Deoksugung Palace Guide: Tickets, Seokjojeon & Night Visit
Deoksugung Palace is one of the easiest royal palaces to visit in central Seoul.
Located right beside City Hall, it offers something a little different from Seoul's other palaces. Traditional Korean palace buildings stand alongside Western-style architecture from the Korean Empire period, most notably Seokjojeon Hall.
Another major advantage is the opening time. Deoksugung stays open until 9:00 PM, making it one of the best palaces in Seoul for an evening visit.
After exploring the palace, you can continue your walk along the famous Deoksugung Stone Wall Road, one of the most pleasant walking routes in central Seoul.
1. Deoksugung Palace Tickets, Hours, and How to Get There
Before visiting Deoksugung Palace, there is one important detail to remember: the palace is normally closed on Mondays.
As of 2026, the regular visitor information is:
- Opening hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Last admission: 8:00 PM
- Regular closing day: Monday
- Foreign visitors ages 19–64: KRW 1,000
- Foreign visitors age 18 and under: Free
- Foreign visitors age 65 and over: Free
Deoksugung is very affordable compared with many tourist attractions in Seoul.
Since August 5, 2026, admission to Deoksugung Palace has also been free every Wednesday under Korea's expanded Culture Day program.
Keep in mind that admission to the MMCA Deoksugung, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art located inside the palace grounds, is separate from the palace admission ticket.
Visitors who meet the official hanbok guidelines may also qualify for free palace admission.
Getting to Deoksugung
The palace is located at 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul.
- Take Seoul Subway Line 1 or 2 to City Hall Station.
- Use Exit 2.
- Deoksugung is about a 2-minute walk from the station.
There is no dedicated visitor parking lot, so using the subway is generally the easiest option.
2. What Is Seokjojeon Hall and How Can You Visit?
One of the most distinctive buildings at Deoksugung is Seokjojeon Hall.
After walking past traditional Korean wooden palace buildings, suddenly seeing a large Western-style stone building can feel surprising. That contrast is one of the things that makes Deoksugung different from Seoul's other royal palaces.
Today, the interior is used as the Daehan Empire History Museum.
However, visitors should know that you generally cannot simply walk through the main exhibition rooms whenever you want.
The first and second floors are operated mainly through guided visits, and advance online reservations are available.
- Regular guided tour: about 45 minutes
- In-depth guided tour: about 65–70 minutes
There is also a useful option for international visitors.
Foreign visitors can currently request on-site reservations for English-language Seokjojeon tours at:
- 11:50 AM
- 2:50 PM
On-site spaces are limited, so check availability early if seeing the interior of Seokjojeon is one of your priorities.
If you do not have time for the guided interior visit, the exterior of Seokjojeon and the fountain area are still worth seeing and photographing.
3. Visiting Deoksugung Palace at Night
Unlike some Korean palace night programs that operate only during special seasons, Deoksugung normally stays open into the evening throughout the year.
Regular palace hours run until 9:00 PM, with the last admission at 8:00 PM.
This means you generally do not need a separate special night-viewing reservation just to enjoy Deoksugung after sunset.
A good itinerary for first-time visitors is:
- Enter the palace around 4:00–5:00 PM.
- Visit Junghwajeon and Seokjojeon while it is still light.
- Walk around the grounds during sunset.
- See the traditional palace buildings illuminated after dark.
- Leave the palace and continue onto Deoksugung Stone Wall Road.
This timing lets you experience the palace in daylight, around sunset, and after the lights come on.
One thing that often confuses first-time visitors is that individual exhibition buildings close earlier than the palace grounds.
For example, Seokjojeon is officially operated from around 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, while Dondeokjeon also closes much earlier than the main palace grounds.
If an indoor exhibition is important to you, visit it before spending the evening walking around outside.
4. Walking the Deoksugung Stone Wall Road
Do not leave the area immediately after visiting the palace.
Deoksugung Stone Wall Road follows the stone wall surrounding the palace and is one of Seoul's best-known urban walking routes.
The walk connects naturally with the Jeong-dong area, where you will find places associated with Seoul's modern history, including the Seoul Museum of Art and Jungmyeongjeon Hall.
A simple walking route is:
Daehanmun Gate → Deoksugung Stone Wall Road → Seoul Museum of Art area → Jeong-dong
The road is attractive throughout the year. Spring brings fresh greenery and flowers, while autumn is especially popular for colorful leaves.
In the evening, streetlights along the stone wall create a quieter atmosphere than the busy streets around City Hall.
A Korean superstition you may hear
You may hear Koreans mention an old saying that couples who walk along Deoksugung Stone Wall Road will eventually break up.
It is best treated as a local superstition rather than a historical fact. Today, the road is simply a popular place for couples, families, friends, and travelers to walk through central Seoul.
5. What to See and Eat Around Deoksugung
Because Deoksugung is in the middle of central Seoul, it is easy to combine it with other attractions.
Easy 2–3 hour route
Deoksugung → Seokjojeon → Stone Wall Road → Jeong-dong
If you explore only the palace grounds, around one to two hours is usually comfortable. Add more time if you plan to join a Seokjojeon guided tour.
Half-day central Seoul route
Deoksugung → Stone Wall Road → Seoul City Hall → Gwanghwamun Square → Cheonggyecheon Stream
These places are close enough to connect by walking or short subway rides.
What to eat nearby
The City Hall, Jeong-dong, and Gwanghwamun areas have everything from inexpensive Korean meals to cafes and modern restaurants.
If you are new to Korean food, these dishes are relatively approachable:
- Bibimbap (비빔밥): rice mixed with vegetables, sauce, and often egg or meat
- Bulgogi (불고기): thinly sliced meat with a mildly sweet and savory marinade
- Kalguksu (칼국수): soft knife-cut noodles served in broth
- Mandu (만두): Korean dumplings filled with meat, vegetables, or both
If you do not handle spicy food well, ask “Igeo maewoyo?” (이거 매워요?), meaning “Is this spicy?”
You can also say “An maepge haejuseyo.” (안 맵게 해주세요.), meaning “Please make it less spicy.”
Vegetarian travelers should keep in mind that a dish that looks meat-free may still contain anchovy broth, seafood stock, fish sauce, egg, or small amounts of meat.
If you have a serious food allergy, saving the Korean names of ingredients such as nuts, shellfish, eggs, and milk on your phone can make ordering much easier.
Conclusion
Deoksugung Palace is an excellent choice for travelers who want to experience Korean royal history without leaving central Seoul.
It is only a short walk from City Hall Station, admission is inexpensive, and the palace stays open until 9:00 PM.
What makes Deoksugung especially interesting is the contrast between traditional palace buildings and Western-style architecture such as Seokjojeon.
For a first visit, one of the easiest plans is to arrive in the late afternoon and explore Deoksugung → Seokjojeon → sunset → palace night view → Stone Wall Road.
Just remember that Seokjojeon and other indoor exhibition spaces close earlier than the palace itself, and Seokjojeon interior visits operate through scheduled guided tours.
Check the official schedule before your visit, especially if Seokjojeon is a priority.
References
- Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center – Deoksugung
- Korea Heritage Service – Deoksugung Visitor Hours and Admission Fees
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – Deoksugung Stone Wall Road
- Visit Seoul – Deoksugung Palace
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