Place · Gyeongbokgung & Gwanghwamun

Gyeongbokgung Palace경복궁

Q: How much is the ticket?

About ₩3,000 for adults (2026 estimate). It is free if you wear a hanbok and on the last Wednesday of each month (check).

Go at opening on any day except Tuesday; 90 minutes through the main courts; dress in a hanbok for free entry if you like, otherwise buy at the gate.

go at hour · at openingadmission: unknownNot field-verified

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Key facts

Time on site: 70–90 min; p95 140 min
Price: about ₩3,000 (≈ US$3); adult, 2026 estimate
Hours: 09:00–?; typical, check · closed Tue
Best time: at opening; quietest window
28″ bags: Painful; Gyeongbokgung & Gwanghwamun: painful
Getting there: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), exit 5

Closed Tuesday
Free in hanbok
Guard change 10:00 and 14:00 (check)
Go at opening
Works with kids

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 8Bukchon and many guesthouse lanes are steep

East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
South Korea ↗Check K-ETA and visa status on the official sites before you fly; the list of nationalities exempted from registering online changes year by year.
South Korea ↗Google Maps gives poor walking and driving directions in Korea; use Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes.
South Korea ↗Buy a T-money card (or use a phone-based transit pass) for subway and buses; it also pays at convenience stores and many taxis.
Seoul Capital Area ↗Dec–Feb in the capital area is dry and very cold (−10 to 3°C): pack a windproof layer and warm socks.
Seoul ↗Bukchon and many guesthouse lanes are steep: large suitcases go from the car or subway exit straight to the door.
Seoul ↗The subway stops around midnight; after that use taxis and check the last train in your map app.

Actions

Usually Opens 09:00 · closed Tue

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

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Plan

What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there

Know before you go

Closed on Tuesdays. Hours run from 09:00 and close 17:00–18:30 depending on the season, with last entry an hour before (check).
Adult ticket about ₩3,000 (≈ US$3) (2026 estimate); entry is free if you wear a hanbok, and on the last Wednesday of the month (check).
The grounds are big: 90 minutes covers the main axis and the pavilion; add an hour for the National Palace Museum and the Folk Museum, both free.
The courts are gravel with high thresholds; there is almost no shade in the main courtyards in summer.
Free guided tours in English leave from the information desk at set times (check the day's schedule).
Night openings in spring and autumn need an advance online ticket and sell out within minutes (check dates).

Best time of day

Go at opening. Plan 70–90 min inside.

quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends, blossom and leaf weeks and national holidays

Weather here, next 7 days

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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

45min

Worthwhile

70min

Typical

90min

p95

140min

Opening hours change by season and the palace is closed on Tuesday; exact times are not printed until verified.

Plan this visit

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I reach the gate at

Time inside

Crowd on arrival: light
Worst while inside: busy
Leave by: 10:30
Closing buffer: 390′

Good window: go.

Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 17:00. Posted closing is 17:00 in winter and up to 18:30 in summer; last entry is an hour earlier (check).
Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.

Ticket types

2026 estimate · check the posted board

Ticket	Price	Where to buy	Skip-the-line reality
Adult (19–64)	about ₩3,000 (≈ US$3) (2026 estimate)	Ticket office inside the first gate or ticket machines; cards accepted	No priority lane; queues are short before 10:00.
Children and youth	free or reduced (check)	Same counter	—
Visitors wearing hanbok	free	Walk straight to the gate	Staff check the dress at the entrance; follow the palace's hanbok guidelines.
Seniors 65+	free for Korean residents; foreign seniors may pay (check)	Same counter	—
Integrated palace pass	about ₩10,000 (≈ US$8) for four palaces and Jongmyo (check)	Any of the palace ticket offices	Saves little money; buy only if you visit four or more.
Night opening	separate ticket, about the day price (check)	Online booking, released weeks ahead	Sells out quickly; a few on-site tickets for seniors and foreigners with a passport (check).

Gwanghwamun Square and the gate ceremony are free; the ticket starts at Heungnyemun, the second gate.

What's inside, in walking order

75 min without detours

01
20′
Gwanghwamun gate and guard ceremony
Guard change at about 10:00 and 14:00, not Tuesdays (check).
02 · ticketed
5′
Heungnyemun and Yeongjegyo bridge
The ticketed zone starts here; stone guardians on the bridge.
03 · ticketed
15′
Geunjeongjeon throne hall
The two-tier throne hall on its stone terrace, with rank markers in the courtyard.
04 · ticketed
15′
Sajeongjeon and Gangnyeongjeon
The king's office and the royal sleeping quarters behind.
05 · ticketed
10′
Gyeonghoeru pavilion
Banquet pavilion on 48 stone pillars in a square pond; the classic photo.
06 · ticketed
10′
Hyangwonjeong
Small hexagonal pavilion on an island at the north end.
07 · optional
45′
National Palace Museum of Korea
Free, air-conditioned, by the west side of the first courtyard (check hours).
08 · optional
45′
National Folk Museum of Korea
Free, at the north-east corner; children's museum inside (check hours).

Pairs well with

after · place · 15′ walk

Bukchon Hanok Village

Out the east gate and uphill to the hanok lanes.

after · eat · 10′ walk

Tosokchon Samgyetang

Ginseng chicken soup on the Seochon side; go before 11:30.

after · walk · 5′ walk

Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon

Down the square to the start of the stream walk.

if raining · place · 3′ walk

National Palace Museum of Korea

Free and indoors inside the palace grounds.

How to do it well

1Arrive at the Gwanghwamun gate for 09:00 opening; the ticket office is inside the first courtyard, past Heungnyemun.
2Walk the main axis first (Geunjeongjeon throne hall, Sajeongjeon), then turn left to Gyeonghoeru pavilion before the groups arrive around 10:30.
3Finish at Hyangwonjeong and the north end, then leave by the east gate (Geonchunmun) towards Samcheong-dong and Bukchon.
4Catch the guard ceremony at Gwanghwamun at 10:00 or 14:00 on the way in or out (check times).

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), exit 5
Exit: —
Ticket: on site · official site
Stairs: unknown
Shoes: unknown

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock: Tour groups 10:00–12:00; weekends and holidays are busy; guard-changing at the gate draws crowds.
Sensory load: 3/5
Exposure: high

Bailouts

heat
Gyeongbokgung Station concourse (AC)
rain
Museum halls inside the palace grounds

Nearest rescue anchor: A — Gwanghwamun Gate benches

Combine in the same cluster

Bukchon Hanok Village (same day)

Red lines

Do not climb on walls, stones or steps; stay behind ropes.

More on the groundPhoto spots · Facilities · Step-free route · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Access and kids7 parts

Access and kids

wheelchair: cautionstroller: cautionkids: good

steps: Few steps on the main route; stone terraces around the throne hall have ramps at the sides (check).
wheelchair: The paved axis from Heungnyemun to Gyeonghoeru works; gravel courts are heavy going. The National Palace Museum is step-free.
stroller: Fine on the paved paths; gravel slows it down.
seating: Benches at the pond and along the walls.
with kids: Space to run, guards in costume, and the Folk Museum's children's museum; go early in summer.

Photo spots and rules

Spot	When	Rule on the spot
Gyeonghoeru across the pond	09:00–10:00; still mornings for reflections	Stay behind the rope along the pond edge.
Geunjeongjeon from the gate, Bugaksan behind	Morning, before groups	Do not climb onto the terrace railings.
Hyangwonjeong bridge	Autumn leaves or snow	The bridge itself is closed; shoot from the path.
Gwanghwamun and the guards	Ceremony times	Guards stand still; do not touch or block them.

Facilities on site

What	Status	Where / note
Toilets	yes	Near the ticket office, by Gyeonghoeru and in both museums.
Accessible toilet	yes	In the National Palace Museum and near the main entrance (check).
Lockers or cloakroom	limited	Small lockers at the National Palace Museum (check); coin lockers in Gyeongbokgung Station.
Café or food	limited	Café in the National Palace Museum; no food stalls in the grounds.
Drinking water	yes	Water fountains and vending machines near the museums.
Seating	limited	Benches along the edges of the courts and by the pond.
Wheelchair and stroller loan	check	Reported at the information centre; ask at the entrance.
Wi-Fi	check	Public Wi-Fi around Gwanghwamun Square.
Card or IC payment	yes	Cards at the ticket office and machines.

Step-free route

wheelchair: caution

1Start from Gyeongbokgung Station exit 5, which has a lift and leads straight into the grounds by the National Palace Museum (check).
2Keep to the paved central paths; ask staff at the information desk for the ramp positions around Geunjeongjeon.
3Gyeonghoeru is viewed from the paved path along the east side of the pond.
4Use the National Palace Museum for accessible toilets, lifts and a cool rest.

Seasons, festivals and night openings

When	What happens	Effect on your visit	Dates
Early–mid April	Cherry and apricot blossom in the palace	Weekend crowds and hanbok queues from opening.
Spring and autumn (dates vary)	Night openings and the Royal Culture Festival	Online tickets sell out; evening crowds.	check
Late October–mid November	Autumn colour around Hyangwonjeong	The busiest photo weeks.
July–August	Heat and monsoon	Little shade: go at 09:00 and move to the museums by 11:00.
Seollal and Chuseok	Holiday openings	Usually open and sometimes free; traditional games on the grounds (check).

“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.

Who it suits

Traveller	Fit	Why
First visit to Seoul	good	The city's main historic site, done in 90 minutes at opening.
Photographers	good	Gyeonghoeru and the throne hall with Bugaksan behind.
Families	good	Open courts, costumed guards and a free children's museum.
Wheelchair users	caution	Paved axis and museum work; gravel side courts do not.
Visitors who dislike crowds	caution	Only before 10:30 on a weekday.

Skip it if

It is Tuesday: go to Changdeokgung instead.
You have only an afternoon in July or August and cannot wait for the late hours.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

Can I bring food into the palace?

Snacks and water are fine; picnics on the lawns and eating in the halls are not. Eat in Seochon or at the museum café.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Do I have to wear a traditional hanbok for free entry?

The palace guidelines ask for traditional-style hanbok; heavily modernised or fusion costumes may not qualify (check at the gate).

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

What day is Gyeongbokgung closed?

Tuesday. Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung close on Monday instead, so a Tuesday is a good day for those.

How much is the ticket?

About ₩3,000 (≈ US$3) for adults (2026 estimate). It is free if you wear a hanbok and on the last Wednesday of each month (check).

When is the changing of the guard?

At the Gwanghwamun gate, usually at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes each, not on Tuesdays or in bad weather (check).

How long do I need?

About 90 minutes for the main halls and Gyeonghoeru; 2.5–3 hours with the National Palace Museum and the Folk Museum.

Is there an English guide?

Free English tours start from the information desk at set times each day (check the schedule); audio guides and apps are also available.

Which subway station?

Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, exit 5, comes up inside the grounds; Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 is by the main gate.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources

officialRoyal Palaces and Tombs Center (official)
secondaryWikidata Q485071