경희궁 · Palace · Seoul
The fifth palace almost nobody visits — you may have the courtyards to yourself. Free, and a five-minute walk from Gwanghwamun.
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Gyeonghuigung Palace is closed on Mondays. Arriving on a closing day is the most common way to lose a morning in Korea, and the gate will not make an exception for a visitor who has come a long way.
Counting foreign visitors to Jongno-gu, Seoul over twelve weeks, Tuesday is the quietest day you can actually go and Saturday the busiest — a difference of about 30%. These are district-wide figures rather than a headcount at the gate, so treat them as a tendency.
Opening hours are 09:00 to 18:00. Tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning and again after lunch; the first hour after opening is normally the quietest stretch of any day.
Entry is free. Nothing needs to be booked or queued for in advance.
Cards are accepted. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere in Korea, and contactless is normal.
English signage is partial — enough to find your way, not enough to explain what you are looking at. The Korean name above is worth showing to a taxi driver or a passer-by; it works better than pronouncing it.
There is no subway station close by. A taxi or an intercity bus is usually the way in — show the Korean name above to the driver.
Google Maps · Naver Map · Kakao Map
Google Maps shows public transport in Korea but not walking routes. Naver or Kakao Map gives walking directions.
Namdaemun Market is 1.4 km away. Whole alleys given over to one dish each. Follow the smell.
Myeong-dong is 1.5 km away. Street-food carts line the main streets from late afternoon. Easiest place to try many things in one walk.
Prices are per person and were checked in September 2026. Market stalls are often cash-only even where restaurants take cards.