Quick answer: Until Sunday, November 15, 2026, Seoul's five royal sites are free to enter: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine. After that, four of them are still free every Wednesday. Here are the hours, closing days and the tips that save you a wasted trip. Checked with official sources on November 1, 2026.
Free until November 15: what's included
From October 29 to November 15, the Korea Grand Festival makes these sites free:
- Gyeongbokgung PalaceN, the biggest and most famous
- Changdeokgung PalaceN, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Changgyeonggung PalaceN
- Deoksugung PalaceN, right in the middle of the city
- Jongmyo ShrineN, the royal ancestral shrine (UNESCO)
Special programs, like the Secret Garden tour at Changdeokgung, may still need their own ticket. Check at the ticket office before you queue.
Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, Gyeongbokgung. Photo: INHYEOK PARK / Unsplash
Hours and closing days (November)
| Palace | Hours (last entry) | Closed | Normal adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Stn (Line 3) |
09:00–17:00 (16:00) | Tuesday | ₩3,000 |
|
Changdeokgung Anguk Stn (Line 3) |
09:00–17:30 (16:30) | Monday | ₩3,000 (Secret GardenN ₩5,000 extra) |
|
Changgyeonggung Hyehwa Stn (Line 4) |
09:00–21:00 (20:00) | Monday | ₩1,000 |
|
Deoksugung City Hall Stn (Lines 1, 2) |
09:00–21:00 (20:00) | Monday | ₩1,000 |
|
Jongmyo Shrine Jongno 3-ga Stn (Lines 1, 3, 5) |
09:00–17:30 (16:30) | Tuesday | ₩1,000 |
Hours shown are for November–January. If a closing day falls on a public holiday, the palace opens and closes the next weekday instead.
Royal guards at Gyeongbokgung. Photo: Keisha Østergaard / Unsplash
Still free after November 15
- Every Wednesday: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo are free. Not included: Gyeongbokgung and the Secret Garden.
- Wear a hanbok: free entry at all the palaces, any day.
- Age: foreign visitors aged 18 and under, or 65 and over, get in free.
5 tips before you go
- Check the closing day. Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo close on Tuesdays; the other three close on Mondays.
- Want an evening visit? Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung stay open until 21:00, so the lit-up buildings are easy to catch after work hours. Note that Changgyeonggung's regular evening entry is paused Nov 10–15 (17:30–21:00) for a special night program.
- Jongmyo works differently. On most weekdays it's visited by timed guided tour. Free-roaming visits are on weekends, public holidays and Wednesdays.
- Combine palaces on foot. Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung sit side by side, and Jongmyo is a short walk south. Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung are each one or two subway stops away.
- BukchonN after the palaces? Visitors can't enter the Bukchon Hanok Village "red zone" from 17:00 to 10:00 the next morning, so go in the daytime.
A one-day palace route
Morning: Gyeongbokgung (go early, it's the busiest) → Lunch in Samcheong-dong or Insa-dong → Afternoon: Changdeokgung, then walk into Changgyeonggung → Evening: Deoksugung under the lights, then the stone-wall road next to it.
Painted eaves at Gyeongbokgung. Photo: Alexandre Trouvé / Unsplash
Already in Korea? Stay connected.
Palace hopping means maps, subway routes and photos all day. Our eSIM gives you unlimited 5G on SK Telecom plus a real Korean 010 number for calls and texts (after passport verification). QR by email, no SIM shop.
FAQ
Do I need to book free palace entry? No booking is needed for regular entry during the free period. Special programs and the Secret Garden are separate.
Is Gyeongbokgung free on Wednesdays? No. Gyeongbokgung isn't part of the Wednesday free entry, but it is free until November 15 and always free if you wear a hanbok.
Which palace is best for night photos? Deoksugung, open until 21:00 in the middle of the city.
Are the palaces open on Mondays? Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo are. Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung are closed on Mondays.
Sources: Korea.kr (Korea Grand Festival, Oct 28, 2026) and the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (opening hours and fees, checked Nov 1, 2026). Programs can change, so please check on site. Cover photo: Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung, by Daniel Bernard / Unsplash.