Gyeongbokgung Palace Tours & Tickets

Gyeongbokgung palace is open 09:00–18:00 from Wednesday through Monday. During the winter months (November to February) closing time shifts to 17:00. The palace is closed every Tuesday.

Yes — the Seoul royal palace complex is closed every Tuesday without exception. If your travel dates fall on a Tuesday, plan to visit one of the other Joseon palaces such as Deoksugung, which does not share the same weekly closure. The standard adult entrance fee for gyeongbokgung palace tickets is 3,000 KRW. Visitors aged 18 and under enter free of charge. Anyone wearing hanbok — traditional Korean clothing — also receives complimentary entry regardless of age, making hanbok rental near Gwanghwamun an economical and photogenic choice.

The 09:00–10:30 window is the recommended arrival window for gyeongbokgung palace: tour buses typically arrive after 10:30, so early entry means shorter ticket queues, uncrowded courtyards, and softer morning light on the Geunjeongjeon throne hall facade. Weekdays outside public holidays are consistently less busy than weekends.

Personal photography and video for non-commercial use are freely permitted throughout the grounds of the Joseon-era palace. Tripods are allowed outdoors. Commercial shoots require written permission from the Korea Heritage Service.

The main ceremonial axis from Gwanghwamun Gate to Geunjeongjeon throne hall and west to Gyeonghoeru Pavilion follows flat, paved paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Some secondary garden areas involve stone steps. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at no charge from the main ticket booth.

There is no enforced dress code at the palace. Comfortable walking shoes are the most important consideration given the extensive stone-paved grounds. Wearing hanbok earns free admission; numerous rental shops within a five-minute walk of Gwanghwamun offer hourly rentals.

Free guided tours in English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese depart from the Information Center inside Heungnyemun Gate. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and requires no advance booking — arrive 30 minutes early to register. Paid gyeongbokgung palace tours with private guides are also widely available through third-party operators.

Large backpacks and standard bags are permitted but may be checked at the entrance. Drones, selfie sticks in congested areas, alcohol, bicycles, and open flames are prohibited inside the palace precinct.

Gyeongbokgung palace is one of Seoul's most family-friendly landmarks. Children aged 18 and under enter free. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at 10:00 and 14:00 is a crowd-pleasing spectacle for all ages. The National Folk Museum of Korea on the east grounds is also free and includes child-oriented exhibition halls.

Bukchon Hanok Village (15 min walk), Insadong Street (12 min walk), Gwanghwamun Square (5 min walk), and Changdeokgung Palace including its UNESCO-listed Secret Garden (20 min walk) are all straightforward additions to a Seoul landmarks itinerary anchored at the palace.

Standard on-site entry tickets for the Korean royal palace are non-refundable. For advance bookings made through a gyeongbokgung palace tour operator, cancellation policies vary by provider — most require notice at least 24 hours before the tour date for a full refund. The 3,000 KRW entrance fee itself is not refundable once the ticket is used.

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