A 30-second brief: start with your day
The four Seoul palaces share royal heritage but differ in closures and standard evening opening. Decide your available day and return time before trying to include as many sites as possible.
This is a general-admission comparison, not a guarantee of entry to gardens, interiors or separately ticketed night events. Live crowds and ticket availability have not been verified.
- Monday → check Gyeongbokgung's opening first
- Tuesday → check Gyeongbokgung's closure and holiday exceptions
- Late arrival → check Deoksugung or Changgyeonggung's last entry
- Garden visit → check session, language and separate tickets
Four palaces in one table
Prices are the individual paid-adult rate. Check age, nationality and other exemptions separately, and do not use the October timetable for another season.
| Palace | Paid adult | Closure | Closes / last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | KRW 3,000 | Tuesday | 18:00 / 17:00궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗ · 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗ |
| Changdeokgung palace | KRW 3,000 | Monday | 18:00 / 17:00궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗ · 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗ |
| Deoksugung | KRW 1,000 | Monday | 21:00 / 20:00궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗ · 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗ |
| Changgyeonggung | KRW 1,000 | Monday | 21:00 / 20:00궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗ · 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗ |
Recheck public-holiday exceptions
When closure falls on a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next non-holiday instead. Check notices for your actual date.
Monday and Tuesday choices differ
Gyeongbokgung's regular closure is Tuesday; the other three close Monday. Avoid assuming that all Seoul palaces close Monday or that one open palace means the others are open.
Choose the day your group can visit, then check that palace's official hours and notices. This table does not replace live information on special events, safety closures or weather restrictions.
Evening opening is not a special night ticket
Official general-visit information lists Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung as closing at 21:00, with last entry at 20:00, throughout the year. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palace admission ends at 17:00 and the grounds close at 18:00 in October.
A later ordinary visit to Deoksugung or Changgyeonggung differs from booking a special Gyeongbokgung night opening. Do not assume every interior or special programme follows the general closing time.
- Allow time for tickets and admission before last entry
- Check night-event dates, sessions and separate booking
- Include the return journey in a later visit
The Secret Garden is not included in palace admission
Changdeokgung's standard individual adult palace ticket is KRW 3,000. The garden costs extra: the official list states KRW 5,000 for ages 19–64 and also 65+, and KRW 2,500 for ages 7–18. Separate palace admission is also required for garden visits.
Paying both standard adult rates totals 3,000 + 5,000 = KRW 8,000. Do not apply this calculation to visitors eligible for exemptions or discounts. Check dates, language, session and remaining tickets on the booking screen; this article does not report live availability.
The KRW 6,000 pass: calculate your actual visits
The official combined ticket covers the four palaces and Jongmyo for KRW 6,000 and is valid for six months. The Secret Garden is excluded. Owning a pass is not a reason to force several palaces into one day.
For a standard-paying adult, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palace admission total KRW 6,000. An ordinary visit to just Deoksugung or Changgyeonggung costs KRW 1,000. Check exemptions, the places you will really visit and possible return visits within the validity period before choosing.
Children, photography or rain: focus on one palace
This is editorial advice. With children, plan one palace, a break, a meal and the return trip separately. Add time for hanbok rental, return and photography; transfers between palaces still take time.
In rain, shorten outdoor walking instead of assuming every interior is freely open. We have not measured live crowds or photography queues and do not rank the palaces as less crowded.
- First visit → start short and decide whether to extend
- Garden goal → arrange the day around your reserved session
- Evening focus → confirm last entry and return transport
Editorial planning advice
Before departure
Prices and operations may change after our check date. Reconfirm your date and specific type of visit before departing.
- Check regular closure and holiday exceptions for your date
- Plan arrival around last entry rather than closing time
- Prepare individual paid or exempt eligibility proof
- Check separate tickets and bookings for garden, night and special visits
- Compare the pass with the places you will actually visit
궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗ · 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗
Official sources
Review the sources and check dates below. Recheck changing information before departure.
- 궁능유적본부 관람시간 ↗Checked: 2026-10-05T08:34:05.355Z
- 궁능유적본부 관람요금 ↗Checked: 2026-10-05T08:34:05.355Z