Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free?
Yes. The curated Heritage Walking routes are free to use right now. Opening a route to see the map and the narration, or using the GPS audio on site, needs no account and no booking.
Who is it for?
Travellers who plan their own trips and want to choose the places themselves — but find it tiresome to keep re-planning the route on site and searching for what they are looking at. You get the stories a guided tour would give you, without having to follow a fixed schedule and pace.
How long does a walk take?
It varies, but most are around an hour. Each route shows its estimated time, distance and number of stops. Because you walk it yourself, you can stay longer where you like or leave out some stops.
What can I do before the trip?
Before you leave, look at the map, the stops, the narration and street view to see the path you will actually walk. You can also keep only the stops you want and change the visiting order so the route fits your day.
How do I use it on site?
Open the same route on your phone and start the walk. When GPS recognises that you have reached a stop, you can hear that place's story, then check the next place and carry on. No app to install.
What is the difference between PC and mobile?
Same route, slightly different roles. A computer is best for looking over the map, stops, narration and street view before the trip and adjusting the plan. A phone works before the trip too, and on site it uses GPS to continue the same route as you walk.
If I change the plan, does my phone show the same plan?
Yes. A plan with stops removed or reordered can be opened on your phone through the share link or the QR code. Not having to rebuild the plan from scratch on site is one of the core things Heritage Walking is for.
Do I have to keep looking at the screen on site?
The aim is that you don't have to. When you reach a stop, GPS can recognise it and play the narration; you only need to check the next place and the path when you want to. The narration can also be read as text on screen, not just heard.
Does it work without a data connection?
Partly. If you saved the route in advance, the narration text and the prepared audio are on your phone and GPS keeps moving you from stop to stop; features that need an outside map service — the map and street view — may need a connection. When travelling abroad, save the routes you need while you still have Wi-Fi. Just opening a route without saving it is not enough.
How are the curated routes produced?
Curated routes are drafted from published sources, and before they go live we check what can be checked — place names, coordinates, the order of stops and the narration. Rather than listing famous places, the aim is an order that flows naturally on foot, together with why each place matters. Not every route has been walk-tested on site; on-site usability and walking paths are something we keep checking and improving.
Is the narration written by AI?
The narration for curated routes is drafted with AI from published sources and reviewed before it goes live. We say so rather than hide it, and we check what can be checked — facts, coordinates, dates and place details — as far as we are able.
Are the photos AI-generated?
Cover images use real photographs of the place first. Where a trustworthy real photo is not available, we show something else rather than an AI image that presents a place that does not exist as if it did. Maps and street view come from outside map services (Google, Naver) and show the real place.
What is an AI tour?
A supporting feature for places that have no curated route yet. From a place you search or your current location it finds verifiable places nearby and builds a temporary walking route. Routes are limited to a set distance, and if there are not enough verifiable places, none is made. The centre of Heritage Walking is the curated routes; AI tours are an extra you can use when needed.
What are expert tours?
A feature that lets someone who knows a city or area well put together the stops and the narration and publish it under their own name. For now we are focused on verifying how the ordinary Heritage Walking routes are actually used, rather than on expanding expert tours.
Which languages are supported?
The main routes and the interface are provided mainly in Korean, English and Japanese. The narration languages available differ by route; where there is no content in your language, English content may be shown.
Is it right for first-time visitors?
Yes. It is mainly for people visiting a city for the first time who want to choose what to see themselves but find it tiresome to look up the history and meaning of each place. Heritage Walking aims not at seeing more, but at helping you understand and remember the place you are looking at a little better.
What is the biggest difference from a group guided tour?
A guided tour is convenient because the route and the explanations are prepared, but you follow fixed places, times and pace. Heritage Walking keeps the choice and flexibility of independent travel while letting you take as much of the route and the stories as you need: preview and change the route before you go, then walk the same route on site and hear the story of each place.