Korean Experience Guide
Palace Tour (고궁 투어)
5 royal palaces from the Joseon Dynasty — Gyeongbokgung guard ceremony alone is worth the trip.
Seoul has 5 grand palaces from the 600-year Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Gyeongbokgung is the largest and most photographed, with a daily Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at 10am and 2pm. Changdeokgung has a UNESCO-listed Secret Garden (advance booking required). Deoksugung's stone wall path is the most romantic walk in Seoul.
Best season
Spring (cherry blossom + connecting wall) + autumn (foliage)
What's included
- • Palace entry (KRW 3,000 each, free with hanbok)
- • 5-palace integrated pass (KRW 10,000, valid 3 months)
- • Free English audio guide (pickup at gate)
- • Optional 1hr English docent tour (free, set times)
Where to experience Palace Tour
- 1.Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) — main palace, guard ceremony 10am/2pm daily except Tue
- 2.Changdeokgung (창덕궁) — UNESCO Secret Garden, advance booking required
- 3.Deoksugung (덕수궁) — stone wall path, English night tour on weekends
- 4.Changgyeonggung (창경궁) — quieter sister palace, connected to Changdeokgung
- 5.Jongmyo (종묘) — royal ancestral shrine, UNESCO, guided tour only on most days
Tips
- •Buy the integrated 5-palace pass — it pays off after 4 palaces.
- •Wear hanbok for free entry — saves KRW 15,000 across all 5 palaces.
- •Changdeokgung's Secret Garden requires advance booking on the official site (limit 50 visitors per session).
- •Mondays Gyeongbokgung closed, Tuesdays most others closed — plan around this.
Frequently asked
Which Korean palace is best?
Gyeongbokgung is largest and most famous (guard ceremony). Changdeokgung has the most beautiful gardens. Visit both if you can.
Are palaces free in Seoul?
Free if you wear hanbok. Otherwise KRW 3,000 each, or KRW 10,000 for the 5-palace integrated pass.
When is Gyeongbokgung guard ceremony?
10am and 2pm daily except Tuesdays (palace closed). Free to watch — arrive 15 min early for front row.