Changdeokgung Secret Garden Visit 2026: Spring Tickets & Tips

A sight you can only witness this season,

Changdeokgung Palace's Secret Garden, brimming with spring flowers!

As you can imagine, getting a reservation can be quite competitive.

Luckily, I managed to snag a canceled ticket and got to go!

I think those canceled tickets might have appeared because the weather forecast

predicted rain.

It drizzled a bit in the morning,

but thankfully, the weather cleared up!

No fine dust, just a crisp, clear day,

under a beautiful blue sky, I got to see the refreshing

Changdeokgung Secret Garden! 🥹

It was a lucky visit in so many ways –

this is my review of visiting the

Changdeokgung Secret Garden in early April.

Since it's peak season for flowers, reservations are highly sought after.

On-site ticket purchase is possible, but

when I arrived at 12 PM,

tickets were **already sold out until 3 PM**,

with only a few 4 PM slots left...!

If you plan to try for on-site tickets,

I highly recommend going as

**early in the morning as possible**!

Just a heads-up, there are two programs available – one in English and one in Korean – and their timings differ slightly.

Changdeokgung Secret Garden

April Visit Review

Even if you've booked a reservation for the Changdeokgung Secret Garden,

you'll need to purchase a separate

admission ticket for Changdeokgung Palace itself.

The Changdeokgung Palace admission ticket costs **~$2**.

My Secret Garden reservation was for 12 PM,

but I decided to arrive a bit earlier, around 11:30 AM,

to slowly explore Changdeokgung Palace, as it had been a while.

From the main entrance to the

Changdeokgung Secret Garden, it takes about a

**10-minute walk**, so keep that in mind!

Passing by the ever-majestic

**Injeongjeon Hall** and the

**Changdeokgung Art Shop**,

and admiring the blooming **forsythias, red plum blossoms, and apricot blossoms**

as I walked up, I eventually reached

the Secret Garden entrance.

Here, the left path leads to the Secret Garden,

while the right is the entrance to Changgyeonggung Palace,

which requires a separate ticket.

The currently open areas within Changdeokgung Secret Garden

are broadly divided into four main sections:

You'll explore them in the order of

**Buyongji Pond, Aeryeonji Pond,**

**Yeon-gyeongdang Residence, and Jondeokjeong Pavilion**!

You can scan your QR code at the entrance and start waiting from

**10 minutes before your reserved time**.

Since my reservation was for 12 PM,

I arrived at 11:50 AM and

waited at the Secret Garden entrance.

Following our wonderful guide, dressed in elegant Hanbok,

we began our **70-minute tour of the Changdeokgung Secret Garden**!

While a self-guided tour without explanations is also possible,

our guide was so excellent that

most people listened attentively throughout!

First up, Buyongji Pond greeted us with a view that instantly took my breath away...!

I've actually visited the Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden before,

but Buyongji Pond in spring, with fresh buds bursting and flowers in full bloom,

was absolutely stunning.

Turns out, the two-story pavilion beyond Buyongji Pond was none other than Gyujanggak,

where King Jeongjo famously recruited brilliant minds..!

Imagine discussing academics in a place like this!

Being an official during the Joseon Dynasty must have been quite the experience.

What's more, King Jeongjo cherished the camaraderie with his officials so much that he would launch boats on Buyongji Pond,

recite poetry,

and even enjoy a spot of boating or fishing with them!

Right next to Buyongji Pond, you'll find a building called Yeonghwadang,

and let me tell you, the panoramic view of the pond from here is absolutely magnificent.

In front of Yeonghwadang, there's a grand courtyard,

and guess what? This is where they used to hold the prestigious gwageo state examinations!

Our next stop was Uihap,

a humble building distinguished by its lack of dancheong,

the vibrant traditional Korean decorative painting.

This tranquil space was reportedly built by Crown Prince Hyomyeong,

a testament to his profound respect for his grandfather, King Jeongjo,

and his dedication to scholarly pursuits.

Just beyond Uihap, you'll discover another charming pond, Aeryeonji,

and right in front of it stands the small yet remarkably present pavilion, Aeryeonjeong!

This spot is absolutely brimming with lotus flowers in summer,

and it's whispered that King Sukjong, who adored these beautiful blooms,

particularly enjoyed spending his time here :)

Next up is Yeongyeongdang, a fascinating complex founded by Crown Prince Hyomyeong

during the reign of King Sunjo!

It's distinctively divided into the *sarangchae* (men's quarters) and *anchae* (women's quarters),

much like the traditional homes of aristocratic *sadaebu* literati officials.

A truly spectacular sight here was the abundance of white blossoms

adorning the wild pear tree.

Typically, pear blossoms tend to make their appearance a little later, after the cherry blossoms have faded,

but this year, it seems all the flowers are blooming simultaneously... 🥲

The building on the right holds a special distinction: it's reportedly the only one among all Joseon palaces

to be built with brick walls, a direct influence of the Qing Dynasty architectural style! How unique is that?

And then we came across Jondeokjeong, arguably the most striking pavilion we'd seen throughout our journey so far.

This building truly showcases a unique architectural style,

boasting a hexagonal structure with double-layered columns and railings that really make it stand out.

If you cast your gaze upwards from Jondeokjeong Pavilion,

you'll discover yet another charming little pavilion

called Seungjaejeon.

We were told that once summer arrives

and the forest turns lush, Seungjaejeon becomes quite hidden from view,

making this truly a **sight

you can only witness right now** – how special! :)

Next up is the elegant,

fan-shaped **Gwanramjeong Pavilion**.

Its name, we learned,

means 'a pavilion for watching boat rides.'

They say there are times when Gwanramjeong Pavilion

is occasionally opened to the public,

so if you're lucky, you might even get to go inside!

On a blooming spring day,

the pavilions, each with its own unique character,

blend together to create

a truly picturesque scene.

By the way, those vibrant yellow blossoms in front

aren't Sansuyu (cornelian cherry),

but actually **ginger tree flowers**!

It truly felt like we were witnessing the pure essence of

**Korean garden beauty** – a place not artificially altered,

but thoughtfully created by embracing nature as it is.

Just a handy tip:

near Buyongji Pond, you'll find convenient

**restrooms** and **drink vending machines**,

so you can stop by on your way out

for a quick break.

Changdeokgung Palace's Secret Garden in April, with its

newly unfurling buds and a vibrant tapestry of colorful flowers welcoming us,

truly lived up to its popular reputation.

What made it even more unforgettable was discovering

such a natural and peaceful haven to **embrace spring**

right here in the heart of bustling Seoul,

as these kinds of serene escapes are few and far between.

If you can snag a reservation this season,

I **highly recommend** adding this incredible journey to your itinerary –

it's an absolute must-see!

Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden Spring

Wellness Archive Index

A beautiful spring in the royal garden of Joseon

Before the Trip (Expectation): ★★★★

During the Trip (Experience): ★★★★★

After the Trip (Memory): ★★★★★

*What is the Wellness Archive Index?