Seoul palace guide (2026): which of the five is actually worth it

Gyeongbokgung is the usual pick if you choose one — it's the largest and most iconic, has the changing-of-the-guard ceremony, and sits beside great museums and Bukchon. If you'd rather avoid the biggest crowds and love gardens, Changdeokgung with its Secret Garden is the connoisseur's choice. The honest catch is that Gyeongbokgung is also the busiest, so go early or late in the day, and check which day each palace closes before you commit.

For a long time, wearing hanbok (traditional Korean dress) has granted free entry to the main palaces, which is why you see so many visitors in rented hanbok at the gates. Treat this as a planning note rather than a guarantee: policies and what counts as qualifying hanbok can change, and rental itself costs money. If free entry matters to you, confirm the current rule before your visit and check the rental shop knows the palace's requirements.

Gyeongbokgung is the grand, symmetrical main palace: big open courtyards, the guard ceremony and the most famous photo spots, but also the most crowds. Changdeokgung is more intimate and was built to blend with the landscape; its Secret Garden (Huwon) is the highlight and is visited on a timed, often guided basis. In short: Gyeongbokgung for scale and ceremony, Changdeokgung for gardens and calm. Many culture-focused travelers do both on different days.

Plan roughly half a morning or afternoon for one palace if you want to actually wander rather than tick a box — Gyeongbokgung's grounds are large, and Changdeokgung's Secret Garden adds a timed walk on top. Doing two palaces in one day is possible but rushed, especially with crowds and travel between sites. A relaxed approach is one palace plus a nearby neighbourhood (Bukchon, a museum or Insadong) per half day.

Treat this as a planning guide. Early morning right after opening, or late afternoon before closing, gives the thinnest crowds and the best light for photos. Spring and autumn are the most beautiful (blossoms, then foliage) but also the most popular, so the crowd trade-off is real. Each palace has a regular weekly closing day, so always check before you go — turning up on the closed day is the classic mistake. Special night openings sometimes run in peak seasons and sell out fast.