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
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Gyeongbokgung Palace
The area
Neighborhood: Jongno-gu
How to get there
- Gyeongbokgung • 7 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,618 within 3 miles
Attractions
594 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Connector34066868373Browns Mills, New Jersey1 contributionThe Grand PalaceMy daughter and I visited the palace and it was absolutely amazing! Turn to the left and you're looking at the mountain. Turn to the right and you're looking at skyscrapers. It felt like a movie. My favorite part: THE LIBRARY!! If you are granted the opportunity, please go!Visited April 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 2, 2023
- LeeNClarkeSydney, Australia539 contributionsBeautiful rebuilt Palace.A beautiful rebuilt of the Palace after it was destroyed in the last Japanese occupation. The architecture very ornate and beautiful. It is a very interesting visit ONLY if you wait for a guided tour in English. The English speaking guide was very engaging and informative. Made the trip worthwhile.Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 5, 2023
- K.W.36 contributionsLarge Palace!My husband, 10 yr old daughter and I have been to Gyeonbokgung twice. The first time we walked the grounds but did not get to see everything (FYI it is very hot in August, especially while wearing Hanbok). The second was part of a quick stop to watch the changing of the guard. Do yourself a favor and make sure you do this. It is a recreation of what would have happened at the palace daily. Our daughter really enjoyed it.Visited April 2023Written June 6, 2023
- Evo5sg25 contributionsPalace in the cityVery touristy place with bus loads of them. Not much shade available as it was very hot on the day of my visit - Monday. Witnessed the guard ceremony at 11 am. Youth from overseas do not need to pay for complimentary tickets currently.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 6, 2023
- Alicia F6 contributionsA must seeMake sure you catch the changing of the guard ceremony! Quite a bit of history at this site. I wished there were a few rooms open, like the sleeping places of those who worked and lived (beyond royalty) at the palace. Do many walls, but little else to see. We also made sure to see the Palace Museum (free) to complete our Palace tour.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 22, 2023
- Keith SMount Claremont, Australia288 contributionsLarge palace with multiple buildingLarge palace, multiple buildings, lots of people dressed up in hanbok. The palace stretches for hundreds of metres back and features multiple buildings, moats, temples and a small pagoda. Fun to exploreVisited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 23, 2023
- Cheryl C25 contributionsA lot of the sameA lot of area to cover if you want to pay to go through the whole site. However if you just want a taste of the palace you can go in the front gate, see the changing of the guards for free. Many people dress up in time period clothes for pictures. We saw a store where you could rent the clothes right near the palace.Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 24, 2023
- Moonrock1962Devonport, Australia975 contributionsImpressive palace and cultural experienceOur first visit to a Korean Palace and we were not disappointed. Gyeongbokgung is easy to access via subway and impresses immediately on first sight. There is a regular changing of the guard and it is a colourful ceremony- well worth spending time to watch this. Over the road from the Palace are lots of little shops hiring out traditional Hanok clothing. If you don’t dress up you will be the odd one out and it really adds to the visuals. To locate the shops, just look at where streams of costumed people are coming from and follow the lines back. An apparent bonus is that wearing Hanok is free entry- well at least we were waved through at no charge which was nice. Interpretation signs in English scattered throughout the complex whith souvenir and coffee shop on site. An interesting and enjoyable visit.Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 7, 2023
- William MManila, Philippines51 contributionsAn amazing experienceA very large palace that is easily accessible by subway. The changing of the guard ceremony is a must-see. You can also rent out the traditional hanbok clothing and enter the palace grounds for free. Take your time to go around the palace grounds and revisit history. It was a very impressive visit especially for those who are interested in the Korean culture.Visited April 2023Traveled with familyWritten July 8, 2023
- MisterUserNameAtlanta, Georgia387 contributionsScenic everywhereWe enjoyed walking around and taking pics for almost three hours while we were there last Saturday July 1, 2023. Tickets were easy to buy & quite cheap (3,000 won each), finding a parking spot wasn’t hard at all, and it wasn’t too crowded. There were people from everywhere and many of them were wearing hanboks on a very hot summer day in Seoul, hottest day of the year, close to 90 degrees. While walking around, we enjoyed the stunning views and reading about its rich history.Visited July 2023Traveled with friendsWritten July 11, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
10,836 reviews
Excellent
5,610
Very good
4,030
Average
1,090
Poor
88
Terrible
18
Neil Explores
Quezon City, Philippines161 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 April 12, 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, Australia1,220 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 April 2, 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, VA278 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 November 7, 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, GA900 contributions
Jul 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 August 17, 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
2,545 contributions
Jun 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 June 1, 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
1,935 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 January 15, 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 January 13, 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, Singapore957 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 August 10, 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, Ireland142 contributions
Jul 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 July 22, 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, UK1,319 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 January 9, 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
NA- Australia
Dandenong, Australia717 contributions
Apologies- only just saw this question - no I don’t think you need a tour guide. Using booking . Com and naver we found all we needed- granted some locations were harder to get to/ but patience and a good spirit will get you see most things you need- public transport is pretty good and comfortable there too.
chasewfahn
San Francisco, CA8 contributions
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
Abovetheclouds
2,545 contributions
Gyeongbokgung
How much cost to rent hanbok?
And what time is appropriate to visiting in August?
Мария М
Krasnodar, Russia104 contributions
HI. price from 15 000 to 35 000.
Depens of plavce where you rent and time. Also you can find % for hanbok in internert
EJ H
1 contribution
Hi are all the tourist attraction still open because of the virus? i heard schools have closed because of this in south korea?
Vincent M
New Orleans, LA2,213 contributions
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.
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 ??
Russell1979
Dubai, United Arab Emirates150 contributions
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.
How much money to spend for visiting gyeongbokgung palace?
Nikolaos Poniros
Seoul, South Korea59 contributions
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.
How much in total to spend for visiting gyeongbokgung palace?
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!
where can i buy integrated pass?
Richard E
Portsmouth, NH205 contributions
The passes can be bought at the ticket office just inside the entrance to the right. The changing of the gaurd is at 10am
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingGyeongbokgung Palace - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Gyeongbokgung Palace
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Gyeongbokgung Palace:
- Best Walking Tour to Gyeongbok Palace n Bukchon with Expert (From $88.00)
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul (From $7.00)
- Secret Food Tours Seoul w/ Private Tour Option (From $99.00)
- Seoul Palace Morning Tour (From $40.00)
- Seoul City Half Day Tour-Gyeongbok Palace Guard Changing Ceremony (From $38.00)
- Hotels near Gyeongbokgung Palace:
- (0.18 mi) Woo Guest House
- (0.26 mi) Raon Guesthouse
- (0.37 mi) Somerset Palace Seoul
- (0.20 mi) Ohbok Hanok Guesthouse
- (0.23 mi) Gongsimga Guesthouse
- Restaurants near Gyeongbokgung Palace:
- (0.20 mi) Hwangsaengga Kalguksu
- (0.18 mi) Baekmidang - Samcheong
- (0.31 mi) Tosokchon Samgyetang
- (0.18 mi) Ilsangdabansa
- (0.20 mi) The Hanok Smith Likes
- Attractions near Gyeongbokgung Palace:
- (0.08 mi) Here Korea Travel
- (0.06 mi) Gyeonghuigung Palace
- (0.17 mi) National Folk Museum of Korea
- (0.25 mi) Top Korea Tour
- (0.18 mi) National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul