Changdeokgung Secret Garden Tour: How to Book Huwon and Plan the Day

To see the Secret Garden (Huwon) at Changdeokgung, you join a timed guided tour with a separate ticket on top of palace admission. Places per tour are limited, part of the tickets can be booked online in advance and the rest are sold on site, and the palace is closed on Mondays. Plan the tour first and build your morning in Jongno around it; our Seoul Itineraries show how it fits into a full palace day.

Changdeokgung was built in the early 15th century as a secondary palace and became the main royal residence for long periods of the Joseon dynasty. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many visitors prefer it to Gyeongbokgung because the buildings follow the slope of the hills instead of a strict grid, and because the garden behind it is one of the few places in central Seoul that feels like a forest.

How the Huwon tour works

• Two tickets. You need palace admission plus the Secret Garden tour ticket. The garden can only be visited on a guided tour; you cannot walk in on your own.
• Language slots. Tours run in Korean at many times of day and in English, Japanese and Chinese at fixed times. The English slots are fewer, so check the official Changdeokgung site for the current schedule before you plan the rest of the day.
• Online and on-site tickets. A share of places is released online some days ahead; the rest are sold at the palace on the day. In spring and autumn, popular slots fill early. If you only have one chance, book online.
• Duration. Plan on about 90 minutes for the tour. The path climbs and descends on gravel and stone steps, so wear shoes you can walk in.
• Cost. Palace admission and the garden ticket together are modest, roughly KRW 5,000–15,000 per adult. Check current prices and any free-entry rules for people in hanbok.

If all English tours are sold out, a Korean-language tour is still worthwhile. The guide sets the pace and the route; you can read up on Buyongji pond, Aeryeonji and Ongnyucheon in advance and simply walk with the group.

What you see on the tour

The route changes slightly with the season and with any restoration work, but usually includes:

• Buyongji. A square pond with a pavilion standing partly in the water and the Juhamnu pavilion above it. This is the image on most postcards.
• Aeryeonji and Uiduhap. A smaller pond and a modest study hall, quieter and often less crowded.
• Yeongyeongdang. A residence built in the style of a scholar's house rather than a royal palace, with unpainted wood.
• Ongnyucheon. A stream area deeper in the garden with a carved rock and small pavilions. Not every tour goes this far, so check what your slot includes.

A morning plan around the tour

Assume a 10:00 or 11:00 tour slot. Adjust if yours is later.

• 09:00 Arrive at Donhwamun gate. Anguk station (Line 3) is the closest, about 5–10 minutes on foot. Buy or collect tickets and walk the main palace area before your tour: Injeongjeon throne hall, Seonjeongjeon and the residential quarters.
• 10:00–11:30 Huwon tour. Be at the garden entrance 10 minutes early. Late arrivals may not be admitted.
• 11:45 Changgyeonggung (optional). Changdeokgung connects to Changgyeonggung palace on its east side. If an integrated ticket or connecting gate is open on your date, you can walk through to its greenhouse and pond. Allow 45–60 minutes.
• 12:30 Lunch in Ikseon-dong or Insadong. Both are 10–20 minutes on foot from Donhwamun. Ikseon-dong is a cluster of small hanok lanes with cafés and restaurants; expect queues at weekends.

If you also want Gyeongbokgung on the same day, do it in the afternoon. Note the closing days: Changdeokgung closes on Mondays, Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays. Doing both palaces in one day is possible but tiring, so many visitors keep one for each day.

Best time of year

Autumn colours, usually from late October into November, and the spring green in April and May are the busiest periods for the garden. Summer is hot and humid, with the monsoon rains often around July; the shaded paths help, but bring water. Winter is cold and quiet, and snow on the pavilions can be beautiful if the paths are open. Whatever the season, the earliest tours are the calmest.

Plan B if you cannot get a tour

• Visit the main Changdeokgung grounds on their own, which needs no tour.
• Walk on to Changgyeonggung, which has open green space and is far quieter.
• Go to Jongmyo Shrine nearby, another UNESCO site. Check whether it is open for free visits or by guided tour on your day.
• Try again the next morning at the ticket office; on-site places sometimes remain on weekdays.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book the Secret Garden tour in advance?

Not always, but it is safer. Some tickets are sold on site each day, and they can sell out early in peak seasons, especially for English-language slots.

Which is better, Changdeokgung or Gyeongbokgung?

Gyeongbokgung is larger and has the guard ceremony at the main gate. Changdeokgung feels more intimate and has the Secret Garden. With time for only one, choose Changdeokgung if you like gardens and walking, Gyeongbokgung if you want the grand scale.

How long should I plan for Changdeokgung?

About 1 hour for the main palace grounds and about 90 minutes for the Huwon tour, so 2.5–3 hours in total, plus lunch nearby.

Plan your palace day

The palace and Jongno routes, with times and walking legs, are in Seoul Itineraries – 10 Day Routes + 3, 5 & 7-Day Plans. The Seoul Offline Place Guide keeps the palaces, Ikseon-dong and nearby stops on your phone. Everything else is in Seoul Travel Guides.

Times and prices are planning estimates, not timetables or guaranteed prices. Check the official palace website for tour times and closures for your travel dates.