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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

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

And much, much more

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Gwanghwamun Square Walking Tour

The Gwanghwamun Square 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, history, and future of Seoul.

This walking tour starts at Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 5). From the station exit, walk straight for 65 meters until you see the bright and colorful Spring Sculpture at…

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Cheonggye Plaza

This open space is known as Cheonggye Plaza . It is a public square in central Seoul that commemorates the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon Stream which at a time was an eyesore to the city and later an elevated highway. The plaza is located at the head of the stream which runs 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) through the heart of Seoul.

At the western end of the plaza is the colorful red and blue sculpture known as the Spring Sculpture. This sculpture, which represents new life for the Cheonggyecheon Stream area, was created by Coosje Van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg. The shape was inspired by a shell rising up like a pagoda. The colorful ribbons that run down the side are inspired by the traditional dress of Korean women.

At the eastern end of the plaza is a 4 meter (13 foot), two-tiered waterfall. Wishing wells on both sides of the waterfall were created used eight stones from each of the eight provinces in Korea.

From Cheonggye Plaza, you can continue down the paths of the Cheonggyecheon Stream as far as you want, but to continue the walking tour, turn around and leave the plaza the way you came in. Leave the plaza and head to the right back towards Gwanghwamun Station. Continue north past the station exit and cross the street in front of you. After crossing the street on the corner you will find the…

40th Anniversary Monument of Gojong’s Enthronement

This monument honors the 40th anniversary of the crowning of Gojong as the 26th Joseon Dynasty king. Gojong became king on December 13, 1863 at the age of eleven. Since he was too young to rule on his own, His father, Heungseon Daewongun, ruled for him until he was an adult in 1873.

In 1896, Gojong took refuge at the Russian legation after the assassination of his wife, Empress Myeongseong. One year later, in 1897, Gojong relocated to Gyeongungung, known today as Deoksugung Palace . It was here where he proclaimed the founding of the Korean Empire, also known as the Great Han Empire. Gojong became the first Emperor of the Korean Empire.

From the monument, cross the street towards the large stone pillar with the statue on top. When you reach the middle of the street, you will have arrived at the beginning of Gwanghwamun Square. This square runs from south to north for about 550 meters to Gwanghwamun Gate and Gyeongbokgung Palace. Walk north towards the pillar with the statue. You have now arrived at the…

Statue Of Admiral Yi Sunshin

This towering statue is that of Admiral Yi Sunshin , also known as Yi Sun-sin. Yi became famous for his military achievements during the Imjin War (1592-1598). Yi received no naval combat training prior to the war yet remained one of the only undefeated naval admirals and one of the most respected admirals in military history.

During the Battle of Myeongnyang against the Japanese navy, Yi’s fleet was outnumbered 333 ships to 13. Remarkably, the Japanese were defeated. Yi was elevated to a naval genius.

He was killed by a single bullet in 1598 during the Battle of Noryang. At the time, the mighty Japanese army was all but defeated in the Korean Peninsula.

Continue north for about 220 meters to reach the golden seated statue known as the…

Statue Of King Sejong The Great

This is a golden statue of King Sejong the Great. This much respected fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty reigned from 1418 to 1450. He was responsible for the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and other advancements in science, military, art, and politics.

A passageway behind the statue leads to a museum known as the Story of King Sejong Exhibition Hall. It is here where visitors can learn of the accomplishments of this this mighty king such as the creation of Hangul and his contributions in the development of Korea.

Stand facing the statue of King Sejong the Great. Now look to your right across the street at the building with the flying American flag that is patrolled by a large amount of police officers. This is the.. .

Embassy of the United States, Seoul

The United States and Korea have had diplomatic relations for almost 150 years. The United States embassy in Seoul has been operating since the end of the Korean War. This building seen here was built in 1962 and used originally as the office for the United States Agency for International Development and then a few years later changed to the embassy.

Inside this building, many political issues are discussed between the United States and South Korea about North Korea, about South Korean defense, and about the presence of United States troops in South Korea.

Many demonstrations by Koreans against the United States have occurred outside this building.

Continue north up Gwanghwamun Square for 270 meters. When you reach the end of the square, across the busy road is the iconic…

Gwanghwamun Gate and Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gwanghwamun Gate is the main gate and one of four gates that can be found along the 2,404 meters (7,887 feet) of walls surrounding Gyeongbokgung Palace . It consists of three entrances and a two story pavilion and at one time was guarded by watchtowers.

The gate was built in 1395 at the beginning of the Joseon dynasty. Since it guarded the main Joseon palace, it quickly became one of the most important gates in the city. The gate was destroyed by the Japanese in 1692 during the Imjin War. In 1867,it was reconstructed along with Gyeongbokgung Palace. During the Korean War, the wooden gatehouse was destroyed once again. It was rebuilt using concrete and remained this way until 2006.

Restoration work was completed in August 2010 which restored the gate to its original wooden specifications. The total cost was 28 billion won ($24 million).

This completes the walking tour of Gwanghwamun Square. If you continue through the gate, you will enter Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Last Updated on Dec 23, 2021

• Places / Travel

Seoul Walking Tour – Insadong Course | Free Things To Do In Seoul

by Majid Mushtaq · September 30, 2020

Who doesn’t love free stuff? We all do, right? But when it comes to FREE travel experiences, no other city can beat Seoul. The Seoul Tourism Organization has launched various programs for foreigners to experience for free in order to boost tourism and provide an unforgettable experience to the tourists. Among such programs, Seoul Walking Tour is my favorite.

Credits: Majid Mushtaq (Instagram: @ranamajid007)

What is Seoul Walking Tour

Courses available on Seoul Walking Tour

What is Insadong?

Insadong Course – Seoul Walking Tour

Let me know if you like this Seoul Walking Tour and if you decide to go, which course you’d like to take?

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What's it like to flee your homeland? A 'refugee camp' in Sydney shows you

"You have one minute to leave your home. What five things will you bring?"

Common sense goes out the window, as I quickly calculate my list: husband, passport, family photos, medications, mobile phone and charger.

Before I can second-guess myself, we're ushered from the room.

Outside, a towering figure awaits. He stands in front of a metal fence — the sole passage to safety.

"Yallah! Yallah!" the man yells, wielding a piece of wood as though it is a weapon.

None of us speak his language but, instinctively, we form a line and offer up our possessions.

There are murmurs, gasps and tiny squeals as he makes his way down the queue.

The lucky ones pass through the border crossing, the others are sent to the back.

The border guard looks at me — cashless, useless — before pointing at my engagement and wedding rings. I don't want to remove them, but what choice do I have?

This is the price for the promise of a better life.

Walking in their shoes

I wasn't standing in a war zone, but rather Western Sydney, as part of Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood (RCIMN).

It's an interactive tour that's led by refugees and asylum seekers who want Australians to walk in their shoes.

They transform into tour guides and assume roles like 'border guard', sharing their own experiences along the way.

Hundreds of visitors take the tour each year. The majority are school students, health professionals, and people who work with refugees.

In the simulated journey, you experience what it's like to flee your homeland, take a life-threatening boat trip, and be thrust into a detention centre where names are replaced by numbers.

There's also a taste of refugee camp life: squat toilets, scant food provisions, and a hospital tent with barely any medical supplies.

Project coordinator Adama Kamara dreamed up the project more than a decade ago, when she was working at Auburn City Council. The area had one of the highest populations of asylum seekers in Australia.

It was a time, Adama says, when the portrayal of refugees "was not very positive".

"It was getting worse and worse," she recalls. "In our community, people were really angry about that, to the point where [some] people didn't want to be identified as a refugee.

"To me, it's a sign of resilience, that [refugee] experience, but people were worried about how they would be treated."

For Adama, the community's story was akin to her own.

She was born in Sierra Leone, but moved with her family to Australia for her father's university study.

In 1991, civil war broke out in her homeland. It lasted over a decade, and forced more than 450,000 Sierra Leonean refugees to leave the country.

"It also meant that my family wasn't able to return home," Adama explains. "We sought safety here in Australia."

Waking up to war

War is what brought many of the tour guides to Australia's shores.

They've fled different lands — Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Sudan and Sri Lanka are among them — and found different ways to get here.

Some spent years in refugee camps, others were detained in immigration detention for equally long stretches of time.

Ukrainian refugee Oleksandra's story was different.

On February 23, 2022, she had a magical night at the ballet.

"Me and my friends went to the state opera house [in Odesa]," she recalls. "[There] was an amazing performance of the Nutcracker.

"I remember all these costumes, decorations, everything so bright, a lot of diamonds. [It was] so beautiful."

The next morning, the Ukrainian woke up to war.

"The first four days I was in shock," Oleksandra recalls.

"I thought that our presidents will talk with each other and then tomorrow, or maybe a few hours later … I will see news on the TV, [saying] 'That was just an accident, sorry. Everything is over.'"

But there wasn't a retraction or a military backdown. Instead, the fighting escalated.

After those four days, Oleksandra says it sunk in.

"Life stopped. Everything became dull, grey," she says.

"You don't know what to do."

The realities of a refugee camp

There's no rule book for being a refugee.

I went on a RCIMN tour twice — first with a group of year 5 and 6 students, then with teens in year 9 and 10.

Both days, I was struck by the impossible decisions asylum seekers must make.

For instance, sheltering in a refugee camp might seem like the safe option.

But as an Iraqi-born guide named Kathreen tells our group, people without proper identification or money to pay for translators can spend years waiting to be processed.

And the facilities within camps are often hotbeds of disease.

On the tour with the primary school kids, a Sri Lankan guide named Neeraja shows us what a pit toilet looks like.

"Imagine 600 people line up, and going again and again," she says. "How the smell is terrible."

All of our noses wrinkle on cue.

The stench isn't the worst part, of course.

Neeraja, who herself lived in an Indian refugee camp, explains that malaria and diarrhoeal diseases often spread from shared toilets.

According to UNHCR, these diseases along with measles, acute respiratory infections and malnutrition are major causes of morbidity and mortality among refugees.

After our toilet stop, we're led into the medical tent and introduced to Ahmed, a Sudanese man who spent 7.5 years at a refugee camp in Egypt.

Instead of beds, there are camp-style stretchers with mosquito nets overhead.

One stretcher has a hole cut through it and a bucket underneath. This is for patients with diarrhoea, Ahmed explains.

Despite its shortcomings, Ahmed says this medical centre is "much better" than the one he had access to.

"Too many people [are] honestly dying in a refugee camps," he says. "Especially the kids, especially when the mum is delivering the baby."

Unfortunately for Ahmed, these harsh realities can't simply be forgotten.

In 2023, war broke out in Sudan, forcing 8.6 million people, according to the UNHCR, to leave their homes. Among them, were Ahmed's wife, daughter, father and siblings.

"They're in a refugee camp right now," he told me .

"It's not safe to be there, but we don't have any options in our country."

Ahmed is an Australian citizen and hopes his family can be brought here. For now, all he can do is wait.

Living in limbo

Waiting is an experience that Asad knows well.

After fleeing his home in Afghanistan and travelling to Australia by boat, he spent nearly 2,000 days in immigration detention.

When he tells the school children that number, they're wide-eyed, mouths agog.

He paints a picture of life in detention: being woken at six o'clock for room searches, eating the same food day after day, and trying to learn English when your mental health is crumbling.

He tells us how 500 people would gather around the one TV, cheering for the Australian soccer team, only for the match to be switched off mid-way by a guard.

But Asad says the uncertainty affected him the most.

"You don't know what will happen and you don't know when you [will be] released," he says.

"Living in limbo is the hardest thing."

Asad doesn't find it easy sharing his story. It takes him back to "dark days".

But it's his goal to educate people, particularly the next generation.

"Maybe among these young kids, in the future there [will] be a politician," he says. "Maybe they're going to run the country."

"They have to know what's going on with asylum seekers and refugees."

Like Asad, Oleksandra hopes to break the stigma around refugees.

"Some people may be afraid," she says. "They think that we are not educated, we are lazy. [That] we came here and want to seek some support, [and] don't want to do anything."

But that, she points out, is not the case.

Among the guides I spoke to, Oleksandra trained as a psychologist, Ahmed is an engineer, and Asad studied law.

"Desperate people leave their family behind, their homeland and their memories," says Asad. "They have no option."

Oleksandra agrees: "To be a refugee, it's not a choice, it just happens.

"And it could happen to anyone."

Watch Compass tonight at 6:30pm on ABC TV or stream any time on ABC iview . 

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