How To Visit Changdeokgung Palace + Huwon Secret Garden

Changdeokgung Palace is one of the most popular things to do in Seoul because it is home to the Huwon Secret Garden.

We highly recommend you add this palace to your Seoul itinerary because it’s a great place to admire the pagoda style architecture and learn about Korean history.

In our Seoul travel guide, we will show you:

The best way to buy Changdeokgung Palace tickets
10 best things to see on the palace grounds
Tips for your visit to make the most of your time
Our personal photos of Changdeokgung Palace

Now, let’s explore Changdeokgung Palace!

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Our Seoul Experience

Woman posing for a photo next to a cherry blossom tree in Seoul — Kristen inside Changdeokgung Palace next to a cherry blossom tree

We spent two weeks exploring Seoul in March 2023 after the covid lockdowns. Our goal is to bring you the most up to date info on Seoul so you can plan the best trip possible.

We personally visited Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Secret Garden during our Seoul trip. This guide features everything we learned and includes tips for your visit.

There are five grand palaces in Seoul and they are different in their own unique way. If you have enough time, we recommend visiting all the palaces if your Seoul itinerary allows.

But if you are short on time, Changdeokgung Palace is the most unique palace in South Korea because it’s built in harmony with the surrounding mountains and landscape.

What Is Changdeokgung Palace?

Constructed in 1405, Changdeokgung Palace was created as a secondary palace for the Joseon Dynasty. This is the second oldest palace in Seoul after Gyeongbokgung.

Unfortunately, it was heavily destroyed during the Japanese invasion from 1592-1598, but it was rebuilt in 1610. Changdeokgung Palace then served as the main palace in Seoul for 270 years.

After one visit to Changdeokgung, it is easy to see why this palace was loved more than other palace in Seoul by the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.

The royal family often relaxed in Huwon Secret Garden and visitors can walk the exact same paths. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site, the Changdeokgung Palace Complex is a must do in Seoul.

A vibrant pink cherry blossom along side a smaller purple bush — A large vibrant blooming cherry blossoms inside Changdeokgung

How To Get To Changdeokgung Palace

Known as the eastern palace, Changdeokgung is the located on the eastern side of Seoul. Here are the best subway stations for visiting Changdeokgung Palace:

Anguk Station (line 3, exit 3)
Jongno 3-ga Station (line 1/3/5, exit 6)

Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul is open every day of the week except Monday and it opens at 9:00am. But depending on the month of the year, the palace closes at different times.

Here are Changdeokgung Palace times throughout the year:

Feb to May + Sep to Oct: 9:00 – 18:00
Jun to Aug: 9:00 – 18:30
Nov to Jan: 9:00 – 17:30

Travel Tip: The last admission to the palace is one hour before closing so make sure you give yourself enough time when visiting.

Changdeokgung Palace + Huwon Secret Garden Tickets

Admission tickets for Changdeokgung Palace cost:

KRW 3,000 (US$ 2.30) for adults
KRW 1,500 (US$ 1.15) for youths ages 7-12
KRW 2,400 (US$ 1.86) with groups of 10 or more

If you want to visit the Huwon Secret Garden, you must have a ticket for Changdeokgung Palace. Tickets for the secret garden are KRW 5,000 (US$ 3.84) for adults and KRW 2,500 (US$ 1.92) for youths.

Tickets for Changdeokgung Palace can be purchase onsite in person or online by booking in advance on various websites.

Only guided tours are available for the Secret Garden and tickets are limited to 100 people per session.

As of now, 50 of these tickets can be purchased by online reservation and 50 of these tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

But we had trouble finding the online reservation portal for the Secret Garden. The website was unreachable and would not load. So try to secure a spot by arriving early.

The Royal Palace Pass

We visited Changdeokgung Palace with our Royal Palace Pass which we recommend if you plan to visit multiple palaces in Seoul. This discounted pass also gave us admission into the secret garden.

The Royal Palace Pass costs KRW 10,000 and it is valid for three months from the date of purchase. This pass can only be purchased onsite at any of the 4 palaces or shrine listed below:

Gyeongbokgung
Changdeokgung
Changgyeonggung
Deoksugung
Jongmyo Shrine

This is a great option for those who want to visit numerous palaces in Seoul, but if you want free admission there is another choice.

Travel Tip: If you have the Royal Palace Pass, you are required to exchange your Secret Garden voucher for a valid ticket before entering the garden. Head straight to the Secret Garden office when entering the palace.

Hanbok Rentals For Changdeokgung Palace

Admission to Changdeokgung Palace is free for anyone wearing a hanbok which is traditional Korean clothing. When you visit the palace, you can expect to see numerous tourists dressed in hanboks.

It’s also common for women to get their hair styled to wear along with their hanbok. So if you want a memory to never forget, consider wearing a hanbok to Changdeokgung Palace.

This Hanbok rental is a very popular option. The pick up location is located between both Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palace so you could visit both palaces in the same day.

Travel Tip: If you want to visit the Huwon Secret Garden, you will have purchase a ticket for the Changdeokgung Palace even if you are wearing a hanbok.

A beautifully colored building in Seoul, South Korea — Beautifully colored buildings can be found all through Changdeokgung Palace

Popular Changdeokgung Palace Tours

When you visit Changdeokgung Palace, you can join a free one hour guided tour offered in numerous languages. Here are the time for the free tours:

Korean: 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:30 (Mar-Oct)
English: 10:15, 13:15
Chinese: 10:00
Japanese: 11:00

But there are also many popular tours offed by different companies. Many of these tours offer admission to Changdeokgung Palace along with some of the best Seoul activities.

Here are popular Changdeokgung Palace tours:

UNESCO Heritage Palace + Shrine Tour – Four hour tour to Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine and Bukchon Hanok Village
Royal Palace Afternoon Tour – A half day afternoon tour to Changdeokgung Palace, Namsangol Hanok Village and Namdaemnun Market

10 Best Things To Do In Changdeokgung Palace

The highlight of Changdeokgung Palace is without a doubt, Huwon Secret Garden. However, access to this garden is limited and if you don’t get a ticket, you won’t be able to enter.

We made the Huwon Secret Garden our priority when visiting Changdeokgung Palace because the secret garden makes up more than half of this entire complex.

Even if you don’t visit the Secret Garden, there is still so much to see inside Changdeokgung Palace so it’s still worth your time.

Here is what to see at Changdeokgung Palace:

A ticket for entrance into the Huwon Secret Garden — Our admission ticket for the Huwon Secret Garden

1. Huwon Secret Garden

The Huwon Secret Garden is located in the rear of Changdeokgung Palace. This garden is spread across 78 acres and it takes up about 60% of the entire palace grounds.

It was used by the royal family as a place of rest as it gave them much needed privacy. Highlights of the garden include numerous pavilions, a library, living quarters, a beautiful Chinese juniper tree and more.

We won’t get into much detail about the garden because we want to focus on the palace. So if you want to know exactly what to expect, read our detailed guide to the Huwon Secret Garden next.

Large group during a guided tour inside Changdeokgung Palace — Our large guided tour group

2. Book A Tour Or Take The Free Guided Your

We took the free guided tour inside Changdeokgung Palace. As you walk around the palace, you will notice small informational signs, but overall we were very happy we took the guided tour.

While the signs provide a little bit of information, a tour is the best way to learn about the history of the palace. Without a tour, we feel we would have missed out on key things to know about the palace.

The free tours provided last about 60 minutes and we only stopped a few times. If you want to learn as much as possible, consider booking one of the tours we listed above.

Since we visited all 5 of the royal palaces in Seoul, we opted for the free tours. But if you are only visiting one palace, you may want to book a longer tour.

The large and two tiered Donhwamun Gate — The stunning two-tiered Donhwamun Gate

3. Donhwamun Gate

The Donhwamun Gate is the main entrance of Changdeokgung Palace. If you have already visited Gyeongbokgung, you will notice this gate is different with three open arches.

We think this is one of the best gates in Seoul because it is extremely intricate yet very simple. This two story gate was used for surveillance and it has since been enlarged for automobiles.

Donhwamun Gate is a very popular photography spot and you can expect it to be busy. Many visitors take a photo on the wide stone bridge in front of the gate surrounded by beautiful foliage in the background.

Geumcheongyo Bridge with an empty stream — An empty stream underneath Geumcheongyo Bridge

4. Geumcheongyo Bridge

This bridge is a must see in Changgyeonggung Palace because it is one of the oldest stone bridges in Seoul. Constructed in 1411 by King Taejong, Geumcheongyo Bridge is 12.9m long and 12.5m wide.

Although the stream now runs dry, crossing the bridge symbolized importance. The bridge was said to help palace visitors cleanse their worldly burdens before meeting with the king.

Maine throne hall inside Changdeokgung Palace — Interior view of the main throne hall at Changdeokgung

5. Injeongjeon Hall

Located in the center of the outer buildings in the complex, Injeongjeon is the main hall of Changdeokgung Palace.

Injeongjeon Hall is also known as the throne hall because this is where major events such as the coronation ceremony or state banquets would be held.

Visitors are not allowed to enter Injeongjeon Hall, but you can peek inside to see gorgeous examples of Korean architecture.

Take note the stone markers along the walkway to this hall are inscribed with ranks of court officials. Each official would stand by their marker and higher ranking officials would be closer to the king during meetings.

The famous blue green tiles found inside Changdeokgung palace in Seoul — Don’t miss the beautiful blue tiles of Seonjeongjeon Hall

6. Seonjeongjeon Hall

Seonjeongjeon Hall is a one story building where the king would often work. This building is conveniently located because it is neighbored by the sleeping quarters of the king.

In the center of the hall, the king would sit on his throne and his subjects were then permitted to take their seats on both sides. A scribe would also record what was discussed during each meeting.

We learned during our tour, Seonjeongjeon Hall has the only existing blue tiled palace roof. Sections of this hall were closed during our visit, but we could still view the beautiful blue tiles.

Interior of the kings hall at Changdeokgung Palace — Interior view of Huijeongdang Hall

7. Huijeongdang Hall

Directly next to Seonjeongjeon Hall, you will find Huijeongdang Hall. This building was used as a women’s residence and then a place of work for the king.

In this building, the king would often meet with officials to discuss political issues. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1917, but it was rebuilt in 1920 with materials from Gyeongbokgung.

8. Daejojeon Hall

Located behind the king’s residence, you will find Daejojeon Hall, otherwise known as the queen’s residence. It’s interesting to know this is the only building to not have a ridge on the roof.

There are massive bronze utensils at the edge of the base to help ward off fire. It was a common belief the god of fire was frightened at seeing his own shape reflected in the water.

This hall was completely closed when we visited for a private event.

Visitors walking as part of a large group during a guided tour in a Seoul palace — Our tour group exploring the Changdeokgung grounds

9. Seongjeonggak Hall

This hall is unique because it is where the doctors of the court cared for the royal family. Inside, there are a few writings by King Jeongjo translating to “do one’s best to take care of the king and his family.”

Seongjeonggak Hall was home to various doctors who were always on duty both day and night. During their time, herbs from all over the country were preserved for their practices.

A colorful pavilion next to cherry blossoms and intricately painted buildings — Exterior view of Nakseonjae Hall

10. Nakseonjae Hall

Built by King Heonjong in 1847, this hall features unique architecture without dancheong or multi-color painting you will see throughout the other sections of Changdeokgung.

Next to Nakseonjae Hall, you can also find Seokbokheon House and Sugangjae Hall. These buildings were used for the king’s grandmother, the king’s consort and Empress Sunjeonghyo.

Is Changdeokgung Palace Worth Visiting?

Yes, the Changdeokgung Palace is worth visiting because it the most unique palace built in Seoul. It was built in harmony with the surrounding landscape and features a secret garden.

Every hall and structure throughout the entire Changdeokgung Palace complex showcases beautiful Korean architecture.

Visiting Changdeokgung Palace is one of the best way to learn about Korean History. This is one of the best preserved palaces in Seoul and it’s definitely worth your time.

Our Changdeokgung Palace Photos

We enjoyed our visit to Changdeokgung Palace and took several photos. Here are a few of our favorites:

Woman standing inside a wooden door frame inside Changdeokgung Palace — Kristen posing for a photo inside a wooden door frame at Changdeokgung Palace

Perspective shot of the main throne hall inside Changdeokgung Palace — Perspective photo of Donhwamun Gate

Close up view of budding cherry blossoms in Seoul — Close up shot of the gorgeous cherry blossoms in March

Woman reading an informational sign about Changdeokgung Palace — Kristen reading about the palace from an informational board

Perceptive shot of Korean stone markers — Close up view of the stone markers near the main throne hall

Large gates and lush trees inside in Seoul, South Korea — Large gates and cherry blossoms scattered throughout the palace

Informational pamphlets offered in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean — Informational brochures are available in numerous language

A colorful room inside a Soul palace featuring the moon and mountains — Interior of a Changdeokgung Palace building

Injeongjeon Hall with visitors waiting in line to peek inside — Injeongjeon Hall Exterior view

Narrow and intricate alleyways inside Changdeokgung Palace — Intricate and narrow alleyways of Changdeokgung Palace

A small budding cherry tree inside Changdeokgung Palace — A vibrant cherry blossom among the beautiful buildings in Changdeokgung

A small and colorful gate inside a Korean royal palace — Another large gate inside the Changdeokgung Palace complex

Changdeokgung Palace FAQ’s

Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Seoul’s Changdeokgung Palace.

How long should you spend at Changdeokgung Palace?

You should plan to spend at least an hour inside Changdeokgung Palace. If you take part in the free walking tour or visit the Secret Garden, you should plan on 2-3 hours.

What makes Changdeokgung Palace unique?

Changdeokgung Palace is a special place in Seoul because the complex features official and residential buildings built in harmony with their natural setting.

Who lived in Changdeokgung Palace?

Changdeokgung was used as the main palace for 270 years and it become popular during the reign of King Seongjong. He was the the ninth king of Joseon who ruled from 1469-1494 and began using this palace as his main residence.