Deoksugung Palace Guide (2026): Changing of the Guard, Night Visits and Jeongdong-gil

Deoksugung (덕수궁) is the palace in the middle of downtown: across from Seoul City Hall, open until 9 pm, and the only one where traditional halls stand next to grand Western-style stone buildings from the Korean Empire era. Add the free changing of the guard at its main gate and the tree-lined Jeongdong-gil walk, and it’s an easy hour or two between Myeongdong and Gwanghwamun.

Last checked: October 2026. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

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Deoksugung at a glance

The royal guard changing ceremony

• Seoul city stages the ceremony in front of Daehanmun, the main gate, at 11:00 and 14:00 every day except Monday, all year. It’s free and lasts about 20–30 minutes.
• Guards in Joseon-era uniforms march in with drums and banners, exchange passwords and change shifts.
• Stand along the rope on the City Hall side for the best view, and arrive 10 minutes early on weekends.
• Gyeongbokgung has its own ceremony at different times. See our Gyeongbokgung guide.

What to see inside

• Junghwajeon: the throne hall, smaller than its Gyeongbokgung equivalent but beautifully lit at night.
• Seokjojeon: a neoclassical stone hall completed in 1910, now the Daehan Empire History Museum. Interior visits may need advance booking, so check on the day.
• The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Deoksugung branch), in the west wing of Seokjojeon, with its own exhibitions.
• Jeonggwanheon: a pavilion mixing Korean and Western styles, where Emperor Gojong is said to have drunk coffee.

Visit at night

Because it’s open until 9 pm, Deoksugung is the easiest palace to see lit up. Come after dinner in Myeongdong (Myeongdong guide), walk the grounds, then stroll Jeongdong-gil.

Walk Jeongdong-gil

• The stone-wall road (덕수궁 돌담길) runs along the palace wall from Daehanmun toward Jeongdong, lined with ginkgo trees that turn gold in late October and November.
• Along the way: Jeongdong First Methodist Church, Seoul Museum of Art and old embassy buildings from the 1890s.
• It’s a quiet, flat walk. Good with a stroller.

Accessibility: strollers and wheelchairs

• Main paths are wide, but courtyards are paved with uneven stone and some halls sit on raised stone platforms with steps.
• Gravel and earth paths can be bumpy for small stroller wheels; a sturdy stroller or carrier is easier.
• Ask at the ticket office about wheelchair loans and the step-free route.

Getting there

Map — Deoksugung Palace: Google Maps · Naver Map (Naver Map is still the most reliable app for walking, bus and subway directions in Korea)

From Jongmyo or Changdeokgung, it’s about 15 minutes by subway or taxi.

How long do you need at Deoksugung?

About an hour inside the palace, or two if you add the guard ceremony, the museum in Seokjojeon and a walk along Jeongdong-gil. Because it’s open until 9 pm, it’s the easiest palace to fit in after a day of sightseeing, and the halls look their best lit up after dark.

When is the best time to visit?

• Late afternoon into evening: arrive before sunset to see the halls in daylight and stay for the lights.
• Autumn: the ginkgo trees along the palace stone wall (Deoksugung Doldam-gil) turn bright yellow, usually in late October and early November.
• Weekday mornings are quietest; weekend afternoons bring families and photographers.
• Avoid Mondays: the palace is closed.

What’s nearby?

• Seoul Plaza and City Hall, right across the road; in winter, check whether the outdoor ice rink is running.
• Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung, about 15 minutes’ walk north: combine them on our Seoul palaces in one day route.
• Cheonggyecheon Stream, a few minutes away, for an evening walk.
• Myeongdong, one subway stop or a 15-minute walk, for dinner and shopping: see our Myeongdong guide.

FAQ

What time is the changing of the guard at Deoksugung?
11:00 and 14:00, Tuesday to Sunday, in front of Daehanmun Gate. It’s free.

Is Deoksugung open at night?
Yes, until 21:00 (last entry 20:00). It’s closed on Mondays.

How much is Deoksugung?
1,000 won for adults; free if you wear hanbok.

Sources: Seoul Metropolitan Government – Deoksugung guard ceremony 2026 · MileAsia – Deoksugung visitor guide 2026 · Time Out – MMCA Deoksugung
Photos: Kimhs5400(블루시티) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pip1024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0