Changdeokgung Palace Opening Hours, Secret Garden

I find Changdeokgung Palace to be calmer than Gyeongbokgung Palace. If you enjoyed the Netflix series Kingdom, which was filmed at Changdeokgung Palace Complex and Secret Garden, exploring it in person will be an exciting experience. But, don't forget to check the opening hours, location and purchase separate tickets for the Secret Garden.

Explore the UNESCO Heritage Changdeokgung Palace

Of the Five Grand Palaces from the Joseon dynasty, Changdeokgung Palace is special. It's the only one acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its beautiful design that blends in with nature. Some Joseon kings even preferred it over Gyeongbokgung Palace, occasionally using Changdeokgung as their royal residence.

In 1907, Sunjong became the last emperor and moved from Deoksugung Palace to Changdeokgung Palace. In 1910, with Korea being annexed by Japan, the era of Korean kings came to an end. He spent the rest of his life at Changdeokgung Palace and passed away at the age of 52 in 1926. You can watch his funeral in this video.

Emperor Sunjong

Upon entering through Donhwamun, the main gate, you'll find storage for belongings plus informational maps, multilingual brochures and QR codes for audio guides.

📍 Donhwamun (돈화문), the main gate, was initially constructed in 1412 but was destroyed during the Japanese invasions in the late 16th century. It was rebuilt in 1609. In front of Donhwamun is Geumcheongyo stone bridge, the oldest surviving stone bridge within a Korean palace.

📍 Injeongjeon (인정전) appears to have two stories from the outside, but it is actually a single-story building. The structure is grand and towering. It served as the venue for formal state events hosted by the king and for receiving foreign envoys.

Inside Injeongjeon, you can see things that show the time of the Korean Empire and modernization, like electric lights and golden curtains. At first, I thought the modern features wouldn't match the palace, but they actually blend well with the fancy interior and the king's throne.

📍 Nakseonjae (낙선재) is renowned as the place where the last women of the Joseon royal family spent their later years, including Empress Sunjeong Hyo, Princess Consort Lee Bang-ja, and Princess Deokhye, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Gojong.

Built in 1847 by King Heonjong for his concubine, Lady Kim, Nakseonjae has a simple design that looks more like a nobleman's house than a palace, in my opinion. Sadly, King Heonjong died at the young age of 22, only two years after building Nakseonjae.

Changdeokgung Palace Free Guided Tours

These tours depart from the sign that reads 'free guided tour departure point' as soon as you enter through the main gate, Donhwamun. They are available at 10:15 AM and 1:15 PM, and each tour lasts for approximately 50 minutes.

✅ At the National Palace Museum of Korea, you can see an exhibition about the daily lives of Korean royalty, including the car used by Emperor Sunjong and the Empress.

✅ Gojong, Sunjong's father, declared the Korean Empire from Deoksugung Palace. Seokjojeon in Deoksugung now houses the Daehan Empire History Museum, offering insights into the empire's history. Admission is free, but self-guided tours are not allowed.

Changdeokgung Palace Sectert Garden

To explore the Secret Garden, you must join a guided tour led by Changdeokgung Palace guides. Individual visits are not allowed.

There may occasionally be special events that permit private visits. However, normally you should arrive at the Secret Garden entrance at your reserved tour time and wait there to join the group. It is important to arrive on time. If you are late, you will not be permitted to enter, and your ticket payment will not be refunded. ⚠️⚠️

💪👀Here's a tip: It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk from Donhwamun (main gate) to the secret garden entrance.

📍 The first stop on the tour is Buyongji pond (부용지), next to the Buyongjeong pavilion (부용정). It is said kings would enjoy refreshments here while appreciating the natural scenery. I found this spot very peaceful, like an oasis. In episode 7 of the drama 'The Red Sleeve,' there is a scene where Yeongjo and Lee San go fishing together - and that scene was actually filmed here.

In the summer, the traditional buildings blend beautifully with the natural greenery, and in the fall, when the leaves change color, it creates a different atmosphere. It's a great place to enjoy the fall foliage in Seoul.

© Namu wiki

📍 Opposite Buyongjeong, there's a two-story building. The lower floor is the royal library called Gyujanggak (규장각), and the upper floor is a reading room named Juhapru (주합루). I really liked that two-story traditional Korean building. It was located on a hillside so it made it even more impressive.

📍 This place has a special pavilion in Korea called Gwanramjeong (관람정), the only fan-shaped pavilion in Korea. You might recognize it from the Netflix series 'Kingdom,' but unfortunately, visitors are not allowed inside.

💪👀Here's a tip: As the tour lasted 90 minutes, I ended up walking approximately 11,000 steps. Wear comfortable shoes. You will climb some hills during the tour.

Changdeokgung Palace Location, Subway Station

How to go to Changdeokgung Palace?

• Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Subway Station: Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 3
• Website: 🔗 Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace Entrance Fee, Opening Hours

🟡 Closed on Mondays Changdeokgung Palace is closed every Monday, with varying opening hours depending on the season.

• If the palace closure date falls on a public holiday (including compensatory holidays), the palace will be open. In this case, the first non-public holiday after the open holiday becomes the new closure date.

🟡 Entrance Fee:

• ✔️ Visitors wearing hanbok can enter for free.
• ✔️ Every last Wednesday of the month is Culture Day, and you can enter for free.

📢 It is necessary to purchase a separate ticket for the Secret Garden, even if you have palace entry. Tours are limited, so book early, they fill up very fast.

Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden Tickets

🔴 Tour Schedule: Tuesday - Sunday

• ✔️ Tour Duration: Usually around 90 minutes.They shorten it to 70 minutes in the summer (July-Aug) and winter (Dec-Feb).
• ✔️ In my tour, the hills made it challenging, so I recommend comfy shoes.

🔴 Ticket Prices:

🔴 Two Ways to Purchase Tickets:

1. Online booking opens at 10 AM, six days before the tour date, with 50 tickets available per tour.

Note that it sells out very quickly, often within just a few minutes of opening up new dates. You must purchase a separate ticket to enter Changdeokgung Palace even if you have reserved a Secret Garden tour since it is within the palace grounds.

🔗 Book Secret Garden Tickets on the Official Website

2. On-site sales provide 50 tickets per tour at the ticket booth or through a self-service machine in front of it. Ticket sales begin at 9 AM daily. If you arrive later, your preferred time slot may already be sold out.

Wrap-up

For a peaceful time surrounded by Korean nature and history, I suggest visiting Changdeokgung Palace complex and its Secret Garden in Jongno. While it might require some extra planning regarding opening hours and ticket reservations and be slightly pricier than other palaces, it's definitely worth checking out.

Credits

The images featured in this post are courtesy of Changdeokgung Palace's Website.