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Buam-dong Tour: Seoul's Hidden Gem Exploration
5.0
21 Ratings
Jeokseon-dong
Explore Buam-dong’s art, history, and Parasite film spots on a 2.5-hour Seoul walking tour. Discover hidden gems and stunning mountain views.
Explore Buam-dong’s art, history, and Parasite film spots on a 2.5-hour Seoul walking tour. Discover hidden gems and stunning mountain views.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Buam-dong - Enjoy a brief 10-minute bus journey to Buam-dong. During the ride, the guide will share fascinating insights into the area’s history and explain why Buam-dong holds a special place in Seoul.
- Chungwoon Literature Library - Discover the Cheongun Literature Library, Seoul’s inaugural Hanok library, nestled in a serene setting with…
- Buam-dong - Enjoy a brief 10-minute bus journey to Buam-dong. During the ride, the guide will share fascinating insights into the area’s history and explain why Buam-dong holds a special place in Seoul.
- Chungwoon Literature Library - Discover the Cheongun Literature Library, Seoul’s inaugural Hanok library, nestled in a serene setting with traditional architecture. Take a moment to soak in the artistic ambiance of Seoul.
- Seoul City Wall - Delve into the Seoul City Wall and Changuimun Gate, significant historical sites. Understand how these structures were vital to Seoul’s defense and cultural heritage.
- Changuimun Gate (Jahamun Gate) - Delve into the Seoul City Wall and Changuimun Gate, significant historical sites. Understand how these structures were vital to Seoul’s defense and cultural heritage.
- Mugyewon - Conclude your tour with a visit to Mugyewon, a traditional Korean house that once served as the villa of Grand Prince Anpyeong. This cultural venue exemplifies timeless elegance amidst the modern world.
What's Included
- All fees and/or taxes
- All fees and/or taxes
Additional Information
Venture beyond the usual routes and discover Buam-dong, a hidden treasure in Seoul. This 2.5-hour walking tour guides you through a tranquil hillside neighborhood rich in history, art, and stunning mountain vistas.
Visit the Choi Gyu-sik Memorial Statue, delve into Cold War history, and explore the peaceful Cheongun Literature Library, Seoul’s inaugural…
Venture beyond the usual routes and discover Buam-dong, a hidden treasure in Seoul. This 2.5-hour walking tour guides you through a tranquil hillside neighborhood rich in history, art, and stunning mountain vistas.
Visit the Choi Gyu-sik Memorial Statue, delve into Cold War history, and explore the peaceful Cheongun Literature Library, Seoul’s inaugural Hanok library.
Wander the Hill of Poet Yoon Dong-ju, take in the views of Bugaksan, Inwangsan, and Bukhansan, and explore the Seoul City Wall and Changuimun Gate.
Visit a filming location from Parasite and conclude at Mugyewon, a Hanok cultural venue.
Ideal for culture enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those in search of genuine, off-the-beaten-path experiences in Seoul.
Location
시민약국
Gyeongbokgung Station, exit 3
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
(21 Ratings)
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T3808pgandreah
Apr 16, 2025
Best walking tour in Seoul - Absolutely fantastic off-the-beaten path tour with an entertaining, well prepared guide (and I do have high expectations, being well-read and well-travelled myself). The tour was one of the highlights of our week in Seoul and if/when we come back Jon will be our first point of contact for tours so we hope he will develop many more in the future. I also very much appreciated the follow up email today with all the links and names/historical events that he talked about yesterday and will read everything again in detail. Will recommend the tour to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandercm9030ya
Mar 29, 2025
Do It - This tour is billed as a pleasant trek through Seoul’s hidden gem, Buam-Dong, but what the description doesn’t mention is that it is also a hidden gem among tours, with a gem of a tour guide to boot (Jon). While only about 10-15 minutes from central Seoul, this tour felt like a journey into a peaceful, secluded nook nestled among some of the most famous mountains near the Korean capital. In addition to visits to rich, historical sites (the old north gate, parts of the original wall that encircled Seoul, an old military guard house that played a key role in an aborted North Korean invasion), this tour also includes a stop at one of the most serene and unique libraries I have ever seen and a pilgrimage to an important filming location for Parasite. The guide, Jon, now lives in the area and can lay claim to a deep and nuanced knowledge both of this beautiful area and of Korea more generally. Alongside his various tales about the history of Korea and the Buam-Dong in particular, Jon made a point of noting some of the best restaurants in the area and was kind enough to share a meal with us afterwards (for me, chatting over fried chicken and beer and getting to know Jon was one of the highlights of the tour). To put it succinctly, I would say the experience relative to the price point for this tour should make it an essential stop if you are spending a few days in Seoul.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Devonh4595
Mar 5, 2025
A hidden gem of Seoul. - This walk through Buam-dong was a lot of fun, filled with interesting locations and factoids you would not normally see or hear about. Jon, our guide, made the walk very engaging and enjoyable. He told stories about historic events that took place in the area and took us to various spots that highlighted its geographic, traditional, and modern features. This included beautiful mountain range views, hanoks, and local bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and museums. I will definitely be visiting Buam-dong again in the future to do further exploring. If you want to see a part of Seoul that is off the beaten path, sign up for this walk. Thanks for the great time, Jon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ira
Mar 5, 2025
Relaxing in Buam-dong - Interesting and entertaining tour that combines history, culture, trendy cafes and stunning scenery. The tour also offers a piece of 한류, a filming location of Oscar winning movie was intresting. If you've seen the movie, you'll know the scene right away.
Jon was a knowledgeable and pleasant guide. As someone who is interested in history, I was delighted with how vividly he could tell the story of the Blue House raid.
Although I have been to Seoul many times, I have never been to Buam-dong and I am glad I found this gem thanks to the tour. I enjoyed every moment, I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
민정
Mar 3, 2025
See the ancient people of Seoul - Boamdong has the old old look of Seoul. Jon guided the Boamdong cornerstone and presented the cornerstone of this area very well from a historical background that the Koreans didn't know. I want to participate again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G6629gdcharlesm
Mar 3, 2025
Off the beaten Track tour - Must go tour in Seoul. Jon is a passionate guide. During the tour you'll learn a lot about korean history and culture, see amazing views of Seoul and discover a neigborhood off the beten track.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Northstar09201513670
Mar 2, 2025
Peaceful walking tour blending art and history - Buam-dong is an artistic and historic neighborhood that feels like a charming countryside village, despite being close to the city center. If you want to experience a different side of Seoul beyond the bustling high-rise buildings, this tour is highly recommended! Walking through a village nestled between two iconic mountains, discovering hidden historical stories, and admiring beautiful hanok houses made for a truly special experience.
Our guide, John, had excellent storytelling skills that kept us engaged, even with complex historical narratives. The surrounding environment felt rich with history and intrigue throughout the walk. The walking distance was not too demanding, so even those without strong stamina could comfortably join the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bartvq2667fr
Mar 2, 2025
A Must-Do Walk for History and Hidden Gems in Seoul! - I joined the Buam Walk with my wife, and it was an absolutely perfect way to dive into Korean history while exploring one of the city's most underrated neighborhoods. Buam-dong truly feels like an underdog district, and this tour made me appreciate just how much it has to offer.
From start to finish, I loved every bit of it! The stories, the atmosphere, and the unique blend of history and picturesque spots, famous movie filming locations and more made it an unforgettable experience. It also left me eager to come back and explore even more on my own. For new visitors to Korea—or anyone looking to get off the beaten track—this walk is a fantastic choice.
Jon was an excellent guide, explaining everything clearly in a way that worked for both people who know Korea well and those discovering it for the first time. His insights brought the neighborhood to life and made the experience truly special.
If you're looking for something different from the usual tourist spots, I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
908hueyh
Feb 27, 2025
A walking tour that even local enjoy - I’ve lived near Buam-dong for 10 years, but I joined this tour out of curiosity—how would a non-Korean introduce the area?
It turned out to be a great experience. Jon had an impressive understanding of the area’s history(even sharing details that I, as a local, didn’t know).
His explanations were clear and engaging. I also got to visit places I had only passed by before, with enough time at each stop to take it all in. Of course, he also shared some great recommendations for bakeries and a spot for 'ChiMaek'. (both popular among locals!)
Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for a fresh perspective, this tour is definitely worth considering.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Muriel-irish
Feb 26, 2025
Visit unusual places in Seoul - In October 2024, I did this tour with Jon and it was really nice ! We visited a diversity of places (from K drama and movies places, historic places, temple, nice coffee shop to get some foods and drinks, Cheongun Literature Library, to the view on Seoul, and more !!).
It was really nice to hear some historical stories, architecture and history of Korea and more from the guide ~ we can see he has the passion.
If you want to discover some hidden spots in Seoul, I recommend this tour ! Lovely experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
