# Gyeongbokgung Palace Guide 2026: Hours, Tickets, Hanbok Rules
Gyeongbokgung Palace is open 09:00–17:00 from November (last entry 16:00) and closed on Tuesdays. Tickets cost KRW 3,000 for adults aged 19 to 64, and entry is free if you wear a full hanbok.
Two more rules can save you the ticket in autumn 2026. Gyeongbokgung opens free to everyone from October 29 to November 15, 2026, and foreign visitors aged 18 or under or 65 or over never pay.
This guide follows one morning at the palace, in the order you will live it: whether you need a ticket, when to arrive, the 10:00 guard ceremony and the 11:00 English tour. Every time and price below comes from the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (the government office that runs Seoul's palaces) and other official pages, checked on October 21, 2026.
Contents Plan ahead: Key facts · Do you need a ticket? · Hours | On the day: 09:00 arrive · 10:00 or 14:00 guards · English tour · Closed on Tuesday? | Help: 1330 · FAQ · Checklist
Key facts at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| What | Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁), the primary palace of the Joseon dynasty, built in 1395 (official history) |
| Hours | November to February 09:00–17:00 · March to May and September to October 09:00–18:00 · June to August 09:00–18:30 (last entry one hour before closing) |
| Closed | Every Tuesday (if a Tuesday is a public holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next non-holiday day instead) |
| Adult ticket | KRW 3,000 for foreign visitors aged 19 to 64 (as of October 2026) |
| Free entry | Foreign visitors aged 18 or under or 65 or over, anyone in a full hanbok, and everyone from October 29 to November 15, 2026 (Tuesdays excluded) |
| Guard ceremony | 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes, free to watch |
| English tour | 11:00, 13:30 and 15:30, free, no booking for groups under 10 |
| Nearest station | Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 5, about 2 minutes on foot |
| Official site | Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · phone 02-3700-3900 |
Two ways to read this guide. If you only need opening times and the price, the table above is enough; check Hours for the November change. If you are building a whole morning around the palace, read Do you need a ticket? first, because a hanbok that does not meet the rules means you pay at the gate.
Do you need a ticket? Many foreign visitors get in free
You need a ticket only if you are a foreign visitor aged 19 to 64, you are not wearing a full hanbok, and you visit outside the free period. The price list on the official fee page sets the age line for foreigners differently from Korean citizens, so read your row carefully.
Free admission: Korean citizens aged 24 or under and 65 or over (with ID); foreigners aged 18 or under and 65 or over. Original (Korean): 만 24세 이하 및 만 65세 이상 내국인(신분증 지참) / 만 18세 이하 및 만 65세 이상 외국인 — Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Admission fees
In practice, a family of two adults and two teenagers pays KRW 6,000 in total, because both teenagers enter free. The same page lists the adult fare for foreigners as KRW 3,000 for ages 19 to 64, and KRW 2,400 each in a group (as of October 2026; check the fee page before you go). The page says anyone claiming free entry must show proof, so carry your passport if your age is the reason.
Free for everyone from October 29 to November 15, 2026
On September 30, 2026, the palace office announced a free-admission period linked to the Korea Grand Festival (코리아 그랜드 페스티벌).
Korea Grand Festival period: October 29 (Thu) to November 15 (Sun), 2026, free admission (except closed days). Original (Korean): 코리아 그랜드 페스티벌 기간 : 2026. 10. 29.(목) ~ 11. 15.(일) 무료개방 (*휴궁일 제외) — Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · October–November 2026 operating notice
The same notice says the palace still closes on Tuesdays during this period (November 3 and November 10 are both Tuesdays). After November 15, the age and hanbok rules above still apply.
The free period also overlaps autumn color: our Korea autumn foliage 2026 guide lists the Korea National Arboretum's predicted peak for Gyeongbokgung as November 2, 2026.
What counts as a hanbok for free entry
A hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) gets you in free whether you are Korean or not. The official guideline asks for a top and a bottom together.
1. Both traditional hanbok and modern hanbok count for free admission. 2. The basic rule is a top (jeogori) and a bottom (skirt or trousers). Original (Korean): 1. 전통한복·생활한복모두 무료관람 대상 포함 2. 상의(저고리)와하의(치마, 바지)를기본으로 함 — Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Hanbok free-admission guideline
The guideline's own Q&A answers the cases rental shops get asked about most:
| Outfit | Free entry? |
|---|---|
| Jeogori (wrap-collar top) with a hanbok skirt or trousers | Yes |
| Jeogori with a waist skirt (heori chima), if the top reaches your waist | Yes |
| One-piece hanbok dress without a jeogori | No |
| T-shirt-style modern hanbok top | No |
| Jeogori with jeans, or hanbok trousers with a T-shirt | No |
| Only a long outer coat (durumagi) over normal clothes | No |
If your outfit does not meet the guideline, you simply buy a ticket at the gate (KRW 3,000 for ages 19 to 64). The guideline also asks for a hanbok that suits the palace, with no excessive exposure.
The royal palace pass, if you plan more palaces
The integrated pass costs KRW 6,000 and covers Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung (not its Secret Garden), Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine, once each within six months of purchase (as of October 2026). You buy it at the ticket office of any of those five sites. Some English guides still list an older price and validity, so trust the official fee page over a blog.
Gyeongbokgung Palace hours: last entry is one hour before closing
From November, the palace closes at 17:00 and the last entry is 16:00. The official hours page sets three seasons:
January–February and November–December: 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00). March–May and September–October: 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00). June–August: 09:00–18:30 (last entry 17:30). Original (Korean): 1월~2월, 11월~12월 09:00~17:00 (입장마감 16:00) / 3월~5월, 9월~10월 09:00~18:00 (입장마감 17:00) / 6월~8월 09:00~18:30 (입장마감 17:30) — Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Opening hours
The regular closed day is Tuesday. If a Tuesday falls on a public holiday or substitute holiday, the palace opens that day and closes on the first non-holiday day after it, so a holiday week can move the closed day to Wednesday.
If you arrive at 09:00, you have time for the 10:00 guard ceremony and the 11:00 English tour before lunch. If you visit by October 31, note that the stone terrace in front of the throne hall (Geunjeongjeon Woldae) is closed to visitors from September 2 to October 31, 2026 to protect it (official notice).
09:00: arrive at Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 5
Take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and use Exit 5. The palace's directions page puts it 2 minutes on foot; Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 2, is the other subway option at about 6 minutes.
Practical info: Gyeongbokgung Palace
| Item | Gyeongbokgung Palace |
|---|---|
| Korean name | 경복궁 (show this to taxi drivers) |
| Address | 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 사직로 161) |
| Subway | Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 5, 2 minutes on foot · Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 2, 6 minutes |
| Bus stop | Gyeongbokgung (경복궁): buses 109, 171, 272, 601, 606, 710, 1020, 7025 |
| Hours | November to February 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); closed Tuesdays |
| Admission | KRW 3,000 for foreigners aged 19 to 64 (as of October 2026) |
| Phone | 02-3700-3900 |
| Official site | Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Directions |
The directions page lists the subway route like this: Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 5, 2 minutes on foot (Korean original: "도보 2분 3호선 경복궁역 5번 출구"). In a map app, search 경복궁 or Gyeongbokgung Palace and set the destination to the main gate, Gwanghwamun (광화문).
Coming by car, wheelchair or stroller
The palace has its own parking lot, open 06:00–23:00, at the start of the road from Gwanghwamun toward Samcheong-dong; the first hour for a small car costs KRW 3,000 (parking office 02-736-9536). The directions page asks wheelchair users to use the above-ground lot, where the 9 accessible spaces are. Seoul's official tourism site lists stroller rentals, wheelchair rentals, accessible restrooms and accessible pathways at the palace (Visit Seoul · Gyeongbokgung Palace); ask palace staff or call 02-3700-3900 for a wheelchair.
10:00 or 14:00: the changing of the guard at Gwanghwamun
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony runs twice a day, at 10:00 and 14:00, and lasts about 20 minutes. It is held all year except Tuesdays, when the palace is closed, and watching is free.
Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (about 20 minutes): 10:00 / 14:00 [Heungnyemun Gate square]. Original (Korean): 수문장 교대의식(소요시간 20분)10:00 / 14:00 [흥례문 광장] — Korea Heritage Agency · 2026 guard ceremony special event
The organizer, the Korea Heritage Agency (국가유산진흥원), lists the venue as Gwanghwamun, and its 2026 page names the square at Heungnyemun, the gate just inside Gwanghwamun. It describes about 70 guards and 15 musicians in the main ceremony. It also lists two shorter events that are easy to confuse with it:
- 09:35 and 13:35: open training of the gate guards in front of Hyeopsaengmun Gate, about 15 minutes
- 11:00 and 13:00: the Gwanghwamun guard duty ceremony at the main gate, about 10 minutes
If you see a small group of guards drilling at 09:35, that is the training; the full ceremony starts at 10:00 (Korea Heritage Agency · Guard ceremony programs). For questions about the ceremony, the organizer's phone line is 02-3210-1645.
11:00, 13:30 or 15:30: the free English guided tour
The palace runs a free English tour three times a day, at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:30, every day except Tuesday. Seoul's official tourism site explains how to join:
Groups of less than ten individuals can participate in the guided tour without reservation. Groups of 10 or more people need to make a reservation, and up to 30 people can participate in the tour. — Visit Seoul · Gyeongbokgung Palace
The same page gives the English tour times "daily at 11:00, 13:30, and 15:30 (except on Tuesdays.) (As of 2026)". The meeting point is not on that page, so ask palace staff when you enter, or call 02-3700-3900 before you go.
From October 29 to November 15, 2026, the palace notice says regular guided tours run "30 minutes shorter" (Korean original: "정규해설 30분 단축 운영"). The notice does not say which tours change, so ask palace staff on the day. If you miss the 11:00 tour, the 13:30 tour still leaves time before the 16:00 last entry in November.
Practical info: the free English tour
| Item | English guided tour |
|---|---|
| Times | 11:00, 13:30, 15:30 (no tour on Tuesdays) |
| Cost | Free (you still need palace entry: a ticket, a hanbok or a free category) |
| Booking | Not needed for groups under 10; groups of 10 to 30 book ahead |
| Ask on the day | Palace staff or the information center (안내소), or 02-3700-3900 |
| Official source | Visit Seoul · Gyeongbokgung Palace |
Closed on Tuesday? The National Palace Museum is open
If your only free day in Seoul is a Tuesday, the National Palace Museum of Korea (국립고궁박물관) is open that day and charges nothing. Its visitor page says it offers free admission until further notice.
Practical info: National Palace Museum of Korea
| Item | National Palace Museum of Korea |
|---|---|
| Korean name | 국립고궁박물관 |
| Address | 12 Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 효자로 12) |
| Hours | Monday to Friday and Sunday 09:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00); Saturday 09:30–21:00 (last entry 20:30) |
| Closed | The last Monday of each month, plus January 1, Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok Day |
| Admission | Free (as of October 2026) |
| Official site | National Palace Museum of Korea · Visitor information |
The museum shows the life of the Joseon royal family, so seeing it before your palace visit adds context. The museum also says hours can change for its own reasons, so check its page on the day.
A Tuesday example. You land on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Gyeongbokgung is closed, so you visit the museum (free) that afternoon and move the palace to Wednesday, November 11, which falls in the free period: no ticket needed, and the guard ceremony is at 10:00.
Help in English: the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline
If something goes wrong (a closed gate, a lost item, a question for a taxi driver), call 1330. The Korea Tourism Organization runs this travel hotline, and Busan Metropolitan City's English guide describes it like this:
Information provided 24 hours a day in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (other languages: 8:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.) — Busan Metropolitan City · Foreigner support
Dial 1330 inside Korea or +82-2-1330 from overseas. For palace-specific questions (tour times, hanbok rules, closures), the palace office number is 02-3700-3900.
FAQ
Is the guard ceremony free to watch? Yes. The organizer lists the price as free with on-site viewing, and no booking is needed (Korea Heritage Agency · Guard ceremony programs).
Can I bring food or a picnic mat? No picnic mats. The palace rules let staff refuse entry to visitors carrying alcohol, camping gear such as tents, mats and sunshades, or cooking tools, and food is allowed only in areas the palace designates (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Visitor rules).
Can I bring my dog? No, except assistance dogs. The same rules list pets as a reason to refuse entry, with an exception for registered assistance dogs.
Can I fly a drone? No. The rules allow aerial filming only for public-interest filming by public bodies or with the center's approval and a separate permit.
Can I smoke inside the palace? No. The visitor rules make the whole palace grounds a no-smoking area, and staff can stop a smoker's visit.
Before you go: checklist
- Check the day: not a Tuesday (or the day after a Tuesday holiday)
- Arrive by 16:00 from November (17:00 in March to May and September to October)
- Bring your passport if you are 18 or under or 65 or over, for free entry
- Hanbok renters: jeogori top plus skirt or trousers, no one-piece dress
- Be at Heungnyemun Gate square by 10:00 or 14:00 for the guard ceremony
- English tour: 11:00, 13:30 or 15:30, ask palace staff for the meeting point
- Save 1330 and 02-3700-3900 in your phone
Pick your day now: if it falls between October 29 and November 15, 2026, you will not need a ticket at all.
Official sources
Palace visitor information
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Opening hours: seasonal hours, last entry, Tuesday closure and holiday rule (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Admission fees: adult and group fares, free categories, integrated pass (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Hanbok free-admission guideline: what counts as a hanbok, Q&A (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Directions: address, subway exits, buses, parking (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Visitor rules: items refused at entry, food areas, drones (checked October 21, 2026)
Notices, events, history and the museum
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Gyeongbokgung Palace and Its History: built in 1395, primary palace of the Joseon dynasty (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · October–November 2026 operating notice: free admission October 29 to November 15, shorter tours (checked October 21, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · Geunjeongjeon Woldae notice: terrace closed September 2 to October 31, 2026 (checked October 21, 2026)
- Korea Heritage Agency · Guard ceremony programs: ceremony, training and Gwanghwamun duty times (checked October 21, 2026)
- Korea Heritage Agency · 2026 guard ceremony special event: 2026 ceremony times and place (checked October 21, 2026)
- National Palace Museum of Korea · Visitor information: free admission, hours, closed days, address (checked October 21, 2026)
Tourism pages
- Visit Seoul · Gyeongbokgung Palace: English tour times and booking rule, accessibility facilities (checked October 21, 2026)
- Busan Metropolitan City · Foreigner support: 1330 Korea Travel Hotline (checked October 21, 2026)
Every fact in this guide was taken from the pages above and compared word for word with the original text on October 21, 2026. Values that may change are marked "as of October 2026".
Photo credits
- Cover photo (Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in autumn): huongnguyen123 via Pixabay, Pixabay Content License (Pixabay photo ID 7366036)
- Geunjeongjeon throne hall: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons source
- Gwanghwamun at dusk: choe via Pixabay, Pixabay Content License (Pixabay photo ID 636113)
- Changing of the guard: Dquai, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons source
- Gyeonghoeru Pavilion: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons source
- National Palace Museum of Korea: Mobius6, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons source
This article was researched and drafted with the help of AI tools. Every fact was checked one by one against the official sources listed above.