Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

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Gyeongbokgung Palace is the most famous of the palaces found in the city of Seoul. If you have only 1 palace to visit, then choose this one. It requires a whole afternoon to visit. Within the vicinity are National Folk Museum & National Palace Museum. Very nice to walk around. Better to secure a map coz it's easy to get lost with it's huge size.
Closed Tuesdays
Opens 9AM-6PM

It was in 1395, three years after the Joseon
Dynasty was founded by Yi Seong-gye, when the construction of the main royal palace was completed and the capital of the newly founded dynasty moved from Gaeseong to Seoul (then known as Hanyang).
To important culture property of the respect palace there are times when above 9 branches it will see.
The traffic side from subway 3 line respect palace reverse becomes 5minute disturbance with walking.

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Gyeongbokgung which means Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven, was built in 1395 and it served as the main palace. After you get the admission ticket (W3000), you can wait in the entrance for the gate guard change or special ceremonies organised during the day. You can also get a guide about these ceremonies to plan your visit. Two of the grandest architectural sights in Seoul are here. The main palace building Geunjeongjeon is an ornate two-storey building. Gyeonghoeru, a large raised pavillion resting on 48 stone pillars, is the second one. This building is located on the left of the main building. On the right is the large living quarters for the primary queen which is called Gyotaejeon. On the eastern side the quarters for the crown prince Jaseondang is located. You can easily spend 3 hours around the Royal Palace. You can also visit National Folk Museum located inside the palace area which will be another tip. Admission hours are between 09:00 and 18:00. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Check out my Travelogue for pictures and information about this awesome palace!

Opening Hours:
March through October: 9am to 6pm
November through February: 9am to 5pm
Open until 7pm on Weekends and National Holidays (May to August only).
Ticket booth will close one hour before closing of the palace.
Closed on Tuesdays

Admission:
3'000 Won (Half price for Kids and Teens from 7 to 18)

Free Guided Walking Tours:
English at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
Japanese at 10am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Chinese at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm

Changing of Guards:
Every hour from 1oam to 4pm

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Gyeongbok Palace was the Main Palace of the Chosun dynasty until it got destroyed in 1592 during the Japanese Invasion. Founded in 1394 by King Taejo (who destroyed the Goryeo Dynasty in Kaesong), this was the base of the Joseon Dynasty. (the last Dynasty of Korea). In 1867, some of the building were reconstructed but was again destroyed by the japanese during the occupation except for 10 buildings. Today the palace is open to the public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea. The National Museum of Korea was there too, until it was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005.

Admission :
3,000 won adults, 1,500 won children
Hours of Operation :
09:00~17:00, 18:00
Closed Tuesdays

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Please see my album on my Seoul page for Gyeongbokgung Palace. I took quite a few photos and can't fit them all on this tip. It is worth seeing and you can spend little to lots of time checking it all out. We visited first thing in the morning. Opens at 9am and there were just a few people here and there.

Additionally, I have read that you should not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts. We visited on a day that was cooler and so we were dressed appropriately. But keep that in mind when you're visiting.

There is no official site for the palace. The link below shows price of admission and the hours to visit.

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Gyeongbokgung, the oldest palace of the Joseon Dynasty. It is the most comprehensive and grandest of the five palaces of the period, it has a 500 year history. Inside the grounds stands the National Folk Museum of Korea.

GEUNJEONGJEON is the greatest building of Joseon architecture. It is the main building of Gyeongbokgung and the palace where ceremonies of the state.
GANGNYEONGJEON was the central building of the King’s residence. There are 9 rooms , the central room was where the king slept and the surrounding 8 rooms were where the court ladies kept night watch.
GYOTAEJEON was the queen residence. It has a wooden floored hall in the center with ondol rooms on each side of it.
GYEONGHOERU is where official banquets were held and foreign envoys were entertained. There was a small pavilion when Gyeongbokgung was first built.
HYANGWONJEONG, it is pavilion for relaxation. Originally the bridge called Chihangyo was connected to the north of the pavilion.

Palace Gate Opening & Closing Ceremony and Royal Guard Changing Ceremony march- November 10.00-16.00 every hour (Closed on Tuesday)

NATIONAL FOLK MUSSEUM OF KOREA located inside Gyeongbokgung, the museum is a showcase of the lifestyle of the Korean people from the prehistoric age to the modern times related the life, culture, lifestyle, clothing, and food.
www.nfm.go.kr

CHEONGWADAE is the presidential residence of the Republic of Korea. It was built in a Korean style with the roof of the main building decorated with blue tiles.
www.cwd.go.kr
email: tour@president.go.kr

Amidst the many palaces in Seoul, we identified Gyeongbokgung as the main palace to go to.

We timed our tour to that of the free guided tour and were given a good commentary on the palace history, old practices and purposes of the various rooms.

10-15 mins walk from Insadong. Can get map from the Insadong information centre.

Opening hours: March-October 09.00-18.00

*Ticket passes for Gyeongbok Palace can also be used at the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum.

Free Tour Guide: In front of information center, Hongryemun Gate (main gate)
* English: 9:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00
* Chinese: 10:00, 12:30, 14:30