The 8 Best Guided Tours to Take in Seoul

Everyone knows that Koreans love to drink, but few outsiders truly understand the history, culture and traditions that are associated with the country’s distilled spirits and brewed rice wines. Which is exactly what Veronica of Gastro Tour Seoul is hoping to change. On her Brew Master Tour, she takes visitors through the winding alleys of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and introduces them to the few remaining master artisans who brew and distil according to the time-honored methods passed down through the generations.

In addition to learning about their methods, visitors can enjoy a traditional Korean spread at one of the Brew Master’s restaurants, which includes a few bowls of home-brewed makgeolli (rice wine).

The Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, is a 250-kilometer-long, four-kilometer-wide stretch of land that serves as a buffer zone between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). A visit to this destination is a highly informative, if not unnerving experience that won’t soon be forgotten.

While there are many DMZ tours available, with each offering insight into different parts of the area, perhaps the most unique is the Panmunjom Tour with the Panmunjom Travel Center. On this tour, visitors have the opportunity to visit the closest point a tourist can get to North Korea with a North Korean defector. By listening to the guide’s story and having the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session, visitors can attain a better understanding of the political situation between the two countries.

Korean cuisine, is vibrant, flavorful, and, above all, diverse. For gastronomes eager to sample Korea’s tastiest cuisine in a limited amount of time, O’ngo Food Communications offers a number of food tours that take all the guesswork out of the search for the city’s best restaurants. It’s most popular is its Night Dining Tour, which takes guests into the heart of Seoul’s Jongno district, an area often overlooked by tourists but perfect for getting a glimpse into the life of a local.

On this tour, visit a renowned Korean BBQ restaurant, Gwangjang Market and a pojangmacha, or food tent, among other foodie hotspots. Knowledgeable guides add to the fun by offering interesting insights into Korean culture, such as local eating and drinking customs. Be sure to inquire about Korean hangover remedies, as you may need one or two the following morning.

Murder! Ghosts! Sex! The city’s scariest tales are all unveiled during Korea Food Tours’ Dark Side of Seoul tour. This evening walking tour takes horror lovers down the dark alleys of the city’s forgotten 600-year history of bloody massacres, seedy hideaways, and mourning ghosts. Stops on this tour include the site of a gruesome massacre, the bridge whose stones tell a dark story of revenge, and a neighborhood known to be occupied by the spirits of prostitutes who met terrible ends.

Clairvoyants on past tours have reported sightings of ghosts along the walk, some curious enough to join the group. Fortunately enough, the guides offer female participants a protective talisman to ward off evil on their journey.

If you have some time to kill during your stopover at Incheon International Airport, consider signing up for one of the exciting Transit Tours to experience some of the popular sights and sounds of Korea. The five-hour Seoul City Tours offer a wide variety of activities that appeal to just about every interest. Opt to visit Seoul’s historical treasures or go shopping in some of the city’s trendiest districts. What’s more is that each tour is led by an English-speaking tour guide, and they are all free of charge!