It's definitely an interesting experience. It's not for those that have bad back or knee issues. Be prepared to bend over walking if your tall. Its something I'm glad I did for the experience, but while I thought it was interesting, my lungs didn't. But I'm at least glad I did it. It's a good piece to the history lesson within the DMZ. The outside area is cool though.

Reflecting on my last visit to The Third Tunnel in 2018, I was amazed by the tourist-friendly enhancements during my recent trip. Unlike before, where we had to navigate stairs, this time a monorail made exploration effortless. Although there are still some steps, the overall experience is now much more relaxed. The site's historical significance remains a compelling reason to visit, offering a deeper understanding of Korea's past. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply seeking an enriching experience, The Third Tunnel is definitely worth a visit, now more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.

It was our first experience walking into such steep tunnel. Going down is not a problem but walking back up could take some effort and stamina. It is best not to walk into it if you have any respiratory issues such as asthma. We were not allowed to take photo in tunnel

Another great visit in the DMZ. Warning 358M steep downhill walk that descends 75M below ground. If you're tall 250 meter walk hunched over. You get to see the ridiculous North korean garden at the end.... At the end you are roughly 150 meters from the actual border. Farthest you can get into the fenced DMZ.

It's an amazing experience. You get to go into the 3rd tunnel (you cannot take photos because it's a military site). The guide will give you history of the Koreans and how it was divided. Worth the $70+.

This is an incredible experience but unfortunately you can’t take any pictures in the tunnel. I highly recommend visiting this area because of the history and information given.

Great experience. You get to learn more about the Korean war and the reason for North Korea to make these tunnels. Ps. 350m walk down hill when you enter the tunnel then its a tough walk back up i recommend good per hiking shoes this is part of DMZ tours which will involve lots of walking 🚶‍♀️ be prepared 😉.

We booked a tour through Trip Advisor called Best DMZ tours third tunnel. It was an action packed day and I learned so much. The tunnel was dug by hand and with dynamite by North Korea. South Korea found out and has sealed the tunnel, but we got to walk down into tunnel. It’s a steep incline, no steps. You have to crouch down the whole time as the ceiling is very short, they do give you helmets to wear to protect your head. You are not able to take any pictures while you’re in the tunnels.

Unique experience for DMZ tour. As foreigners, we joined tour group. Photo is not allowed in the third tunnel and they provide a helmet. Joint security area was suspended because of defection of a US soldier. Highly recommended.

I booked my trip via travel agency. And this is my first time visit to the most heavily militarized boundary in the world. Witness the 3rd tunnel that originally built by North Korea in 70's to spy on South Korea side is the most memorable experience in my life. I will never forget it.

The "Half Day DMZ tour" seemed very touristy and left us pretty disappointed. Most things on this tour are very commercialized to gain tourist money from this world famous conflict. Almost the only authentic thing on the tour was this tunnel. All attractions around this tunnel are Disney like (DMZ sign, life size plastic soldiers in uniforms,...). Considering the tunnel, basically you descend down to see a simple primitive tunnel of 200-300 m length and that's it, but again it's original. It was dug by North to attack South along with few another tunnels. The story how it was found is very interesting. Beware, if claustrophobic don't go down. Same applies if your not in good physical shape - the path down is very steep and long. Many of us got breathless (including me) on the way back up. No photos down, you must leave all your belonging in lockers

Very interesting place to visit! The decent was easy but the walk back up was steep. If you're taller than 5 feet the be ready to hunch over while you walk the actual tunnel. The hard hat yhrn give you is a life saver.

A good place to visit. Tunnel walk was an experience. You have to be kind of fit for the walk. If you are tall, it requires slight bending down. It's a very steep uphill walk back out of the tunnel.

Found this place to be the nicest of all the places I've visited with the DMZ tour. The tunnel is an experience on it's own and is definitely a thing one must do visiting in Seoul. Do mind that you are required to climb a steep tunnel of approx. 350m upwards at the end to get out. Mobile devices are not allowed in the tunnel.

The Third Tunnel of Aggression, also known simply as the Third Tunnel, is one of four known tunnels under the border between North Korea and South Korea, extending south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Discovered in 1978, it is considered part of North Korea's infiltration and invasion preparations. The tunnel is about 1.7 kilometers long, 2 meters high, and 2 meters wide. It runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meters below ground and was designed to facilitate a sudden invasion by North Korean forces, potentially allowing thousands of soldiers to pass through per hour along with light weaponry.Constructed by North Korea, the tunnel was discovered following a tip from a North Korean defector. North Korea initially denied its existence and later claimed it was part of a coal mining operation, even going so far as to paint the walls with black coal dust to support this claim. However, geological evidence disproved this, as there were no coal deposits in the area. Make sure you're in good shape to walk it!

An interesting experience! Was a bit physically demanding trecking back up from the tunnel, just a warning! Also, you cannot take photos in the tunnel, but they have free lockers for your belongings.

The only place where you can actually enter the DMZ is here, underground. It's the closest you can get to the border too. It was about 20 minutes return to do the walk, and if you are more than 150cm you will have to do a lot of bending over to not hit your head. They do give you a helmet though. It was certainly worth going underground just to experience the tunnel. There is underground spring water to drink at the bottom. We went there with VIP tours and our host Moon was fantastic.

Amazing and scary to visit. The tunnel is around 150 cm high and extreme humidity and hot. However it is a experience you will never forget. Do note you are not allowed to take pictures inside. You must put everything inside a locker.

It is a very interesting tour to learn how the North Korea Army digs the tunnels as an attempt to infiltrate the South if they haven't been caught.

Going into the tunnel was more physically challenging than we expected. Descending to the base of the tunnel is easy. Walking along the tunnel is extremely tiring for tall people. The actual tunnel is only 160cm (5 feet 3 inches) high. So anyone taller than that will have to walk along the entire length of the tunnel while bending forwards. If you are a tall person with back problems, DO NOT attempt this. I’m 6 feet tall and was extremely tired after bending and walking for 20 minutes. After all that, we had to climb up (walk upwards on a 30 degree slope) for 20 minutes to reach the outside. Tiring but a great experience. Sadly, they do not allow you to take pictures inside. You have to leave your bags and phones in safe lockers at the entrance. The provide everyone with hard hats so that you don’t hurt your head inside the tunnel.

The observatory shows some history between South and North Korea. However, reading up on the history between the two will enrich the visit even more. Highly recommended to visit on days with clear skies in order to see North Korea.

DMZ is the one and only in the world. I booked my trip to DMZ including Dora Observatory through a travel agency. From Dora Observatory, we able to see part of North Korea namely Kaesong Industrial Park & surrounding area. We can also see the giant flag of North Korea from here. Overall, the best experience ever. So memorable.

At the DMZ between North and South Korea. from here you will see North Korea in a distance and the tall post of the N. Korean flag. My stop here was planned and I liked it. If you have few days in S Korea, make time to visit this place, the DMZ. There are several tour operators. There is a gondola ride over a river that offers a panoramic views of the area.

Always hear about North Korea story from news outlet and the feeling of being near it and see it from a far. It is quite a different feeling. It's quite peaceful that day and hope it will stay this way for a long time to come.

It was an interesting experience visiting this location. We had decent visibility that allowed us to see a long way into North Korea. We could just see some of the soldiers and citizens too. It would be nice if there were more powerful telescopes, but I guess they have to be user friendly. The restaurant / Cafe there was good with nice hot drinks and basic but tasty food. The key really is to have a good tour guide to make your experience valuable. We had Moon from VIP DMZ tours. She was extremely good.

The one we went is just opened about one week ago. Nice sightseeing place to go see the other side of the border. Beautiful scenery. What was said that the town on the other side is a fake town. This would be the third and final stop if you take DMZ tour package.

Beautiful views of the DMZ. Try and make sure you go on a clear day otherwise you won't see much. The observation binoculars are at a height for 5 foot people so as a six foot man it was a bit of a pain bending over everytime I wanted look. It is as of 7/10/22 the only way to see Panmunjeon joint security area as it is closed until further notice. And you really can't see much anyway. Worth a short visit

Fascinating stop in the DMZ. It feels very surreal to observe life in North Korea from the telescopes in this observatory. It is possible to see the South Korea village in the DMZ, a bit of the JSA, the propaganda village in the North Korea side and some cities and industrial complexes in North Korea. With luck, it is even possible to see people working the land in the North Korea side.

we went as part of our tour. able to use their telescope to look onto n. korea. it was okay to spot them via telescope about their daily life. our tour guide explains a lot of things to us.

The DMZ as a whole is an incredible experience, but the Observatory is definitely a highlight. The weather was pretty cloudy when we went, but we could still spot most of the landmarks across the border. It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience, seeing NK right in front of our eyes! Our guide (shout-out to Erica!) was so nice and made sure everyone had a great, fulfilling time.

We were picked up outside our downtown hotel opposite City Hall. Excellent full day tour visiting observatory, Freedom Park, 3rd Tunnel within the DMZ. A far better experience than we were expecting. Our guide Miel explained the recent history, i.e. the Korean War and attempts at reunification, which put our visit into context. The tour brought home how big power politics in this country shockingly overrides the lives of millions of services and civilian lives. Looking into North Korea itself and seeing people going about their lives and learning about the tunnels was fascinating. Highly recommended

Such an amazing view into North Korea. You can see the flag towers and fake cities. They provide plenty of free-to-use binoculars for peeking in. I got some pretty good shots although I could have done a lot better with a DSLR and optical zoom lens. Go visit the DMZ! After learning about and seeing even a portion of North Korea you'll love and respect your homeland like you never did before.

The view from the top can be enhanced by looking through the telescopes. You'll see North Korea and it's flag and village. Most Tour guides allow people to blast off some K-pop or other music towards North Korea - I'm sure you know why.

We came on a guided tour and spent about an hour here. The stories are fabulous and the views of North Korea are awesome. It is free to use the telescopes and they have interactive displays. Well worth a visit. If you were here. We learned so much on the tour about the history of South Korea and North Korea and really enjoyed the experience.

Being able to see across into North Korea is a unique experience, there's many telescopes to look through. Recommend booking on DMZ tour on weekdays as it was not busy at all

we came here on our DMZ tour (with VIP tours). it's a slight walk up a hill to the observatory. you can view inside through windows and also head upstairs to view from outside with binoculars provided. there's a short few minute video you can watch and also a cafe inside. air-conditioned and free wifi too.

Perfect to do some North Korean villages spotting, if the weather allows it. Free bynoculars to peek into North Korea. The observarory is new, so there are toilettes and a coffee shop. At The parking lot there's also a souvenir shop.

The Dora Observatory 도라전망대 offers a truly unique and poignant glimpse into North Korea. With the on-site telescopes, I was able to observe North Korean civilians riding their bikes, with not a car in sight, offering a stark contrast to the bustling world we know. The fluttering North Korean flag stands as a silent testament to the country's isolated status. While the observatory can be crowded at times, it's a solemn reminder that just a few kilometers away, there are people facing unimaginable challenges. A humbling and heart-wrenching experience. Highly recommended.

Wonderful experience here. In awe of the vast space between N n S Korea. I wonder how is it like living and working within this DMZ. Its a shame that 2 countries with exactly same language, same culture, same food, same families are separated by this strip of land, designated not by Korea themsleves but by some foreign "imperialistic" powers. Dora observatory serves us a reminder of what war can do to innocent families. There are free binoculars to see acroos to N Korea at the rook top, an theatre with full height windows to show case the view of DMZ. Hiatiry wonderfully curated for understanding of the DMZ. A must go when visiting S Korea. Gives u the feeling of helplessness and oppressed when ur country is weak.

Dora Observatory was a highlight of my DMZ Tour that I booked online with PLK Travel. I could see there the North Korean territory through binoculars which was a very exciting experience. It wasn't crowded that gave me enough time to do it, take a lot of pictures and movies. It's a must if you have an extra day in Seoul and want to see a unique place.

Doing a DMZ Tour and going to the observatory gives you a chance to peek into a part of the world only seen on the news. The whole experience is surreal but worth doing. Try to plan around the weather so the view is not obstructed by clouds or rain.

The touch screen TV that guides the view is as good as using the binoculars. Recommend using both. We were lucky that we were there on a very clear day so could see loads of buildings within North Korea. Pretty much have to go on a guided tour.

Perfect place. Modern, clean and the perfect way to spot into noth korea territority. In general it is free of charges and you are able to see soldiers and workers in north korea when using the free of charge binoculars. Of course you need some good weather conditions :) A cafe and a shop can also be found in this building.

Excellent view and friendly tour guides, did rush us a bit but worth the view over to North Korea!

The Nikon P1000 brought North Korea a lil closer when I was at the Dora Observatory. No human movement in this propaganda city but spotted some North Koreans on the snow in the landscape pictures.

A pretty nice preamble for the rest of the tour. Lots of monuments for peace, but what really struck me was the monument for the displaced north Korean natives that were able to find their families in Seoul.

First stop for any DMZ tour, since the tickets are sold "first come, first serve", so the tour agencies must stop here and purchase the tickets. Inside the building are facilities, toilets, restaurants and cafes. Moreover, it has a nice view into the CCZ (civilian control zone). You can already feel the heavy military presence, since the tour guide will tell you that take photographs (or videos) of the military facilities and personnel is strictly forbidden

They take around 250ppl/day (Mon-Fri) & and 500 ppl (Sat and Sun) The office opens at 9am but the tour guides and the people line up earlier.

It's not about the place but just my personal opinion. Probably I'm not the kind of person who can be amazed by places like this. The history and reality of these two countries are sad but as a tourist spot is nothing much to see. Especially some tour operators from Seoul are tricky so it will make it even worse. Anyway thank you🤷‍♂️

It feels a little weird to have such a touristic approach to the DMZ but it definitely makes things comfortable while you wait for the actual tour. Lots of restaurants in the facility and even an amusement park nearby, which is a contrast with the many monuments displayed nearby, like the Freedom Bridge and the Last Train.

went there via a tour packaging. this is our first stop where our tour guide took our passport to buy tickets. there are so many shops but we have no time to look as we only have a bit of time outside. there are two shops selling north korean currency. it was so super expensive. but you can buy their old and new notes. i didnt know hence i only able to buy coins. the shop near the bridge have nice coins and money. check out first before u buy. be careful not to take photos at the military side! there are posters telling you not to do so.

Great start to the DMZ tour we were doing.

its very well developed and holds much historic significance. it feels more real to feel the separation up close at the DMZ as opposed to just reading about it on a screen. sad to see the hardship of physical separation caused by ideological separation. it makes u ponder how things would have been different. MY and SG might not be named North and South Malaya, but to a much lesser extent of separation (some argue next to none haha), destinies of two nations are so different 50 yrs down the road.

TERRIFIC. At the DMZ border between North & South Korea. Learnt about Korean War and pray earnestly for their peaceful reunification one day. As of April 2023, I booked this tour with Klook & the tour agency in charge was Seoul City Tour Agency. Was told that the military limiting 1000 visitors a day and therefore we departed as early as 4am from Seoul to get to Imjingak (about 50 minutes journey) & the tour guide Miel queued for the admission tickets. Visited DMZ area at 1030am, went to the 3rd tunnel, pavilion overlooking north korea with binoculars and lastly the unification village for nice bean ice cream and bean coffee. Unforgettable experience, would recommend to anyone who values peace and learning history!

Beautiful place full of history.

It's worth a visit. It has a cool European vibe. Parking is a mess, though...

Don't come here, this place is a pure antibohemian clunky set of bulky architecture with tons of China, Turkey and African made souvenirs. Maybe some day it served its purpose, but now it is rotten by time and is a living prove, that a great idea of art village didn't made to 2020s. If you really want, you can visit here some museums, but this you will find also in Seoul. 0% of an actual "art village" climate. That's sad to be said, but it's true.

move a bit from crowded Seoul, and find pretty things & enjoy good pizza here

Many special coffee shop, gift shop, art shop and point for take photo

It is a nice place to stroll about and admire the architecture beauty and many cafes scattered around. Unfortunately we reached late in the evening and only managed to only go to Farmer's Table for dinner. Ambience is good and food is passable.

I loved the solemnity of the place. Not crowded. A lot of restaurant and cafe to choose from.

One of my favourite place in Korea. Gallaries, restaurants, museums... 😘 great place for couples, friends and family 😆

The garlic bread is famous here. The place is tiny but there is no entrance fee (parking was 3 bucks), and there are o many places to take good pictures.

Overcrowded and occupied by car parks rather than people visiting Be careful at the parking lot not to run over the base of lamp post. It might break your tire in the dark

Hmmm..... Expected much more from this place but if you are bored and need something new to explore then come here