The 15 Best South Korea Temple Tours

1.Palace, Temple and Market Guided Foodie Tour at Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 750 reviews · from $60Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide such as Mia, Kim, or Jay for a four-hour evening walk through Jongno. See Changgyeonggung Palace under lights, taste jeon, makgeolli, live octopus, beef tartare, and kkwabaegi at Gwangjang Market, then visit Ikseondong and Jogyesa Temple. Moderate walking is involved.

“Our guide Mia was fantastic. She’s extremely knowledgeable and informative, and made the entire outing for our group cohesive and extremely enjoyable. Definitely an experience I would recommend!”

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2.Mt Seorak + Naksansa Temple or Nami Island Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 422 reviews · 13 - 14 hours · from $68

Leave Seoul for a full day in Gangwon Province, with about three hours at Mt Seorak for hiking, views, or the cable car. Then choose Naksansa Temple on the coast or tree-lined Nami Island. Guides such as Han, Sally, Jiwon, and Eric help with routes, meals, timing, and local context. Expect a long but well-organized day.

“Honestly one of the best day of my life. Loved every place, and our tour guide “One” made our day remarkably special. Would definitely recommend this tour to everyone coming to South Korea 🫶🏻💘”

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3.Best Things to Do – Half Day Seoul Trip (Seoul Palace & Temple)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · from $38Best reviewed

Spend about three hours visiting Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Blue House area, and a ginseng center by air-conditioned coach. English or Chinese guides such as Judy, K, and Henry have led past departures, with hotel pickup offered. Expect strong cultural sightseeing, but allow for a sales stop.

“K was a great tour guide. Her generosity and kindness was amazing. Her detailed information about each place we visited was thorough and detailed. Highly recommend her”

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4.Mount Seorak and Naksansa Temple One Day Tour from Seoul

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 167 reviews · from $71

Spend a full day beyond Seoul at Seoraksan National Park and Naksansa Temple. Choose between mountain trails and the optional cable car, then walk through a 1,300-year-old seaside temple. English and Chinese-speaking guides such as Han, Jason, Lucia, and Stella may lead the group. Expect a long coach ride, steep paths, and no included meals.

“All day activity and be sure to bring comfortable shoes for uneven terrain. Guide was engaging and answered any questions we had during the tour. You will not be able to see everything at the National Park so you will have to pick your most wanted view/activity.”

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5.Gyeongju: UNESCO Heritage Tour Including Bulguksa Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 104 reviews · 8 hours · from $189

Spend eight hours exploring Gyeongju with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned van. Visit Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, royal tombs, Cheomseongdae, Gyochon Village, and Wolji Pond. Guides such as Sue and Steve are known for lively history lessons, while lunch, entrance fees, water, and hotel pickup are included.

“We booked a tour with Sue, an amazing guide who made our day fantastic despite the heat — she even thought to prepare bottles of iced water for each person. Her explanations were clear and interesting, and she didn’t hesitate to add a few amusing personal touches to capture our attention and make the tour unforgettable. And let’s not forget our great driver (whose name I unfortunately forgot), who was truly attentive and accompanied us with patience and a smile. Many thanks again from Vachara & Fabien”

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6.Full Day Busan Tour Including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · from $159

Spend about eight hours seeing Busan by vehicle, with stops at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Haeundae Beach, Oryukdo Skywalk, Busan Cinema Center, and the UN Memorial Cemetery. Guides such as Steve, Beth, Chris, and Sue are known for clear English, local insight, flexible pacing, and taking photos. A Korean lunch and pickup are included.

“It was nice and enjoyable, it was a small group with my partner and I and 2 other people only. Hotel pickup was offered which is really easy and convenient. Our guide Steve was friendly and easy going and shared about the history. Food was good too and water and heat packs and snacks were offered during the trip and flexibility. One thing I would've liked is to give a little free and easy time at each site. Each site we visited was touch and go and I feel like I didn't get to have any time at all to explore and soak in the atmosphere of the place. However…”

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7.Private Busan tour with gamcheon culture village and the temple (Customizable)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $274

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Busan by private vehicle with a local guide such as Jade, Jino, William, or Michelle. Visit Beomeosa Temple, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Market, Gukje Market, BIFF Square, and Hwangnyeongsan Mountain. Your guide can adjust the day, suggest a local lunch, and help you fit major sights into one outing.

“Fantastic Busan tour with amazing guides Jade and Jino. Definitely recommend this private tour for anyone visiting Busan. Jade and Jino were the best! Wish we could have had them on all of our Busan tours.”

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8.War Memorial, Jogyesa Temple & Tapgol Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 56 reviews · from $42

Spend an afternoon visiting Seoul’s War Memorial, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, Jogyesa Temple, and Tapgol Park. An English-speaking guide such as Connie, Leo, Jang, or Mrs. Park leads the way, while air-conditioned minivan transport saves time. Expect walking, thoughtful historical stops, and a playful lottery moment linked to *Squid Game*.

“Connie was exceptional. She was friendly and knowledgeable and peppered her your with personal stories that made us feel like we have a friend in Korea for ever. dear Connie please come visit Toronto and stay with us.”

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9.Busan Tour: Gamcheon Village & Yonggungsa Temple + Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 37 reviews · 8 hours · from $159

Spend about eight hours exploring Busan with an English or Korean-speaking guide, visiting Gamcheon Culture Village, Hwangnyeongsan, BIFF Square, Jagalchi Market, Songdo, Yonggungsa Temple, and Gukje Market. Round-trip transport, entrance fees, Korean barbecue or vegetarian lunch, and guide-taken photos are included. Guides may include Steve, Sue, Joe, Helena, Yun, or Beth.

“The guide Steve was great he told us a lot of the city Busan of his country Korea and of himself was very interesting Thank you Steve !”

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10.Vegan Temple Food Class, Jogyesa & Changdeokgung Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 34 reviews · from $73

Meet at Anguk Station for a hands-on vegan temple food class with a Buddhist monk, followed by Jogyesa Temple, Insadong, a medicinal herb market, and Changdeokgung Palace. English-speaking guides such as Bruce, Gina, Ron, and BJ have led this cultural day, which may include local tastings and a private format.

“This was a brilliant activity. I highly recommend it. Our tour guide was excellent. Loved every minute.”

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11.UNESCO Sites tour: Palace, Shrine & Bukchon Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 26 reviews · from $36

Explore Seoul’s royal past through Bukchon Hanok Village, Jongmyo Shrine, and Changdeokgung Palace with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Stella, Park, Leo, Chloe, and Orota have led departures. The $36 price includes entry fees and van transport, with Suwon’s fortress and palace added on the full-day itinerary.

“Super experience in Seoul with Stella! A perfect english to explain us Korean history and introduce us to the architecture of the sites. Very polite, nice and funny with us. A must do tour during your stay in Seoul, perfect as a first day experience also to have some tips on Korean culture and restaurants in Seoul. Very good transport also. Thank you again! Nino and Arianna”

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12.Busan’s Best: Sea Temples, Yacht Tour & Sky Capsule Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 24 reviews · 510 minutes - 9 hours · from $89

You’ll visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, ride the Blueline Park Sky Capsule, cruise Busan’s coast by yacht, and explore Gamcheon Culture Village. English, Chinese, and Korean guides lead the day, with guides such as Kang, Kris, Roy, Yoona, and DK praised for clear explanations and smooth timing. Admission, transport, Sky Capsule, and yacht fees are included.

“It was amazing! Roy was a wonderful tour guide, even took amazing photos of us too!”

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13.Temple & Starfield COEX Mall Gourmet Tour in Gangnam

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 22 reviews · from $66

Meet your English- or Japanese-speaking guide at Bongeunsa Station for an evening walk through Gangnam. Visit Bongeunsa Temple and Starfield COEX Library, then share Korean fried chicken, beer, and other local dishes, with Korean barbecue included on some departures. Guide Choi has led especially friendly, social outings.

““I personally thought it was a fantastic private tour, especially since many people canceled. The BBQ afterward was a perfect ending. Thank you for the wonderful time.””

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14.Busan Day Tour with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple & More

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 19 reviews · 8 hours · from $159

This full-day Busan tour links Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Gamcheon Culture Village, BIFF Square, Jagalchi Market, Songdo, Gukje Market, and Hwangnyeongsan. You get English or Korean guiding, hotel pickup within Busan, lunch, transport, entrance tickets, and guide-provided photos. Guides including Steve, Chris, Yun, Young, and Beth have led past departures.

“This tour is great if you haven't much time in Busan and want to experience the old and new Busan in a casual and convenient way. Chris, our Guide, provided interesting information on the sights, city life, culture and history. To me it was a very convenient way to take a drive on the bridges and enjoy the beautiful coastline of Busan. Foodwise, we decided on 이기솜씨칼비국수 which was delicious and looks great on our pictures.”

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15.Danyang Tour:Guinsa Temple & Bobaljae & Cheongpung Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $105

Travel from Seoul to Danyang for Guinsa Temple, a free chance to try vegetarian temple food, autumn views along Bobaljae Road, and the Cheongpung Hoban Cable Car above Cheongpungho Lake. English and Chinese guides may include Yohan, Jun, Michael, Mario, or Edward. Expect walking, stairs, and a long but rewarding day.

“The tour was wonderful. We were a small group, which made the experience even better. We visited the temple and had the opportunity to eat like the monks. The cable car ride was also an unforgettable experience, offering beautiful views of the landscape. Our tour guides, Michael and Mario, were fantastic. They provided us with lots of interesting information.”

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