Changdeokgung Secret Garden Tour: How to Book
The Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon) costs about 5,000 won and is entered only on a guided walk of roughly 70 minutes. English tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November. Book online from 10:00 six days ahead, because autumn slots fill quickly.
- Garden ticket
- About 5,000 won (adults), plus the palace ticket
- English tours
- 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 (no 15:30 from December to February)
- Closed
- Mondays
- Official site
- Changdeokgung (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center)
What should I know before I arrive?
Details checked October 24, 2026
Treat the palace and the Secret Garden as two separate visits, because the garden has its own timed ticket and tour. Changdeokgung is a UNESCO World Heritage palace at 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, and VisitKorea says the rear garden can be visited only on a guided tour booked in advance. Rules and times change, so use the official Changdeokgung site for the final word.
- Worth knowing: The palace is closed on Mondays. If Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the next non-holiday becomes the closing day, according to the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center hours page.
- A common mistake: Reaching the palace gate just before your tour. The Huwon meeting point is a walk of more than 15 minutes from the Geumhomun entrance, and the official guided-tour page says late arrivals are not admitted and not refunded.
- Local tip: Wear shoes with grip. The garden paths include gravel, slopes and steps, and the walk continues in rain.
How much does the Secret Garden cost?
Expect about 5,000 won for an adult Huwon ticket, paid in addition to the 3,000 won palace-grounds ticket. VisitKorea lists the palace at 3,000 won and the Secret Garden at 5,000 won for adults and 2,500 won for children. A booking guide reports that ages 7 to 18 pay 2,500 won and that hanbok free entry and the combined palace ticket do not cover the garden.
| Ticket | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Palace grounds, adult | 3,000 won | Listed by VisitKorea |
| Secret Garden, adult | About 5,000 won | Timed guided tour; listed by VisitKorea |
| Secret Garden, child | About 2,500 won | Ages 7 to 18 per a secondary guide; confirm |
| Hanbok free entry | Reported palace only | Reported not to include the garden |
The official reservation page states that booking the Huwon is required, while free or discounted categories and holders of the palace combined ticket need only carry proof. For hanbok rules and rental shops, see our hanbok rental guide, and compare with the larger Gyeongbokgung Palace guide.
When are the English tours?
English tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November, with the 15:30 tour dropped from December to February. The official guided-tour page lists these times, and each walk lasts about 70 minutes.
| Language | Days | Start times |
|---|---|---|
| English (March to November) | Tuesday to Sunday | 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 |
| English (December to February) | Tuesday to Sunday | 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 |
| Japanese | Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | 13:30 |
| Chinese | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 12:30 |
| Korean (March to October) | Tuesday to Sunday | Hourly, 10:00 to 16:00 |
Palace grounds are open 09:00 to 17:30 from November to January, 09:00 to 18:00 in February to May and September to October, and 09:00 to 18:30 from June to August, with last entry one hour earlier. Heading in November? See Korea in November for weather and clothing.
How do I book a Secret Garden tour?
Book online on the official reservation page, choosing the Huwon item, from 10:00 six days before your visit until the day before. Places are first come, first served, and each session admits up to 100 people, split between 50 online tickets and 50 on-site tickets.
- Pick your date and language. Check the table above, remembering that Monday is closed and that the 15:30 English tour stops in winter.
- Open the official reservation page. Select the Huwon tour, not the palace-buildings item, and choose the English session.
- Reserve at the right moment. Slots open at 10:00 six days ahead; a booking guide warns that April, May, October and November sell out fastest.
- Try on the day if you missed out. On-site tickets are reportedly sold from 09:00 on the day, first come, first served; confirm this with the palace office on 02-3668-2300.
- Arrive early. Allow time to buy the palace ticket and walk to the Huwon entrance before your slot starts.
Foreign-language tours are organised by language group. Korean nationals cannot join them, except that up to two may accompany a foreign visitor, according to the official guided-tour page.
What will I see in the garden?
The walk covers the royal garden's ponds, pavilions and wooded paths on a fixed route led by a guide. Secondary guides name Buyongji pond, the two-storey Juhamnu pavilion, Aeryeonji pond and the scholar's residence Yeongyeongdang as typical stops; the official page notes that the Ongnyucheon area is closed for heritage repairs until further notice, so it may not be on your route.
- Autumn colour: Maples around the ponds turn from late October into early November, which is also when tickets sell fastest. See Autumn Foliage in Korea for other spots.
- Winter: Fewer visitors are reported, and same-day places are usually easier to find.
- Accessibility: Paths are gravel with slopes and steps, so wheelchairs and pushchairs are not suited to the route.
Practical example: a visitor with a Saturday morning free can book the 10:30 English tour six days earlier, reach the Donhwamun gate by 09:45, buy the palace ticket, and still have time for the 15-minute walk to the garden gate.
How do I get to Changdeokgung?
Take Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station Exit 3 and walk about five minutes west along Yulgok-ro to the Donhwamun gate. This exit and walking time come from a secondary guide, so confirm on a map app. New to the system? Read our Seoul subway guide.
- Ride to Anguk. Use Line 3 and follow signs for Exit 3.
- Walk to the gate. Head along Yulgok-ro to the palace entrance and buy your ticket.
- Follow the garden signs. The Huwon meeting point lies deeper inside the grounds, more than 15 minutes on foot.
Pair the visit with the nearby Bukchon Hanok Village, which VisitKorea lists among nearby attractions.
FAQ
Do I need a separate ticket for the Changdeokgung Secret Garden?
Yes. The Huwon (Secret Garden) is a separate guided tour with its own timed ticket, listed at about 5,000 won for adults, on top of the palace-grounds ticket. Hanbok free entry and the combined palace ticket are reported not to cover it.
Is there an English tour of the Secret Garden?
Yes. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center lists English tours Tuesday to Sunday at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November, and without the 15:30 slot from December to February.
How far ahead can I book the Secret Garden?
Online booking opens at 10:00 six days before the visit date and runs until the day before, first come, first served. Same-day tickets are reportedly sold from 09:00, so confirm on the official page.
What day is Changdeokgung closed?
Monday. If Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and the next non-holiday becomes the closing day.
How long does the Secret Garden tour take?
About 70 minutes, not counting the walk of more than 15 minutes from the palace entrance to the Huwon meeting point.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Fees, times and rules above are approximate; verify on these pages.
- Changdeokgung (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center) official palace site and notices
- Visiting hours and Huwon tour times palace hours, closing days and tour timetable
- Huwon guided tours languages, duration, limits and late-entry rule
- Huwon reservation page official online booking and cancellation
- VisitKorea: Changdeokgung Palace Complex fees, hours, address and closing day
- VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization) official tourism information in English
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