• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Curious to know more about Seoul’s history? Join a local history expert on an insightful tour that will show you a side of the city that can’t be found in any book. This experience will open your eyes to the past and origins of Seoul from a local perspective as you learn about Beautiful Palaces & Seoul Dynasties.

Destination

Seoul, South Korea

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español, Korean

Included

• Private Guide
• Entrance Gyeongbokgung Palace
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of GODIVA Chocolate Cafe - Seoul to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Beautiful Palaces & Seoul Dynasties

   Your history tour in Seoul will focus on Beautiful Palaces & Seoul Dynasties. Learn the impacts, insights and hear stories related to this historic event from your knowledgeable host. Discover the city as you retrace history and go in-depth on the effects this part of history has on Seoul

4. Historical Highlights

   Check out main landmarks related to the theme of your history tour and connect their relevance through fantastic stories and facts from your expert local host

5. Hidden Treasures

   During your tour, you’ll also uncover hidden gems that will show you a different perspective of history as you know it, something you can’t easily find in a history book!

6. Storytelling Journey

   As you discover the historical side of Seoul, you’ll be able to go back in time thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are relieving history in the present time

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Sebastian🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Jason)

30 June 2025

Knowledgeable, kind, flexible and perfectly tailoring the tour to my taste. Would highly recommend Jason to anyone visiting Seoul! Jason is fantastic!

Richard🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jason)

21 June 2025

I’m staying in Seoul for 6 weeks. Jason gave me good advice about markets and ordering cabs while explaining Korea history. A good way to settle in

Marti🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Ho Jin)

23 April 2025

He's a good and friendly guy, but it's not a guide at all. He just drives you to a few places, and gives no explanations at all. Not worth it.Waste of time and money

Unknown

(About local Ho Jin)

15 February 2025

Excellent introduction to Seul...and to South Korea. Jin Spanish is excellent to say the least which, together with his welcoming personality, made for a very entertaining tour and conversation. Thank you!Like a friend

Nancy🇨🇱 Chile

(About local Ho Jin)

23 December 2024

Fue un agrado compartir con Ho Jin, su amabilidad y su dispoción a servir son destacables, más allá de su trabajo, te hace sentir como en casa. Busca lugares que seguro te encantaran y donde no hay mucho publico para la foto perfecta, hace de fotografo tambien, muchas gracias fue un gusto conocerte.Las mejores fotos

Dayna🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Ho Jin)

29 October 2024

Jin customised the tour to make history of the Gyeongbok Palace easily understood and appreciated by my 5 year olds. History can be dry but he drew relevance to current day context so adult and kids alike enjoyed the tour. Patient guide who brings history alive

Ana

(About local Ho Jin)

17 October 2024

*5/5 Stars* "Outstanding Tour Guide! He was absolutely phenomenal! Our group had an unforgettable experience thanks to his expertise, enthusiasm, and shared fascinating insights and anecdotes, Communication: Clear, concise, and friendly interactions made us feel at ease. The best experience

Ethan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

21 May 2024

My wife and I had the pleasure of touring around Seoul with Ho Jin in February 2024. Ho Jin was such an amazing guide and was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. We learned so much about the various palaces around the City, and got a great overview of some of the amazing neighborhoods and food spots to try after our tour. It really felt like we were being shown around Seoul by a friend!Like Walking with a Friend Around Seoul

Mireia🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Ho Jin)

7 May 2024

La verdad que ha sido una experiencia muy buena, tuvimos mal tiempo pero el intento que la experiencia fuese lo más buena posible. Si algun día más puedo hacer alguna excursión lo volveré a elegir.Muy bueno

Anne🇧🇲 Bermuda

(About local Ho Jin)

2 May 2024

Ho Jin "Jimmie" was a great guide. Our two hour tour was just the right amount of time to be engaged without getting tour fatigue. We explored the palace while Jimmie told us engaging stories about the history of Korea and the area. We opted to explore the Buchkon Hanok village and he took us to some very quiet streets and great views avoiding the crowds typical of the area. Would definitely recommend Ho Jin and this tour. Perfect tour

Kye🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

19 March 2024

Ho Jin was very willing to adjust the tour to accommodate my bad ankle, and did a wonderful job of mixing in modern era perspectives with history. He explained how this history, both old and more recent, helped shape the modern Korea.Flexibility appreciated!

Gerhard🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Sanghee Priscilla)

17 February 2024

1

Ich habe mit Sanghee den Gyeonbok-Palast besichtigt. Mir war es wichtig in zwei Stunden einen Palast intensiv kennenzulernen, daher wollte ich statt der zwei vorgesehenen Paläste auch nur einen besuchen. Das ist das schöne an einer individuellen Tour - diese wird nach Deinen Wünschen angepasst. Es ist wunderbar mit einem so qualifizierten Reiseleiter wie Sanghee unterwegs zu sein und eine tolle Einführung in koreanische Paläste. Mit diesem Wissen habe ich auch die anderen Paläste viel besser verstehen können. I visited the Gyeonbok Palace with Sanghee. It was important to me to get to know a palace in depth in two hours, so I only wanted to visit one palace instead of the two planned. That's the nice thing about a personalised tour - it's tailored to your wishes. It's wonderful to be travelling with a guide as qualified as Sanghee and a great introduction to Korean palaces. With this knowledge, I was able to understand the other palaces much better.

Sri Nurayu🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Ho Jin)

24 December 2023

We enjoyed this walk with Ho Jin so much! We learnt about the origin of the Korean alphabet as well as the history of Joseon from Ho Jin. It was nice to have this stroll with a local. Glad we booked this tour! We couldn’t have gained so much if not for this walking tour with Ho Jin. Thank you! Great Walking and Learning with Ho Jin

Marleen🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Sanghee Priscilla)

16 October 2023

First of all, the reservation is easy to make and is well communicated. We met at 15:00 at The location where Sanghee was already waiting for us. Right away she was very enthusiastic and passionate. Straight away we went to Deoksugung. Sanghee explained everything from the ancient history and symbolic meanings of things. It was great and very impressive! After that we walked to Gyeongbokgung. In a meanwhile Sanghee told us a lot about the surrounding buildings and the meaning of 2 statues. Gyeongbokgung is a vast terrain with lots of buildings. Again everything was explained and gave us a good idea how it must have been. All in all: a great experience, thanks to Sanghee her enthusiastic guiding.Royal Palaces with Sanghee

Danny🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

9 October 2023

Had a wonderful morning exploring and learning about the Seoul Palaces with Ho Jin. He was extremely knowledgeable and myself and the rest of our group had a great time asking him questions and learning about the history of Seoul’s Palaces. He was accommodating with whatever paces we wanted to move at. Thanks again Ho Jin!Seoul Palaces tour with Ho Jin

Anne🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ho Jin)

5 October 2023

Ho Jin was very informative an excellent guide. Gave a good insight to the differsnt architecture. 10

Erik🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Ho Jin)

3 October 2023

We had a day with gorgeous weather for our tour. The meetup point was easy to find and Ho Jin was there well on time to meet us. The sights were very impressive and Ho Jin explained a lot of the meaning and history behind the buildings and architecture. Ho Jin was very nice and in between the history talk we also had pleasant small talk about Korean culture etc. All in all we had a great afternoon 😀.A pleasant stroll through korean history

Mz🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ho Jin)

24 June 2023

Ho Jin was really great. Very knowledgeable and truly built an amazing picture of how the palaces were used and talked lots about the history of Seoul. The palaces would have been less enjoyable with out him. We went at a really nice pace and was able to go and explore parts of the palaces we wanted. I’ve recommended Ho Jin to friends coming later in the year and would defo book another tour with him when I come back. It’s a shame I don’t have more time this holiday to book more tours with him myself. Best tour ive ever had

Clare🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

20 February 2023

Ho Jin is an excellent guide; kind,flexible and knowledgeable. He tailored the pace of our tour to what interested my group. It was a pleasure to learn more about the palaces and Royal dynasties. I highly recommend booking a tour! Perfect Afternoon at Palaces

Scott🇺🇸 United States

(About local Julian)

6 July 2022

Despite monsoon rains, Julian guided us through the temples and avenues of Seoul. It was our first day in Seoul and Julian was a wonderful ambassador to the city, answering questions related to what we were touring and everything else. I cannot recommend him highly enough - Julian is the best! Thank you for a great tour, your friendliness and patience.

rzc5h7cscc🇰🇷 Korea, Republic of

(About local Ho Jin)

3 June 2022

Ho Jin aka "Jimmy Lee" was fun, knowledgeable, and multilingual. He was flexible with 3 ladies who were inquisitive. We not only asked about the historical locations we saw, but he was more than happy to share information about every day life in Seoul and South Korea. I cannot stress enough his flexibility and relaxed style in touring. He was able to adapt to our group without making us feel rushed. I have no doubt he could push a group if needed, but we were not that group. He was so good members in our group tried to book him again with their spouses and members in our larger meeting group. Beyond expectations!

Sandra🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Yejin)

30 May 2022

Yejin was an amazing guide. She is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Literally felt like I met up with a good friend and we went for a walk around the city. Her knowledge on the palace history is top notch! I would Highly recommend picking her as your guide. Thank you so much Yejin! Best tour when arriving in Seoul

Denzel🇲🇽 Mexico

(About local Julian)

25 April 2022

A really good tour, walking through the Seoul downtown, budist temples and the palace. I'm truly Suggest to Julian as your future guide.An amazing place with amazing guidance

adam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Yejin)

6 February 2020

Yejin was a great tour guide and added tremendously to the day - she pointed out and took us out to local hidden spots and showed us around. Everything was flexible - she was generous and hospitable. We stayed in touch for the duration of the trip and she continued to provide tips and suggestions based on our continued itinerary and experiences that we were looking for. She's added to my trip to Korea immensely and I;d like to say "Thank you, Thank you! Yejin!"Excellent tour guide and resource

Gary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

11 August 2025

My family and I had the best experience we could have ever dreamed of, all due to Ho Jin. Not only did he take us to the normal sites, but also to sites that locals go to. He explained history and background of every location. It would have been impossible for us to see all that we saw on our own. He is very friendly, personable and being able to travel by car on a very hot day instead of subways and taxi's was an added plus. Our 15 year old son, instantly connected on all the history information and is still talking about the experience today! Look no further than Ho Jin...worth every penny and them some....and a really nice and thoughtful guy !!10 Stars are not enough!

Roswitha🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Camille)

11 August 2025

Camille was a fantastic tour guide - super charismatic, funny and very well informed. You could really feel how much she loves Seoul and enjoys her job, and that alone made the experience so much fun. The tour and vibe was very friendly, warm and personal. We felt comfortable asking her anything and she was super flexible adjusting the tour to what we wanted or what the weather allowed at any time. BIG recommendation! CAMILLE was the best guide, we could wish!

Deanne

(About local Jason)

9 August 2025

We’ve done walking tours all over the world, and Jason is the best we’ve ever had. From the moment we met him in Seoul, he brought the city to life, weaving us through bustling neighborhoods, peaceful side streets, and tucked-away gems we never would have found on our own. His mix of fascinating cultural insights, personal stories, and local secrets kept all of us—across very different ages and personalities—completely engaged. By the end, we felt like we’d experienced the “real” Seoul. If you want a tour that’s as memorable as the city itself, Jason is the guide to book.More than a tour, an amazing adventure!

Simone🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Hailey)

9 August 2025

Unfortunately, this was not worth it for us. Hailey took us on a walk down a market and told to choose something from any stall that we liked the look of - she did not offer recommendations. Then a walk down to the river, in winter which was freezing an dark and empy - not sure why that was an option in winter. Would not recommend.Not worth it

Melanie

(About local Ho Jin)

9 August 2025

Bei unserer 3stündigen Führung mit Ho Jin haben wir die Highlight gesehen und viel Wissenswertes erfahren. Ho Jin spricht perfektes Englisch und hat uns einige Insider Tipps gegeben. Wir waren sehr zufrieden mit der Tour. Sie hätte auch eine Stunde länger gehen können, dann hätte man manche Locations mehr in Ruhe anschauen können…Kompakte Führung

Marina🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Jason)

8 August 2025

Our family had a kick-start Seoul trip with Jason in July and we really enjoyed it! Even if the day was extremely hot, we visited the older part of the city, enjoying the surroundings, while Jason balanced very well the time inside and outside, trying to be sure that we all feel well, happy and hydrated. Thank you, Jason, for making an extra effort to make the tour fun for my teenage kids and for sharing so many tips on getting around Seoul! We will surely be coming back 🙂 Great time with Jason!

Joanna🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jason)

7 August 2025

Jasons communcation in English is very good, contacted us days before the tour to discuss what we would like to do. He is very polite and easy going, we would recommend him for a private tour. Thank you Jason!

Wolfgang🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Ho Jin)

5 August 2025

Die Tour mit Jimmy hat unseren Seoul Besuch bereichert. Wir können sie nur empfehlen!!Tolle Tour und netter, kompetenter Guide

Dawn🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

2 August 2025

I can’t say enough about Ho Jin. We had the BEST experience with him. I had sent him a list of all we wanted to see and I knew it was a long list so we might not see everything. Well Ho Jin too us everywhere! He was informative, extremely nice and pleasant, and just a blast. He even added a trip to Seoul Museum and it was wonderful. I highly recommend booking your trip with Ho Jin. Book with Ho Jin!

Daniela Claudia🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Ho Jin)

31 July 2025

Hoy tuvimos nuestro Tour con Ho Jin, nos gustó mucho. Con cada paso nos quedamos fascinados por su historia, su cultura y su gente. Ho Jin nos pareció super correcto en su forma de ser y sumamente amable. Un 10 de 10 para recomendar. Tour a la medida

Rob🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jason)

28 July 2025

Me and my daughter had a wonderful private tour with Jason. He picked us up from our hotel and showed us his favorite spots. Jason had already contacted us before our trip to Seoul to ask what we definitely wanted to see. As we did not have a proper idea about Seoul, he gave us some suggestions first. When he showed us around, he spent enough time to explain the scene and the culture. He was nice, friendly and patient all the way. I would seriously recommend Jason if you are looking for a personalized tour, instead of some standardized tourist walk. Wonderful experience with Jason

Mar🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

25 July 2025

If you're craving a more authentic, non-touristy experience—Jason is your guy! I was looking for a local, low-key tour, far from the typical tourist traps, and Jason completely exceeded my expectations. Instead of wandering aimlessly using Instagram or TikTok suggestions, Jason curated a personalized experience that somehow hit all the places I had secretly saved—without me even mentioning them! He took me to the most charming coffee houses (I’m a total coffee feen, so this was heaven), introduced me to delicious local pastries I couldn’t resist, and even mixed in some of the trendy spots I had my eye on—all without it ever feeling forced or “tour-guidey.” He also recommended must-see/do/eat places near our hotel and wherever we ventured during the day. What really stood out was how thoughtful and attentive he was—always checking in to see if the vibe of each place matched what I was looking for and willing to adjust on the fly if needed. If you’re on the fence—don’t be. Book with Jason. He’ll make sure your trip is not only memorable but truly unique to you.Unforgettable Journey in Seoul

Erica🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

25 July 2025

Ho Jin was everything the other reviews said and more. He picked us up in a convenient location, great communication, was flexible and patient and knowledgeable. I wish we could have booked him another day! You won’t be disappointed! Everything and more

Ron🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sanghee Priscilla)

19 July 2025

Sanghee was an amazing guide. I highly recommend her.Excellent Guide

André

(About local Ho Jin)

17 July 2025

Friendly and Knowledgeable

9m9wsx7ftf

(About local Jason)

17 July 2025

We had a wonderful afternoon with Jason. He is very knowledgeable in all things from history, culture and food to local insights, and he made exploring Seoul fun. Going on the tour has given us great appreciation for this beautifully diverse city, and there‘s nothing like experiencing it with someone who knows and loves the city. I highly recommend Jason as a guide! Excellent tour and great guide

Christina 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Sanghee Priscilla)

16 July 2025

1

I recently had the pleasure of taking a tour led by Sanghee and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment the tour began, she demonstrated deep knowledge, passion, and professionalism that elevated the entire journey. Sanghee was incredibly informative. She shared historical facts, local legends, and hidden gems that you simply wouldn't get from a guidebook. She even organized us a lot of free gifts. Every question was answered thoughtfully. What really stood out was her warm personality and sense of humor. The pacing was perfect, with enough time to explore, take photos, and absorb the atmosphere. Thank you for such a memorable experience!Our Tour with Sanghee

Wendy

(About local Ho Jin)

13 July 2025

Ho Jin made this tour. He spoke English very well. Was informative. He was very supportive when we couldn’t do all the activities due to lack of fitness and my still healing broken foot. He ordered our lunch for us making sure I could eat it ( allergic to chilli’s and capsicum) We couldn’t have asked for anyone better to show us around. Dmz tour

Steve 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

8 July 2025

Ho Jin was a great guide and we thoroughly enjoyed the walking tour. We learned a lot about the rich history of the area as well as the country. We enjoyed every minute of our time together!Fabulous tour of Seoul!

Michelle

(About local Ho Jin)

5 July 2025

We had a great day with Ho Jin, his communication prior to the tour was great. He had fantastic English and came to meet us at our cruise for the DMZ tour. He was very informative and answered all our questions! We all really enjoyed our day and would highly recommend this tour with a private guide you learn so much more! Thank you Ho Jin! Fantastic day

nephtali.alba88

(About local Jason)

3 July 2025

He does a great job and is very knowledgeable. Be ready to walk fast because we walks quick. But he is very flexible, kind and very respectful.This is a fun guy to be guided by

Christelle🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Camille)

1 July 2025

Camille a su s’adapter à nous et à partager avec passion son amour pour Séoul! Un e visite riche et inoubliable Magnifique moment!!

Michele🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Jason)

30 June 2025

Once we started chatting, we found Jason to be very friendly and helpful. He answered all our questions about travel in Seoul and gave us helpful tips and suggestions on where to go. The tour he created for us was customised for us; our daughter was able to take photos of paths less trodden by tourists and we also enjoyed the bustling market of Gwangjiang and the amazing cafes of Ik Seon Dong. Jason’s recommendation for street food at Gwangjiang market did not disappoint. The food we had was good. All in all, we really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely engage Jason the next time we go back to Seoul. Thanks, Jason! Awesome Tour with Jason

Brendan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ho Jin)

29 June 2025

Well, look no further - Ho Jin is your man! From the initial booking until the end of the tour, Ho Jin was helpful, accommodating, thoughtful and very knowledgeable on everything we visited. He was also good at making adjustments during the day if we saw things we wanted to spend more time visiting and helped us see so much more than if we had planned it on our own. Book with confidence, you will be glad you did!Still looking for a guide in Seoul ?

Megan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sanghee Priscilla)

28 June 2025

1

Sanghee was a pleasure to spend time with because of her fun personality! She helped us understand Korean culture and showed us around with a local’s confidence, listening to what we and our teenage daughters wanted to experience. We all laughed a lot together!So much fun!

Kim🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jason)

26 June 2025

Jason was a great guide to our first full day in Seoul. He arranged an easy place to meet and was on time. He had suggested two main spots to explore, based on our family's interests, and also took us on a couple of interesting side spots. His explanations, suggestions, and help in purchasing snacks at the market were great. Jason's insights and humor throughout the tour were wonderful. Interesting and Informative