Gyeongbokgung Palace Guide: Free Entry in Hanbok & Tips
Gyeongbokgung is Seoul’s main royal palace and the first stop on most trips. Here’s what to know before you go.
Quick facts
- Built: 1395, the main palace of the Joseon dynasty
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Free entry: if you wear hanbok
- Subway: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3)
A short history
The palace burned during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and lay in ruins for about 270 years. It was rebuilt in the 1860s, then largely torn down during the Japanese colonial period. Restoration has been going on since the 1990s.
Wear hanbok, get in free
Dozens of rental shops sit around the palace. Rent for a few hours, walk in for free, and you’ll fit right into the photos.
Don’t miss
- Guard changing ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate — usually 10:00 and 14:00.
- Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall.
- Gyeonghoeru, the banquet pavilion on a lake.
- Hyangwonjeong, the small pavilion and bridge at the back — the prettiest corner.
Nearby
Walk on to Bukchon Hanok Village — see Seoul Day 1.
More Korea travel guides
- 3 Days in Seoul Itinerary: The Easy First-Timer Plan
- Seoul Day 1: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon & Ihwa Mural Village
- Seoul Day 2: Gwangjang Market, DDP, Cheonggyecheon & Myeongdong
- Seoul Day 3: Seokchon Lake, Starfield Library & the Han River
- Gwangjang Market: What to Eat (and How to Order)
- Han River Parks in Seoul: Ramyeon, Bikes & the Rainbow Fountain
- Busan 2-Day Itinerary: Beaches, Temple & Seafood
- Gyeongju 1-Day Itinerary: Bulguksa, Royal Tombs & Wolji Pond
- Seoul First-Time Tips: T-money, Subway & Apps
Photo credits — Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; IssamBarhoumi / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
