Seoul's Five Grand Palaces Compared: Fees and Hours
Seoul's five palaces cost between free and 3,000 won each, about 8,000 won for all five. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung charge 3,000 won, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung 1,000 won, and Gyeonghuigung is reported free. Gyeongbokgung closes Tuesdays; the other four close Mondays. Complete hanbok gets you in free.
- Cheapest
- Gyeonghuigung (reported free); Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung 1,000 won
- Closed
- Gyeongbokgung Tuesdays; the other four Mondays
- Open until 21:00
- Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung (last entry 20:00)
- Official site
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center
What should I know before I arrive?
Details checked October 28, 2026
Check the closing day first, because Seoul's palaces do not share one. Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays, while the other four are listed as closed on Mondays. Fees and hours below come from Visit Seoul and VisitKorea pages and can change, so use the official palace site for the final word.
- Worth knowing: On a Monday only Gyeongbokgung is open, and on a Tuesday the other four are open. VisitKorea adds that if a Monday is a national holiday, Deoksugung closes the following business day.
- A common mistake: Planning a palace day around one name without checking its weekday. A Monday trip to Changdeokgung ends at a closed gate.
- Local tip: Last entry is usually one hour before closing, so arrive early in winter when Gyeongbokgung closes at 17:00.
How do the five palaces compare on cost and hours?
Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung cost 3,000 won, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung 1,000 won, and Gyeonghuigung is reported as free, so all five come to about 8,000 won. The total leaves out the Changdeokgung Secret Garden and any museum tickets, which are separate.
| Palace | Adult fee | Hours | Closed | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | 3,000 won | 09:00 to 17:00, 18:00 or 18:30 by season | Tuesday | Gyeongbokgung (Line 3) Exit 5, or Gwanghwamun (Line 5) Exit 2 |
| Changdeokgung | 3,000 won | 09:00 to 17:30, 18:00 or 18:30 by season | Monday | Anguk (Line 3) Exit 3, about 389 m |
| Changgyeonggung | 1,000 won | 09:00 to 21:00, last entry 20:00 | Monday | Hyehwa (Line 4) Exit 4, about 779 m |
| Deoksugung | 1,000 won | 09:00 to 21:00, last entry 20:00 | Monday | City Hall (Lines 1 and 2) Exit 1, about 72 m |
| Gyeonghuigung | Free (reported) | 09:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30 (reported) | Monday (reported) | Seodaemun (Line 5) Exit 4 or 5 (reported) |
The Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung rows come from Visit Seoul pages for Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung. Visit Seoul's Gyeonghuigung page does not list a fee or hours, so that row comes from a secondary guide, LetSeoul; verify it on the official site. Changdeokgung's seasonal hours are 09:00 to 18:00 from February to May and in September and October, 18:30 from June to August and 17:30 from November to January.
What is each palace best for?
Gyeongbokgung is best for scale and ceremony, Changdeokgung for its garden, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung for evenings, and Gyeonghuigung for quiet. The notes below stick to what the official pages state.
- Gyeongbokgung: The main palace, entered through Gwanghwamun. VisitKorea lists a free royal guard ceremony Wednesday to Monday at 10:00 and 14:00. See our full Gyeongbokgung guide.
- Changdeokgung: Visit Seoul describes a general tour and a special Huwon (Secret Garden) tour, and says the garden can be reserved through the palace's reservation service. Read how to book the Secret Garden tour.
- Changgyeonggung: The cheapest palace with long hours, open until 21:00. It is the one to add after a late lunch in the Hyehwa area.
- Deoksugung: Sits beside City Hall, 72 m from the subway exit. VisitKorea lists its guard ceremony Tuesday to Sunday at 11:00 and 14:00, and its VisitKorea page notes the art museum on site needs a separate ticket.
- Gyeonghuigung: Reported free and set beside the Seoul Museum of History, which Visit Seoul places on the palace grounds.
Which palace should I pick?
Choose by weekday and time of day: Gyeongbokgung on Mondays, any of the other four on Tuesdays, and Changgyeonggung or Deoksugung after 18:00. This is a planning rule built from the closing days and hours above, not an official recommendation.
- Check the weekday. Monday leaves only Gyeongbokgung; Tuesday leaves everything but Gyeongbokgung.
- Check the season. From November to January Gyeongbokgung closes at 17:00 and Changdeokgung at 17:30, so start by mid-morning.
- Decide how many. Two palaces in a day is a realistic limit for most visitors; this is a planning estimate, not an official figure.
- Add the paid extras last. Book the Secret Garden or a night program through the official reservation page if you want them.
Practical example: on a Tuesday in October you could enter Changdeokgung in the morning, then reach Changgyeonggung by the evening and still have time before its 20:00 last entry. Planning a wider trip? See Seoul in 3 Days or free things to do in Seoul.
How do I get in free?
Visitors wearing hanbok enter all five palaces free, and the guided tours at four of them are free as well. Visit Seoul says all five waive admission for hanbok wearers, including on holidays and event days, and VisitKorea lists free English tours at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung.
For rental shops and what counts as hanbok at the gate, see our hanbok rental guide. VisitKorea also mentions a K-Royal Palaces Pass with unlimited entry to the five palaces, but its page is dated 2024 and says it may be out of date, and it does not cover the Secret Garden or night programs. Ask the official site or the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline whether a pass is on sale now.
FAQ
Which Seoul palace should I visit if I only have time for one?
Gyeongbokgung is the largest and most central choice, but it is closed on Tuesdays. If you want the UNESCO-listed Changdeokgung, plan for a day other than Monday and consider booking its Secret Garden separately.
Which Seoul palaces are open on Monday?
Only Gyeongbokgung is open on Mondays. Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung are listed as closed on Mondays, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Which Seoul palace is open in the evening?
Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung are listed with hours of 09:00 to 21:00 and last entry at 20:00. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung close between 17:00 and 18:30 depending on the season.
Is it free to enter Seoul palaces in a hanbok?
Yes. Visit Seoul says all five palaces waive admission for visitors wearing hanbok, including on holidays and event days. Rules about what counts as hanbok can change, so check at the gate.
Is there a combined ticket for Seoul's palaces?
VisitKorea has described a K-Royal Palaces Pass with unlimited entry to the five palaces during its validity period, but its page is dated 2024 and says it may be out of date. Confirm whether a pass is on sale on the official palace site.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Fees, hours and closing days above are approximate; verify on these pages.
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (Korea Heritage Service) official palace site for tickets, closures and reservations
- Visit Seoul: Changdeokgung Palace fee, seasonal hours and Secret Garden reservation
- Visit Seoul: Deoksugung Palace fee, evening hours and subway exit
- Visit Seoul: Wear Hanbok and Visit Palaces free palace entry for hanbok wearers
- VisitKorea: Experience Royal Palace Life guard ceremonies and free guided tours
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