Changdeokgung Palace & Huwon (Secret Garden)

Why go

Changdeokgung was built as a secondary palace, but for long stretches of the Joseon era the kings chose to live here. Its halls follow the hills instead of a strict grid, and trees and ponds surround them. Behind the palace is Huwon (the Secret Garden), a royal garden you can enter only at a set time with a limited-capacity ticket. That makes it the calmest palace visit in central Seoul.

What to see

Injeongjeon (throne hall)

The main ceremonial hall stands above a wide stone courtyard. It is smaller and quieter than Gyeongbokgung’s throne hall, so you can often photograph it without crowds, especially at the 09:00 opening.

The palace halls and residences

Past the throne hall, the palace opens into a group of offices, residences and courtyards connected by gates. Walk slowly here. The low walls, wooden lattice doors and old trees show a more everyday side of palace life than the grand ceremonial spaces.

Huwon (Secret Garden)

The garden covers the wooded hills behind the palace, with pavilions, ponds and old trees. Entry is by timed session only, and each session is capped at 100 people. There are fixed entry times by language: English at 10:30, 11:30 and 14:30 (plus 15:30 from March to November), Chinese at 12:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Japanese at 13:30 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Check the official booking page each season to see whether sessions are guided walks or self-paced.

Buyongjeong Pavilion

This small pavilion in the Secret Garden stands at the edge of a square pond. It is the garden’s classic photo spot.

Tips by traveler

Weekend trippers

• Plan your day around your Secret Garden time slot. You can’t just drop in, and arriving late may cost you your session.
• The pond and tree backdrops here are softer and less crowded than at Gyeongbokgung, which makes it a better choice for relaxed hanbok photos.

First-timers & explorers

• Book an English session if you want context. The fixed time slots and small groups make the garden feel more like a visit to a place than a photo stop.
• Anguk Station links this palace with Bukchon and Ikseon-dong, so all three fit into one day on foot.

Families of 4+

• Book the Secret Garden online as soon as your date opens (10:00, 6 days ahead). Only 50 on-site tickets are sold per session, and they can run out.
• For each person, you need both a palace halls ticket and a Secret Garden ticket. Budget for both.
• With toddlers, consider doing only the main palace halls and skipping the Secret Garden.

Shoppers & foodies

• Seasonal night openings of the Secret Garden with lanterns are held in some springs and autumns. Places are very limited. Watch the official site for dates and booking.
• Afterward, it’s a short walk to Ikseon-dong for dinner and drinks in hanok houses.

Good for families

Strollers: The forecourt and the paths to the main halls are mostly flat and paved. The halls themselves sit on raised stone platforms with no ramps, so you can’t roll right up to them. There is a signed step-free route with ramps just inside the main gate. The Secret Garden mixes flat paths with hilly, sometimes unpaved sections that get muddy after rain. You also can’t cut the route short once you’ve started, so it is hard going with a stroller.

What kids like: Ponds, big old trees and a real feeling of a palace in the forest. Children who like being outdoors more than history usually enjoy it. The fixed pace of a Secret Garden session can be too long for very young children.

Restrooms and nursing: There are restrooms near the main entrance and at points along the Secret Garden route. We couldn’t confirm a nursing room on site, so plan diaper changes before you arrive.

Rest and food: There is no food service inside the palace. Large groups usually meet up at the cafés and restaurants around Anguk Station.

Getting there

Take Line 3 to Anguk Station. Exit 3 is about a 5-minute walk to the main gate. From Jongno 3-ga Station (Lines 1, 3 and 5), take Exit 7 and allow about 10 minutes. The Secret Garden entrance is deeper inside the grounds, a walk from the main gate, so arrive well before your session time.

Half-day route: Book a morning Secret Garden session and tour the palace halls before it starts. Then walk west from Anguk Station into Bukchon Hanok Village, which is open to tourists from 10:00 to 17:00. Or head south to Ikseon-dong for a late lunch.

Eat nearby

• Gwangjang Market: a classic Seoul food market a short subway ride east of the palace.
• Kalguksu & mandu: noodle soup and dumplings, a mild, filling lunch in the Bukchon area.
• Cafés & desserts: hanok cafés in Ikseon-dong, a short walk from the palace.