Visiting Changdeokgung Palace: Everything You Need To Know
Changdeokgung Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the centre of Seoul. The Palace represents the finest Korean architecture and a wonderful reminder of Korea’s strong culture and history.
This article will outline everything you need to know before visiting this unique attraction in Seoul - one of Seoul’s 5 Royal Palaces.
We guide you through all the essential information about visiting Changdeokgung Palace, including how to get to the Palace, how much it costs to enter Changdeokgung Palace and a quick rundown of all the main highlights inside the Palace complex.
Changdeokgung Palace was one of the highlights of our trip to Seoul, and we know you’re going to love it just as much as us.
So, let’s dive into - Visiting Changdeokgung Palace: Everything You Need To Know
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Seoul Travel Tip: consider buying a Discover Seoul Travel Pass in order to gain free and discounted access to over 65 attractions across South Korea’s amazing capital city!
What is Changdeokgung Palace?
Considered by many to be the most beautiful of Seoul’s 5 Royal Palaces, Changdeokgung Palace was originally built in the 15th century as a secondary or ‘backup’ palace to Gyeongbokgung.
The Palace has had a turbulent history thanks to the Japanese invasion in the late 1500s and a few notable fires in 1623 and 1917.
After the devastating fire in 1917, a large-scale restoration project was ordered, with materials for the restoration taken from the Gyeongbokgung palace. Further restoration commenced in 1990 before the palace received UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1997.
Changdeokgung Palace is a unique example of Korean architecture and a significant Korean cultural attraction in Seoul. In fact, visiting the Palace is something we recommend in our South Korea travel tips because it’s a great way to learn about Korea's unique architecture and history.
Changing of the guard ceremony outside Changdeokgung Palace
Where is Changdeokgung Palace?
Changdeokgung Palace is found within a large private park in the Jongno District in central Seoul. Jongno is home to major palaces and cultural villages, which is why it is always our answer when anybody asks where is the best place to stay in Seoul?
The Palace and its surrounding gardens cover a total area of just under 58 acres, which gives the entire place a profound sense of calm - a somewhat rarity within the hustle and bustle of Seoul.
How to get to Changdeokgung Palace?
There are 3 main ways in which you can get to Changdeokgung Palace:
Subway - you can get lines 1, 3 or 5 (Exit 6) and get off at the Jongno 3-ga Station or Line 3 (Exit 3) for the Anguk Station. The palace is just a short walk from either of these stations.
Bus - several bus routes can get you to Changdeokgung Palace from around Seoul. The best routes are the Blue Bus (109, 151, 162, 171, 172, 272) or the Green Bus (7025)
Walking - For most of the districts in Seoul north of the Hangang River, the Changdeokgung Palace is within walking distance (less than 45 mins on average). If you are staying anywhere South of the Hangang River (e.g. Gangnam or Donjak), then we would recommend the Subway or the Bus.
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Changdeokgung Palace Opening Times: When does the Changdeokgung Palace open?
The opening hours for Changdeokgung Palace vary throughout the year:
Feb - May and Sep - Oct - 09:00-18:00
Jun - Aug - 09:00-18:30
Nov-Jan - 09:00-17:30
Worth noting: Changdeokgung Palace is closed on Mondays.
Changdeokgung Palace Entrance Fees: How much does it cost to visit Changdeokgung Palace?
The current entrance fee for Changdeokgung Palace is 3000 KRW (£1.80/$2.20) but there are a couple of different admission fees available for the Palace, with all options available to purchase from the Ticket office found near the Main Gate of Changdeokgung:
The Palace Admission -
Adults 3000 KRW / Youth (Ages 7-18) 1500 KRW / Group admission (10+ people) 2400 KRW
The Secret Garden Admission (Must also have a palace admission ticket) -
Adults 5000 KRW / Youth (Ages 7-18) 2500 KRW
*You can also visit Changedeokgung Palace for free if you buy a discounted Discover Seoul pass - the pass grants you access to hundreds of sites across South Korea’s dynamic capital city.
Money Saving Tip: If you are interested in seeing any of the other Royal Palaces within Seoul (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace) then you can purchase a Royal Palace Pass for 10000 KRW
Can you do a guided tour of Changdeokgung Palace?
There are several free guided tours of the Palace and Secret Gardens throughout the day. To visit the Secret Garden, you have to be part of one of the guided tours. General admission is only applicable to the Palace.
The free guided tours set off from in front of the respective information signs and are in several languages - here’s a quick breakdown:
The Palace free-guided tour schedule:
Korean - 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:30* (*Mar-Oct)
English - 10:15, 13:15
Chinese - 10:00
Japanese - 11:00
The Secret Gardens tour schedule:
Korean - 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00* (*Mar-Oct), 16:30** (**Jun-Oct)
English - 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30* (Feb-Nov)
Chinese - 12:30
Japanese - 13:30
More options for exploring Changdeokgung Palace
- Korean Palace and Market Tour in Seoul with a guide
- Seoul Morning Heritage Tour with a knowledgeable guide
- Seoul Afternoon Tour with an informative guide
How long do you need to spend at Changdeokgung Palace?
If you plan on only seeing the Palace (not the Secret Garden), then you will probably need around 1.5 hours at Changdeokgung Palace. The free guided tour lasts around 45 minutes and then you will have the same time again to wander freely and get those great photos.
If you plan to extend your visit by visiting the Secret Garden too, you will need 3+ hours at Changdeokgung Palace. The Secret Garden is twice the size of the Palace grounds, so it will take some exploring.
Standing guard outside of the Donhwamun Gate
Best time to visit Changdeokgung Palace
We visited Changdeokgung Palace at the beginning of October and while it was still a stunning sight to behold, we have since seen many photos of the palace in both Autumn and Winter and it looks absolutely majestic.
For this reason, we’d recommend visiting in January or February for the best chance to see the palace draped in snow or visiting in mid-October - mid-November to see all the unique Autumn colours.
Best things to see in Changdeokgung Palace
Donhwamun - Main Gate of Changdeokgung
The first part of the Changdeokgung Palace that you will encounter is the imposing main gate of Donhwamun.
Originally built in the 15th century but later recreated in 1607, the colourful Donhwamun is an impressive introduction to the Changdeokgung Palace.
Donhwamun - Main Gate of Changdeokgung
Injeongjeon: Throne Hall
Arguably the most impressive feature of the entire Changdeokgung Palace complex, Injeongjeon, often referred to as the Throne Hall, is the main hall of Changdeokgung Palace.
Injeongjeon is where the officials assembled to wish the King a happy near year, amongst other duties.
Injeongjeon: Throne Hall
Buyongji Pond and Pavilion: Secret Garden
Buyongji Pavilion is found directly opposite Buyongji Pond and is particularly impressive during the autumn months when the leaves provide a striking backdrop for the already beautiful architecture.
Found in the Secret Garden close to Yeongyeongdang Hall, the Buyongji Pond and Pavilion are easily one of the best things to see in Changdeokgung Palace.
Huijeongdang Hall: King’s Residence
Huijeongdang was initially employed as the King’s living and sleeping quarters before being used as a grand reception hall for important guests.
Unfortunately, as is the case with a lot of Changdeokgung Palace, the original building was destroyed by a fire, so this version was built around 1920.
Huijeongdang Hall: King’s Residence
Daejojeon Hall: Queen’s Residence
Originally constructed in 1405, Daejojeon served as the Queen’s living quarters and is slightly more modest in size when compared to the neighbouring Huijeondang Hall.
Interestingly, it is also decorated entirely in white rather than the bright greens and reds you come to expect from the rest of the palace complex.
Daejojeon Hall: Queen’s Residence
There we have it, folks, our conclusive round-up of everything you need to know about visiting Changdeokgung Palace - the palace was one of the highlights of our trip to Seoul, and we hope you love the experience just as much as we did.
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