Jongmyo Shrine

종묘

The long-roofed shrine for Joseon kings and queens

⚠ Closed Tue; guided entry

Hours

About 9am–6pm, seasonal; closed Tuesdays

Tickets

Adult ₩1,000

Address

157 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The shrine for the spirit tablets of Joseon kings and queens, a UNESCO site since 1995. The main hall is a single-storey wooden building roughly a hundred metres long, and the endless row of pillars is what you came for. The mood is plain and solemn, and people tend to go quiet. On weekdays you enter with a guided tour; Saturdays and holidays allow free walking.