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Free Style Private Tour: Essence of Seoul or DMZ
5.0
132 Ratings
Eulji-ro
Experience the best of Seoul and the DMZ with our customizable private tour. Choose from a variety of attractions and create your perfect itinerary. Don’t miss out on the essence of each course!
Experience the best of Seoul and the DMZ with our customizable private tour. Choose from a variety of attractions and create your perfect itinerary. Don’t miss out on the essence of each course!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Gyeongbokgung Palace - Guests will be picked up from their hotel or a designated location. The first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, the primary palace among the five in Seoul. After exploring Gyeongbokgung, the tour proceeds to the summit of Bukak Skyway, offering a panoramic view of Seoul and known as the infiltration point of 31 North Korean…
- Gyeongbokgung Palace - Guests will be picked up from their hotel or a designated location. The first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, the primary palace among the five in Seoul. After exploring Gyeongbokgung, the tour proceeds to the summit of Bukak Skyway, offering a panoramic view of Seoul and known as the infiltration point of 31 North Korean spies in 1968. Gilsangsa Temple, a hidden gem for foreign tourists, boasts stunning scenery and intriguing stories. Lunch will be served at Maple Tree House, an authentic Korean restaurant recommended by TripAdvisor and CNN. Visitors will also explore historic streets like Insadong or Iksundong, which are adjacent to each other. Finally, the tour includes a cable car ride to N-Seoul Tower, providing a breathtaking view of Seoul from the mountains and a chance to discover the charm of Seoul’s streets.
- Insadong - Insadong is situated between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Chandeokgung Palace. It was once a flea market for the upper class, where valuable items were sold.
- Bugak Skyway - Located in the northern part of Seoul, Bugak Skyway is comparable to Namsan, where N-Seoul Tower is situated. This scenic drive, known as Bugak Skyway, passes by the Blue House, the presidential residence.
- DMZ - The DMZ is a renowned tourist attraction in Korea. Opting for the 3rd Tunnel tour typically requires a full-day itinerary focused on the DMZ. However, other options like Odusan Observatory and the DMZ Gondola can be combined with a city tour for a more flexible experience.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- English speaking guide
- Hotel pick up & drop off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Private transportation
- English speaking guide
- Hotel pick up & drop off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Air port pick up(optional)
- DMZ Gondola (if this options is chosen)
- Lunch
- Air port pick up(optional)
- DMZ Gondola (if this options is chosen)
Additional Information
We are planning the best itinerary according to the customer’s needs. You can choose either a Seoul city tour or a DMZ tour. Sometimes, a combination of both is possible, depending on the time and situation. Our priority is to showcase the highlights of each tour. However, please note that a full Seoul city tour and a full DMZ tour cannot be done…
We are planning the best itinerary according to the customer’s needs. You can choose either a Seoul city tour or a DMZ tour. Sometimes, a combination of both is possible, depending on the time and situation. Our priority is to showcase the highlights of each tour. However, please note that a full Seoul city tour and a full DMZ tour cannot be done simultaneously. You have two options when selecting the tour: Seoul city or DMZ plus.
- Passport required for DMZtour
Location
LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(132 Ratings)
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Lindseybrooke_n
Mar 11, 2026
DMZ tour is not to be missed - The DMZ tour was a highlight of our South Korea trip. I would say it is a must to understanding the country and its relationship with North Korea. The kids found it very interesting and enjoyed it. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and interactive. They took us to an amazing Korean BBQ after. In addition, they dropped us at the airport for the next leg of our journey.
Review provided by Viator
Raj
Feb 25, 2026
Historic freestyle Seoul tour - Great tour, Heni is a very knowledgeable host. Loose structure means it can be whatever you would like it to be. Was great that entire tour was conducted by car between locations, as the weather was very cool that day. Enjoyed seeing some of Seoul’s history. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donna_j
Jan 18, 2026
Tour of the DMZ - Jun picked us up at the appointed time and we immediately headed to the DMZ. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Korea and the events leading up to what is now the DMZ. He took us to numerous displays and overlooks that helped us understand the current situation. Lunch was at a local noodle restaurant and the meal was delicious! Jun was very accommodating as we decided after lunch, to see more of Seoul and he drove us to a wonderful shopping area in town and had us at the airport with lots of time before our flight. I would not hesitate to have him as our tour guide if we return to Seoul.
Review provided by Viator
Adam_t
Jan 12, 2026
Do not delay; book with Sophia today! - Family… you will feel like family when you tour with Sophia. If you’ve never met someone with an electrifying personality, get ready!
From the initial WhatsApp correspondence through our farewell hug, every need will be met; every question will be answered, and you will be made to feel like you are the only person / people in all of South Korea.
Sophia is a master in all things: history, culture, statistics, connoisseur of great foods, paparazzi-style photography, and driving (on snowy and slippery roads, no less).
A tour with Sophia is an unforgettable experience. Five stars simply aren’t enough to sing her praises.
Do not delay; book with Sophia today!
Review provided by Viator
Natalie_r
Dec 7, 2025
Mission complete! - We were on a mission to check some things off our bucket list before leaving Seoul and this was the perfect way to do it. We saw the DMZ, a Hanok Village, and the Bugak Skyway all in one day! Our guide was friendly and accommodating. Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Karinb154
Nov 22, 2025
Perfect for a long layover - Jun provided us with an unforgettable custom private tour of Seoul during a long layover. He was professional & friendly while sharing information about Korean history and culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karin_b
Nov 19, 2025
Perfect long layover guide - Jun provided us with an unforgettable ten hours in Seoul. He was professional & friendly while explaining Korean history and culture.
Review provided by Viator
Margaret_c
Nov 4, 2025
Our guide, Jun, was... - Our guide, Jun, was wonderful. We spent a most enjoyable day exploring the highlights of Seoul. Although the tunnel for the DMZ was closed on a Monday, he provided a fantastic alternative view. He was attentive to our requests and it was a very personalised tour. He took us to a lovely Korean barbecue restaurant for lunch, which we thoroughly enjoyed. He was great at talking photographs and his command of English was excellent. We would highly recommend him.
Review provided by Viator
Tv946
Oct 26, 2025
Highly recommended as a tailor made tour - Jun was a wonderful host. He kept in contact with us from the moment we booked the tour and answered all my emails within 24th ours.
On the day, he picked us up from our hotel and clarified exactly what we wanted to do. His knowledgeable running commentary was a highlight for us as we love to hear about the country and the people who live there.
Once we arrived at the DMZ, Jun handled all the ticketing and even bought us a drink of water. His knowledge of the local history and area was wonderful. When we had seen everything we wanted to see, he arranged our choice of lunch at a delicious local restaurant - perfect!
At the end of our personally tailor made day, Jun dropped us safely back to the hotel.
Jun's car was immaculately clean and the whole day was exactly what we'd been hoping for for so long.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Thank you Jun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_l
Feb 23, 2026
Friendly, knowledgeable... - Friendly, knowledgeable guide. A lot of time spent in traffic which can’t be helped but just for awareness. Too expensive overall, especially considering I had to pay an extra $100 for airport pickup/drop off.
Review provided by Viator
