Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace built by the Joseon dynasty after it moved its capital to Seoul, and it remains the largest of the city's five grand palaces. It was founded in 1395, burned down during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and lay in ruins for more than two centuries until it was rebuilt in the 1860s. Much of the complex was then demolished during the Japanese colonial period, and a long restoration programme that began in 1990 is still rebuilding halls today.

Enter through Gwanghwamun, the main gate facing Gwanghwamun Square, and walk north through a sequence of courtyards. The first great sight is Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall where coronations and state ceremonies took place; it is a National Treasure and the largest main hall of any Joseon palace. To the west, Gyeonghoeru, a banquet pavilion raised on stone pillars over an artificial pond, is the classic photograph of the palace. Further north, the small Hyangwonjeong pavilion sits on an island reached by a wooden bridge, with the slopes of Bugaksan behind it.

Two national museums stand inside the grounds. The National Palace Museum of Korea, near the west side, displays royal artefacts, and the National Folk Museum of Korea, on the east side, covers everyday life on the peninsula; check its status before you go, as it is due to relocate to Sejong City. Both make good shelter on a hot or rainy day.

The palace is closed on Tuesdays, and opening hours change with the season, with the gates closing earliest in winter and last entry one hour before closing. Free English guided tours run several times a day on open days, and small groups can simply join without booking. Visitors wearing a complete hanbok enter free, which is why so many people rent traditional dress from the shops near Anguk and Gyeongbokgung stations. Allow at least two hours, longer if you visit the museums, and arrive at opening time to see the main courtyards before the tour groups.

The nearest stations are Gyeongbokgung on Line 3 and Gwanghwamun on Line 5. The Yeongchumun gate on the west side opens towards the cafés and galleries of Seochon, and Bukchon Hanok Village and Samcheong-dong are a short walk to the east. Wheelchairs and pushchairs can be borrowed on site, though some paths are gravel.