Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon Garden

창덕궁

A palace laid into the hillside, with its secret garden

⚠ Garden by guided tour only

Hours

About 9am–6pm, shifting by season; closed Mondays

Tickets

Adult ₩3,000; garden ₩5,000 extra, bookable online

Address

99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Built in 1405 as a second royal residence, it joined the UNESCO list in 1997. Where Gyeongbokgung is laid out on a strict grid, the halls here follow the shape of the hill. The highlight is the back garden, Huwon: a lotus pond, small pavilions and old trees along paths you walk behind a guide for about ninety minutes. In autumn the tours fill up fast.