Tour operator
O’ngo Food Communications
A Seoul food tour and cooking class company based in Bukchon, offering small-group night dining tours and hands-on classes in a traditional house.
Seoul Guided Walking Tours
Free walking tours run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with volunteer guides, covering palaces, old alleys, the city wall and other heritage routes.
At a glance
- Type
- Free guided walking tours
- Area
- Central Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
- Official site
- dobo.visitseoul.net
Good to know
- Free
- English tours
- Book at least three days ahead
- 15 courses
Why we recommend it
Seoul Guided Walking Tours are run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and they are one of the best-value ways to explore the city with a knowledgeable local. Volunteer guides lead small groups on set routes through the historic centre and other districts, explaining the history and stories behind places you might otherwise walk straight past. The tours are free, though you pay separately for any palace admission or cultural programme included on a route.
There are around 15 courses, each lasting roughly two to three hours. Several focus on the royal palaces, with dedicated tours of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung. Others explore neighbourhoods: Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Seochon's old alleys, the printing lanes of Chungmuro and Euljiro, and the early 20th-century buildings of Jeong-dong. There are also routes along the Cheonggyecheon stream, the Seoullo 7017 elevated walkway, the Naksan section of the Seoul City Wall, the Pedestrian Forest Path on Sejong-daero, the ancient earthen fortress of Mongchontoseong, and a family-friendly treasure hunt in the garden of the National Museum of Korea.
Tours are offered in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. They suit solo travellers, couples, families and anyone on a budget, and they make an excellent introduction on the first or second day of a trip. Guides are volunteers, so the style varies, but most are enthusiastic and happy to answer questions about daily life as well as history.
Book through the official walking tour website at least three days before your chosen date. Reservations for the following month open after the 15th of each month, and to join an English-language tour you need to book through the English version of the site. Popular courses in spring and autumn fill quickly. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and check the weather, as walks go ahead outdoors. Group visits in residential areas such as Bukchon follow the city's quiet-tourism rules.
Meeting points depend on the course and are given when you book, usually at a station exit or palace gate. On weekdays the walking tour office answers questions from 09:00 to 18:00 with a lunch break, and at weekends Seoul's 120 Dasan call centre can help.
Seoul Guided Walking Tours FAQs
Are the walking tours really free?
Yes. The tours are free, but palace admission and any cultural programme fees are paid separately.
How far ahead do you need to book?
At least three days before the tour; reservations for the next month open after the 15th.
Which languages are available?
English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
How long are the tours?
Most last two to three hours.
Which routes are offered?
Around 15, including the main palaces, Bukchon, Insadong, Seochon, Jeong-dong, Cheonggyecheon and the Naksan city wall.
Where do tours start?
Meeting points vary by course and are confirmed when you book, usually at a station exit or palace gate.
Are they suitable for children?
Yes. Most routes are easy walks, and there is a treasure hunt course in the National Museum of Korea garden.
How do you contact the organisers?
Call the walking tour office on weekdays, or Seoul's 120 Dasan call centre at weekends.