Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul) — Joseon Royal Palace Grounds, Gates & Pavilion Views

Gyeongbokgung Palace is Seoul’s flagship Joseon-era royal palace (built in 1395) and the one people mean when they say “the big palace.” It’s a huge, walkable complex of courtyards, gates, halls and pavilions—built for ceremony, politics, and pure flex. It’s also one of the easiest “historic Korea” wins because everything is clearly laid out and self-guided-friendly.

• General admission entry to Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds during operating hours.
• Self-guided access to the main palace areas (courtyards, gates, major halls/pavilion viewpoints).
• NOT included: guided tours (if any), rentals (e.g., hanbok), food/drinks, and transport.

• Perfect for first-timers in Seoul who want the most iconic palace photos and a big, readable historical site.
• Great for families and groups: it’s mostly flat walking with lots of rest spots.
• Bonus: if you wear proper hanbok (traditional or modernized) you can qualify for free admission (see rules).

• Enter, do a slow lap through the main courtyards and ceremonial halls.
• Walk out to key photo angles (gates + wide courtyards + pavilion/pond views).
• If you want to save money, rent/wear hanbok properly and enter under the free-admission hanbok guidelines.

• Tickets / price (starts from): Adult 3,000 KRW.
• Free admission (official basics): under 19 and over 65.
• Free admission for hanbok wearers: traditional + modernized hanbok are eligible, but you must wear both upper garment (jeogori) and a lower garment (skirt or pants). Partial hanbok (jeogori + jeans, etc.) does not qualify.
• Holiday/closure: Closed Tuesdays (if Tuesday is a public holiday, it closes the following business day instead).
• Operating hours (official, seasonal):
• Nov—Feb: 09:00—17:00 (last admission 16:00)
• Mar—May & Sep—Oct: 09:00—18:00 (last admission 17:00)
• Jun—Aug: 09:00—18:30 (last admission 17:30)

• Address (official): 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
• If you’re driving, official parking is available and has a time-based fee schedule (listed on VISITKOREA).
• Time needed: 2—4 hours for a solid first visit (longer if you’re doing full photo stops and slow exploring).

Seoul’s main palace: big courtyards, major halls, and classic photos. Standard adult entry is 3,000 KRW, closed Tuesdays, and hanbok wearers can qualify for free entry if worn properly (top + bottom).