Exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace in 2024

Located in the splendid capital of Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace epitomizes the tradition and history of Korea throughout the centuries. If you have the opportunity to visit the Land of Kimchi, don't forget to explore this magnificent royal palace.

In 2007, Gyeongbokgung Palace was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. After being reconstructed, this palace has become a famous historical landmark, ideal for visitors seeking to learn about Korean culture and history.

Best Time to Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace

Throughout the year, Gyeongbokgung Palace adorns itself with different beauty, allowing visitors to choose their preferred time to explore this vast royal complex. According to locals and many travelers, spring and autumn are the best seasons to enjoy the poetic scenery of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Gyeongbokgung is an ideal spot for cherry blossom viewing

If you plan to catch South Korea's cherry blossoms, head to Gyeongbokgung Palace from March to May during the spring season when cherry blossoms bloom vividly, painting the sky pink over the entire landscape of the palace. For those who want to admire the ancient beauty of the Korean royal palace amidst the red hues of autumn leaves and the golden colors of ginkgo leaves, visit during the serene days of autumn in September. The picturesque and tranquil scenery captivates every soul, leaving them in a state of serenity and reluctance to leave.

Autumn is considered the best time to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace

Admission Fees

Despite the grandeur of Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, this South Korean tourist spot has a quite affordable entrance fee. Despite its increasing fame over the years, the ticket prices remain unchanged.

Another small tip is that you can also enjoy free admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace if you wear traditional Hanbok attire or visit on Cultural Days - the last Wednesday of each month. Thanks to these attractive free policies, Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace is almost always bustling with visitors.

Gyeongbokgung Palace Entrance Ticket

In addition to Gyeongbokgung being closed every Tuesday, make sure to note down the palace's operating hours to plan your visit to this magnificent site. The opening hours of Gyeongbokgung Palace are quite complex as they also depend on whether it's the tourist season or not. Personally, I suggest visiting in the morning to have more time for sightseeing and taking beautiful photos!

Experiences at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace not only exudes a unique nostalgic beauty but also offers a plethora of engaging activities that provide you with unparalleled experiences.

Exploring unique architecture

A visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace in South Korea is like a journey through time to the past. This palace features a distinctive design that blends traditional elements with influences from ancient Chinese architecture. Gyeongbokgung harmoniously employs five main colors: green, white, black, red, and gold, combined with the characteristic architecture of the Joseon period, creating a sense of grandeur throughout the palace grounds.

The magnificent architecture of the Royal Palace in South Korea

The entire area of the palace spans approximately 410,000m2 and is divided into main sections including the main court area, living quarters, and recreational areas. Most visitors to Gyeongbokgung Palace explore the grand gates and main halls, which are impressively constructed, leaving every visitor in awe.

Furthermore, the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace feature meticulously landscaped gardens, vibrant blue ponds, and various types of foliage that change with the seasons. These royal gardens exemplify Korean garden art, showcasing the harmonious blend of natural beauty and human craftsmanship.

Scenic beauty at Gyeongbokgung

Experience the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the palace gate

The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace reenacts the royal guard changing ceremony from ancient times. This ritual takes place at the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where numerous guards perform the ceremonial march for about 15 minutes. Due to this activity, the main gate area is always bustling with tourists watching.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Renting Hanbok for a photo shoot

Renting a Hanbok is an essential part of any visitor's experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace in South Korea. However, a regular Hanbok set comes with a relatively high price tag, so almost everyone who comes here will rent their own Hanbok. Renting a Hanbok not only allows you to take incredibly stylish photos but also helps you save costs instead of buying a new set.

Renting a Hanbok for stunning photos at Gyeongbokgung

Renting a Hanbok is, therefore, a highly popular service at Gyeongbokgung Palace, where visitors can easily choose from various sizes and styles according to their measurements and preferences. Below are some suggestions for Hanbok rental shops at Gyeongbokgung.

- Hanboknam Bukchon Store

• Address: 109 Sogyeok-dong Jongno-gu, Seoul.
• Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM.
• Price range: 8000₩ - 16000₩ per set for 1.5 hours.

- Hanboknam Changdeokgung Store

• Address: B1, 85 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
• Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM.
• Price range: 8000₩ - 16000₩ per set for 1.5 hours.

- Hanboknam Jeonju Store

• Address: 54-1, Eunhaeng-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do.
• Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM.
• Price range: 8000₩ - 16000₩ per set for 1.5 hours.

Hair styling services at Hanbok rental shops

Remember, when renting a Hanbok, you'll usually get complimentary hair styling and basic accessories. Don't hesitate to ask the staff for help with choosing hairpins or other accompanying accessories. If you want to pick out the best attire and accessories, it's better to arrive a bit early as the rental shops tend to get crowded.

Indulge in palace cuisine

A fascinating activity at Gyeongbokgung Palace that you can't miss is visiting the Sojubang dining room and indulging in Susarang, a table showcasing 12 everyday dishes served during the Joseon dynasty.

Palace cuisine experience at Gyeongbokgung

While enjoying Susarang, you'll also witness a performance of traditional Korean music. The combination of palace cuisine and traditional Korean music will make you feel like you're reliving the past of the ancient dynasty.

Unique artistic performances at Gyeongbokgung

Explore some 'Instagrammable' spots at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Thanks to its unique design, Gyeongbokgung Palace exudes an indescribable ancient beauty from every angle, making it a perfect backdrop for your photos no matter where you stand. Be sure to visit these spots to capture the most 'lit' Instagrammable moments!

Geunjeongjeon Main Hall

This is the central hall where major events take place in the palace, hence it's usually more crowded. Geunjeongjeon Main Hall is the largest and most magnificent hall in Gyeongbokgung's architecture.

Famous Check-In Spots at Cảnh Phúc Cung

The main hall, primarily constructed of wood, sits in the center of a spacious rectangular courtyard, providing ample space for you to strike a pose. At the top, there's a two-tiered stone platform. The intricate interior motifs, delicately carved with classical dragons and phoenixes, will surely yield high-quality photos.

Sajeongjeon Audience Hall

While sharing a similar design, this hall exudes a more solemn ambiance. If you stand outside, the roof tile patterns of the hall will undoubtedly catch your eye. Dressing in a beautiful Hanbok and posing next to Sajeongjeon Audience Hall will transport you back in time to the early years of the Joseon era.

The Main Audience Hall

Gyotaejeon Royal Residence

At the royal palace of Korea, Gyotaejeon serves as the main residence for the queen, providing a more intimate atmosphere while still retaining its grandeur. Particularly, visit the Ami Mountain Royal Garden right behind the residence. Here, hexagonal columns adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, birds, and flowers await. Surrounding the garden are various flowers such as cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, magnolias, azaleas... The combination of these different blooms creates a charming and breathtaking scenery, ensuring you capture fantastic photos.

Ami Mountain Royal Garden

Geoncheonggung Palace

Located behind Gyeongbokgung Palace, the buildings in Geoncheonggung Palace are constructed and arranged in an intriguing manner, with meticulous and elaborate decorations adorning the objects. Just standing at the entrance, you can already possess hundreds of exquisite photos.

The Gate of Geoncheonggung Palace is a favorite photo spot for many

When visiting Geoncheonggung Palace, you can also explore the adjacent Jibokjae Hall, a two-story private library. Its hexagonal design is truly unique and will surely make your photos stand out.

Both outside and inside the palaces, there are plenty of Instagram-worthy spots

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

This is one of the most beautiful spots in Gyeongbokgung. If you want a stunning photo, you definitely can't miss this place.

A favorite photo spot for every tourist

Surrounded by an artificial lotus pond, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion is solidly built entirely of intricately carved wood. The harmony between design and location makes this place even more romantic, and anyone visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace will eagerly await Gyeonghoeru Pavilion for their check-in.

National Folk Museum of Korea

This is where documents and artifacts related to Korean folklore are preserved and displayed. If you have time to visit here, you'll not only learn about history but also have the opportunity to take beautiful photos because the architecture of this museum is quite special. The large staircase outside alone has made the National Folk Museum of Korea a definite hit with everyone.

National Folk Museum of Korea

Some tips for visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace

According to my travel experience in Korea, to make your trip more convenient, you should pay attention to the following things.

• When renting a Hanbok, you'll need personal identification, so remember to bring your passport for deposit.
• If you're interested in the changing of the guard ceremony at the palace gate, you can visit Gyeongbokgung during the hours 11:00 - 15:30. This ceremony takes place every last 15 minutes of each hour.
• You can get free guided tours if you visit at 11:00, 13:30, 15:30 for English and 14:30 on Fridays and Saturdays for Vietnamese.
• Smoking is not allowed within the palace premises.
• No dogs, cats, or any animals are allowed to enter the palace. Please always maintain the general landscape of the palace.

For travelers who love exploring culture, Gyeongbokgung Palace in Korea is the most suitable tourist destination because its grandeur and exciting experiential activities here will surely give you very interesting and unique memories. To not miss this destination on your trip, book your Korea tour at Mytour and get ready for your trip now!

Author: Tuntun

Image source: Internet