8 Museum Visits in Seoul, Compared

1.War Memorial of Korea Private Guided Museum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 2 hours Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide from Gangwon Peace Tours for a private walk through the War Memorial of Korea’s Korean War Rooms I–III. In two hours, you’ll look at the war as both a civil and international conflict, with added pictures and document copies. Guides include Kichan Lee, whose background spans Korean history, politics, peace studies, and DMZ tours.

“I liked that he was knowledgeable and passionate about the social part of the war. Also he was really objective about the events. He showed incidents and facts from both sides of Korea and not only the ones shown at the museum.”

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2.DMZ Tour + The War Memorial of Korea Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $65Top rated

Set out from Myeong-dong at 7:00 am for a full day at Imjingak, the DMZ, Dora Observatory and the Third Tunnel, then visit Seoul’s War Memorial. Your guide explains the Korean War and manages the schedule. Guides on past departures have included Bill Hwang, Kane Kim and Ann Jung, though assignments vary. Bring your passport and wear sturdy shoes for the steep tunnel.

“We were part of Team Bill, and he was incredibly knowledgeable about Korean history. He was attentive, caring, and gave great recommendations on what to buy and what each region is known for. His English was excellent, which made the experience even smoother. I highly recommend him as a tour guide.”

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3.Color Pool Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 22 reviews · from $13Best value

At ColorPool Museum in Insadong, you get admission to nine differently themed rooms made for photos, plus a ball pool. Choose an entry time, then plan for about 90 minutes inside. The $13 ticket covers admission only; there is no guide, food, or drink included.

“Cute idea for teens and youth. They put it together nicely. May need fresh coat of paint. Dress appropriately for the photoshoot. You won’t need more than 1.5h”

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4.Gugak – Korean Traditional Music Museum&Concert Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 17 reviews · from $49

Spend 40 minutes at the Korean Traditional Music Museum learning about Gugak and its instruments with a local English-speaking guide, then hear an 80-minute live concert at the National Gugak Center. Elisa has been praised for clear, warm explanations. The tour lasts 140 minutes, and transport to and from the museum is not included.

“Elisa the guide is such a sweet person, she explained everything well and clearly. She was absolutely lovely! The Show was incredible I’m so happy I chose this experience, I can’t recommend it enough :)!’”

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5.Gyeongju UNESCO Sites Tour by KTX train; The Museum Without walls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $470

Take the 7:00 am start for a private KTX trip from Seoul to Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital. A guide meets you there for visits to Cheonmachong Tomb, Gyeongju National Museum, Cheomseongdae, Wolji Pond, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. Train tickets, site admissions and Seoul-area hotel pickup are included; meals and hotel drop-off are not.

“We wanted to take a day out of the city to explore Gyeongju. It was amazing. Not only were the sights terrific but the tour company and our guide were the best. They took care of every detail and made sure we were comfortable and safe Read more”

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6.Layover tour to Gyeongbokgung-Folk Museum-Bukchon-Insadong

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews

Meet guide Paul Koo at Incheon Airport and take the AREX train into Seoul for a private, six-hour introduction to Korean culture. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong, with Jogyesa featured in the tour description. The guide escorts you to Seoul Station at the end.

“Our tour guide Paul was so kind and extremely informative. He is local to Seoul and has studied the culture and history of the area for over 10 years. Each area that we visited was unique and beautiful, but Paul made the experience much more immersive with the knowledge that he shared about each location. Gyeongbokgung palace is an unforgettable place and I would recommend anyone that has the opportunity to visit Korea to go see it. In addition to sight seeing, Paul wanted us to experience the charm in Seoul through other things such as the efficient public transportation and authentic street food. Overall, this was an amazing experience…”

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7.Time Travel in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Folk Museum & Bukchon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $57

Spend about three hours with a group of no more than six, exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea, and Bukchon Hanok Village. Guide Mina shares Korean history and modern-life insights, leads you through lesser-known lanes, and finishes with a drink at a hanok café overlooking traditional rooftops.

“The tour provide a comprehensive view of the palace, foclore museum and hanbok village. Mina is a very bright and helpful guide.”

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8.National Art Gallery Tour and Taste of Korean Cuisine in Seoul

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $130

Start at Anguk Station at 3 pm for a private four-hour tour: two hours at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, then two hours around Samcheongdong and Bukchon for Korean specialties such as bossam, jokbal, and samgyetang. Ask ahead about a specific dish or the optional Deoksugung Palace route.

“There wasn’t any tour. Noone showed up with no notice in advance. Requested a refund. Probably it’s an old listing?”

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