Gyeongbokgung Palace Tours and Tickets

Free guided tours of Gyeongbokgung Palace take place three times per day and last around 1.5 hours. It's worth sticking around for an extra hour after your tour to explore independently or to stay to watch the twice-daily Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony. The ceremony only lasts 10 minutes, but it is a highlight of a trip to Korea for many travelers.

As one of Seoul's top historical attractions, Gyeongbokgung Palace gets very busy. The best time to visit is in the morning as soon as it opens as it tends to be quieter before noon. After that, large tour groups arrive, and the weekends also bring huge crowds, so avoid those days if possible.

Yes, visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace is worth it. It's the largest of Seoul's Five Royal Palaces which include Deoksugung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Gyeonghuigung Palace, and Changgyeonggung Palace.

King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, built the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the 14th century. Today, its grounds look stunning in all four of South Korea's distinct seasons, particularly fall and cherry blossom season in spring. In fact, some people argue that it’s Seoul’s most impressive, and photogenic, palace.

Despite its age, Gyeongbokgung Palace is accessible. While there are ramps leading to the entrance and throughout the palace grounds, some are quite steep, so take care. There are also lots of uneven surfaces, which might make exploring with wheelchairs or strollers quite bumpy.

On Gyeongbokgung Palace tours, you'll see the hexagonal Hyangwonjeong Pavilion; the grand Geunjeongjeon Hall, where ceremonies and royal meetings were held; the wooden Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, formerly used as a banquet hall; and the 2-tiered curved roof, which is the most iconic section of the structure.

No, you can't take food into the Gyeongbokgung Palace’s grounds, but you can, however, bring a bottle of water. While there is a convenience store at the palace, there is no restaurant or cafe.

However, you’ll find plenty of eateries surrounding the palace grounds. Samgyetang (a stewed chicken soup), is a popular specialty in the area. Travelers who don’t eat meat, or who want something sweet to eat, will enjoy tasting the traditional cakes, also for sale near the palace. They get their vibrant green color from matcha powder.