Itinerary
Gyeongbokgung Palace Visitor Guide — History, Tickets & Hours
Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul's largest and most historic Joseon-era royal residence. Discover its grandeur, cultural experiences, and the beauty of its grounds.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the official palace of the Joseon dynasty by Yi Seong-gye, the future King Taejo and founder of the new regime. Gyeongbokgung Palace is commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because of its location to the north, comparied to Changdeokgung Palace in the east and Gyeonghuigung Palace in the west. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and is the largest of all five palaces. Many Joseon kings were crowned here. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong. The assassination of Empress Myeongseong, however, resulted in Gyeongbokgung Palace losing its function as a royal palace, eventually witnessing the downfall of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace retains the original Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a prime example of Joseon architecture, and the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and pond. The sculptures in the Geunjeongjeon Hall exemplify Joseon-era sculpture techniques. The west side of the area outside Heungnyemun Gate is occupied by the National Palace Museum of Korea, while the eastern side of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion within the Gyeongbokgung Palace is occupied by the National Folk Museum of Korea.
Why Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) matters
Adjacent to it, the National Palace Museum of Korea showcases a stunning collection of royal artifacts, including furniture, ceramics, calligraphy, and personal belongings of Joseon royalty, providing a more intimate look at the lives of kings and queens.
Official visitor information
Official address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Official visiting hours: November-February 09:00-17:00 (Last admission 16:00) March-May & September-October 09:00-18:00 (Last admission 17:00) June-August 09:00-18:30 (Last admission 17:30).
Official closure information: Tuesdays (If Tuesday falls on a public holiday, it will be closed on the following business day instead).
Parking: Available.
Official information contact: +82-2-3700-3900.
How to use this guide
Use the official information above as the planning baseline. Opening arrangements, programs, admission conditions, and access rules can change after this review. Follow the official source links before traveling, especially when your visit depends on a particular exhibition, performance, seasonal activity, or facility.
The remaining recommendations on this page are editorial guidance for understanding the setting and organizing a visit. They are not a substitute for instructions issued by the venue, local government, cultural-property authority, or transport operator.
Responsible visit checklist
Before leaving
- Open the official venue page and confirm the latest operating notice.
- Check weather and transport conditions on the day of travel.
- Respect residential, religious, ecological, and cultural-property rules where applicable.
- Allow flexibility rather than relying on an exact minute-by-minute schedule.
- Use the official information contact when accessibility or reservation details are essential.
Where is Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)?
161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Where should I confirm current hours and closures?
Use the official source links in the reviewed-for-accuracy panel on this page.
When was this information checked?
The reviewed-for-accuracy panel shows the latest human review date and source record.
