Highlights
- Walk the historic streets of the charming Bukchon Hanok Village
- Take part in a guided meditation with the monks at Geumsunsa Temple
- Sample Seoul's best street food in the district of Myeongdong
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Seoul, Free Time to Explore | Seoul |
| Day 2 | Tour Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village | Seoul |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) | Seoul |
| Day 4 | Visit N Seoul Tower, Geumsunsa Temple Stay | Seoul |
| Day 5 | Morning at Geumsunsa Temple, Free Time in Seoul | Seoul |
| Day 6 | Depart Seoul |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Free Time to Explore
Welcome to Seoul, the dynamic capital of South Korea! Your driver will meet you at Incheon International Airport to transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, relax in your hotel room after your journey, then head out for a self-guided exploration. Stop for a bite to eat and then head to the Insadong neighborhood to explore its tea houses, shops, and restaurants, walking along cobblestone streets lined with ginkgo trees. Or, walk through Myeongdong, a skincare and cosmetics hub, then explore the shops and cafés on the ultra-hip Hongdae Shopping Street.
In the evening, check out the Gwangjang Market to taste some of the city's best street food while mingling with locals. Choose among dishes such as mandu (dumplings) and kkochi (skewers). Then, see the city skyline views at Seoul Sky, an observation deck with a glass floor above the city.
Day 2: Tour Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village
Meet your guide this morning for a full-day city tour. Step back in time at Gyeongbokgung, a palace complex built in 1395 CE and restored in the 19th century. Considered among the most beautiful of Seoul's five grand palaces, you'll tour some of its grounds, including 50 buildings, 7,700 rooms, and over 90 acres (40 ha), uncovering the history of South Korea and its former rulers. Learn more about this history at the National Folk Museum and National Palace Museum, and get your camera ready for a guard-changing ceremony re-enacting royal traditions.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Next, you'll visit Bukchon Hanok Village just outside the palace for another view of the past. Explore narrow streets where more than 900 restored, traditional hanoks (once the homes of the royal family and high society during the Joseon Dynasty) now function as guesthouses, tea houses, and restaurants. Stay in the village for dinner before returning to your hotel.
Day 3: Day Trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
This morning, join your guide for a full-day tour beginning with a 30-mile (44 km) drive up to the border between South and North Korea, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Delve into the complex history and tensions between the "two Koreas" that characterize the area to this day and highlight the importance of peace. Your tour starts with a shuttle bus trip to the Third Infiltration Tunnel, an invasion tool dug by North Korea and discovered by South Korea in 1978 CE.
Next, you'll visit the Dora Observatory, where you can look through telescopes over North Korea and see sites, including the spooky Propaganda Village, the People School, a statue of Kim Il Sung, and Geummamgol, a local cooperative farm. Finally, gain insight into the history of the Korean War at the Imjingak Resort Unification Park, where you'll see the Freedom Bridge and an old, rusted steam train left from the war. Camp Bonifas, home to the United Nations Command Security Battalion, is the last stop of today's tour. Return with your guide to Seoul and spend the evening relaxing at your hotel.
Day 4: Visit N Seoul Tower, Geumsunsa Temple Stay
This morning, head up to Namsan Park, the largest park in Seoul, where you'll find the city's landmark, N Seoul Tower. After a cable car ride or a hike to the top of the mountain, Namsan, enjoy a 360-degree unobstructed view of the city and the Han River.
In the afternoon, begin your overnight temple stay at Geumsunsa Temple (Seoul's "Mountain Temple"). Learn about the temple's history and place in the development of Buddhism in South Korea as you walk through the grounds. You may participate in guided meditations and other sacred rituals before enjoying a fresh, vegetarian evening meal. Observe the evening prayers and chants, have a cup of tea with the resident monks (where you can ask questions and gain insight into the Buddhist way of life), and then head to bed early for a peaceful night's rest within the temple grounds.
Day 5: Morning at Geumsunsa Temple, Free Time in Seoul
Wake up early to join the Buddhist monks during their morning prayers, followed by a serene walk on the temple grounds. Enjoy a vegetarian breakfast, then participate in a relaxing, traditional meditation session guided by one of the monks. Afterward, you'll say your goodbyes to the temple and the monks and have the rest of the day free to explore more of Seoul.
You could spend a cozy afternoon in one of the city's many themed cafés, which range from board game venues to cat cafés, wander around the artistic Mural Village, or visit a jjimjilbang (bathhouse) to soak in hot pools. Then, visit Dongdaemun Market, a shopping district with malls and traditional markets.
Save the evening for a self-guided tour of Myeongdong, home to the best street food in Seoul. It's hard to go wrong with any of the tasty bites along this popular thoroughfare, but a must-try is kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), which is especially delicious paired with garlicky kimchi (fermented and salted vegetables).
Day 6: Depart Seoul
Today, your journey in South Korea comes to an end. Your driver will transfer you to Incheon International Airport in time to board your departing flight. Safe travels, wherever you're heading next!
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