Seoul Palaces in One Day (2026): A Walking Route With Map

Seoul has five royal palaces, and you can see the best of them in one well-planned day. This Seoul palaces in one day route starts at Gyeongbokgung, walks through Bukchon’s hanok lanes, stops for lunch and tea in Insadong, spends the afternoon in Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden and finishes at Deoksugung, the one palace open after dark. Follow the numbered map and use the Naver Map buttons for walking directions.

Last checked: October 2026. Palace hours and ticket rules change; confirm on the official sites before you go. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

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First time in Korea? Start here: our step-by-step guide from landing to your first day.

The route on a map

Numbers show the order; the dashed line links the stops in a straight line, not the exact path. Tap Open in Naver Map under each stop for walking directions (why Naver Map).

What does the day look like?

Stop by stop

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace, 9:00

Start at the largest palace when it opens at 9:00, before the tour groups. Walk through Gwanghwamun to the throne hall Geunjeongjeon, then the pond pavilion Gyeonghoeru. Allow about two hours. Hanbok gets you in free. Full details, including the changing of the guard at Gwanghwamun, in our Gyeongbokgung guide.

Open in Naver Map Google Maps

2. Bukchon Hanok Village, 11:30

Leave by the palace’s east gate and walk up to Bukchon’s hanok lanes, such as Bukchon-ro 11-gil. People live here, so keep quiet: the core residential zone is open to visitors only from 10:00 to 17:00. More in our Bukchon guide.

Open in Naver Map Google Maps

3. Insadong, 12:30: lunch and a tea house

Walk downhill to Insadong for lunch, then sit in a hanok tea house with an omija or citron tea and browse Ssamziegil’s craft shops. See our Insadong guide.

Open in Naver Map Google Maps

4. Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden, 14:00

Changdeokgung is greener and gentler than Gyeongbokgung, and its Secret Garden is only seen on a timed tour. English tours start at 14:30 (and 15:30 from March to November) and take about 90 minutes. Book online six days ahead. Tickets and tips are in our Changdeokgung guide.

Open in Naver Map Google Maps

5. Deoksugung at dusk, 18:00

Take a taxi (about 10–15 minutes) or the subway to City Hall Station, Exit 2. Deoksugung stays open until 21:00 (last entry 20:00), so you can see its halls and the stone Seokjojeon lit up, then walk the ginkgo-lined Jeongdong-gil. Details in our Deoksugung guide.

Open in Naver Map Google Maps

How much does a palace day cost?

• Gyeongbokgung 3,000 KRW + Changdeokgung 3,000 KRW + Secret Garden 5,000 KRW + Deoksugung 1,000 KRW = 12,000 KRW (~$9) per adult.
• Wear hanbok and the palace ground tickets are free (the Secret Garden tour is ticketed separately).
• Ages 18 and under and 65 and over get free entry to the palace grounds.

Which days and variations work best?

• Tuesday: Gyeongbokgung is closed. Swap it for Changgyeonggung, next to Changdeokgung.
• Monday: Changdeokgung and Deoksugung are closed; Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo’s guided tours are open. Add Jongmyo Shrine after Bukchon.
• Short on time? Do Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon in the morning, Deoksugung in the evening.
• Staying nearby: a night in a hanok stay makes the early start easy.

Tips

• Comfortable shoes: palace courtyards are stone and gravel, and Bukchon is hilly.
• Accessibility: Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung are mostly flat; the Secret Garden and Bukchon have steep slopes and steps.
• Getting around: Anguk Station (Line 3) is the hub; tap in with T-money.

FAQ

Can you see all the Seoul palaces in one day?
You can see three or four comfortably: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung (with the Secret Garden) and Deoksugung, plus Bukchon in between. All five is rushed.

Which Seoul palace is best if I only have time for one?
Gyeongbokgung for scale and the guard ceremony; Changdeokgung for gardens and atmosphere.

Which palace is open at night?
Deoksugung, until 21:00 (closed Mondays).

Sources: Korea Bestie palace guides (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo; checked October 2026) · Seoul Metropolitan Government – Deoksugung guard ceremony 2026 · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photos: Brady Bellini / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 · Bgag / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 · Sadopaul / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0