Changdeokgung Palace
4.6 (13,930)attraction
4.6 (13,930)Palace grounds: ₩3,000 for adults (₩2,400 for groups of 10 or more). Admission is free for foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over, and for anyone wearing hanbok. Huwon (Secret Garden) is ticketed separately: ₩5,000 for ages 19 and over, ₩2,500 for ages 7–18, with no group discount. A Huwon visit also requires a palace-grounds ticket, so full access costs ₩8,000. Huwon entry is by timed guided tour — book online from 10:00 six days before your visit, or buy on site from 09:00 on the day; slots sell out quickly in April–May and October–November.
A UNESCO-listed Joseon palace where preserved royal halls blend gracefully with forested grounds and a secluded garden.
Description
Across the broad, walkable main grounds, halls like Injeongjeon, Huijeongdang, and Nakseonjae show off intricate timberwork and etched Chinese characters, set up to integrate with the surrounding terrain rather than overpower it. Most of the outer palace area is open to explore at your own pace, offering a distinctly calmer atmosphere than Seoul's other royal compounds.
Reaching the secluded Secret Garden (Huwon)—where the Buyongji and Aeryeonji ponds sit alongside the understated timberwork of Yeongyeongdang—requires joining guided tours with set entry times.
Selected reviews
Good to know
Secret Garden needs tourCan be crowded at times
