Seoul’s palaces are easy to visit, but their closing days, ticket rules, and special tours differ. For a simple first visit, choose Gyeongbokgung for its scale, then add Deoksugung for a shorter central-Seoul stop or Changdeokgung if you can reserve the Secret Garden. Check the official calendar before you go: most palaces close on a regular weekday, and holiday schedules can change it. Starting in October 2026, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo open free every Wednesday; Deoksugung began weekly Wednesday free admission in August. Gyeongbokgung is not included in this expansion, and Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden is excluded.
Which palace should you choose?
- Gyeongbokgung: the classic first stop, with broad courtyards and prominent royal halls. Its regular closing day is Tuesday.
- Changdeokgung: a good choice for architecture and landscaped grounds. The Secret Garden is a separate, limited-capacity visit with timed entry; book ahead if it is a priority.
- Deoksugung: convenient for a shorter visit near City Hall. Its regular closing day is Monday.
- Changgyeonggung: a quieter option often paired with Changdeokgung. Its regular closing day is Monday.
- Jongmyo Shrine: a different experience focused on ancestral rites and ritual architecture. Guided-tour and reservation rules vary by day.
These are regular patterns, not a promise that a site will be open on every holiday or event date. The Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center publishes current notices, hours, and admission information. Check the specific palace page before setting your route.
Tickets and the Secret Garden
On days when admission is charged, current adult tickets are ₩3,000 for Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung’s palace area, ₩1,000 for Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo. The four-palace-and-Jongmyo integrated ticket is ₩6,000 and is valid for six months; it does not include Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden. From October 2026, the free Wednesday policy applies to Changdeokgung’s palace area, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo; Deoksugung’s Wednesday free admission began in August. The Secret Garden remains a separately ticketed visit, and Gyeongbokgung keeps its regular admission charge. Check the official notice and reservation system for the exact date you plan to visit.
Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden has separate timed admission and limited capacity. Book online from 10:00 a.m. six days before your visit until the day before. Same-day tickets are sold in person from 9:00 a.m., first come, first served and subject to availability. The center warns that both online and on-site tickets can sell out quickly in April, May, October, and November. The integrated palace ticket does not include the Secret Garden. Check current availability, language-tour times, and reservation terms on the official fee and reservation page rather than relying on an old screenshot or third-party schedule.
Secret Garden cost check (October 1, 2026): The Garden ticket is ₩5,000 for adults aged 19 and over; it does not replace admission to Changdeokgung’s palace area. An overseas visitor aged 19–64 who pays both standard individual fees should budget ₩8,000: ₩5,000 for the Garden plus ₩3,000 for the palace area. If you qualify for free palace entry or use the integrated ticket, check the Garden charge separately; palace admission concessions do not automatically waive it. Confirm Garden-specific exemptions and current fees in the official admission table.
Can you enter free in hanbok?
Traditional and modernized hanbok can qualify for free admission at the palaces under the official guidelines. The key is wearing a complete outfit: a jeogori (upper garment) with a skirt or pants. A hanbok top with jeans, or a hanbok skirt with a T-shirt, does not qualify. Keep the jeogori properly fastened and follow staff instructions.
Hanbok rental is optional. If you rent one, check the return time and location before you leave the shop, and allow time to change before your palace entry. Do not assume the rental fee includes accessories or admission benefits.
Opening hours and weekly closures
Regular closing days are generally Monday for Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung, and Tuesday for Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo. When a regular closure coincides with a public holiday, the palace may open and close on another weekday instead. Special evening openings also use separate dates, tickets, and entry windows.
Hours change by season and site. Gyeongbokgung’s official schedule, for example, lists different closing times by season and an earlier last admission. Arrive with enough time to enter before the posted last-entry time; do not plan around the gate closing time alone.
A practical first-visit plan
- Choose one major palace rather than trying to rush through all five.
- Check that palace’s official hours, weekly closure, notices, and ticket page on the day you plan to visit.
- If visiting Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden, reserve a timed slot first, then plan the rest of the day around it.
- Bring a payment method for admission and comfortable shoes; palace grounds involve a lot of walking.
- If using hanbok for free entry, wear the complete outfit and verify the current guidelines before renting.
For related trip logistics, see our Incheon Airport departure guide and Korea tax-refund guide.
FAQ
Which Seoul palace is best for a first-time visitor?
Gyeongbokgung is the straightforward classic choice. Pick Changdeokgung if its architecture and Secret Garden are your priority, and reserve the timed garden visit separately.
Are Seoul palaces free if I wear hanbok?
Eligible traditional and modernized hanbok qualify under the official rules, but the outfit must include a proper upper garment and skirt or pants. Partial outfits do not qualify.
Are palaces open on Mondays?
Some are, but Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung generally close on Mondays. Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo generally close Tuesdays. Holiday and special-event schedules can differ, so check official notices.
Does the integrated palace ticket include the Secret Garden?
No. The official integrated ticket covers the four palaces and Jongmyo, but Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden requires a separate timed ticket.
Sources (checked September 28, 2026):
Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: Hours and regular closing days
Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: Admission fees, integrated ticket, and Secret Garden reservations
Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: weekly Wednesday free-admission expansion in 2026
Deoksugung Palace: weekly Wednesday free admission from August 5, 2026
Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: Hanbok free-admission guidelines
Hours, admissions, reservation windows, and closure changes are subject to official updates. Recheck the palace’s notice before your visit.