Changgyeonggung Palace
185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Dating back to the 15th century, the compact Changgyeonggung Palace has housed Korean queens and royal concubines for hundreds of years. The main hall of the palace—Myeongjeongjeon—is the oldest main hall of all Seoul’s royal palaces and exemplifies 17th-century Joseon architecture with its artful combination of wood and stone, as well as its jade green roof tiles.
The Basics
Tours of Seoul’s royal palaces typically cover Changgyeonggung Palace thanks to its close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Changdeokgung Palace. These tours also tend to include stops at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, as well as the bustling local markets of Insadong and Namdaemun. The lake and green spaces that surround the palace can easily be explored within an hour, and offer a tranquil escape from the busy streets of central Seoul.
Things to Know Before You Go
The grounds surrounding the palace are mostly flat, so are accessible for strollers and travelers using a wheelchair or other mobility aid.
Free guided tours of Changgyeonggung Palace are offered in English on a daily basis, typically once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
There’s a minimal admission fee to visit the palace; however, groups of more than 10 get a discount on their tickets.
The forest surrounding the palace is home to 50,000 trees, including Japanese apricot, zelkova, maples, cherry, and peach trees, making it a haven for naturalists.
How to Get There
The palace is conveniently located in the centre of Seoul, so it’s an easy addition to your sightseeing itinerary. Anguk station on line 3 is a 20-minute walk and Hyehwa station on line 4 is 15 minutes away on foot. Changdeokgung Palace is only five minutes away from Changgyeonggung Palace by bus.
When to Get There
Changgyeonggung Palace is closed on Mondays, but open from morning until the late evening throughout the rest of the week. Visit after dark to beat the crowds and see the grand halls illuminated. During the fall, Seoul is awash with autumnal shades—October and November are when the palace’s surrounding greenery looks especially attractive.
The Five Royal Palaces of Seoul
Changgyeonggung Palace is arguably the least well-known—and therefore least crowded—of Seoul’s five royal palaces. The other four royal structures each boast features unique to them: Changdeokgung Palace is home to a “secret” garden; Deoksugung Palace is renowned for its stone-wall road; Gyeonghuigung Palace boasts museums dedicated to art, history, and heritage; and Gyeongbokgung Palace ecompasses two cultural institutions that focus on royal architecture and Korean folklore.
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