If you are a first-time visitor to Seoul, the likelihood is that you will pay a visit to one of the royal palaces in Seoul, and there is a good chance that it will be the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your visit to the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, Korea.
Why Visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of Seoul’s five palaces. It is also centrally located, making it easy to visit. The palace was the seat of the Joseon kings for centuries. It was burned down and destroyed several times throughout its history. However, each time, it has been proudly rebuilt.
Tips for Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace to Help You Get The Most Out of Your Time
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Wear a Hanbok to Get Free Entry
One well known tip is that you can enjoy free entry to any royal palace if you wear a hanbok or traditional Korean dress. There are hanbok for both men and women.
You will find many hanbok rental shops at the southwestern corner of the palace compound, on the opposite side of the road from the palace. There are also studios where you can get made up and take pictures in the hanbok too.
Be Prepared to Walk
Come to Gyeongbokgung Palace prepared to walk. The palace and its gardens are huge. You can also expect to do a lot of climbing up and down stairs as you visit the various palace buildings.
Even if you are wearing a hanbok, be sure to wear comfortable shoes underneath.
And it would probably be a good idea to have a hat handy too.
Watch the Guards
Throughout the day, the Imperial Guards put up a show for visitors. These take place at the front entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace and usually happen on the hour.
In addition to the Changing of the Guard, you may also be able to watch these guards, dressed up in traditional costumes, at training sessions.
An announcement will be made over the public address system, letting visitors know where to watch the performance.
You don’t even need a ticket into the palace to watch the performances.
Join a Free Tour
To get a better appreciation of Gyeongbokgung Palace and its place in Korean history, join a free walking tour.
These are conducted in different languages and the meeting point is just inside the ticketed entrance. The tour will take slightly more than an hour and will take you to significant places such as the throne room, the king and queen’s living quarters and the ceremonial hall.
As an additional tip, while you are waiting for the tour to start, you can head over to the corridors along the perimeter of the courtyard. This a popular area for photographs as the rows of columns and roof timbers make for pretty backdrop.
Two Free Museums
There are two free museums at the exterior of Gyeongbokgung Palace – the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk History Museum of Korea.
The National Palace Museum of Korea covers life in the court of the Joseon dynasty. This is good for those who are interested in palace life, its ceremonies and how royalty lived.
The museum is located close to the main entrance area and the Gyeongbokgung subway exit.
The National Folk Museum of Korea covers the life of the ordinary folk in Korea. This includes daily life and major events for the common people. This is museum next to the eastern exit of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Here are some tips with respect to the two museums.
Firstly, the museums open slightly later than the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Therefore, if you are planning to arrive early to get into the Gyeongbokgung Palace and beat the crowds (and the heat in summer), you may not be able to visit the museums if they are still not yet open.
It can be very tiring trying to visit the two museums and the palace all in one day. Just walking around the museums can also expend a lot of energy.
Instead, unless you are a die-hard Joseon dynasty fan, you may wish to join a palace tour to get a flavor of what palace life was like.
Then, if you exit Gyeongbokgung Palace by the eastern gate, you can take a walk through the National Folk Museum of Korea to find out more about what life for the ordinary person living in agrarian and modern Korea.
Enjoy Your Visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace
We hope that these tips help you enjoy your visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is huge with a lot of ground to cover. To try to take it all in in one visit can be extremely challenging.
We hope that these tips are useful in helping you get the most out of your time visiting this Seoul landmark.
