Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁

Seoul's main royal palace, a short walk from Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3.

Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace
Hyangwonjeong Pavilion reflected in the pond at Gyeongbokgung Palace
A royal guard at Gwanghwamun Gate, Gyeongbokgung

Good to know

Closed days, exits and opening hours. Numbers point to the sources below.

Closed days

Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays. If the closure day falls on a public holiday or a substitute holiday, the palace is open that day, and the next day that is not a holiday becomes the closure day.

  • Closed dayTuesdays ¹
  • Overlap with a holidayOpen on the holiday; the next non-holiday day is the closure day ¹

Hours and notes

Open 09:00–17:00 in Jan–Feb and Nov–Dec, 09:00–18:00 in Mar–May and Sep–Oct, and 09:00–18:30 in Jun–Aug; the last entry is one hour before closing. Adult tickets are 3,000 won (foreign visitors aged 19–64). Entry is free for foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over, and for anyone wearing hanbok. The royal guard-changing ceremony is at 10:00 and 14:00, and the gate-guarding ceremony at 11:00 and 13:00.

  • Hours, Jan–Feb and Nov–Dec09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00) ¹
  • Hours, Mar–May and Sep–Oct09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) ¹
  • Hours, Jun–Aug09:00–18:30 (last entry 17:30) ¹
  • Adult ticket (foreign visitors aged 19–64)3,000 won ²
  • Free entryForeign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over; anyone wearing hanbok ²
  • Royal guard-changing ceremony10:00 and 14:00, 20 minutes ³
  • Gate-guarding ceremony11:00 and 13:00, 10 minutes ³

Exits

Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 5 is about a 2-minute walk. Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 1 and Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 2 are about 6 minutes on foot.

  • From Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3)Exit 5, about 2 minutes on foot ⁴
  • From Anguk Station (Line 3)Exit 1, about 6 minutes on foot ⁴
  • From Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5)Exit 2, about 6 minutes on foot ⁴
  1. Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, checked Oct 14
  2. Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, checked Oct 14
  3. Korea Heritage Service (Gyeongbokgung), checked Oct 14
  4. Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, checked Oct 14

From popular starting points

Subway and train routes with typical times and fares.

FromRouteTimeFare
Incheon Airport T1AREX all-stop to Gongdeok → Line 5 to Jongno 3(sam)-ga → Line 3 to GyeongbokgungSeoul Metro station distances (OA-12034, KOGL Type 1) + fare table, checked Oct 14 Estimate 77 min₩4,750
Seoul StationLine 1 to Jongno 3(sam)-ga → Line 3 to GyeongbokgungSeoul Metro station distances (OA-12034, KOGL Type 1) + fare table, checked Oct 14 Estimate 16 min₩1,550
Myeong-dongLine 4 to Chungmuro → Line 3 to GyeongbokgungSeoul Metro station distances (OA-12034, KOGL Type 1) + fare table, checked Oct 14 Estimate 13 min₩1,550
HongdaeLine 2 to Euljiro 3(sam)-ga → Line 3 to GyeongbokgungSeoul Metro station distances (OA-12034, KOGL Type 1) + fare table, checked Oct 14 Estimate 21 min₩1,550
GangnamLine 2 to Gyodae → Line 3 to GyeongbokgungSeoul Metro station distances (OA-12034, KOGL Type 1) + fare table, checked Oct 14 Estimate 27 min₩1,750

Eat here

  • SamgyetangWhole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng, served in broth.
  • Ogol samgyetangThe same soup made with black-skinned silkie chicken.
  • PajeonGreen onion pancake.
Where locals send youTosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌삼계탕)Famous ginseng chicken soup house by Gyeongbokgung Station.
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Next trains here

Live, from the stations around this place.

Where are you starting?Set your start to see times and fares

Sources

Checked Oct 14 against the official pages below.

Photos