Seoul Half-Day City Tour: Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace Guard Changing Ceremony & National Folk Museum
by VIP TRAVEL
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$58Overview
This morning city tour in Seoul lasts about three and a half hours and is conducted by coach. You will start with a visit to Jogyesa Temple, an important Buddhist site founded in 1935, where you can pass through the symbolic Iljumun gate and see golden statues. Next, the tour continues to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main residence of the Joseon Dynasty built in 1395 with over 7,700 rooms. Here, you watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, featuring soldiers in traditional blue and red uniforms reenacting a royal protection ritual. The palace visit includes highlights like Gangnyeongjeon, Geunjeongjeon, and Gyeonghoeru. Note this stop is not available on Tuesdays. After the palace, the tour includes the National Folk Museum of Korea, which displays around 45,000 artifacts and royal treasures from the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire, including 14 National Treasures. Finally, there is a stop for ginseng museum and shopping before the tour ends. Hotel pickup is provided, and drop-off is at City Hall or Myeongdong, leaving the afternoon free to explore Seoul independently. An English or Chinese-speaking professional guide leads the tour, and all taxes and fees are included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Jogyesa Temple
The tour visits Jogyesa Temple, a key site for Korean Buddhism founded in 1935 in downtown Seoul. Visitors enter through the Iljumun, a one-pillar gate marking the boundary between the secular world and the sacred Buddha realm. Inside, you can see a large ancient white pine and several golden Buddha statues.
40 min
Gyeongbokgung Palace
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, the tour includes watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. This ritual dates to the Joseon Dynasty and was reintroduced in 1996 with soldiers in blue and red uniforms who patrol the palace gates. The palace itself was built in 1395 and features 7,700 rooms. Key sights include Gangnyeongjeon (king’s quarters), Geunjeongjeon (formal reception hall), and Gyeonghoeru (banquet hall). Visits here are not possible on Tuesdays.
60 min
National Folk Museum of Korea
The National Folk Museum displays about 45,000 historical artifacts and royal treasures from the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire. Established originally in 1908 as the Korean Imperial Museum, it now houses 14 National Treasures and offers insight into royal life over 500 years.
30 min
Ginseng Museum & Shopping
The final stop includes a visit to a ginseng museum and a shopping opportunity related to ginseng products.
30 min
Meeting point
Exit 6
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Seoul Half-Day City Tour: Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace Guard Changing Ceremony & National Folk Museum
by VIP TRAVEL
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$58Overview
This morning city tour in Seoul lasts about three and a half hours and is conducted by coach. You will start with a visit to Jogyesa Temple, an important Buddhist site founded in 1935, where you can pass through the symbolic Iljumun gate and see golden statues. Next, the tour continues to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main residence of the Joseon Dynasty built in 1395 with over 7,700 rooms. Here, you watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, featuring soldiers in traditional blue and red uniforms reenacting a royal protection ritual. The palace visit includes highlights like Gangnyeongjeon, Geunjeongjeon, and Gyeonghoeru. Note this stop is not available on Tuesdays. After the palace, the tour includes the National Folk Museum of Korea, which displays around 45,000 artifacts and royal treasures from the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire, including 14 National Treasures. Finally, there is a stop for ginseng museum and shopping before the tour ends. Hotel pickup is provided, and drop-off is at City Hall or Myeongdong, leaving the afternoon free to explore Seoul independently. An English or Chinese-speaking professional guide leads the tour, and all taxes and fees are included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Jogyesa Temple
The tour visits Jogyesa Temple, a key site for Korean Buddhism founded in 1935 in downtown Seoul. Visitors enter through the Iljumun, a one-pillar gate marking the boundary between the secular world and the sacred Buddha realm. Inside, you can see a large ancient white pine and several golden Buddha statues.
40 min
Gyeongbokgung Palace
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, the tour includes watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. This ritual dates to the Joseon Dynasty and was reintroduced in 1996 with soldiers in blue and red uniforms who patrol the palace gates. The palace itself was built in 1395 and features 7,700 rooms. Key sights include Gangnyeongjeon (king’s quarters), Geunjeongjeon (formal reception hall), and Gyeonghoeru (banquet hall). Visits here are not possible on Tuesdays.
60 min
National Folk Museum of Korea
The National Folk Museum displays about 45,000 historical artifacts and royal treasures from the Joseon Dynasty and Korean Empire. Established originally in 1908 as the Korean Imperial Museum, it now houses 14 National Treasures and offers insight into royal life over 500 years.
30 min
Ginseng Museum & Shopping
The final stop includes a visit to a ginseng museum and a shopping opportunity related to ginseng products.
30 min
Meeting point
Exit 6
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.