Is Gyeongbokgung
Palace worth it?
Yes — and at ₩3,000 (~$2.20) it's the best-value major sight in Seoul. Gyeongbokgung is the largest and most impressive of the five Joseon palaces; if you only visit one, this is it. Time your visit for the royal guard changing ceremony at 10:00 or 14:00 (about 20 minutes, in the courtyard just inside Gwanghwamun Gate — before the ticket gate, so free), wear a full hanbok (top plus skirt or trousers) for free entry and better photos, and give it 2–3 hours including Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. Under-19s and over-65s get in free with ID. It's closed Tuesdays.
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What to expect
Gyeongbokgung was the Joseon dynasty's main palace from 1395 until the Japanese occupation razed most of it; what you walk through today is a faithful, ongoing reconstruction — and it's vast. The axis runs from Gwanghwamun Gate through Geunjeongjeon throne hall to the two stars of the grounds: Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, floating on its lotus pond, and the jewel-box Hyangwonjeong Pavilion at the back. Walk the perimeter of both; the classic photo angles are from the northwest corners.
The royal guard changing ceremony (10:00 and 14:00, not Tuesdays) is genuinely worth planning around — about 20 minutes of drums, banners and period uniforms in the courtyard just inside Gwanghwamun Gate, before the ticket gate, so it's free to watch. The palace's own free English tours (11:00, 13:30 and 15:30, included with your ticket, no booking) are the cheapest way to get the history. The National Folk Museum on the grounds is free and a solid 45-minute add-on — enter from its own gate on Samcheong-ro, or walk over from inside the palace with your ticket (its Permanent Hall 1 is closed until 21 December 2026). The National Palace Museum beside the front courtyard is also free.
Wearing a hanbok gets you in free and, more importantly, transforms your photos — but it has to be the full outfit: a wrap-collar top plus a hanbok skirt or trousers (a top with jeans doesn't count). Rental shops cluster around the palace and its Line 3 station exits — expect about ₩15,000–25,000 for 2–4 hours for a basic set, more for premium ones. If palaces are your thing, the integrated palace ticket (₩6,000) covers Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo once each within six months — the Secret Garden tour is not included. For most 3-day trips, though, Gyeongbokgung plus an afternoon Secret Garden tour at Changdeokgung is plenty.
The practical bit
Tours worth paying for
The palace is easy to do self-guided, and its own free English tours cover the history. Pay for a tour only if you want to bundle the palace with Bukchon, Gwangjang Market or Namsan in one organized day.
If you only visit one palace…
…make it this one — but know the runner-up. Changdeokgung (a 20-minute walk east) is smaller, more atmospheric, and its Secret Garden tour is the best 90 minutes of greenery in Seoul; many returning visitors prefer it. Note that Changdeokgung closes on Mondays, not Tuesdays — so it's the obvious swap on Gyeongbokgung's day off. The right call for a first trip: Gyeongbokgung in the morning, Bukchon Hanok Village after lunch — the hanok alleys sit exactly between the two palaces. Skip Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung unless you're a completist.
New in 2026: Deoksugung has been free every Wednesday since August, and from October Changdeokgung (but not its Secret Garden), Changgyeonggung and Jongmyo Shrine are free on Wednesdays too. Gyeongbokgung is not part of the scheme — budget the ₩3,000 here whatever day you go.
FAQ
Do I need to book Gyeongbokgung tickets in advance?
No. Daytime entry is walk-up: buy at the ticket office for ₩3,000, with no reservation or timed entry. Arrive at opening to get ahead of the tour groups and the hanbok crowd.
Is Gyeongbokgung free with a hanbok?
Yes, if it's a full hanbok: a wrap-collar top plus a hanbok skirt or trousers. A hanbok top with jeans, a hanbok skirt with a T-shirt, or a durumagi coat on its own doesn't count. It's the rule that fills the courtyards with rented silk. A basic rental near Exit 5 runs about ₩15,000–25,000 for 2–4 hours, so you 'save' the ₩3,000 entry but pay for the photos. Worth it for couples; skip it if you just want the architecture.
What time is the guard changing ceremony?
10:00 and 14:00 daily except Tuesdays, about 20 minutes, in the courtyard between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun gates — before the ticket gate, so it's free to watch. Arrive 10 minutes early; it starts on time. It can be called off in heavy rain or snow and during heat-wave warnings (it was paused for three days in August 2026).
How long do you need at Gyeongbokgung?
Two hours covers the main axis, Gyeonghoeru and Hyangwonjeong at a comfortable pace; three if you add the National Folk Museum (free) or hanbok photos. It's a big site — 40+ hectares — so wear real shoes.
Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung — which palace is better?
Gyeongbokgung for scale, the guard ceremony and first-trip photos; Changdeokgung for atmosphere and the Secret Garden. The Secret Garden is a guided, timed daytime tour costing ₩5,000 on top of the ₩3,000 palace ticket (₩8,000 all-in); book online from six days ahead or queue for same-day tickets, and note that hanbok doesn't get you in free. Changdeokgung closes Mondays. If you have two mornings, do both — they're a 20-minute walk apart.
Is Gyeongbokgung open at night?
Only during the Night Opening seasons, which usually run for about a month each in spring and autumn. Tickets are ₩3,000 on NOL Ticket (formerly Interpark Ticket) and sell out, but a daily allocation is held back for foreign visitors at the gate (bring your passport), and visitors in hanbok enter free without booking. The 2026 seasons are over and 2027 dates haven't been announced — watch the official palace site from spring.