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Hi, I’m SeoulAslanSeoul Palaces Free Entry Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026: Closed Days and Hours
Checked Oct 5, 2026
From Thu Oct 29 to Sun Nov 15, 2026, entry is free for everyone at Seoul's four palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung — plus Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs. Two things are not free: the guided Huwon (Secret Garden) tour at Changdeokgung, and the regular closing days, when the gates stay shut. Each site is closed on 2 of the 18 days, so check the closing days below before you go.
The most beautiful autumn leaves I've seen weren't on a mountain. They were on a maple tree inside Gyeongbokgung. I really dislike crowds though, so I usually go a little after the peak. For this guide I read the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center's own Korean notice and fee pages.
Jump to: Why free? · Closing days · How much you save · Huwon garden · November hours · Jongmyo · One-day route · FAQ
Why are the palaces free this autumn?
The free entry is part of the Korea Grand Festival (코리아 그랜드 페스티벌), a nationwide shopping and travel event run by ten government ministries. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (궁능유적본부), which runs the palaces, put it in its Sept 30 notice: free entry at all of its sites, with the Huwon special tour and closing days excluded, and Jongmyo switched to general admission.
Which days are the palaces closed?
Free entry doesn't change the weekly closing days.
- Mondays, Nov 2 and 9: Changdeokgung (창덕궁), Changgyeonggung (창경궁), Deoksugung (덕수궁) and the royal tombs are closed.
- Tuesdays, Nov 3 and 10: Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) and Jongmyo (종묘) are closed.
So every site is open 16 of the 18 days. If you want to see several in one day: go to Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo on a Monday, and to Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung on a Tuesday.
How much do you save?
Foreigners pay the same adult price as Koreans. Normal adult fees:
| Site | Adult fee | Nearest subway |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) | 3,000 won | Gyeongbokgung Stn, Line 3 |
| Changdeokgung (창덕궁) | 3,000 won | Anguk Stn, Line 3 |
| Changgyeonggung (창경궁) | 1,000 won | Walk from Changdeokgung |
| Deoksugung (덕수궁) | 1,000 won | City Hall Stn, Lines 1 and 2 |
| Jongmyo (종묘) | 1,000 won | Jongno 3-ga Stn, Lines 1, 3, 5 |
| Integrated pass (all five) | 6,000 won | — |
All five add up to 9,000 won, so the saving is small in money. The real difference is that you can drop into a palace for 30 minutes without thinking about the ticket. Some people never pay anyway: foreigners aged 18 and under or 65 and over, and anyone wearing hanbok, get in free all year.
Is the Huwon (Secret Garden) free too?
No. The Huwon (후원), the rear garden of Changdeokgung, is visited only on a guided tour, and that tour is excluded from the free period. It costs 5,000 won for adults and lasts about 70 minutes.
- English tours: 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30
- Tickets open 6 days before your date at 10:00 KST, first come, first served. Each session is split between online and on-site tickets.
- The innermost part, Okryucheon (옥류천), is closed for repairs, so the tour skips it.
- The official booking page says October and November tickets go very fast.
What are the November opening hours?
| Site | Hours (last entry) |
|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | 09:00–17:00 (16:00) |
| Changdeokgung | 09:00–17:30 (16:30) |
| Jongmyo | 09:00–17:30 (16:30) |
| Changgyeonggung | 09:00–21:00 (20:00) · no night visits Nov 10–15 |
| Deoksugung | 09:00–21:00 (20:00) |
For an evening visit, Deoksugung works on every open day. Changgyeonggung's evening hours are suspended from Nov 10 to 15 (notice of Sept 2), so in the last week only Deoksugung is open after dark.
What's different at Jongmyo?
On many days Jongmyo can only be visited on a timed guided tour. During the free period it switches to general admission: walk in when you like. On Sat Nov 7, the Chuhyang Daeje (추향대제), the autumn royal ancestral rite, is held at Jongmyo. It's held on the first Saturday of November every year.
A one-day route for the free period
- Gyeongbokgung in the morning (any day but Tuesday).
- Walk east to Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, which are side by side (any day but Monday). Book the Huwon separately if you want it.
- South to Jongmyo (any day but Tuesday).
- Finish at Deoksugung after dark, open until 21:00.
Wednesday through Sunday all five are open, so those are the days to try the whole loop.
FAQ
Are Seoul palaces free in November 2026?
Yes, from Oct 29 to Nov 15, 2026, at all four palaces, Jongmyo and the royal tombs, except on closing days.
Do I need to book to enter the palaces?
No booking for palace entry. Only the Huwon garden tour needs a ticket (5,000 won).
Is Gyeongbokgung open on Mondays?
Yes. Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays (Nov 3 and 10 in this period).
Can foreigners get in free normally?
Foreigners aged 18 and under or 65 and over, and anyone wearing hanbok, get free entry all year.
Which palace is open at night?
Deoksugung until 21:00. Changgyeonggung too, except Nov 10–15.
How busy the first free weekend gets
Free entry plus peak autumn color on the same weekends could make Gyeongbokgung busy. I'll watch how crowded the first weekend (Oct 31 – Nov 1) gets and add it here.
Sources
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center notices (Korean): free entry Sept 30, 2026; Changgyeonggung night suspension Sept 2, 2026; Wednesday free days May 28, 2026
- Fees and free admission rules · Opening hours
- Etoday on the Korea Grand Festival (Korean)
- Photos: Korea Tourism Organization photo gallery, Korea Open Government License Type 1
— SeoulAslan
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