PalaceClosed Monday (the palace opens on a Monday public holiday and closes the next working day instead)

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

#3of 10 places to visit in SeoulSeoul, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea

Also known as Changdeok Palace · 창덕궁 · Biwon

Quick answer

Opening hours: 09:00–17:30, closed Mondays. Entry: ₩3,000. Allow 3 hrs. Best time: The 10:30 English tour of Huwon.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Joycekim77 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opening hours: 09:00–17:30; Closed Mondays
Entry fee: ₩3,000; Ticket from
Time needed: 3 hrs
Best time of day: The 10:30 English tour of Huwon
Best months: Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03072, South Korea

About Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

Changdeokgung Palace charges KRW 3,000 for adults and a further KRW 5,000 for the Huwon Secret Garden, as of 2026, and is closed on Mondays. King Taejong built the palace in 1405 as a secondary residence, and it earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997 because its buildings follow the contours of the slope instead of a rigid axis. Donhwamun, the main gate finished in 1412, is the oldest surviving palace gate in Seoul. Injeongjeon, the throne hall, is a National Treasure under a two-tier roof of grey tile, while the garden behind holds over 160 tree species and more than 70 trees older than 300 years.

Best time of day: The 10:30 English tour of Huwon. Entering the palace by 09:30; late October and early November concentrate the maple colour, and early April brings blossom on the garden's ponds.

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden timings

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden opens at 09:00 and closes at 17:30. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 09:00–17:30; Monday Closed
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:30; Palace roughly 09:00-17:30 or 18:30 depending on the season (last entry one hour earlier); verify the seasonal timetable on the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center site. Huwon guided tours in English run at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November and skip the 15:30 slot from December to February.
Closed on: Monday (the palace opens on a Monday public holiday and closes the next working day instead)

Monday	Closed
Tue–Sun	09:00–17:30

Good to know: Huwon tours in Korean run hourly from 10:00 to 16:00 (March-October) or to 15:00 (November-February). Japanese-language tours run on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Chinese-language tours on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Opening hours compiled from royal.khs.go.kr and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden ticket price

Entry fees for Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	₩3,000
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Changdeokgung Palace charges KRW 3,000 for adults, as of 2026, and the Huwon Secret Garden needs a second, separate ticket of KRW 5,000 for adults and KRW 2,500 for ages 7-18, so a full visit costs KRW 8,000 per adult. Visitors aged 65 and over enter the palace free, and hanbok wearers enter the palace free but not the garden. Sources disagree on the exact free-entry age for children; verify at the ticket booth. The garden ticket is not covered by the combined palace ticket.

Prices compiled from royal.khs.go.kr and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

Quiet
Moderate
Busy
Very busy

09:00 - 10:30
Palace OnlyBest time to go
Donhwamun, Injeongjeon and Seonjeongjeon are quiet before the first garden tours; this is the window for uncluttered photographs of the throne hall courtyard.
Quiet
10:30 - 12:30
Garden Tour Rush
The 10:30 and 11:30 English tours plus the hourly Korean departures fill the garden paths; the Buyongji pond viewing point is crowded in autumn.
Very busy
12:30 - 14:30
Midday Lull
Tours thin out between the morning and afternoon batches, so the palace halls and Nakseonjae are easier to walk without groups.
Moderate
14:30 - closing
Afternoon Slots
The 14:30 and 15:30 English tours and school groups keep Huwon busy; late light is good for the pavilions, and last entry is one hour before closing.
Busy

History of Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

Changdeokgung Palace served as the chief royal residence for roughly 250 years, because most Joseon kings found Gyeongbokgung too large and, after the Imjin War of 1592 burned every palace in Seoul, only Changdeokgung and neighbouring Changgyeonggung were rebuilt first. Rebuilding began in 1609, and the palace stayed the seat of government until the late nineteenth century.

Changdeokgung Palace kept its royal occupants longer than any other: the last crown princess, Yi Bang-ja, lived in the Nakseonjae residence until her death in 1989, which is why the timber halls there are furnished rather than empty. Seonjeongjeon, rebuilt in 1647, is the oldest standing building in the compound and has rare blue glazed roof tiles. The Huwon garden, laid out in the fifteenth century, was designed as a royal retreat for study and rest, and its pavilions, ponds and stone gates were placed to fit the natural terrain of the Eungbong hill.

Rules & etiquette at Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

Changdeokgung Palace enforces one firm rule that catches visitors out: the Huwon Secret Garden can only be entered on a timed guided tour, and individual wandering is not allowed. Groups are capped at 100 people per session, 50 tickets sold online and 50 on the day. Guides stop tour members who leave the path, step on garden turf or touch pavilion columns, and a tour can be closed to latecomers.

Changdeokgung Palace, like the other Seoul palaces, bans drones, and large tripods are best left behind on the garden tour. Bring sturdy flat shoes; Huwon involves gentle uphill paths and uneven stone underfoot. Hanbok wearers enter the palace free but must still buy a garden ticket.

Tips for visiting Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

1
Changdeokgung Palace's Huwon garden sells out in spring and autumn, so book the English tour online before you travel. Sources disagree on the booking window (one guide says reservations open six days ahead at 10:00 Korea time, the Seoul tourism listing says at least three days ahead), so verify on the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center site. Reserve a slot first, then plan the rest of the day around it.
2
Changdeokgung Palace's meeting point for the garden tour is more than a 15-minute walk inside the grounds from the main gate, so arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot. The tour takes about 70 minutes. Hold the garden tour before lunch and finish at Bukchon or Insadong, both a short walk away. Same-day tickets are released at 09:00, which is worth trying on weekdays outside foliage season.

How to reach Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden

The red star is Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden; the numbered pins are the 7 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03072, South KoreaDirections in Google Maps

From Incheon International Airport (ICN)
60 km · 80-95 min
KRW 4,750-5,000 all-stop AREX plus KRW 1,550-1,650 subway (as of 2026, verify)
From Seoul Station
5 km · 18-24 min
KRW 1,550-1,650 with a T-money card (as of 2026, verify)
From Gyeongbokgung Palace
2 km · 5-30 min
KRW 1,550-1,650 by subway, or free on foot

Nearest airport

From Incheon International Airport (ICN)

about 60 km, 45 minutes by AREX express to Seoul Station plus 25 minutes by subway.

Nearest station

From Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 3, about a five-minute walk to Donhwamun gate.

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden FAQs

How much is Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret Garden?

The palace costs KRW 3,000 and the Huwon Secret Garden costs a further KRW 5,000 for adults, as of 2026, so a full visit is KRW 8,000. Ages 7-18 pay KRW 2,500 for the garden.

Can I visit the Huwon Secret Garden without a guide?

No. Huwon can only be entered on a guided tour, with a maximum of 100 people per session, and individual entry is not allowed.

Which day is Changdeokgung Palace closed?

Monday. Changdeokgung Palace closes every Monday, and if Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes on the next working day.

What time are the English tours of the Secret Garden?

English tours run at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November, and drop the 15:30 slot from December to February. A tour lasts about 70 minutes, and you must arrive at the palace at least 30 minutes early.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places