I Took a Gangnam Private Tour and This is How It Went

I might get hate for this, but as a history nerd, it’s hard to take Gangnam seriously when your brain keeps associating it with shopping and plastic surgery clinics.

But I decided there must be something more to the neighborhood than that, so I decided to let a local take me around for a few hours. This Gangnam private tour is fully customizable, so I got to spend the afternoon visiting places that I really cared about.

Needless to say, Gangnam surprised me. I got to visit the famous Bongeunsa Temple, Starfield Library, and a UNESCO World Heritage site that I never would have guessed was in the neighborhood!

If you’re also wondering if it’s worth taking a customizable tour around Gangnam, I’m gonna recount my entire experience in all honesty. This is to help you make the right decision for you!

Who Is This Private Tour For?

It’s for… honestly, anyone who’s got a hundred dollars to pay for a well-informed afternoon around Gangnam. I knew the tour was private, but I didn’t expect it to be as “customizable” as it did.

I got a historical tour plus Starfield Library because that’s what I asked my guide for. So if you’re into shopping, fashion, family travel, or even food, you might just get exactly that.

How My Day Went on the Tour

Because the tour is fully customizable, you can choose to start it at any time of day. I chose to start mine after lunch because I hated having to wake up early, so I was told to meet my guide at 1 PM.

Pick-Up at Josun Palace Hotel

I wasn’t the most well-versed when it comes to Gangnam (still isn’t), so I blocked out extra time for travel and arrived at the meeting point half an hour early.

I sat down at one of the empty benches in the hotel lobby and waited. About 15 minutes in, my guide, Lisa, texted me on Whatsapp, and we found out we were sitting next to each other the whole time!

She started by bringing out a whole tourist map of Gangnam, with top sights highlighted. Then she asked what I was particularly interested in. I told her I love history. She immediately smiled and said “I have a place for you that’s not yet on this map!”

And she took me out to our taxi, which was already waiting outside.

Hidden Gem Stop: Royal Tombs

Indeed, I could see why our first stop wasn’t yet on the tourist map (this was 2022). I didn’t even realize before that day that Gangnam had a UNESCO World Heritage site!

Seolleung and Jeongneung are a pair of royal tombs from the 15-16th centuries. The locals sometimes call the two names together as “Seonjeongneung.”

They belong to King Seonjeong and his son, King Jungjong, respectively. Next to Seolleung, you’ll also find the tomb of Queen Jeonghyeon, his consort.

The burial mounds are in the middle of a highly strollable, well-shaded park. Definitely not something I expected to see around this part of town. Not the park and not the history. I must have spent two hours there.

Thanks to Lisa, I also learned about the “spirit’s path” in Korean culture for the first time. Basically, at royal tombs and shrines, people are not allowed to walk on a path designated for spirits!

Bongeunsa Temple

After I’ve had my fill of strolling and reading information plaques at the royal tombs, we set off to Bongeunsa.

This place is one of the oldest surviving Buddhist temples in Seoul. It was originally built in 794 AD during the Silla Dynasty, and was known as Gyeongseongsa.

It was later expanded and renamed Bongeunsa by none other than Queen Jeonghyeon, whose burial was inside Seolleung and Jeongneung park!

At the back of the temple is a massive statue of the future Buddha, which was especially remarkable against the modern backdrop of Gangnam.

COEX Mall + Starfield Library

The last stop of my 4-hour tour was right across the street from Bongeunsa, the famous COEX Mall!

This was not a historical stop, but because I was pretty short on time before my Korean course began, might as well just let Lisa take me around anything that was in Gangnam.

Because I had never paid attention to Gangnam before, that was my first time ever seeing the Starfield Library. It wasn’t as impressive as I thought it would be in person. But was it a good photo stop? Absolutely.

I also made note to come back with a good book to chill in the second-floor cafe, which I did later that month. It was a much better way to enjoy the library than to stop for a few photos.

Lisa and I said goodbye in front of this massive Gangnam Style hand at the back entrance to COEX mall. The tour lasted about four hours and 15 minutes.

Was This Tour Worth My Money?

I didn’t regret spending a bit of money for this private experience at all. I could have seen all the places on my own if I had more time to explore, but I didn’t, so it was four hours well spent.

Book it ONLY IF you think you wouldn’t have time to explore enough of Gangnam within the time you have. I also suggest bringing along a friend if you can’t handle a few hours alone with a stranger.

Helpful Travel Tips for South Korea

Most visa-free visitors to South Korea need a K-ETA in order to enter Korea. Check if you need one and apply about a week before you travel. This replaces the arrival form.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Papago AI Translator, Naver Maps, Kakao Metro

Read up on how to get from Incheon into the city, so you don’t run into surprises.

Don’t forget to learn some important dos and don’ts in Korean culture, as well as some useful Korean phrases, before you arrive!

Grab My South Korea E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

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