Gyeongbokgung Palace

Among the Four Royal Palaces in Seoul, Gyeongbok Palace is the most popular for tourists and is the one included in a half day City Tour of Seoul if you have a really long layover from Incheon Airport if riding Asiana or Korean Airlines (these tours are complimentary). Gyeongbok Palace was the Main Palace of the Chosun dynasty until it got destroyed in 1592 during the Japanese Invasion. The Palace was 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 (will have separate tip for it). 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

If you continue walking after seen the two stataues of Yi Sun-shin and King Sejong, you will came to the palace. Is one of Seoul's main tourist attraction and one of the five palaces in the city. It is accessible via subway and it’s hard to miss if getting off Gyeongbokgung station. Visiting the palace it'll take you around the grounds at your own pace and look around the different structures, rooms and landscape of the compound. They also have specific areas where you get to actually see the interior

This is the grandest of the five palaces. Gwanghwamun gate is the main entry gate for the Gyeongbokgung palace and it is a landmark in the area. A panoramic view of the fortress palace built in 1395. The royal palace has been destroyed throughout history and slowly rebuilt in the 20th century. Such as any palaces you can witness changing of guards every hour from 10am to 4pm just right outside the palace. Gyeongbokgung royal palace in Seoul also provides excellent insight into Korean culture

Admission fee is very affordable at KRW 3000 Open from 09:00-18:00 (Mar-Oct), 09:00-17:00 (Nov-Feb), Enter 1 hour before close. Closed Tuesdays

The palace was built in 1395 and, for 500 years, it has been the main Royal palace and heart of the Joseon Dynasty. The palace was burnt during Japanese invasion in 1592 and then it was abandoned untill 1860 when it was rebuilt and became a palace with 330 buildings. But then in 1911 Japanese destroyed most of the buildings. The remaining halls include Geunjeongieon, where the officials cerimonies were held and the private areas f the King and the Queen.
Ticket 3000 wong
Open: March - May 9-18
June - August 9- 18.30
September - February 9-17
Closed on Tuesday.

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.

Gyeongbukgung is a great place to know about South Korea's history. Getting inside is only W3,000. The palace grounds are clean and well-maintained. Guarding the gates are the sentry in colorful traditional Korean military costume. Within the compound is the Hyanwonjeong Pond, a place of relaxation for the royal family. There are clean toilets in various parts of the compound. A coffee shop and souvenir store is a good place to hang out and take a rest from walking around. Gyeongbukgung is accessible by subway, regular bus and hop on-hop off bus. There are also several tourist attractions around the palace.

I think it is best to visit the palaces in Seoul in the morning, there are a couple and you can go to one palace to another by foot. Don't try to use the subway to save time. Of course to make your trip memorable, don't miss to take a photo with the palace guard :)

Since 1395 it was the main royal palace in Joseon Dynasty. Mostly all building were destroyed during Japanese occupation in 1910. But of course it was refurbished and now it's beautiful nad waiting for you ;-)

Entrance fee is only 3,000 Won . The whole area is big so it will take about one to 1,5 hours to spend. Many palaces/halls/gates. Palace area is very peacful and beautiful so I'm shure you will like this place.

Also you may be able to see the ceremony of gate guard change. For more information you can go to this website: www.sumunjang.or.kr
But ''royal guards'' stands outside Gwanghwamun gate so you can take a photos with them :-)

Also you can find a house here where you can wear a traditional Korean dress 'Hanbok' for free.

Luckly, I got chance to visit Gyeongbok palace at night. They open for only few days in spring and autumn.
It took me about an hour to buy the ticket and enter palace.
There was too many people trying to see the night view and take the photo.
The highlight was Gyeonghoeru, the pavillion on the water.It was too beautiful place to be and I really wish I could come again before I leave and see that beautiful view.
However, the day was the last day opening during evening time. How sad~ :(
Yes, it was very tough but worth it! I hope they open at night more frequently, so many people can see it!

This palace was one of the highlights of our second visit to Seoul. There was just so much going on. We began by watching the changing of the guards ceremony just outside the main gate. You can watch this without paying the palace entry fee if you want. The ceremony was carried out in traditional costume.

Inside the palace they were rehearsing for the anniversary of a huge historical examination. More traditional clothes. In addition during our visit they were filming a TV show here. Traditional costumes and music. Also people are paid to wander around in traditional clothes re-enacting scenes from palace life. As if that were not enough Koreans dress up in their own traditional clothes to have their photos taken here. There are some lovely buildings and a beautiful pagoda on an island set in the midst of a scenic pond.

This palace was constructed in 1394. It was the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). It was founded by King Taejo and is the grandest of all five of Seoul's palaces.

Make sure you see the imperial throne room of Geunjeongjeon or Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, which stands on forty-eight granite pillars towering over a lotus lake. Other highlights include the tall pagoda of the National Folk Museum of Korea and Hwangwonjeong Pavilion, which sits in a beautiful pond. You can get a great photo of this pavillion and its reflection.

To get here: Take subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and proceed to Exit 5. The palace grounds are open from 09:00~18:00 (March ~ October) and 09:00~17:00 (November ~ February). Gyonegbokgung Palace is closed Tuesday. Admission is 3,000 won.

We re-visited this palace and as we were traveling on our own, we had a lot more time to explore the grounds.

The guards standing at the entrance to the Palace were wearing traditional Korean clothing. Lots of tourists were taking photographs with them, but some of the tourists were a bit over-zealous - they were standing very close to the guards or were pulling at their clothes! Understandably, the guards didn't look too pleased and one of the staff started scolding those tourists and shooing them away. So, if you were visiting this palace, you can take photos with these guards, but please be sensible and do not disturb them in their work.

Admission costs KRW 3,000 per adult. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.

This building was used to host banquets for foreign envoys, and is surrounded by a man-made pond. The pond was used to reflect the building on the water surface. Gyeonghoeru was said to have been built according to the principles of the I Ching (Book of Changes).

This structure is the building that you'll see on the 10,000 Korean won note.

Much has been written about this place so I won't say much about it except to confirm that if you only have time to visit one palace then make it this one. Enough said.

And in one stop, you get to see the nearby Folk Museum and Palace Museum, both for free.

Palace admission: 3,000 won. Open Wed. - Mon. from 9 am - 6 pm (Mar. - Oct.) or 5 pm (Nov. - Feb.).