Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The National Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum are located on the grounds of this palace, built six centuries ago by the founder of the Chosun dynasty.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Jongno-gu
How to get there
- Gyeongbokgung • 7 min walk
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- Banu3009Singapore, Singapore187 contributionsBeautiful historical placeWe were there by 10am and that was good as the place quickly filled with tourists. Lots of scenic spots to take memorable shots in hanbok. There’s free guided tour in English at specific timing. Bring a hat or umbrella along as the place can get very hot with limited shaded areas.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 7 October 2023
- traveltotelltalesSingapore, Singapore161 contributionsHistorically speakingThe palace of the Joseon (last dynasty of Korea) is magnificent, grand, beautiful and royal. The change of guards in the morning and afternoon is an added bonus if you manage to catch it. Take your time and explore this great historical site.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 9 October 2023
- Trophy Travel ExperiencesVancouver, Canada440 contributionsBeautiful Palace But Would Recommend Tour for ContextWe went there on a holiday so admission is free. You can also get free admission if you wear a hanbok but you have to pay to rent this. I think admission is 3,000 won so not expensive. It is a great palace but I would recommend doing one of their free tours to give you context. We missed out on it so although everything is really magnificent, you don't know the historical significance of each building. We watched the changing of the guard ceremony that I believe is done at 10 am and 2 pm each day. There is some English commentary but hard to understand so there are so many people talking around you. This is also free. All in all, a good experience. I am not sure if you need to go at night or have to go to all 5 of the palaces in Seoul.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 October 2023
- NA- AustraliaDandenong, Australia1,060 contributionsA must visit placeMany buildings faithfully reproduced and some a few hundred years old. Very large area to cover, and made all the more engaging by the hundreds of guests dressed in Hambok. Changing of guards commentary in English is difficult to understand but very colourful and culturally accurate ( they say). Worth a visitVisited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 October 2023
- Lester GencianeoMacau, China736 contributionsHistorical PalaceThe palace is beautiful and rich in history. Better to visit with a local friend or with a tour guide if you are into history. Some historical halls are open for public viewing. There are lots of Hanbok rental shops outside the palace for visitors who desires the costume experience. Entrance to the palace is free if you rented a Hanbok.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 October 2023
- Kumar786Bengaluru, India1,081 contributionsA morning in the Gyeongbokgung PalaceThe palace visit was excellent. We loved the change of guard ceremony. It was very colourful. The other points in the Palace was very nice and well maintained. We could imagine the life style of the Korean kings. A wonderful palace more than 600 years old.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 16 October 2023
- 197gabesSingapore, Singapore178 contributionsA must see historical palace when in SeoulIf there is only time to visit one palace while in Seoul, this would be the one. It’s really nice to see the preservation of such a historic landmark in the middle of an ever changing modern city. It’s has everything you would expect or want to see; a grand main hall, well kept gardens, beautiful architecture and historical buildings. An amazing experience not to miss would be to time your visit such that you have the chance to view the changing of the guards. Do come early to secure the best possible spot to watch the entire procession. The colors of the guard’s costumes are so vivid and beautiful against the backdrop of historical and modern buildings around. Another tip when visiting the place is wear comfortable shoes, bring along some fluid to keep hydrated and slap on some sunscreen as the place is quite big. One will easily need an hour or two to cover the entire place. Lastly to truly make the trip memorable is to play dress up and blend into the surroundings landscape by renting a traditional hanbok from one of the many hanbok shops just outside the grounds and enter the palace grounds for free.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 27 October 2023
- NawalisBangkok, Thailand6 contributionsRegal and magnificentIts intricate design and regal atmosphere make it a truly magnificent experience. From the grand courtyards to the intricate architecture, this palace is a must-see for anyone visiting Korea. Be sure to take in the history and culture that this palace has to offer.Visited November 2023Travelled on businessWritten 26 November 2023
- Deanosaur89Edmonton, Canada8,870 contributionsLovely afternoon at the palaceThe palace area is really nice and is one of the best restored palaces in the area. The information office can provide a free map in English and it provides good information on the area and history or use of each building. You cannot go inside many of the buildings but you can look inside some. The palace area is easy to navigate with the map and it was nice having the map to know what we were looking at. Many people had come in Hanboks and these can be rented at many nearby shops. The closest metro is Gyeongbokgung station and the entrance fee is 3000 won. Plan to spend about an hour or two here and plan to spend more time in the area if you want to check out the nearby hanok village, museums or nearby palaces. This palace is closed on Tuesdays and the others are closed on Mondays so plan accordingly.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 December 2023
- Emma CGodalming, United Kingdom3,052 contributionsMagnificentThis was my second visit to Gyeongbokgung, with the first 10 years ago...the place looks exactly the same... magnificent! We came on a sunny afternoon in November. It was pretty busy and definitely full of people in Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), which is always lovely to see. We had a good look around and made sure we saw the changing of the guard. It was a lot bigger than I remember. Very grand and colourful. For me, this represents Korea, so it would be a travesty if someone came to Seoul but didn't visit. You'll need a good few hours to see the Palace properly.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 December 2023
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4.5
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Neil Explores
Quezon City, Philippines160 contributions
Nov 2019
A visit to the palace is not complete without wearing the colorful Hanbok, Korea's national costume. There are tons of Hanbok shops around the palace where you can either buy or wear them for a fee. Upon entering the palace grounds, it feels like you travelled back in time with practically almost all visitors wearing the Hanbok. It will definitely make you appreciate the palace and the country more.
Written 12 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patrickperbkk
Perth, Australia1,177 contributions
Jan 2020
Highly recommended to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace at 9am as it’s quite empty, not many tourists yet. The Palace is very interesting with long history.
There is a security guards gate change performance at 10am and it’s free. Anyway, the palace is closed on Tuesday.
It's very convenient to visit as it's located in the heart of Seoul.
There is a security guards gate change performance at 10am and it’s free. Anyway, the palace is closed on Tuesday.
It's very convenient to visit as it's located in the heart of Seoul.
Written 2 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris Ruggaluffagus
Yorktown, VA298 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
This palace is definitely a must see over all other palaces in Seoul. It’s enormous with many areas to spread out and explore. A small fee of ₩3000 is required to enter the grounds, but for the most famous/popular pictures you can take those for free without entering.
Warning...a lot of construction and renovation so you won’t get to see any of the water features in previous pictures.
Bring your walking shoes, lockers are provided for free on site. This is a great place to let the kids run around.
Located in the “heart” of Seoul, there are many places close by to explore further.
Only really need 1 hour, but can take up to 2 hours if you read all the signs and go in every building.
Warning...a lot of construction and renovation so you won’t get to see any of the water features in previous pictures.
Bring your walking shoes, lockers are provided for free on site. This is a great place to let the kids run around.
Located in the “heart” of Seoul, there are many places close by to explore further.
Only really need 1 hour, but can take up to 2 hours if you read all the signs and go in every building.
Written 7 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan B
Atlanta, GA942 contributions
July 2022
I was in Seoul for only 5 days on a business trip and got 1 free morning and afternoon to enjoy the city before an evening flight and I was so glad I visited this palace! I stayed at the Plaza Hotel and it was about a 20 minute walk to the impressive front gates. There were guards dressed in period costumes you could take pictures next to and in the front you could purchase guided tours or get a free map to walk around. There are kiosks where you can buy tickets in any language which was helpful for me as an English speaker. They also rent period dress outfits you can wear and they waive the entrance cost (which was very cheap) and that was popular with the kids. I spent the better part of 2 hours walking the property and seeing the sites of this almost 700 year old complex. The pictures were beautiful, especially the gazebos on the water. There was also a small cafe and gift shop on the grounds to get out of the sweltering heat. If you only have a day to visit the city I recommend not missing the palace!
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abovetheclouds
2,321 contributions
June 2022 • Solo
Of all the palaces in Seoul, this is the main one and a must. If your limited on time, definitely do this one. As you can imagine, busy but with Korea having just reopened after C-19, not as bad as pre-pandemic times. Go early. I got there at 09:00 as it opened and I was done by noon. It was packed by then. Grounds are huge, when it starts to get hot you will struggle in the heat. Entrance is cheap. I timed my visit so I walked around for an hour, watched the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at 10:00 (around fifteen minutes), walked around some more and then joined the free English guided tour at 11:00 for one hour. Check online the night before as they change timings and closure days. Perfect. My free time allowed me to explore and the guided tour was good providing an overview to some of the main buildings as well as details I didn't notice walking alone. Guided tours are not in many languages. English was the only European language but this may be due to the limited tourists at present. Take water with. I may be wrong but there only appeared to be one cafe inside. If you don't do the free guided tour, there are information booklets but staff are not that friendly and don't volunteer this information. After you have purchased a ticket, go through the main entrance and on the right are the booklets in a few languages. There are also information boards at some of the palace buildings with a few facts. At the time of writing June, 2022 adult entry for a foreigner is 3,000 Korean Won. If you wear the traditional Korean hanbok outfit (assume you can hire this nearby), then you can go in for free. A lot of people were doing this but check the price first. Unless you want to dress up and take photographs then do it. If your doing it to go in free, the entrance is cheap and I think hiring the outfit may cost more! Plus it is really hot (depending when you go). The National Folk Museum of Korea is located at the back, free to enter. Highly recommend going. Although I was tired I did this after the palace (spent about an hour at the museum) and it was really good. In total I was there for four hours to cover both. Grounds are clean and well laid out. If you do the museum, you cannot go back into the palace so do it after you have finished at the palace. The museum exits into a main road where you can easily get public transport or a taxi.
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fire-tower
3,217 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Visited Gyeongbokgung Palace on Christmas Day and the place was packed with both locals and tourists. There is a small entrance fee charged but youths get to go in for free. We could not rent audio guides though, as we had left our passports at the hotel, and the guy manning the counter refused to let us have more than 1 audio guide as I was the only one with a drivers licence (they need government issued IDs as a security deposit - something which many other place do not require other than a cash security).
As it had been snowing since the night before and still snowing when we arrived, the palace grounds were covered in a blanket of powered snow and the ponds were all frozen. The entire palace was well maintained and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Do pay the entrance fees and enter the grounds. Definitely worth a visit.
As it had been snowing since the night before and still snowing when we arrived, the palace grounds were covered in a blanket of powered snow and the ponds were all frozen. The entire palace was well maintained and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Do pay the entrance fees and enter the grounds. Definitely worth a visit.
Written 15 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Venneth Chan
Singapore, Singapore45 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
A rich in cultural and historical value place to visit.Lots of visitor tourists during the winter holidays. A must visit to their HISTORICAL AND Cultural Museum located directly within the Palace vacinity. The museum inside is clean, quiet and warmy-heated during the winter .Has free locker service to accommodate our outer winter wears etc. Another tourist attraction free for viewing.
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rememr
Singapore, Singapore1,167 contributions
Feb 2020
Visited Gyeongbokgung Palace as part of the free entrance ticket from Discover Seoul Pass.
Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon the guard changing ceremony, I later found out this takes place twice a day in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung at 10 am and 2 pm (except on Tuesdays). There are also photo opportunities with the guards.
Entering the palace grounds, it kind of reminds me of Joseon drama. Quite a number of visitors were spotted to be donned in Hambok, which is a recommended activity to take you back in time.
There is also a small cafe and restrooms within the vicinity.
Overall, a must-visit if it is your first time to Seoul.
Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon the guard changing ceremony, I later found out this takes place twice a day in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung at 10 am and 2 pm (except on Tuesdays). There are also photo opportunities with the guards.
Entering the palace grounds, it kind of reminds me of Joseon drama. Quite a number of visitors were spotted to be donned in Hambok, which is a recommended activity to take you back in time.
There is also a small cafe and restrooms within the vicinity.
Overall, a must-visit if it is your first time to Seoul.
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie B
Dublin, Ireland138 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
The palace is amazing to visit and very beautiful throughout the premises. I recommend visiting the museum before the palace itself to have a better idea of the history and significant behind the different areas of the palace. It also has someore context of different symbols and patterns to look out for throughout.
However, be wary of private tour guides. While making our way through the crowded main areas of the palace, a private tour guide very aggresively said 'Why are you following me' to myself and my partner. Extremely rude and unnecessary considering we were looking around all the areas like everyone else. Really ruined the experience for us and made us very wary of going to near any other groups of people who might be part of a private tour (which is most of the palace as it's a very popular attraction).
However, be wary of private tour guides. While making our way through the crowded main areas of the palace, a private tour guide very aggresively said 'Why are you following me' to myself and my partner. Extremely rude and unnecessary considering we were looking around all the areas like everyone else. Really ruined the experience for us and made us very wary of going to near any other groups of people who might be part of a private tour (which is most of the palace as it's a very popular attraction).
Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex H
Port St. Mary, UK2,592 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
This palace is conveniently located in Seoul and is set in the backdrop of picturesque mountains - it is really pretty for photos. The first part of the grounds is free, and even this is worth seeing. We paid for entry into the next part of the palace grounds which was cheap (from memory around 6,000 WON), and this was really worthwhile doing. While we were there (2nd January), we saw the guards wearing Joseon outfits performing a ceremony and playing Korean style music which was really cool to see. Would definitely recommend visiting here if in Seoul.
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isabina G
Bacolod, Philippines
i want to know if a tourguide is required tour in whole south korea
Written 24 February 2024
I had a tour guide and he was wonderful
They don’t speak English
On the day that we didn’t have a guide I used the google translation in order to communicate
Written 9 September 2024
Which palace has the better tour? If we can only choose one palace to do guided english tour, which is better? Gyeongbokgung Palace vs Changdeokgung Palace
Written 23 July 2022
How much cost to rent hanbok?
And what time is appropriate to visiting in August?
Written 15 February 2020
HI. price from 15 000 to 35 000.
Depens of plavce where you rent and time. Also you can find % for hanbok in internert
Written 5 March 2020
Hi are all the tourist attraction still open because of the virus? i heard schools have closed because of this in south korea?
Written 3 February 2020
I believe they’re all keeping regular hours, though admission times to palaces are always reduced in February compared to summertime. I suppose this could change at any time due to the viral outbreak. Your best bet would be to contact the attraction the day before you want to go, or confirm with a concierge if your hotel has one. Both the National Museum and the War Memorial are vast in size, and of course the palaces are wide-open spaces. Infection of any sort would be considerably more likely in the subway headed to the attraction, than at the attraction itself. Do note that there’s been a run on protective masks in Seoul, so you might want to bring some with you. Web pages may not reflect a sudden emergency change in hours of opening, so I’d recommend you phone ahead. Here are phone numbers to my three favourite attractions. National Museum +82-2-2077-9000. War Memorial +82 2-709-3139. Gyeongbokgung +82-2-3700-3900.
Written 4 February 2020
Dan
Malaysia
Are we allowed to enter the wooden bridge of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion? Seems like its a no entry. Is there any ways to enter ??
Written 31 January 2020
No we couldn't enter as well, we didn't ask either. Nevertheless you could check with information, maybe they are doing some work or something in that section.
Written 2 February 2020
8.6 euros is too much, maybe you got the special private tour. Free entrance if you wear hanbok (which you have to rent and is pricey) or last Wednesday of the month. Yes drinks you can get from outside.
Written 4 September 2019
Hyejin J
Seoul, South Korea
Just a day is enough! It takes only 2~3 hours to look around the whole palace.
There are some traditional villages and markets, so you should visit there, too!
Written 3 September 2019
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