Today (Thursday Oct 1): Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Jongmyo Shrine are open. Tickets are ₩1,000–₩3,000, free if you wear hanbok or are 18 and under / 65 and over. Free English tours run daily except the closing day.
Open today and tomorrow
| Palace | Today | Tomorrow (Fri) | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung 경복궁 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 17:00 |
| Changdeokgung 창덕궁 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 17:00 |
| Deoksugung 덕수궁 | 09:00–21:00 | 09:00–21:00 | 20:00 |
| Changgyeonggung 창경궁 | 09:00–21:00 | 09:00–21:00 | 20:00 |
| Jongmyo Shrine 종묘 | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 | — |
October–November note
Gyeongbokgung posted an “October–November operation” notice on 2026-09-30 that may change hours or entry. Check the palace site before you go.
Tickets
| Site | Adult (19–64) | Closed on |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | ₩3,000 | Tuesday |
| Changdeokgung | ₩3,000 | Monday |
| Deoksugung | ₩1,000 | Monday |
| Changgyeonggung | ₩1,000 | Monday |
| Jongmyo Shrine | ₩1,000 | Tuesday |
| Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon) | +₩5,000 (ages 7–18: ₩2,500) | Monday |
| Integrated pass | ₩6,000 — 4 palaces + Jongmyo, 6 months | — |
- Free: foreigners aged 18 and under, and 65 and over; anyone wearing hanbok (not the Secret Garden).
- Groups of 10+: Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung ₩2,400, others ₩800 (Jongmyo ₩1,000; no group price for the Secret Garden).
Hanbok free entry — what counts
- Traditional or modern hanbok both count.
- You need both a top (jeogori) and a skirt or trousers, ties or buttons fastened, legs covered.
- Not accepted: a durumagi coat on its own, T-shirt-style hanbok, half an outfit (jeogori with jeans, skirt with a T-shirt).
- Staff may refuse free entry for inappropriate outfits.
Opening hours by season
| Site | Hours (last entry) |
|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec: 09:00–17:00 (16:00) Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct: 09:00–18:00 (17:00) Jun, Jul, Aug: 09:00–18:30 (17:30) |
| Changdeokgung | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct: 09:00–18:00 (17:00) Jun, Jul, Aug: 09:00–18:30 (17:30) Nov, Dec, Jan: 09:00–17:30 (16:30) |
| Deoksugung | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec: 09:00–21:00 (20:00) |
| Changgyeonggung | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec: 09:00–21:00 (20:00) |
| Jongmyo Shrine | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct: 09:00–18:00 Jun, Jul, Aug: 09:00–18:30 Nov, Dec, Jan: 09:00–17:30 Free roaming only on Sat, Sun and holidays. Mon, Thu and Fri are timed guided entry only (about 50 min, 200 per slot: 100 online + 100 on site). |
Free English guided tours
| Site | Times |
|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Mon, Wed–Sun 11:00 · 13:30 · 15:30 (free, no booking under 10 people; meet in front of the information center inside Heungnyemun; 1–1.5 h) |
| Changdeokgung | Palace buildings Tue–Sun 10:15 · 13:15 (about 50 min) |
| Deoksugung | Tue–Sun 10:45 · 13:30 (about 45 min; meet at the information board past Daehanmun) |
| Changgyeonggung | Tue–Sun 11:00 · 15:00 (about 1 h) |
| Jongmyo Shrine | Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun 10:00 · 12:00 · 14:00 · 16:00 |
| Secret Garden (Huwon) | Mar–Nov 10:30 · 11:30 · 14:30 · 15:30; Dec–Feb 10:30 · 11:30 · 14:30 (about 70 min; 100 per slot: 50 online + 50 on site) |
Getting there: Route finder · Crowd forecast · Public holidays
FAQ
Which day are Seoul palaces closed?
Monday: Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung. Tuesday: Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo. If that day is a public holiday the palace opens and closes on the next non-holiday instead.
Is it free to enter palaces in hanbok?
Yes — anyone wearing hanbok gets in free, whatever their nationality. It must be a full outfit: both a jacket (jeogori) and a skirt or trousers, fastened, with the legs covered. A durumagi coat alone, a T-shirt-style hanbok or half an outfit (jeogori with jeans) does not count. Hanbok does not make the Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon) free.
How much is the Gyeongbokgung ticket?
₩3,000 for adults 19–64 (foreigners pay the same as Koreans). Foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over enter free. The integrated pass is ₩6,000 for one entry each to the four palaces and Jongmyo within 6 months (not the Secret Garden).
How do I book the Secret Garden (Huwon)?
Online from 10:00 six days before your visit (the visit day excluded) until the day before, or on site from 09:00 on the day. The garden costs ₩5,000 on top of the Changdeokgung ticket. April–May and October–November sell out fast.
Are there free English tours?
Yes, at all five sites — see the table above. Gyeongbokgung runs 11:00, 13:30 and 15:30 (closed Tuesdays); no booking for groups under 10.
Is there a free day?
The palace fee page lists every Wednesday as "Culture Day" free admission, except Gyeongbokgung and the Secret Garden. The same site’s hours table still marks Changgyeonggung as the last Wednesday of the month — check on the day.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01): Royal Palaces — hours · Royal Palaces — admission · Royal Palaces — hanbok rules · Royal Palaces — guided tours. Rules and prices change — the official page wins if it differs. Page rebuilt 2026-10-01.
