Deoksugung to Euljiro Guided Walking Tour with Tea
Jung-gu, Seoul
Discover Seoul's history on a guided walking tour from Deoksugung Palace to Euljiro. Visit Jungmyeongjeon, stroll along Cheonggyecheon, and enjoy a warm herbal tea at a traditional dabang.
Highlights
- Walk from Deoksugung Palace to Euljiro on a guided tour of Seoul
- Learn about the history of the Korean Empire and the 1905 treaty
- Stroll along the Cheonggyecheon stream and hear about its restoration
- Visit Jungmyeongjeon, where Korea lost its diplomatic rights in 1905
- Enjoy a warm herbal tea at a traditional dabang in Euljiro
Description
Meet your guide at Daehanmun Gate and begin your journey through Seoul’s history. Step inside Deoksugung, the palace where King Gojong declared the Korean Empire, and stand before Junghwajeon, the throne hall of the Korean Empire. Look up to see two dragons on the ceiling, a symbol that an emperor sat here, not a king.
A few steps away, Korean roofs give way to Seokjojeon, a neoclassical stone palace with Ionic columns. Pass Jeonggwanheon, the pavilion where Gojong is said to have taken his coffee.
Leave the palace along the Deoksugung stone-wall road into Jeongdong, once Seoul’s diplomatic quarter. At Jungmyeongjeon, a red-brick hall hidden behind the walls, hear the story of the 1905 treaty that took away Korea’s diplomatic rights, and of Gojong’s secret envoys to The Hague.
From City Hall, walk down to Cheonggyecheon. Twenty years ago, an elevated highway ran over this stream, and your guide explains how Seoul tore it down and brought the water back. Follow the stream east and step up into Euljiro, a maze of print shops, lighting stores, and hidden bars.
The walk ends at Euljidabang, a dabang that has barely changed in decades. Order ssanghwa-cha, a warm herbal tea served with an egg yolk floating on top, and ask your guide anything you didn’t get to on the way.
Includes
Licensed English-speaking guide
Deoksugung admission
One drink at Euljidabang
Excludes
Transport to the meeting point and from the end point
Food and extra drinks
Important Information
- About 3 km of easy walking on flat ground. Wear comfortable shoes. The tour runs rain or shine. In heavy rain your guide may shorten the Cheonggyecheon walk. Euljidabang is a small place. With large groups, seating may be split across tables.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
