Deoksugung Palace Guide (2026): Free Entry & Autumn Foliage

How about a stroll among autumn leaves at a palace right in the city center?

The admission fee for Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁), which is normally ₩1,000 (~$1),

is free until November 15th!

During the 2026 Korea Grand Festival (코리아 그랜드 페스티벌) period,

palaces in Seoul (서울) are open to the public for free,

and I even went for an outing last Friday.

I'll cover the **best time for autumn leaves, admission fees, parking information,**

and even the **main attractions of Deoksugung Palace that I explored on foot**

all in this post!

01. Deoksugung Palace Basic Information

Deoksugung Palace is located right in the heart of downtown Seoul,

a royal palace from the Joseon Dynasty.

Originally, it was the residence of Prince Wolsan (월산대군), King Seongjong's elder brother.

After the Imjin War (임진왜란), King Seonjo (선조) resided here, turning it into a royal palace,

and during the Korean Empire (대한제국) period, Emperor Gojong (고종) made it his residence,

leading to the Deoksugung Palace we know today.

Unlike other palaces, Deoksugung Palace's most striking feature is how **traditional hanok (한옥) and Western-style buildings harmoniously coexist** in one place.

Here, you can discover modern architectural gems like Seokjojeon Hall (석조전) and Jeonggwanheon Hall (정관헌),

making it perfect for a historical journey or a relaxing stroll!

Currently, Deoksugung Palace's evening opening is in full swing,

with **operating hours extended until 9 PM** (last entry at 8 PM).

If you want to experience the palace's nighttime charm,

visiting in the evening is definitely an option.

02. Deoksugung Palace Admission Fees and Parking Information

While the usual admission fee for Deoksugung Palace is ₩1,000 (~$1) for adults,

during the 2026 Korea Grand Festival, which runs until November 15th,

the **four major palaces — Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁), Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁), Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁), and Deoksugung Palace —**

along with **Jongmyo Shrine (종묘) and the Joseon Royal Tombs (조선왕릉), will all be open for free**.

However, Changdeokgung Huwon (창덕궁 후원) is excluded,

and palace closing days (for Deoksugung Palace, it's Mondays) will remain as scheduled.

Please keep this in mind before your visit!

Now that I think about it, this is a great opportunity to combine several palaces

and visit them as an autumn foliage tour.

Even though admission tickets were already affordable, wouldn't it be even more enjoyable to explore them for free when the autumn leaves are at their peak?ㅎㅎ

Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) doesn't have its own parking lot.

You'll need to use nearby paid parking facilities,

such as the Seoul Museum of Art Seosomun Main Branch (서울시립미술관 서소문본관) parking lot (₩400 (~$0) per 5 minutes),

or the Seoul City Hall Main Building (서울시청 본관) parking lot (₩1,000 (~$1) per 10 minutes).

These two spots are relatively affordable and usually have plenty of spaces.

However, personally, the City Hall area

can get quite congested even on weekdays,

and parking fees can add up if you plan to explore various places.

So, I highly recommend using public transportation!

03. Deoksugung Palace Autumn Foliage Stroll

When I visited last Friday,

the autumn foliage wasn't quite at its peak yet.

However, the leaves were starting to change color in many spots,

so it's a great time to go for an autumn outing starting this weekend!

The peak autumn foliage at Deoksugung Palace is expected around November 10th.

Since this coincides with the free admission dates for the Korea Grand Festival,

I imagine a lot of people will be heading there this weekend.

Seokjojeon (석조전) required a prior reservation,

and due to time constraints, I couldn't go inside the museum.

However, both buildings are so beautiful that just admiring their exteriors

and exploring the main attractions was plenty.

First, after passing through Deoksugung Palace's main gate, Daehanmun (대한문),

turn right and you'll discover a large pond.

The autumn colors were just beginning to deepen there,

and it's truly beautiful to visit the pond during the day!

I also explored the impressive grand buildings and spacious courtyard of

Junghwamun (중화문) and Junghwajeon (중화전),

and peered into Seogeodang (석어당),

a rare two-story wooden building at Deoksugung Palace.

The traditional palace atmosphere can be truly felt at

Jeukjodang (즉조당) and Junmyeongdang (준명당), and

the places where Emperor Gojong lived and received guests,

Hamnyeongjeon (함녕전) and Deokhongjeon (덕홍전),

were exactly like the palace scenes we've seen in historical dramas.

The buildings I found most fascinating were

Jeonggwanheon (정관헌), which blends traditional Korean *hanok* and Western styles, and

the magnificent Seokjojeon, which requires a prior reservation!

Unlike other palaces, Deoksugung Palace boasts many buildings where East and West harmoniously blend,

making it a treasure trove of photo opportunities.

If you take photos during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season,

they'll turn out so beautifully, you might think you're in Europe! Haha.

Strolling through the serene palace grounds, Deoksugung Palace stood out with its unique and exotic Western-style buildings.

It's beautiful even to my eyes, but I'm sure it must appear even more stunning to international tourists!

While I only took a light autumn stroll and enjoyed the sights,

Deoksugung Palace is a place of profound historical significance,

making it perfectly suited for a historical tour itinerary.

While you're already here to enjoy the autumn leaves,

I think it would be great to listen to the **Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) history stories** with professional commentary.

Especially if it's an autumn outing with children,

it would be a great way to naturally learn about history, right? Haha.

The Deoksugung Palace tour with commentary

can be found at the link below.

👉 Purchase a Deoksugung Palace Professional Commentary Tour 👈

Deoksugung Palace has a flat and easy-to-walk path,

so it's not strenuous even with children,

and I think it's a great place to take a leisurely stroll with your parents

and chat slowly.

In particular, the ginkgo trees along the stone wall path are famous for turning yellow in autumn,

so be sure to walk along the path outside the palace as well.

If you visit around sunset, you can enjoy the illuminated palace night view

along with the autumn foliage – a delightful twist!

Last entry is at 8 PM, but you can explore until 9 PM,

so don't miss the **night opening**!

Enjoying autumn leaves and history together at a palace in the city center,

a Deoksugung Palace autumn outing,

hurry and visit before the free admission period ends 😊

📌 Key Summary?

✅ Located 1 minute walk from City Hall Station (시청역) Exit 2

✅ Free admission during Korea Grand Festival (~11/15)

✅ Deoksugung Palace autumn leaves expected to peak around November 10th

✅ Advance reservation required for the interior of Seokjojeon Hall (석조전)

👉 Book a Deoksugung Palace Guided Tour 👈