24/07/2026
Don’t try to do all 5 of Seoul’s palaces in one day. Please! 🙅🏻♀️
I’ve lived in Korea for 15 years, and I promise you it’s a recipe for burnout. These palaces are huge, you’ll literally clock 10,000+ steps exploring, and after 3 wooden throne halls in a row, they all start looking the same anyway.
Swipe through to see how to pick 1 or 2 that actually fit your vibe.
I put together a guide to help you pace your trip without getting overwhelmed, including…
🗺️ My exact morning to afternoon walking route
🎟️ How to grab the 6000 KRW Palace combo pass
🔐 The exact days each palace in Seoul closes
Gyeongbokgung is the most famous Seoul palace, but showing up at noon is a mistake. There’s a specific time you want to hit to beat the crowds and see the changing of the guards.
You can’t just show up and walk into the famous Secret Garden at Changdeokgung. If you don’t know the 6 day booking rule, you’ll be stuck outside 😭
Most tourists skip Changgyeonggung, but it’s a local favourite. The best part? There’s a hidden back gate that connects directly to another palace in Seoul.
Don’t make the mistake of leaving Deoksugung before sunset. It’s one of the only palaces in Seoul open until 9PM, and the night illuminations completely change the vibe.
Gyeonghuigung is Seoul’s ultimate hidden palace. It’s completely free and has zero crowds because it’s tucked away behind a museum.
👑 Seoul’s palaces hit different when you know which one to pick.
Comment the one you want to go to below (like Changdeokgung) and I’ll send you all my local tips.
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