Day 1 in Seoul

Welcome to Seoul! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city by choosing an optional hop-on-hop-off tour around the capital of South Korea. A double-decker bus will transport you around the city to some of the most popular tourist attractions such as Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksungung Palace, The War Memorial of Korea, Myeongdong, Hanok Village and N Seoul Tower.

Hop-off at one of the Five Grand Palaces in the city, Deoksungung Palace which sits in the heart of Seoul. A famously elegant palace that has been a royal residence since 1611, check out the medieval architecture and wander through the western style gardens that surround the palace. The changing of the guard ceremony can be viewed here at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm daily.

Head over to the neighborhood of Insadong for some lunch and shopping, this area covers 31.4 acres with a maze of alleyways that connect you to antique shops, galleries, quaint cafes, and restaurants. This area is one of the best places to enjoy traditional Korean cuisine served at the many street food stalls. Other buildings in this area worth visiting include the Jogyesa Buddhist temple, Jongno Tower, and Unheyoen Palace.

Make your way down to the Han River in downtown Seoul where the Banpo Bridge connects Seocho to Yongsan. Cross the river and stroll around Banpo Hangang Park which sits on the southern edge of the river, here you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Seoul. You can also rent bicycles and take a ride around the park, down alongside the river where you can stop at lookout points situated at the southernmost end of the Dongjak Bridge.

As evening time approaches the Banpo Bridge is transformed into a dazzling illuminated fountain, the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain is the longest bridge fountain in the world. Over 380 water jets and more than 10,000 colorful lights jet off the bridge accompanied by music which can be viewed every 20 minutes (April - Oct) daily beginning at 7:30 pm.

For your first evening in Seoul head to 63 SQUARE. This skyscraper is situated on Yeouido Island overlooking the Han River. Take the glass elevators up to the observation decks and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views over the sparkling city. Enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants located in the building including `Buffet Pavillion` which is the largest buffet-style restaurant in the nation. Head down to the lower floors after dinner and do some shopping at the mall.

Day 2 in Seoul

Begin your second day with a visit to one of Seoul`s many bakeries, where you can grab some fresh coffee and pastries. Explore the historical attractions the city has to offer such as The War Memorial of Korea, this magnificent museum features six indoor exhibition rooms with over 33,000 artifacts, an outdoor exhibit showcases military planes, helicopters, tanks, and missiles. The Honor Guard Ceremony is held here daily and tours are available at 10 am and 2 pm.

Close by is the National Museum of Korea which is the largest museum in Asia and one of the most visited museums in the world. On display here are cultural and historical artifacts spread throughout different exhibitions, which are housed in a 3 story building along with gardens, parks, pagodas and waterfalls in the grounds that surround the museum.

After a busy morning of exploring the museums, make your way over to the Namdaemun Market, the oldest and largest traditional market located in Korea. This sprawling market covers 16 acres and features over 10,000 stores that fill the traffic-free streets. Grab some lunch here at `Restaurant Alley` which is known as one of the `10 greatest street food area`s in Asia`, try some traditional kalguksu noodles, bibimbap (rice, meat and vegetables) or sujebi (dough and shellfish soup). Then wander the streets stalls and stores filled with goods and souvenirs to take back home with you.

From here make your way to the Myeongdong Cathedral, an elegant gothic-style cathedral with a bell tower that stands at 147ft tall, check out the interior floor plan which features a Latin cross design, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass windows.

Make your way to Nansan Mountain, this symbolic mountain is surrounded by Namsan Park. You can hike to the top of this 860ft tall mountain or glide up on the Namsan cable car. At the top, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy including the Maritime Aquarium, Namsan Library as well as hundreds of temples, shrines, and pagodas nestled in the mountain and the park. Take a scenic walk in this green oasis with spectacular panoramic views of the bustling city below.

As evening time approaches visit the symbolic N Seoul Tower, also located on top of Namsan Mountain. Head up the 774ft tower to one of the four observation decks and as the sun goes down enjoy stunning 360-degree views and the `Reeds of Light` and `Shower of Light` shows. Head to the 2nd floor of the N Plaza on the Roof Terrace, where you can find `Locks of Love`, people come here to hang locks on the fence, as it is said to symbolize eternal love. Pick from one of the many restaurants situated in the tower for your dining choice this evening, including a fine dining French restaurant, a traditional Korean style restaurant, Italian and traditional American style burgers.

Retire back to your hotel for the evening after a busy day of sightseeing.

Day 3 in Seoul

Today make your way up to the Bukhansan National Park, which sits on the northern tip of Seoul, here you will find, Bukhan Mountain, the highest mountain in the city. The park has a total of four peaks, Baegundae, Insubong, Mangyeongdae and Bukhan and the area where the mountain stand covers 50 square miles from Seoul to the Gyeonggi-do province. Enjoy walking and hiking through the lush green vegetation filled with wildlife and nature. Crystal clear rivers and streams wind their way through the valleys where Buddhist temples and shrines are tucked away in the forest. Enjoy a day outdoors and be at one with nature in this beautiful wide open green space in the capital city.

Tip: There are food stalls located at the base of the mountain where you can grab snacks and refreshments to enjoy a picnic on your outdoor adventure.

On your way back to the city be sure to stop at The Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional Korean village featuring quaint `hanok` (wooden houses) on ancient narrow streets that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. This picturesque village takes you back in time, with a deep cultural history that dates back over 600 years.

The Gyeongbokgung Palace is situated nearby, it was the first royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty and is the largest and grandest of the Five Grand Palaces in Seoul. This palace is one of the most visited sites in the city and a historical landmark with spacious walled grounds that are filled with beautiful gardens decorated with pavilions.

Celebrate your last evening `Gangnam style`, this famous glitzy nightlife district is filled with massive skyscrapers and thousands of vibrant billboard signs. Here you will find a wide array of shopping, restaurants, bars, and clubs to enjoy an evening of fine dining, high-end shopping and a great place to party the night away.

Additional Days in Seoul

Should you be able to spend additional days in Seoul visit some of the family attractions such as Seoul Land, an amusement park featuring over 40 roller coaster rides in 5 themed areas. Lotte World is another theme park that features the world`s largest indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park and an artificial island all linked by monorail. The COEX Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the country situated inside the massive COEX mall.

For some outdoor spaces visit Seoul`s Grand park where Seoul land, Seoul Zoo and Seoul Museum of Modern Art and biological gardens can all be found. The park is nestled in the foothills of the Cheonggye Moutain with lush green forest surroundings and a large pond in the center. A great place for a fun-filled family day out.

Seoul Forest is a large park covering 280 acres of green space filled with 420,000 oak, cherry and hornbeam trees and home to over 100 animals. Park activities include splash fountains, a skate park, children`s playground, water play area, sports park, a bird observatory and Sika deer area.

Olympic Park was built for the 1988 Summer Olympics, divided into four sections including the Culture Art Park, Leisure Sports Park, Environmental Eco Park and the History Experience Park which are all filled with different activities and entertainment.

Your Last Day in Seoul

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.