It’s no secret that Seoul has become one of the hottest travel destinations in recent years, from the explosion of K-POP to the centuries-old temples and rich history. Of course, just like everywhere else in the world, South Korea also has its fair share of tourist traps.
One thing’s for sure, though, you won’t regret taking a DMZ tour! This journey into the heart of Asian history takes you to the edge of two very different worlds, with palpable tension and stories forever etched into the landscape.
Whether you’re a history buff or would simply like to explore the “path less traveled”, you’re going to be fascinated by these top tours of the DMZ from Seoul! Let’s jump right in!
Best DMZ Tours From Seoul
| Private DMZ the 3rd Tunnel Tour from Seoul (No Forced Shopping) | DMZ Full day with Gloucester Memorial & Suspension Bridge Tour | From Seoul: DMZ, 3rd Tunnel & Suspension Bridge Guided Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Private Tour | Best Combination Tour | Best Value Tour | |
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| Location: | Hotel pickup and drop-off available | Hotel pickup and drop-off available | 65-6 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul |
| Start: | 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| Duration: | 8 hours | 9 hours | 9 hours |
| Includes: | Professional English-speaking guide, transportation, all taxes & fees | Full-day tour of the DMZ and suspension bridge, professional guide, all fees and taxes | Guide, roundtrip transfer from Seoul, admission fees, monotrail tour in 3rd tunnel or walking tour |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated DMZ Tours From Seoul For 2024
- Private DMZ the 3rd Tunnel Tour from Seoul (No Forced Shopping)
- DMZ Full day with Suspension Bridge Tour
- From Seoul: DMZ, 3rd Tunnel & Suspension Bridge Guided Tour
- Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul (No Shopping)
- Free Style Private Tour(Seoul/DMZ)
DMZ Tour Reviews
1. Private DMZ the 3rd Tunnel Tour from Seoul (No Forced Shopping)
- Duration: 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 AM
- Includes: Professional English-speaking guide, transportation, all taxes & fees
Let’s start things off on the right foot with one of the most unique tours one can take in South Korea!
The Private DMZ the 3rd Tunnel Tour from Seoul will lead you through this incredibly important historical site with an expert guide who will provide you with cultural context throughout your time with them.
If you have a full day available and would like to see the country in a different perspective, look no further than this excursion. The Korean Demilitarized Zone, more commonly-known as “the DMZ”, is the most heavily-fortified border on the planet.
It’s definitely not all fun and games, but this “real deal” experience will get you as close as possible to experiencing the tension, mysteries, and stories that have unfolded between these two divided nations.
Around 4km wide, this modern-day “No Man’s Land” doesn’t allow any military personnel, activities, and much less, civilians. The only exception to this rule is a place called the “Joint Security Area”, which is a neutral ground where soldiers from both sides come together for talks and negotiation.
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One of the highlights of the tour was climbing the heights of the Dora Observatory, complete with high-powered binoculars for you to see the North’s propaganda village.
When the weather is clear, you may even be able to see the bronze statue of Kim Il-sung, casting a watchful eye over the divide.
Then, you’ll get to see the Third Tunnel subterranean passage discovered in the 1970s and stretching nearly 2,000 meters long. This secret conduit screams espionage and conspiracy, with North Korea having built it then denying it.
Oh boy, there are a ton of interesting stories surrounding it and your guide will fill you in on some of the most captivating.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. DMZ Full day with Suspension Bridge Tour
- Duration: 9 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 7:00 AM
- Includes: Full-day tour of the DMZ and suspension bridge, professional guide, all fees and taxes
Next up, we have a full-day tour that will take you for an immersive experience through some of the most iconic locations around South Korea.
The DMZ Full Day with Suspension Bridge Tour is full of thrills, intrigue, and incredible views to the unknown. With a guide to share historical accounts and plenty of personal stories with each location visit, you’re sure to view the country from a different viewpoint!
Starting off at 7:00 am, you’ll be picked up right from your hotel by your professional guide in a climate-controlled coach with plenty of legroom and big windows.
Upon arrival to Imjingak Park, you’ll get to see the Freedom Bridge and old steam trains, which was pretty cool by itself. The guide was there to teach us about the Korean War and the sacrifices that needed to be made, which only enriched the experience.
While I enjoyed the entire tour, the most memorable part for me was seeing the Gloucestershire Regiment “Gloster Hill”, which commemorates the actions of the regiment and C Troop, 17th Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery of the British Army during the Battle of the Imjin River.
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Nearby is the incredible rope bridge known as the “Gloucester Heroes Bridge” which was a bloody battle field during the Korean War. Today, it stands as the longest suspension bridge in the country, sitting over 700 meters above sea level!
Finally, you’ll get to see the DMZ exhibition hall and learn about the old weapons, which was pretty cool! Next, make the walk over to the Third Tunnel which was made by North Korea, who actually claimed the South had constructed it with the intention of a guerilla attack!
The Dora Observatory was crazy to see, showing you a peek into North Korea’s propaganda village with the high-powered telescopes.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. From Seoul: DMZ, 3rd Tunnel & Suspension Bridge Guided Tour
- Duration: 9 hours
- Departure: 65-6 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Departure Time: 7:00 AM
- Includes: Licensed professional guide, roundtrip transfer from Seoul, admission fees to DMZ, monotrail tour in 3rd tunnel or walking tour for shared tour option
This next tour is one of my favorites, seamlessly combining incredible nature views with the rich and varied history of South Korea. If you consider yourself an adventurous person who enjoys those “more unique” tourist sites, this one’s for you!
The DMZ, 3rd Tunnel & Suspension Bridge Guided Tour is one of the only ways you can actually see a glimpse of North Korea in person, offering a deep dive into the history of the area.
First things first, though: you’ll have to pick either the private or the shared tour option. For the private tour, you’ll travel with only your party and go on a monorail tour in the Third Tunnel.
For the shared tour option, you’ll obviously be traveling with strangers and will instead go on a walking tour in the Third Tunnel – either way, they’re great options!
After being picked up from your hotel, you’ll arrive and get to see the Freedom Bridge, Mangbaedan Altar, as well as an old steam locomotive that was destroyed during the Korean War.
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Your guide will be there to tell you all about how the Korean War affected the country and landscape – particularly on the border. You’ll then visit 4 different locations at the DMZ, starting with the Third Infiltration Tunnel.
Whether you’re walking or monorailing in, you’re sure to get a bit of a creepy vibe as you enter this “lair”. After, check out the Dorasan Observatory, which allows you to see into North Korea from their superpowered binoculars!
You can also choose to explore some Unification Villages located in a buffer zone and is civilian controlled by the government. Then take a hike around 15 to 20 minutes and appreciate the Gamaksan Suspension Bridge, which has quite the intense history of its own.
If time allows, you’ll even get to see the Majang Suspension Bridge located right at a glass-like lake perfect for taking some photos.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul (No Shopping)
- Duration: 7.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: Varies
- Includes: Professional English-speaking guide, all taxes and fees
You know what’s really annoying when you’re on a trip and trying to maximize your time by seeing as many interesting things as possible?
When your tour guide “forces” you and your group to go shopping at specific stores and markets. There’s none of that nonsense with this next tour – the Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul is all about learning in a fun and interesting way!
This is another one of my top recommendations if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Seoul. You’ll get picked up in the morning by your guide and make the trip on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach with plenty of unobstructed views along the way.
Right from the get-go, I did notice that our guide did a fantastic job at providing detail and easy-to-digest historical accounts and personal anecdotes which made it that much more fascinating.
Upon arrival, you’ll get to see the Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri park and learn about how it was constructed to house the refugees who left North Korea during the Korean War.
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After that, check out the Bridge of Freedom which was also made to free almost 13,000 prisoners during the war. It’s not only incredibly moving to learn about, it’s set in one of the most beautiful natural settings ideal for photo ops!
After that, it’s time to head to the DMZ Theater where you’ll watch a short film about the war, and the South Korean perspective on it. You’ll learn how the DMZ came to be what it is today, as well as get time to walk through the creepy Third Infiltration Tunnel.
It definitely gives you a deeper understanding of just how serious this situation is, and the photos and artifacts only help.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Free Style Private Tour(Seoul/DMZ)
- Duration: 7 to 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: Varies
- Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, English-speaking guide
One thing that many people may be turned off about tours, is that you’re obligated to go on one set schedule. The great thing, is that many tours offer the option of creating a custom itinerary designed around your specific interests!
The Free Style Private Tour (Seoul/DMZ) is one of my favorites, catering to your tastes to ensure you’ll see the things you’re most captivated by!
If you’re a history buff, or really into Korean culture or food, you can tell your guide and they’ll create a personalized agenda just for that. While the tours will never be exactly the same, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Start off with your guide picking you right up from your hotel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle made to transport only you and the rest of your party.
As you do get to choose, it’s quite possibly the best way to maximize your time in Korea – especially if it’s your first time there and/or you are there for only a couple of days.
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While it’s not necessary, I definitely recommend going to the Gyungbokgung Palace, which is the most popular of the 5 in total in the city. You can then head up by car to the top of the mountain peak, whick offers some of the most breathtaking views of Seoul possible.
After that, head to a local eatery for a delicious, traditionally Korean lunch which has been reviewed by some of the top publications in the world. Follow it up with a trip up to the N-Seoul Tower by cable car, or head over to the DMZ, of course!
The DMZ, as you already know by now, is a must-see and is the one way to really gain insight into the tension between these two neighboring nations.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
FAQs About the Korean DMZ
Q: What is the DMZ in Korea?
A: The DMZ or Demilitarized Zone, is a strip of land the is about 2.5 miles wide the runs across the Korean Peninsula near the 38th parallel north. It’s a buffer between North and South Korea, that are still technically at war because the war ended with an armistice and not a peace agreement.
Q: Do I have to take a tour to visit the DMZ?
A: Yes, you can only go to the DMZ on a guided tour. You can book them online or through travel agencies. You can take a half-day, full-day, or private tours, that show you different sites and activities in the DMZ. The most popular attraction is the Joint Security Area (JSA) which is where negotiations took place. The Third Tunnel of Aggression, was dug by North Korea to infiltrate South Korea and the Dora Observatory where you can see North Korea with a telescope.
Q: Is it safe to visit the DMZ?
A: You may be wondering if it’s safe to visit the DMZ. While the Korean DMZ is considered “the world’s most dangerous border”, there is no danger to visitors. Just make sure you follow the rules and instructions of the tour guides.
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The Private DMZ the 3rd Tunnel Tour from Seoul is our Editors Choice for the best DMZ tour from Seoul.
