창덕궁

About

A Joseon palace of refined halls and a garden known for spring plum blossoms and autumn foliage.

Changdeokgung’s garden is the part to plan around: its paths and trees make the palace feel quieter and more closely joined to nature than a run of formal halls. Plum blossoms draw visitors in spring, while autumn brings foliage; both seasons can be crowded. The buildings are compact and refined, and Injeongjeon is the palace’s only building designated a national treasure. Built in 1405 under King Taejong as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung was rebuilt after the Imjin War and served as the main palace for about 270 years. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Look out for seasonal exhibitions and chances to enter interiors such as Huijeongdang and Injeongjeon, though access to buildings is limited and exhibition queues can form before opening. A docent-led visit adds context; for the garden, the guided tour is worth arranging, and visitors can continue looking around on their own afterward. The garden, or Huwon, requires advance booking through the national heritage royal site. Same-day tickets are limited and can sell out, especially on weekends, so book ahead and arrive early for your slot: miss its time and you cannot enter. The garden admission is ₩5,000; the halls cost an additional ₩3,000, while the ₩6,000 combined palace pass does not include the garden. The palace is closed Mondays; it opens at 9:00 and closes at 17:30 on Sundays, 18:00 Tuesday through Saturday. Families, history-minded visitors and anyone who likes a garden walk will find plenty to see. Go outside peak blossom dates if you want room for photographs, and check which interiors are open before you arrive.

Details

Phone

02-3668-2300

Opening hours

Sunday

09:00–17:30

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

09:00–17:30

Wednesday

09:00–18:00

Thursday

09:00–18:00

Friday

09:00–18:00

Saturday

09:00–18:00

Mon closed; Sun & Tue 09:00-17:30; Wed-Sat 09:00-18:00