After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby to begin your guided tour of the capital. Firstly, we will visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, where we will see the Gwanghwamun Gate, National Folk Museum, and enjoy the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony takes place at the main entrance of Gwanghwamun Gate. This palace, built originally by the founder of the Joseon dynasty, King Taejo, served as the principal palace until 1592. The palace was in ruins for nearly 3centuries until Heungseon Daewongun, regent and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in 1865. The main palace building, Guenjeongjeon, is an imposing building with its double-tiered stone platform and surrounding open-sided corridors, where the kings were crowned. In the west of Guenjeongjeon lies a stunning huge raised pavilion resting on 48 stone pillars and overlooks an artificial lake with two small islands, Gyeonghoeru.
Then, we will move by the Blue House, also known as Cheong Wa Dae. This is South Korean head of state's official residence and the executive office that lies in the Jongno district of the capital, Seoul. The blue house is a complex of several buildings built mostly in traditional Korean architectural design with modern elements. The Cheongwadae's main building contains the Cheongwadae's main building. The residence's grounds have a pond and gardens that reach to the foot of Bugaksan Mountain.
From here, we head towards Insadong-Gil, one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Seoul. The place is renowned for its range of shops and restaurants. Lying in the heart of Seoul, the place is famous among both tourists and locals who want to get the experience of the traditional culture of Korea. You will see lots of art galleries, wooden tea houses, restaurants, cafes, and small shops selling arts and crafts along the streets. Insadong is the best place in Seoul to find calligraphy materials, antique furniture, tea, folk crafts, hanbok (traditional clothing), and hanji (traditional paper). Every day, many ceramics, some of them dating back to thousands of years, trades here. The place also has lots of street food stalls where you can try a variety of local delicacies.
Next, we will visit Jogyesa Temple, one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Korea, and also is a symbol of Korean Buddhism. The temple lies near Insadong and has been the head temple of the first district of the Jogye Order of Korea Buddhism since 1936. The Main Dharma Hall of the temple is the largest temple building in Seoul and is a spectacular sight for any visitor. You will be surprised to see such a beautiful and tranquil setting in the middle of a bustling city. Right after you walk inside the temple, you will notice magnificent statues of Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Bhaisaiya Buddha that are over 16feet tall. The center statue of Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism with his left hand in his lap while his right-hand touches the ground with the tip of his finger. On the left lies the statue of Amitabha Buddha with his thumb and third finger of each hand touching. On the right is Bhaisaiya Buddha holding a container of medicine to help those in need. This Buddha is believed to brings good health and fortune to those who are suffering, both physically and emotionally.
We will also visit Myeongdong, Namsangol Hanok Village, see the gorgeous sight from N Seoul Tower and visit Observation Deck. In the evening, we head back to the hotel to spend the night.