Gyeongbokgung Palace: a first-timer’s guide
Seoul’s grandest palace rewards a slow visit: the right gate, the right hour, and time to watch the guard ceremony.
Gyeongbokgung, built in 1395, is the largest and most ceremonial of Seoul's five grand palaces. It is also the easiest to rush. Give it a full morning, enter through the great Gwanghwamun Gate, and let the courtyards unfold in order—each gate frames the next.
The basics
- Hours: roughly 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM in spring and autumn (shorter in winter, longer in summer); last admission one hour before closing
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Tickets: adults about ₩3,000; visitors wearing a full hanbok enter free
- Getting there: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 5
Hours and fees can change for events and holidays—check the official palace site on the morning of your visit.
Do not miss the guard ceremony
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate runs at about 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM and lasts around 20 minutes. It is free to watch, and the guards' bright uniforms against the gate make it one of Seoul's great street spectacles.
The hanbok tip, done right
Rental shops cluster around the palace. For free entry, the outfit must be complete—a jeogori top with a skirt or trousers. A top worn over jeans does not qualify. Rent first, then walk straight in: it is the rare case where dressing up saves money.
A simple route
Gwanghwamun Gate → Geunjeongjeon (the throne hall) → Gyeonghoeru Pavilion on its pond → the quieter rear gardens. Two to three unhurried hours is about right.