Short answer: Visit Gyeongbokgung for Seoul’s largest Joseon palace and the 10:00 or 14:00 guard ceremony; choose Deoksugung for a compact palace that stays open until 21:00. Both sell inexpensive daytime tickets at the gate, and both admit visitors wearing a complete hanbok free. Wednesday through Sunday is the easiest time to see both because their weekly closing days differ.
Gyeongbokgung vs Deoksugung at a glance
| Palace | Normal adult ticket | Hours | Closed | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | KRW 3,000 | 09:00–17:00, 18:00 or 18:30 by season | Tuesday | 2–3 hours |
| Deoksugung | KRW 1,000 | 09:00–21:00; last entry 20:00 | Monday | 1–1.5 hours |
Choose Gyeongbokgung on a first Seoul trip if you want grand gates, large courtyards, pavilions and the National Palace Museum nearby. Choose Deoksugung when you want a shorter visit, evening atmosphere and the unusual contrast of Korean palace halls with early modern stone architecture.
How normal daytime entry works
- Check the palace’s weekly closing day and last-admission time before leaving your hotel.
- Go to the main ticket office and buy general admission, or use the free-entry line if you qualify.
- Carry proof of age for an age-based exemption. Hanbok wearers do not need to buy a normal ticket, but staff can check whether the outfit meets the complete-hanbok rules.
- Keep the ticket until you finish. Leaving the paid area does not automatically guarantee re-entry.
Ordinary daytime admission is simple and does not require an online reservation. That does not include limited palace interiors, guided programs or seasonal night openings. If a special event banner appears online, read its own date, ID and purchase rules instead of assuming the daytime ticket applies.
Want to wear hanbok?
Use the Gyeongbokgung hanbok rental comparison for three nearby shops, current rental times, prices and luggage-storage rules. A complete qualifying hanbok gives free general admission to both palaces.
Gyeongbokgung: admission, hours and Google Maps
Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161). For the simplest subway arrival, use Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and Exit 5. The palace entrance and ticket flow are beyond Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun gates.
Regular daytime opening is 09:00. Closing is 17:00 in January–February and November–December, 18:00 in March–May and September–October, and 18:30 in June–August. Last admission is one hour before closing. The palace normally closes Tuesday; when that day is a public holiday, the closure moves to the next non-holiday.
Foreign visitors aged 19–64 pay KRW 3,000. Foreign visitors aged 18 or younger, visitors aged 65 or older, complete-hanbok wearers and everyone on the last Wednesday of the month enter free under the current rules. For an ordinary daytime visit, buy at the ticket office; special evening openings use separate dates, quotas and ticket rules.
The palace guard-changing ceremony is normally held at 10:00 and 14:00 for about 20 minutes, except Tuesday, and can be altered or canceled in severe weather. Arrive early enough to clear the entrance. Inside, prioritize Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pavilion rather than trying to photograph every courtyard.
Deoksugung: admission, hours and Google Maps
Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 세종대로 99). Take Line 1 or 2 to City Hall Station; Exit 2 places you about 105 meters from Daehanmun, the main gate.
General palace admission is 09:00–21:00, with last entry at 20:00. Deoksugung normally closes Monday; if Monday is a national holiday, the closure moves to the following business day. The individual ticket is KRW 1,000. Minors under 19, visitors aged 65 or older and qualifying hanbok wearers enter free under current guidance.
Buy the general ticket outside Daehanmun. Seokjojeon, Dondeokjeon, Jungmyeongjeon and the MMCA Deoksugung art museum follow shorter or separate schedules; the art museum requires a separate ticket. Treat the 21:00 palace closing time as permission to walk the grounds, not a promise that every interior remains open.
The changing ceremony outside Daehanmun is normally scheduled at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:30, except Monday and days with rain or extreme weather. It is free to watch from outside the gate.
Comfort and accessibility
Both palaces involve outdoor stone or packed-earth paths, so wear stable shoes and bring water in hot weather. Gyeongbokgung is much larger; borrow a wheelchair or stroller near the entrance if available and allow extra time between pavilions. Deoksugung’s general grounds are more compact, and City Hall Station Exit 2 has an elevator route. Some historic thresholds and the MMCA’s internal stairs still require care. Ask the information desk for the current accessible route rather than assuming every hall has step-free entry.
How to visit both palaces in one day
- Go to Gyeongbokgung before 09:30 and watch the 10:00 guard ceremony.
- Spend about two hours inside, then eat near Seochon or Gwanghwamun.
- Travel to Deoksugung and enter in late afternoon; stay through the early evening if you want the grounds after dark.
Open the Gyeongbokgung → Deoksugung route in Google Maps. Google chooses a live transit option for your departure time; confirm subway exits and service notices in a local transit app because walking and route coverage in Korea can be incomplete.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to reserve a normal daytime palace visit?
No for ordinary general admission: buy a ticket at the gate or use the free-admission entrance if eligible. Special night openings and limited interior tours can require separate reservations.
Can I enter both palaces free in hanbok?
Yes, if you wear a complete qualifying hanbok with both upper and lower garments. A hanbok coat over ordinary clothes or a skirt with a T-shirt does not qualify.
Which palace is better at night?
Deoksugung is the dependable choice because normal general admission continues until 21:00. Gyeongbokgung night visits are seasonal special events with separate rules.
Official sources
- VISITKOREA: Gyeongbokgung hours, admission and address
- VISITKOREA: Deoksugung hours, admission and facilities
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: hanbok free-admission rules
- Korea Heritage Agency: Gyeongbokgung guard ceremony
Last verified August 14, 2026. Palace hours, holiday substitutions, ceremonies and special-event ticket rules can change; check the official notice on the day of your visit.