SEOUL / PALACES AFTER DARK
Palaces
by lantern light.
Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung stay open until 21:00 most evenings. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung open at night only for ticketed seasons in spring and autumn, and the tickets go fast.
EVERY NIGHT
Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung
Both palaces keep their gates open until 21:00, with the last entry at 20:00, and no booking. Both close on Mondays. From 10 to 15 November 2026 Changgyeonggung closes at 17:30 for Donggwol Dongrak.
AUTUMN 2026
Gyeongbokgung Night Opening 경복궁 야간관람
Walk the lit heart of the palace on your own: Gwanghwamun, Geunjeongjeon, Gyeonghoeru, Sajeongjeon, Gangnyeongjeon, Gyotaejeon and the Amisan garden. No Monday or Tuesday evenings.
- 2026 dates
- Autumn: 2 September – 2 October
- Evenings
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Times
- 19:00–21:30, last entry 20:30
- Price
- KRW 3,000
- Booking
- Timed tickets online (NOL Ticket).
- Palace
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
AUTUMN 2026
Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour 경복궁 별빛야행
A small guided group with a royal-kitchen meal and traditional music, then a lantern walk through the north of the palace, as far as Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong, which are usually closed at night.
- 2026 dates
- Autumn: 2 September – 24 October
- Evenings
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Times
- Two tours an evening, 18:20 and 19:30, about 110 minutes
- Price
- KRW 60,000
- Booking
- Lottery, then booking on TicketLink.
- Palace
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
Sources: Korea Heritage Service — Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour 2026 press release (Korean) · Ministry of Culture — Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour listing (Korean)
SPRING & AUTUMN 2026
Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour 창덕궁 달빛기행
Carry a blue-and-red lantern from Geumhomun past Injeongjeon and Nakseonjae into the Secret Garden, with music at Buyongji and Yeongyeongdang. Groups are kept small to protect the garden.
- 2026 dates
- Spring: 16 April – 31 May
Autumn: 10 September – 17 October - Evenings
- Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Times
- Tours from 19:10 and 20:00, about 100 minutes
- Price
- KRW 30,000
- Booking
- Lottery on TicketLink. Sessions in English run on selected dates; check the season's booking notice.
- Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
Sources: Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — autumn 2026 Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung night programmes, as reported (Korean) · K-Trip Tips — Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour 2026 listing from the Korea Heritage Service Promotion Institute (Korean)
LATE AUTUMN 2026
Donggwol Dongrak 동궐동락
A guided night through Changgyeonggung and the rear gardens of the two 'eastern palaces', with short scenes at Myeongjeongjeon and Tongmyeongjeon and a walk through Yeongchunmun, a gate normally kept shut. Changgyeonggung's usual evening opening pauses for the week.
- 2026 dates
- Late autumn: 10 November – 15 November
- Evenings
- Every day
- Times
- Four starts an evening, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00 and 19:30, about 110 minutes
- Price
- KRW 40,000
- Booking
- Lottery on TicketLink, two tickets a person.
- Palace
- Changgyeonggung Palace
Sources: Korea Heritage Service — Donggwol Dongrak 2026 press release (Korean)
Spring and autumn dates change every year; the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center publishes each season about a month ahead. Dates above are the 2026 seasons.