South Korea · HISTORICAL TOURS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 historical tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Busan to Gyeongju UNESCO day tour with Bulguksa, Silla tombs, village heritage, and optional moonlit Donggung and Wolji views.
“Our tour with Bobby Kim was truly amazing! We saw so many spots and he even went out of his way to show us sights that weren't even on the schedule. He's a funny guy can't recommend him enough!”
Guided UNESCO day trip from Busan to Gyeongju, with temple, royal tombs, and optional museum stops. Coach pickup, tickets included.
“This was a really enjoyable and well organised day trip. I could not recommend it more highly enough..”
Evening ghost and folklore walk in Seoul with a pro guide, Gyeonghuigung Palace, Tapgol Park, and alley legends. Small group, 2 to 3 hours.
“An interesting wander through ghost historic and cultural Korea via well crafted and informative stories.”
A 12-hour Gyeongju UNESCO day trip from Busan with live guide commentary, included admissions, and mobile tickets for $64.
“It was a great day. Saw a lot of places of importance in Korean history. Katrina was a great guide, super helpful and took the time to explain things very well. The tour started at 10AM and finished at 10 in night so be mindful of the timing if you are travelling with kids.”
Wear hanbok for a Seoul palace photo session with a historian guide at Gyeongbokgung, plus 100+ edited photos for around $60.
“Unforgettable Cultural & Photography Experience! This tour completely exceeded our expectations! We had two wonderful guides—James was an expert in the local history and culture, and his colleague was a professional photographer who captured stunning moments throughout the day. Getting to wear a traditional hanbok added such a beautiful and authentic touch to the experience. Our history guide was not only knowledgeable and informative, but also very engaging and fun. The photographer made us feel totally comfortable, offered great direction, and knew the perfect spots to take breathtaking photos. We left the tour with new knowledge, incredible memories, and amazing photos. This experience w...”
Visit MBC Dae Jang Geum Park, walk Joseon sets, and line up for a BTS Suga Daechwita photo moment on a small-group day trip.
“Was great!!! Everything is wonderful and beautiful, you need walk but worth it. Miss Park is so gorgeous and explain everything about BTS and kdrama, is the best!!”
Full-day Gyeongju UNESCO tour from Busan or Gyeongju, visiting Bulguksa, Seokguram, Cheomseongdae, tombs, and Wolji Pond with lunch.
“The Tour was so great ! We had a lot of fun🤣 Our Tour guide Steve was funny and incredibly knowledgeable and made history of the Silla Dynasty come alive with fascinating stories. The bibimbap in Gyeongju was the best we’ve ever had! Thank you for the unforgettable Tour of Gyeongju ! Tuba and Beyza !”
Full-day Gyeongju UNESCO tour covers Bulguksa, Seokguram, royal sites, tombs and hanok village, with lunch and pickup included.
“Booked all group tour, but ended up with private tour with Steve Kim. Excellent guide, spoke fluent English. Had great conversation and learned much about the history of Gyeongju. Enjoyed the included lunch. Drive passed quickly. Pickup and drop off was seamless. Would recommend for someone looking for a tour.”
Small-group Seoul walk with hanbok photo time, included palace admissions, and local snack stops, ending in Insadong in about 4 hours.
“We took this tour in mid-January 2024 and this is a long overdue review. Our tour guide was Miss Jade and she was very knowledgeable of the history and culture. She has outstanding communication skills and was very patient and accommoRead more”
Golden-hour Seoul history walk with a historian guide and pro photographer, plus 50+ edited photos delivered on OneDrive.
“Great tour and experience learning the history and seeing the hidden gems of seoul. James and Jacob both make the walking tour worth a visit. Historical incidences and information shared by both and the candid pictures at the beautiful spots makes the walking your memorable. I recommend this tour completely!”
Private 11-hour Gyeongju UNESCO tour on a Silla-focused route, with Bulguksa, Seokguram, museum stops, hanok village, and an optional KTX upgrade.
“Fantastic trip. My whole family enjoyed it very much. We got very lucky with the guide - Paul spoke excellent english, was super pro-active and very flexible to show us things that weren’t strictly on the itinerary but also happy to skip sites we didn’t want to see. Great driver too. He made this trip highly memorable! Well done! I gave 4 out of 5 stars only due to the extortionate cost, which was highly exaggerated and I assume little went to the actual guide.”
Chef-led Busan street food tour through Jagalchi, BIFF Square, and Bupyeong Kkangtong, with tastings and insider market tips.
“I had a great time on the food tour with Chef Heeyoung! It was so nice to be guided around the sprawling markets by a local expert, and we learned so much about Korean food in general and also about local Busan specialties. All of the food we tried was great, and the dessert, Hotteok, we had on the tour was especially delicious (and I don't normally have much of a sweet tooth!). Would definitely recommend!”
A 12-hour Busan to Gyeongju day tour: UNESCO Bulguksa, Silla tombs, Gyochon village, and night photography at Donggung and Wolji.
“our guides Yoona and Danny were rallye nice and sympathisch, very informative and nice little side Anecdotes. I can recommend the tour and the guides.”
A small-group walk through Gyeongbokgung, Gwanghwamun and Insadong, ending in Bukchon Hanok Village with local food tips.
“We have a layover in Incheon airport and decided to take advantage of it. We were so impressed with Seoul and our tour guide that we will come back and make a trip just to there. The tea house he took us to was the best experience.”
Private 7-hour Gangbuk tour of Seoul, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned ride, covering Gyeongbokgung, temples, Bukchon, Cheonggyecheon, and Kwangjang.
“Wonderful day tour of Seoul. From palaces, temples to the Market. Our tour guide, Michael gave such a good view into the life of South Koreans and their history and culture. He took us to his favorite restaurant for Ginseng Black Chicken anRead more”
Pick a city, pick a kind of day, and start there.
