There is no better way to see a city than on a city tour bus. Seoul City Tour Bus provides tours to Seoul’s most famous landmarks. A circular route connects Seoul’s major tourist attractions, so you may board and disembark the bus as many times as you wish throughout the day with a single ticket. This is the best way to discover the city if you are a first-time visitor.
Check Out the Seoul City Tour Bus Ticket Prices!
Seoul City Tour Bus will show you essential city attractions and give you a general understanding of how Seoul is laid out. Not to mention simple directions on how to move around the city on your own. You can go to all the tourist attractions in Seoul using the City Tour bus, including Namsan Tower (also known as N Seoul Tower), Lotte Seoul Sky Tower, Gangnam, the Seoul Palace, and many others. Whenever you don’t have the time to figure out transportation, this is the most convenient option.
Comparison of Seoul’s Two Most Popular City Tour Buses
Seoul has so much to see and do; thus, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The Seoul City Tour Bus offers a fun way to discover some of Seoul’s most popular attractions. Two of the most popular tour bus companies in Seoul provide tours of the city: the Yellow Balloon City Bus and the Seoul Tiger Bus ( Red Tour bus). Bus seats are equipped with audio guides that provide information about the destination in several languages.
Seoul Tiger Bus- Seoul’s Red Color City Tour Bus
- Phone number: 02-777-6090
- Website: www.seoulcitybus.com
- Price varies depending on the tour, but adults are usually 20,000-24,000 won ($15-18) and up. Children 14,000-15,000 won ($10-11) and up.
- Ticketing Location: 68-2 Taepyeong-ro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (search for Seoul City Tour Bus on Naver Map)
- By Subway: 100m from Exit 6 of Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, 300m from Exit 3 of City Hall Station on Line 1 and 2
Founded in 2000, Seoul City Tour Bus offers a convenient way for tourists to travel around Seoul. The buses are very clean and comfortable, and everyone can use them. Audio guides are available in 12 languages.
Combining two routes into one package or selecting one way is possible. You can take it both during the day and at night, making it an excellent option.
Seoul City Tiger Tour Bus Courses
You can choose from four different routes: Downtown Palace Namsan Course, Panorama Course, Night Course, and Around Gangnam City Tour. Standard one-story buses, double-decker open-top buses, and trolley buses are some of the bus types available for these routes.
Downtown Palace & Namsan Course
This course will take you to the top attractions and neighborhoods in Seoul. It will give you a glimpse of the most important and recommended Seoul attractions.
Stops: Gwanghwamun Gate (departure) > Deoksugung Palace > Namdaemun Market > Seoul Station > The War Memorial of Korea > Yongsan Station > The National Museum of Korea > Itaewon > Myeong-dong > Namsangol Hanok Village > Ambassador Hotel > The Shilla Seoul, Jangchungdan Park > Namsan Seoul Tower > Grand Hyatt Seoul > Dongdaemun Shopping Complex (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) > Daehangno Street (University Street) > Changgyeonggung Palace > Changdeokgung Palace > Insa-dong > Front of Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) > Gyeongbokgung Palace, National Folk Museum of Korea > Sejong Center (bypass) > Gwanghwamun Gate (last stop)
Downtown Palace & Namsan Course Main Attractions:
There is a bus every 40 minutes starting from 9:30 a.m., with the last bus leaving at 4:50 p.m. The estimated time for the entire tour is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Both single-decker and double-decker buses are available. Though all the stops here are great attractions, here are some you don’t want to miss.
Check out the bus timetable here.
- Deoksugung Palace is famous for its beautiful stone wall, the Geumcheon stream bridge, and the first Western-style building in the palace, the Jeonggwanheon Hall. See how tradition and modern architecture blend into harmony at the corner of Seoul’s business district.
- Namdaemun Market is the oldest traditional market in Korea, with tons of Must-eat Street Food. Every Korean food or drink you have been looking for is found here. You can also buy great souvenirs here.
- The War Memorial of Korea is a great place to learn about the history and friendship of the US and South Korea. There are live airplanes and memorabilia from the tragic war.
- The National Museum of Korea is the biggest in Asia and the Sixth in the world. It also has a symbolic significance for the history of Korea’s museums as it is a repository of over 5,000 years of Korean history.
- Namsan Seoul Tower, also known as N Seoul Tower, is a must-visit attraction in Seoul because of the love locks shown in many K-dramas and movies. At the tower, you can grab food at popular restaurants and cafes or buy souvenirs at the gift store.
- Dongdaemun Shopping Complex (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) is where you can experience the unique mixture of traditional flea markets and stylish and modern shopping malls. It’s also a popular place for locals, with many shopping malls and the trendiest fashion.
- Changdeokgung Palace is popular for its secret garden, Biwon, which can be seen by making reservations for one of the guided tours. The guided tours must be reserved in advance, and admission is about 5,000 won ($3.50) for adults and 2,500 won ($2) for youth ages 7-18.
Night View Course
Seoul is a city that never sleeps, and seeing the bright lights along the Hangang River will be magic to your eyes.
Stops: Gwanghwamun Gate (departure) > Mapodaegyo Bridge > Seogangdaegyo Bridge > Gangbyeonbuk-ro Road (bypass) > Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain > Some Sevit or Dongjakdaegyo Bridge (double-decker bus only) > Seongsudaegyo Bridge (bypass) > Hannamdaegyo Bridge > Namsan Seoul Tower > Namdaemun Market entrance > Cheonggye Plaza (last stop)
The night course is a little different in that it is mostly to view the night lights of Seoul by crossing through the bridges. Getting off Namsan Seoul Tower and the Namdaemun Market will be good. There is a 30-minute photo time at the Namsan Tower. The estimated time for the tour is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Seoul Night Time Course Departure Time:
- January 1~ April 15, 19:00
- April 16 ~ June 15, 19:30
- June 16 ~ August 15, 20:00
- August 16 ~ September 15, 19:30
- September 16 ~ December 31, 19:00
Panorama Course (Currently Unavailable)
Seoul is incomplete without a tour of the Hangang River and its surrounding neighborhoods. Check out this tour to see the beautiful Hangang River and park.
Stops: Gwanghwamun Gate (departure) > Myeong-dong > Namsan Cable Car entrance > Millennium Seoul Hilton > Namsan Library > Grand Hyatt Seoul > Gangnam Station > Sevit Island > 63 Square, Hangang River Ferry Cruise > Yeouinaru Station > Hongdae (Hongik University Street) entrance > Hongik Univ. Station (AREX) > Ehwa Woman’s Univ. entrance > Agricultural Museum > Seoul Museum of History > Gwanghwamun Gate (last stop)
Course on the Panorama Main Attractions:
This course enables you to see Seoul’s top neighborhoods. We recommend stopping at these locations.
- Namsan Cable Car entrance is a great place to stop and experience Seoul’s landscape. Enjoy the restaurants and cafes and take a hike at the Namsan Park.
- Gangnam Station is surrounded by tall business buildings and trendy stores; look at our guide to see why Gangnam is a must-visit place in Seoul.
- 63 Square, Hangang River Ferry Cruise is a good spot to stop to ride the Hangang Ferry and to walk around Hangang Park.
- Hongdae (Hongik University Street) is a hot spot to experience Seoul’s youth and creativity. There are live busking performances, shops, and cafes throughout the alleys. The neighborhood is close to other hot spots like Yeonnamdong.
Gangnam Course (Currently Unavailable)
The neighborhood that made Seoul popular has its own course, of course! Check out the best of Gangnam here.
Stops: Gangnam Station (departure) > Le Méridien Seoul, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam > Hotel Samjeong > Seolleung & Jeongneung, Ramada Seoul > Bongeunsa Temple, Lotte Department Store > COEX Mall > SMTown > Lotte World > Lotte World Tower & Mall > Olympic Park > Seoul Sports Complex > Samseong Station > K-POP Entertainment Company > Hallyu K-Star Road > Apgujeong Rodeo Street > Gangnam Tourist Information Center, Hyundai Department Store > Garosu-gil southern end > Some Sevit > Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Shinsegae Department Store > Seorae Village > Seoul National Univ. of Education Station > Gangnam Station Samsung D’Light (Samsung Electronics Promotion Hall) > Gangnam Station (last stop)
Gangnam Course Main Attractions:
- Bongeunsa Temple is one of the best temples in Seoul and a place of religious and cultural significance for the Koreans. While there, visit the COEX mall nearby; the aquarium is quite attractive.
- COEX Mall is Korea’s largest underground shopping mall. You will find almost anything you are looking for here. The mall has many convention centers, exhibition halls, top restaurants, and others.
- Lotte World is not just an ordinary theme park; it’s a realm of magic and imagination that beckons visitors of all ages. Nestled in the bustling metropolis of Seoul, this sprawling complex combines indoor and outdoor attractions, making it a year-round destination.
- Lotte World Tower & Mall is a great place to visit in Seoul with your kids to see the breathtaking night scenery of Seoul, Lotte World, Aquarium, and Seoul Sky Observatory.
- K-Pop Entertainment Company is for K-pop fans who want to see where their star practiced day and night to become the influencer they are now.
Yellow Balloon City Tour Bus
- Phone number: 1544- 4239
- Website: www.seoulcitytourbus.co.kr
- App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citytourbus.seoul
- App for iOs: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1458616046?l=ko&ls=1
You can board and leave the Yellow Balloon City Bus at any recommended bus stop with a single ticket. There are unique routes on this bus that allow you to see all the major attractions of Seoul. The Yellow Balloon City Bus is recommended for first-time visitors to Seoul. Yellow Balloon Bus will help you navigate Seoul, so don’t worry about finding your way around!
Yellow Balloon Seoul Tour Courses
They offer 3 top courses: Traditional Culture, Traditional Culture Night, and Hangang Jamsil. You can explore Seoul’s attractions all day long with an individual ticket.
Traditional Culture (Weekly) Course
The Yellow Balloon City Bus allows visitors to discover traditional culture in Seoul, palaces, and markets. Through this route, you can view Seoul’s past and present. This route begins and ends at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul and makes 15 stops. Here is the timetable.
Stops: (Departs) Dondaemun Design Plaza > Bangsan Jungbu Market > Eulji-ro 3-ga > Eulji-ro Entrance > Blue House > Tongin Market > Sejong Center for the Preforming Arts > Seoul Station > Namdaemun Market > Namsan Oreumi > Myeong-dong > Jonggak, Youth Street > Insa-dong, Unhyeon-dong > Tapgol Park > Jongmyo > Gwangjang Market > Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Traditional Culture Main Attractions:
- Eulji-ro 3 ga has rapidly become known as one of Seoul’s most beautiful and popular tourist destinations. Enjoy the fantastic local scene here. The area’s distinctive charm attracts young Seoulites, and small cafés and restaurants are in the area’s ancient buildings, establishing the neighborhood as one of the city’s burgeoning hotspots.
- Namdaemun Market is a fantastic spot to find souvenirs and an excellent place to indulge in delicious traditional Korean food.
- Myeongdong is popular with locals and tourists for shopping but there are many other things to do there. Check our guide here.
- Insadong, Unhyeon-dong is a popular neighborhood because it perfectly blends tradition and modern Seoul. Check our article on Things To Do in Insadong Seoul: See, Eat and Shop.
- Gwangjang Market holds massive significance as it was the first permanent market that opened seven days a week. Not to mention, it is also one of the largest and oldest markets in Seoul.
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza is the place to experience uniqueness in the mixture of traditional flea markets and stylish and modern shopping malls
Seoul Night View Course
With Seoul’s Night View Course on the Yellow Balloon City Tour Bus, you will be guided through the city’s nightlife. It isn’t easy to see Seoul at night by public transportation. At night, Seoul appears differently than during the day. Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s night routes depart every Tuesday through Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Getting a seat is difficult, so you should arrive early.
Stops: (Departs) Dondaemun Design Plaza > Bangsan Jungbu Market > Eulji-ro 3-ga > Eulji-ro Entrance > Blue House > Tongin Market > Sejong Center for the Preforming Arts > Seoul Station > Namdaemun Market > Namsan Oreumi > Myeong-dong > Jonggak , Youth Street > Insa-dong, Unhyeon-dong > Tapgol Park > Jongmyo > Gwangjang Market > Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Seoul Night View Main Attractions:
- Eulji-ro 3 ga
- Namdaemun Market
- Myeongdong
- Insadong, Unhyeon-dong
- Gwangjang Market
- Dongdaemun Design Park
Jamsil and Han River (temporarily suspended due to COVID-19)
Seoul Forest, Olympic Park, Jamsil Lotte World Tower, and Seongsu Station are some trendy places tourists can see on the Han River and Jamsil Course. Along the way, you can see the Lotte Tower, the tallest building in South Korea, Gangnam district, and other key areas in Seoul. Discover where young Koreans hang out and learn more about the country. Departure time is at 10:00 a.m.; this course only operates on weekends.
Stops: (Departure) Dongdaemun Design Plaza > Seoul Forest > Ttukseom Park > Jamsil Lotte World Tower > Rose Square > Hanseong Baekje Museum > Olympic Park > Konkuk University > Seongsu Station > Hangyang University
Price Seoul Yellow Balloon City Tour
The price is based on Korean age. You can buy tickets online or at the ticket office outside exit 1 of the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station. To make reservations, check out their official website under the reservation service.
Traditional Culture
- Adults: 20,000 won
- Child (ages 6-19): 15,000 won
- Under 6: free
Traditional Night
- Adults: 15,000 won
- Child (ages 6-19): 12,000 won
- Under 6: free
Han River Jamsil
- Adults: 20,000 won
- Child (ages 6-19): 15,000 won
- Under 6: free
In comparison, there is no better bus in Seoul than the Yellow Balloon. Their seats are comfortable, clean, and air-conditioned. Like the Yellow Balloon, the Seoul Tiger Bus is also very popular but can be more cost-effective. If you know exactly where you want to tour, then the Seoul Tiger Bus is for you. But if you want more options, check out the Yellow Balloon.
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