfortable bus tour around the city suits you, try a Good Morning Tour to various tourist attractions around Seoul. No matter how you choose to see the city, you are sure to enjoy the ancient and modern contrasts of Korea’s capital. Just remember to bring your camera, a city map and a good pair of walking shoes, and take extra care when crossing the streets, as pedestrians are low on the traffic pecking order.