Seoul’s City Walking Tours

I’ve told you a little about the food, shopping and night life in Seoul and today I’m going to tell you something about the wonderful sightseeing that’s available in Seoul. What I want to do is to give you a rough idea of what to expect when you first arrive in Seoul. Then later on I shall speak about them in more detail area by area. With its scenic beauty and unique cultural and historical heritage, Seoul has a lot to offer its visitors. In Seoul, the must-see attractions are the ancient royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Unhyeongung Palace. If you cannot visit all the five palaces you must at least visit one, the Changdeokgung Palace because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage. Jongmyo, the royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty and Changdeokgung's adjacent Huwon (Rear Garden also known as the Secret Garden) are noted for their beautifully landscaped gardens and classical structures. The Jongmyo Shrine, Jongmyo Jerye, (Cultural Ceremonies at Jongmyo Shrine,) Jongmyo Jeryeak (royal ancestral ritual music) and the Royal Tombs are UNESCO World Heritages in Seoul. But the Jongmyo Jerye is only held once a year, so if you want to see it you have to be in Seoul on the first Sunday in May to be able to witness it. This year it was held on 3rd May. There’s so much history here in Seoul and to come so far and not to see these places is a shame. Seoul is a wonderful blend of the traditional and the modern. If tourists go to Buckingham Palace in London to see the changing of the guards ceremony, Seoul can also boast of it’s own changing of the guards ceremonies at not one but two of it's palaces, the Gyeongbokgung and the Deoksugung here in Seoul. At Gyeongbokgung it takes place daily all year long, except Tuesdays when the palace is closed. The ceremony is reenacted exactly as it used to be held, with guards wearing the Joseon uniforms, carrying traditional weapons and playing instruments. The ceremony takes place every hour on the hour from 10:00am to 3:00pmt at Gwanghwamun and in front of theHeungnyemun gate. It's all free. Whereas at Deoksugung it is held three times daily in front of the Daehanmun Gate from 10:30am to 11:00am in the morning, from 14:00 to 14:30 and from 15:30 to 16:00 in the afternoon. The ceremony lasts for about thirty minutes and is free of charge too. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on extremely cold or hot days. Don’t forget to bring your cameras!
Have you ever heard of City Walking Tours? No? Good, because I’m going to introduce you to it. Know why they are called Walking Tours? All the places on the itinerary are close together and are within walking distance, that’s why. All you need is just a pair of good walking legs. And ladies, no high heels please! There are 9 Walking Tour Itineraries in 7 areas available for you to choose from.
A few tips regarding these City Walking Tours for your guidance:- The guides are provided free of charge but each individual has to pay for his/her own admission charges to palaces and cultural programs. Reservations have to be made three days in advance because arrangements have to be made with the travel guides who are all working on a voluntary basis. Each tour course has its own meeting place, which is often in front of the starting point of the tour course. Please note that the Buchon/Unhyeongung course limits the number of participants to 10 as it is currently a residential area, making it difficult for more than 10 persons to tour at a time. Also the time duration of the tours do not include time spent participating in traditional culture activities. I remember I had to pay to go on walking tours when I was in Europe and here in Korea it is free, including the free services of goodwill tour guides which I mentioned in my earlier post.
Here’s the list of the City Walking Tours:-

Course : Gyeongbokgung Palace / Hyoja-dong
Duration 3hrs
Itinerary
Gyeongbokgung Palace ~ Street in front of Blue House ~ Hyojadong Sarangbang
Meeting Place
In front of the Gyeongbokgung Palace ticket office.
Subway
(Line number 3 Gyeongbokgung Palace Station Exit 5)
This trip will take you from the palaces of former kings of the Joseon era, to the modern residence of Korean presidents. Probably the most fabulous and famous palace in Korea, representing nearly 500 years of Joseon kingdom history, is Gyeongbokgung Palace. View the palace and then wander about the tree-lined streets of this quaint little neighborhood, Samcheongdong, located near the presidential residence, Cheongwadae. Be sure to make a stop at Hyojadong Sarangbang, where gifts presidents of Korea have received from abroad are on display for the public.

• Course : Deoksugung Palace / Jeong-dong
• Duration: 2hrs
• Itinerary
Deoksugung Palace ~ Jungmyeongjeon Hall ~ (Previous) Russian Legation ~ Gyeonghuigung Palace
Meeting Place
40 meters in front of Deoksugung ticket booth
Subway
Subway Line 1, Seoul City Hall Station, Exit 2 / Subway Line 2, Seoul City Hall Station, Exit 12
This course begins at Deoksugung (Deoksugung Palace), a walled compound that houses some of the most historically significant palaces in Seoul. Not only was this one of the first locations in Korea to feature Western architecture and buildings, but it also housed various members of the Joseon royal family over the years. In front of Deoksugung Palace one can watch as the ancient changing of the guard ceremony is reenacted for the benefit of tourists. (Everyday at 10:30, 14:00, 15:00 except for Mondays) Close to Deoksugung Palace one can visit Jungmyeongjeon, the site where the Eulsa Treaty, one of the infamous unfair treaties forced on Korea by Japan, was signed. After that one can stroll to the former Russian legation to Korea, where Emperor Gojong took refuge for a time. The course then leads to Gyeonghui Palace, one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built during the Joseon era, and finishes up with a visit to the Seoul Museum of History. The Seoul Museum of History is well known for the comprehensive information and history it provides about the great Metropolis Seoul.

Course : Jongmyo Shrine / Changgyeonggung Palace
Duration: 2-1/2 hrs
Itinerary
Jongmyo Shrine ~ Changgyeonggung Palace
Meeting Place
In front of Jongmyo information booth (300 meters from ticket booth)
5 minutes walk from Jongno 3-ga
Subway
Subway Line 1, Exit 11 / Line 3, Exit 8 / Line 5, Exit 8
Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, Jongmyo is the oldest preserved royal Confucian shrine. You start your journey in this place where a memorial service for the dead kings and queens of the Joseon Kingdom, called Jongmo Jeryeak, is held every year in May. This elaborate ceremony honors the dead through fantastic court music and dancing. Thought to be one of the longest structures in Asia at the time of its construction in 1394, the shrine will not disappoint. Cross the street to the well-preserved Changgyeonggung Palace where nature and traditional Korean architecture are harmoniously blended. Changgyeonggung Palace was originally the summer palace of rulers from the Goryeo Kingdom, but later became one of the “Five Grand Palaces” of Joseon.

Course : Unhyeongung Palace / Bukchon 1
Duration : 3 hrs
Itinerary
Unhyeongung Palace ~ Bukchon Culture Center ~ Buddhist Art Museum ~ Han Sangsu Embroidery Museum ~ Gahoe Museum ~ Knot Workshop ~ Hanok Experience Pavilion ~ Intangible Cultural Asset Training Exhibition Center
Meeting Place:
In front of the Unhyeonggung Palace’s Sujiksa
(After Unhyeongung Palace’s ticket booth on the right hand side)
Subway
(Line Number 3 Anguk Station Exit 4)

Course : Unhyeongung Palace / Bukchon 2
Duration: 3-1/2 hrs
Itinerary
Unhyeongung Palace ~ Bukchon Culture Center ~ Intangible Cultural Asset Training Exhibition Center ~ Lacquer Workshop ~ Flower Mat Workshop ~ Gahoedong Hanok Village ~ World Accessories Museum ~ Tibet Museum ~ Jongchinbu
Meeting Place
In front of the Unhyeonggung Palace’s Sujiksa
(After Unhyeongung Palace’s ticket booth on the right hand side)
Subway
Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 4
Bukchon, a special area in Seoul where traditional Korean homes called hanok are gathered together. Walking through the alleys amid these hanok houses and various other museums and cultural centers tourists are provided with an opportunity to have diverse experiences.
Unhyeongung Palace, famous as the place where Gojong’s father, Hongseondaewongun, was regent for 10 years and as the place where Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong were married. This palace starts both different walking courses, but as each course splits off tourists will have the opportunity to see and experience traditional Korean culture at the various workshops and centers scattered throughout this hanok village.

Course : Cheonggyecheon Stream 1
Duration: 2 hrs
Itinerary
Cheonggye Plaza ~ Gwangtonggyo Bridge ~ Samilgyo Bridge ~ Supyogyo Bridge ~ Saebyeok Dari Bridge ~ Ogansugyo Bridge
Meeting Place
Cheonggye Plaza (bench on the left of Donga Daily Newspaper Building)
Subway
Subway Line 5, Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 5 / Line 1 or 2, Seoul City Hall, Exit 4
The Cheonggyecheon, or Cheonggye Stream as it is sometimes called, is a natural stream located in the heart located in the heart of downtown Seoul. It was traditionally dry through the fall and winter, but would run high as the rainy season came in the summer. It was covered with cement in 1958 by Syngman Rhee and later a highway was built above it. In 2003, then mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak initiated a project to remove the road and restore the river in an attempt to beautify the downtown area. Cheonggyecheon is a beautiful escape in the heart of the city and is surrounded by various cultural sites and shops on either side. There are also various cultural performances held in this area in the stages and plazas for the benefit of the people.

Course : Cheonggyecheon Stream 2
Duration : 2-1/2 hrs
Itinerary
Cheonggyecheon Culture Center ~ Dumul Dari Bridge ~ Biudanggyo Bridge ~ Hwanghakgyo Bridge ~ Dasangyo Bridge ~ Ogansugyo Bridge
Meeting Place
Cheonggyecheon Culture Center
Subway
Subway Line 2 or 5, Wangsimni Station, Exit 7 → Take local bus 3 or 8 and get off at Seoul Facilities Management Corporation (Siseol Gwalli Gongdan)

Course : Namsan Park / Hanok Village
Duration : 3-1/2 hrs
Itinerary
Jangchungdan Park (Supyogyo Bridge) ~ Seoul Fortress ~ National Theatre of Korea ~ (Shuttle bus) ~ Bongsudae, N Seoul Tower ~ (Shuttle bus) ~ Namsangol Hanok Village
Meeting Place
Entrance to Jangchungdan Park
Subway
Subway Line 3, Dongguk University Station, Exit 6

Course : Namsan Park / Ihwajang House
Duration : 3 hrs
Itinerary
Dongdaemun (Heunginjimun) ~ Seoul Fortress ~ Biu-dang (Jajudongsaem) ~ Naksan Park (View point) ~ Naksan Exhibition Hall ~ Ihwajang House
Meeting Place
Ewha University Hospital right-hand side of the street
Subway
Subway Line 1, Dongdaemun Station, Exit 1 / Line 4, Exit 9 or 10
Apart from these walking tours there are two areas, (in Insa-dong and Bukchon) where cultural tour guides are stationed permanently. For this no prior reservations are required. You can just walk-in for a walking tour guide.
Korean Guides: Daily 10:00~17:00
English Guides: Monday~Friday, & Sunday (13:30~17:00),
Saturday (10:00~17:00)
Japanese Guides: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (10:00~13:30),
Saturday (10:00~17:00),
Chinese Guides: Monday, Wednesday, Sunday (10:00~13:00)
Bukchon Village is closed on Sundays)
Meeting Place in Insa-dong
Insa Art Center
It is located across from Ssamjigil, a famous multicultural place on the main street of Insa-dong. Walk down the side street for about 100 meters and it is on the left.
Meeting Place in Bukchon
Bukchon Culture Center
Take Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station, Exit 3. Take the street to the left in the direction of Jungang High School and walk about 250 meters. Hyundai Byeolgwan Building and the parking lot is on the right, and Bukchon Culture Center is on the left.
I guess that’s about it for today's post. Till then!