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Seoul Walking Tours

Gwanghwamun Square is considered the center of Seoul. This walking tour will take you through the Central Government Complex as you walk past plazas, sculptures, streams, waterfalls, statues, government buildings, gates, and palaces. This tour will give the first time visitor to Seoul a better understanding of the city and an idea of the layout and history and future of Seoul.

Last Updated on Jul 6, 2023

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7 Totally Free Walking Tours In Seoul

Kelly Hayes-Raitt

• Budget Travel
• Destinations
• South Korea
• Types of Travel

Nothing beats walking to find the soul of a city. So, when I visited Seoul, South Korea, in December 2019 while I was housesitting, I signed up for several walking tours — all of which were offered free of charge!

Some tours of the more traditional tourist sites are organized by the Seoul tourism offices, while some off-the-beaten-path tours are guided by Korean university students who want to practice their English, show off their favorite “hidden gems,” and earn a few won in tips.

There are actually about 60 free walking tours offered (29 are offered by the city of Seoul alone!), but here are seven to get you started. So, break out your sneakers and get ready to walk, stroll, climb, and savor Seoul!

Here are my favorite free walking tours:

1. Sky Park, Seafood Market, And Street Food Tour

Guided by 24-year-old art major Rim Jeonghye, this tour found me and fellow tourist Pierre, an American vacationing from teaching English in China, panting up 292 steps to Haneul Sky Park and its fabulous views of the Han River and Seoul’s towering skyline. A reclaimed landfill, the park is best known for its silver grass, which is celebrated during a festival every fall.

After working up an appetite, we headed to the extensive Mapo Agricultural and Marine Market. Pierre had heard that eating live octopus (called sannakji ) is a special Korean delicacy, so Rim led us to an octopus vendor who chopped up a small octopus and doused it with sesame oil. Since the dismembered tentacles were still wiggling on the plate, I passed.

Next up was a stroll through Mangwon Market, a local, non-touristy food market with raw and prepared foods. Rim knew every stall that offered free samples, so we had our own private — and free — street food tour!

Tip: Wear layers to shed as you hike up the stairs. And come hungry!

Additional Tour Info

Other free tours offered by TodaysFriend include guided walks around Dongdaemun Culture Park , the Ikseon-dong neighborhood , and Deoksu Palace and Seoul’s City Hall .

TodaysFriend.com | Sky Park Tour | [email protected]

2. Seochon Tour: Where Old Alleys Meet New Galleries

The City of Seoul offers 29 free walking tours conducted by trained volunteer guides featuring subjects from the healing arts to architecture. Visit palaces, gardens, traditional villages, royal tombs and more during these free two-hours tours.

I walked around Seochon , one of Seoul’s art-oriented neighborhoods, on a City of Seoul walking tour. Dotted with art galleries and trendy coffee shops, this hilly area features the Sangchonjae Hanok House, a refurbished traditional home with 19-century underfloor heating (called ondol , a feature still used today). My guide and I took a break at the base of the Suseongdong Valley before window-shopping along a boutique-lined alley.

Tip: Since these volunteer guides do not accept tips, treat them at a coffee shop. We stopped at an en-route cafe for the most sumptuous dark hot chocolate drinks!

Reservations must be made online at least three days in advance.

VisitSeoul.net | Seochon Tour | [email protected]

3. Gyeongbokgung Palace Tour

Built in 1395, the Gyeongbokgung Palace, whose name means “The Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven,” is nestled between Mount Bugaksan and Mount Namsan. Today, surrounded by high-rise office buildings, it stands as a monument to fortitude: The Palace has been destroyed and rebuilt three times.

There are many local tour companies that charge for their guided tours, but free English tours are offered at the palace three times each day at 11 a.m, 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. No reservations are necessary.

Tip: Deck yourself in hanbok (traditional Korean attire) from one of the nearby clothing rental shops and enter the palace grounds for free. Otherwise, the cost is 3,000 won (about $2.50).

See the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office’s official site .

4. Bukchon Tour: Where History Lives

Bukchon is a well-preserved neighborhood of hanok — traditional Korean homes — that are now a network of private residences, traditional craft workshops, guesthouses, cafes, tea houses, and boutiques. The Soul Free Walking Tour starts at the Bukchon Traditional Cultural Center , which is an actual hanok with rice paper doors and underfloor heating.

As we wandered the narrow streets, my three guides stopped for a street food treat and for photo ops at spectacular views over the gracefully up-turned arched roofs. We went on to Chung-Ang University , a former kindergarten that served as a secret meeting spot for Korean dissidents during the Japanese occupation.

Finally, we stopped at the Dong-Lim Knot Workshop , where I had the option for 7,000 won ($6) to create my own bracelet using traditional garakji knots. (It’s a lot harder than it looks!)

My guides — three smart, personable students studying microbiology, international relations, and fashion design — and I were having so much fun, we lunched at a traditional Korean restaurant.

Tip: Bukchon is hilly, so be prepared to climb. Also, these guides do not accept tips, so a coffee or street treat is appreciated!

Other free tours offered by Seoul Free Walking Tours include a political tour of the Gwanghwamun area to explore Korea under the Japanese occupation and a tour of Bongeunsa Temple to explore Korean Buddhism.

SeoulFreeWalkingTour.wixsite.com | Bukchon Tour | [email protected]

5. President’s Garden Tour

With at least three weeks’ notice, foreigners can schedule a tour of the Republic of South Korea’s President’s gardens outside Cheong Wa Dae, the official residency and administrative compound of the president and first lady.

Colloquially called the Blue House because of the shiny blue tiles that make up its roof, this is where cabinet meetings, receptions for state guests and diplomatic events take place. The one-hour tour covers Nokjiwon (the Green Grass Garden, which features a 170-year-old pine tree and is where public events are held), the site of the original Cheong Wa Dae building, and Yeong Bin Gwan (the State Guest House).

You must apply online and provide your passport information. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email and code.

Tips: Remember to take your passport; you will be asked for it several times. But leave behind large bags and political leaflets. Also, read up on the Blue House before you go, as there are no live bilingual guides, although a brief English-language recorded audio guide is provided (free). I recommend listening to the audio guide before your tour (there are several minutes waiting in an auditorium before the tour starts).

Cheong Wa Dae, President’s Residence Official Web Page | [email protected]

6. Seodaemun Prison Tour

During a sobering tour offered by the university students volunteering with Seoul-Mate Tours, you can visit Seodaemun Prison. The prison was built by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 and was where 3,000 Korean freedom activists were tortured, imprisoned, and executed.

Four students led my tour, each explaining one section of the prison — and of Korea’s dark history under the occupation. Korean men were conscripted to serve in the Japanese Army and Korea’s women were conscripted to serve as sex slaves (or what the Japanese called “comfort women”). One of the students spoke about the experiences of her grandmother, who was forbidden from speaking Korean during the occupation and was forced to adopt a Japanese name.

Hangeul , the Korean alphabet, was outlawed, and highly educated Koreans wrote in Chinese; some of the prisoners’ Chinese-language correspondence is on display. In fact, some of the prisoners were poets who were arrested for writing in hangeul .

The tour is extensive, allowing visitors to go into isolation cells, to stand in coffin-like sensory deprivation boxes, and to enter into an execution chamber where prisoners were hung. The prison grounds also included factories where prisoners made their own uniforms and, later, supplies to support the Japanese war efforts.

Seoul-Mate offers 14 other walking tours — all less intense than this one — including walks through and around the National Hangeul Museum and the Seoul City Wall .

Tip: Again, these students do not accept tips, so treating them to coffee is not only appreciated, but a further opportunity for them to practice speaking English and for you to interact with these smart, well-traveled students.

Seoul-Mate.com | [email protected]

7. Gwangmyeong Cave Tour

Go underground at the Gwangmyeong Cave, a former gold mine, during one of Korean Transit Tours six walking tours for short-term visitors passing through Seoul. With a layover of up to 24 hours, you could walk off jet lag at Jeondeungsa Temple, the hip area of Insa-dong, the Triple Shopping Street, the World Cup Stadium, or one of Seoul’s food markets.

Tip: Be sure to be on time at your meeting spot, or risk paying a hefty fee for a taxi back to the airport to catch your flight!

Airport.kr | [email protected]

General Tips To Enhance Your Seoul Walking Tour

• Be on time. Other visitors may be taking the tour, too, and the guide might not be able to wait.
• Check your travel time on Rome2Rio . Seoul is deceptively huge and it can take an hour or longer to reach a meeting point, which is usually the specific exit of a metro stop. Be sure to head to the correct exit number, or risk being several blocks out of your way.
• Get the guide’s What’s App number ahead of time so you can text if you get lost — or to contact them the morning of if the weather looks dicey.
• Tip the guide at the end … or at least treat them to coffee or a street food treat.
• Be patient. Some of the guides are not professionally trained; they are students practicing their English. Help them out! Chat them up!
• Plan ahead. Some tours require two or three days’ notice, others a few weeks. Some tours run only on certain weekends.
• Contact the tour group if you need to cancel so the volunteer guide isn’t stuck waiting for a no-show.
• Be sure to respond if you are sent a reconfirmation email, or your reservation might get canceled.
• Finally, these tours really are walking tours, so limit your carrying load and wear comfy shoes and weather-appropriate clothes.

What a way to walk off all that fabulous Korean barbecue and street food!

Visiting South Korea? Read up on 7 beautiful places in Seoul , plus 13 things I wish I knew before visiting the city.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt jokes she sleeps around – usually with animals. As an international petsitter, she’s been traveling full-time for more than a decade. She coaches authors and has written the book How to Become a Housesitter: Insider Tips from the HouseSit Diva , available in soft cover or Kindle at Amazon or as an ebook from her web site, HouseSitDiva .

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Free Walking Tours in Seoul, South Korea

If you plan to visit Seoul, consider taking a free walking tour to learn more about the city.

In addition to all the pay-what-you-wish options, this post will cover some paid sightseeing tours.

• History & Highlights
• Food & Pub Crawls
• Evening & Ghost Tours

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Free walking tours are guided tours offered in many cities around the world, where the guide charges no upfront cost.

Instead, participants pay what they feel the time was worth at the end, usually as a tip to the guide.

In Seoul, South Korea, these free walking tours provide a rich and affordable way to explore the city's vibrant culture and history.

Lasting typically 2 to 3 hours, these tours are led by friendly and knowledgeable guides who share fascinating stories about Seoul's past and present.

Tipping the guide, usually around $10-$20, is customary as per your satisfaction with the tour.

There are many tours to choose from, each with a unique focus.

For instance, history tours delve into Seoul's past; food and pub crawls introduce you to local cuisine and nightlife; ghost tours reveal eerie tales, and evening tours showcase the city's beauty after dark.

Each tour offers a unique lens to experience the multifaceted charm of Seoul.

Why trust us?

Free Tours by Foot has been an authority on name-your-own-price tours and budget travel for more than a decade.

Team member and tour guide, Canden Arciniega, lived in Seoul for a year teaching English at PSA in Bundang. An avid traveler, she spent weekends and holidays exploring the South Korean capital's hiking trails, temples, and festivals.

She lived off dakkochi (popular street chicken skewers) and spent a lot of time shopping in Myeong-dong.

Seoul History Tours

Seoul history tours offer a captivating journey through time, tracing the city's evolution from its origins as a 14th-century capital to the bustling metropolis we see today.

It's an enlightening experience that allows you to see Seoul through a historical lens, making your visit all the more enriching.

Notable attractions often included on these tours are the grand Gyeongbokgung Palace, the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village, and the bustling Insadong Street, each telling a unique story of Seoul's vibrant history.

These tours provide a deeper appreciation of the city beyond its bustling modern facade.

MorTours offers a 2.5 hour free walking tour of the Gwanghwamun and Jongno-gu area covering main sites such as:

• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Dawon Tea House

The tour runs almost daily at 11:30 am.

BOOK A SPOT HERE

Mark’s Tours

Mark’s tour is an immersive journey through Seoul's rich history.

Join for a Free Walking Tour of Gangnam, one of the richest areas in Seoul and South Korea. Learn about the history of Gangnam and its present-day story. This tour goes over history of Korea, Seoul, Gangnam and modern life in Korea.

Learn why South Korea is the plastic surgery capital of the world. Hear some fun facts and stories about modern Korea. 

The attractions covered on this tour are:

• Bongeunsa temple 
• COEX Mall Library 
• Statue of "Gangnam Style"  mega-hit song
• Samseong Food and Culture Street
• Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs

The tour guide also shares personal recommendations for nightlife, restaurants, and other activities in Seoul. 

• Duration: 2.5 hours

MORTOURS immerses you in the city's vibrant blend of traditional and modern culture.

The tour explores the Gwanghwamun and Jongno-gu area, featuring highlights like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jogye-sa Temple, and the hipster neighborhood of Sik Mool. 

It is a free payment tour, meaning you can decide how much to tip the guide at the end.

The meeting point is next to the Gyeongbokgung main gate.

• Availability: Daily
• Starting time: 10:30 A.M.
• Book Your Tour or Learn More

Seoul Free Tour

The "Seoul Free Tour" offered by Civitatis is an ideal way to discover the city's most prominent sights.

This tour starts at 11:30 a.m. from the City Hall subway station and takes you on a journey through Seoul's history, visiting several notable landmarks along the way.

It lasts approximately 2 hours and ends at the residential palace of Changdeokgung.

Note: You need to make reservations up to 24 hours in advance.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Starting time: 11:30 PM

Seoul Food Tours and Pub Crawls

Seoul food tours and pub crawls are a fun way to try the city's wide range of tasty foods.

These tours are a must for food lovers. They let you try traditional Korean cuisine, including Bibimbap, Kimchi, and Korean BBQ. 

At the same time, pub crawls introduce visitors to the vibrant nightlife and popular local drinks like Soju and Makgeolli.

These experiences not only satisfy your taste buds but also offer insights into Seoul's food culture and history.

NOTE: Unfortunately, there are not currently any free pub crawls or food tours in Seoul.

Seoul Pub Crawl

The "Seoul Pub Crawl" is a lively and safe way to experience Seoul's vibrant nightlife.

It takes you to four different bars and clubs in the popular areas of Itaewon and Hongdae. 

Participants receive free entry to all venues and three or more free shots.

It's an excellent opportunity to socialize, dance, and enjoy the city's party scene with locals and fellow travelers.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Starting time: 8:00 PM
• Price: US$ 25 per person
• Age limit: 19-45
• Availability: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Secret Food Tour

The "Secret Food Tour Seoul" is a 3-hour guided walking tour that lets you savor the city's culinary delights. 

This tour takes you through one of Seoul's oldest and largest food markets, where you can sample a variety of dishes, including Mung Bean Pancakes, Korean Dumplings, Ttteokkbokki, and a special secret dish. 

The tour also includes a stroll around a traditional Hanok village and ends with a serene tea experience in a hidden teahouse.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Starting time: 10:00 A.M.
• US$ 93 for Adults (Aged 14-99)
• US$ 80.26 for Children (Aged 3-13)
• US$ 0 for Infants (Aged 2 and younger)

Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour

The "Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour" is a 2.5-hour culinary adventure through Seoul's largest traditional market. 

This tour allows you to taste four types of street food: Noodle Soup, Dumplings, twisted bread sticks, and Skewered fish cake.

Walking through the bustling market, you'll learn about the importance of food in Korean culture and explore the market's famous Food Alley and Accessory Alley.

The tour begins at Haehyeon Station's exit 5 and does not include transportation or hotel pickup and drop-off.

• Starting time: 2:00 PM
• Availability: Daily except Sundays
• Price: US$ 51.62 per person 

Seoul Evening and Ghost Tours

Seoul's evening and ghost tours offer a unique perspective on the city, revealing its hidden stories and lesser-known aspects after sunset.

These tours are perfect for those seeking a thrilling exploration of Seoul's mysterious side, with ghost tours delving into eerie tales and legends that linger in the city's ancient alleys. 

On the other hand, evening tours showcase Seoul's lively nightlife and stunning illuminated landmarks, offering a different kind of beauty and charm that can only be experienced after dark. NOTE: At the moment, there are not any free evening or ghost tours offered in Seoul.

Nighttime Hidden Gems

The "Nighttime Hidden Gems Walking Tour" is a 2-hour guided exploration of Seoul's vibrant streets under the moonlight. 

A local historian leads this tour, taking you to unique spots like Seoul National University, Naksan Park, and the Hanyang City Wall. 

The tour offers a unique perspective on Korean society and culture. It ends with an optional Korean food and drink session (not included in the tour price). 

Note: This tour involves walking up a hill, so it may not suit those with mobility problems.

• Availability: Not available on Saturdays and Sundays 
• Price: US$ 23.82 per person

Palace, Temple, and Market Night Tour

This is a 3-hour exploration of Seoul's iconic landmarks under the starry sky.

It takes you to the illuminated Changgyeonggung Palace, the tranquil Jogyesa Temple adorned with enchanting lanterns, and the bustling Gwangjang Market, where you can savor traditional Korean food and Makgeolli (rice liquor). 

The tour also includes visits to the vibrant arts and culture hub of Daehangno and the picturesque Ikseon-dong Hanok Street. The meeting point is at Hyehwa Station Exit 4.

• Price: US$ 35.74 per person
• Availability: Daily except Mondays

Seoul Ghost Stories Tour

This tour is a 1.5 to 2.5-hour journey into the eerie side of Seoul.

It takes you through dark alleys and iconic landmarks, where you'll hear paranormal experiences, true crime stories, and dark tales from South Korea's history. 

A historian leads the tour and includes encounters with places where bloody massacres occurred and a bridge with a sinister secret.

Please note that participants must be at least 16 years old due to the violent and sexual content of some stories.

The meeting point may differ based on the option booked.

• Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
• Price: US$ 39 per person
• Availability: Not available on Mondays and Thursdays

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