If youโre looking for a place where you can see the contrast between the ancient and the new, Changdeokgung Palace is your place to go!
Located nearby both Jongno 3-ga Station (exit 6) and Anguk Station (exit 3), the Palace offers guided tours in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese, and visiting it is a great opportunity to learn more about the Korean history and culture. This palace was built in 1405 as a secondary palace for the Joseon Dynasty. During the Japanese invasion in Korea, the palace was destructed, but rebuilt in 1610, serving as the main palace for around 270 years. Itโs a living history site!
At the entrance, you can grab a folder with information about the palace for free, and theyโre available in English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. As shown in the picture, you can also check everything there is to see when you visit the palace. Personally, I recommend Injeongjeon: Throne Hall, which is the place used for holding events such as receptions of foreign envoys, coronation ceremonies, and audiences with the ministers.
When you visit the palace, the Secret Garden is a must! Although there is an extra fee to visit it, itโs totally worth it! The beauty of it will make you forget you had to spend a bit more. The Secret Garden was intended as a place for the king and royal family members to relax, but early Joseon Kings would join in military exercises there. Other activities such as archery contests and banquets were also held in the Secret Garden. Also, the Secret Garden, which is around 60% the area of the whole palace, was the reason that made the Changdeokgung Palace the most loved palace among Joseon Dynasty Kings. The Garden is divided into various valleys, so you have to walk down through each valley to see everything. Itโs an amazing and mysterious experience.
The palace has itโs best looks during spring blooming season and snowing season. If you visit the palace on those two seasons it will feel like you are visiting completely different palaces. During spring the everything is very green and fresh, and the magic of the Secret Garden arrises; whilst during winter it has a much more mysterious vibe, like a winter fairy tale. Itโs a great place to visit with friends, where you can take really great pictures and admire not only the beauty of the ancient architecture of Korea but also the modern architecture that can be seen all around the palace area.
The entrance fee is only โฉ3000 , and if you go with a big group (10 people or more) itโs only โฉ2400 .
If you want to visit the Secret Garden there is an extra fee of โฉ5000 .
Another option for the entrance fee is buying the Royal Palace Pass, which includes entrance for Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret Garden, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine. O Royal Palace Pass is valid for 3 months after the date of purchase.
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