Seoul’s integrated palace ticket is currently ₩6,000, and Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden is excluded. Buying the pass does not reserve a garden session. Start with the palaces you actually want to visit, then add the tickets and reservations they require.
Prices and rules below were checked against the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center on October 3, 2026. They describe ordinary admission; special events can have separate arrangements.
The admission numbers that change the choice
The official fee table lists these individual rates for foreign adults aged 19–64:
| Site or ticket | Published price |
|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | ₩3,000 |
| Changdeokgung palace buildings | ₩3,000 |
| Changgyeonggung | ₩1,000 |
| Deoksugung | ₩1,000 |
| Jongmyo Shrine | ₩1,000 |
| Changdeokgung Secret Garden add-on | ₩5,000 |
The integrated ticket covers the four listed palaces and Jongmyo, with one visit to each within six months of purchase. The garden requires its own admission and a palace-building ticket or applicable admission entitlement. Eligibility for free or reduced entry differs by age and other conditions; check the table for your group.
Work out whether the pass saves anything
Use only the places you will realistically visit:
| Your ordinary-admission plan | Separate total | Compared with the ₩6,000 pass |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung + Deoksugung | ₩4,000 | Separate tickets cost ₩2,000 less |
| Gyeongbokgung + Changdeokgung buildings | ₩6,000 | Same admission cost |
| All four palaces + Jongmyo | ₩9,000 | Pass saves ₩3,000 |
These totals are our arithmetic using the published rates, not a promotion. Exemptions can change your calculation. Adding the garden to a plan adds its separate cost and availability requirement; it does not turn the pass into a guaranteed reservation.
The Seoul city explanation of the revised pass also records its lower price, six-month validity and removal of the garden. Older ₩10,000 pass descriptions can therefore lead you to compare the wrong products.
Choose a palace for the visit you want
- Gyeongbokgung: choose it for a first visit centred on the main Joseon palace and its formal courtyards. Leave enough time to look beyond the entrance photograph.
- Changdeokgung: choose it for the palace setting and, if booked, the garden. Make the garden slot the anchor of the day rather than an optional arrival-time decision.
- Changgyeonggung: consider it for a separate palace walk near Changdeokgung. Similar names do not mean the admission is interchangeable.
- Deoksugung: consider it for a City Hall-area day and its combination of traditional and Western-style buildings. Access to particular interiors or exhibitions may require another booking.
Gyeonghuigung is another historic palace site, but it is not one of the four in this integrated ticket. Jongmyo is a royal ancestral shrine, not a fifth palace.
Put closing days on the route first
The official operating schedule lists Monday closures for Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung, and Tuesday closures for Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo. If the usual closure coincides with a public or substitute holiday, closure shifts to the next non-holiday. Recheck special notices.
For a simple day, choose Gyeongbokgung plus a nearby museum and meal. For a garden-focused day, start with the confirmed Changdeokgung session and add Changgyeonggung only if time and energy permit. These are suggested combinations, not promises that every site will be open on your chosen date.
Do not assume ordinary palace admission covers seasonal night openings. Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung have regular evening schedules, while specific buildings can close earlier. Use the schedule for the exact site and area you want.
Secret Garden and hanbok: separate decisions
The fee page directs visitors to garden reservations opening at 10 a.m. six days before the visit, with additional same-day sales from 9 a.m. Availability is limited. Read the chosen session’s language, meeting point and entry conditions before paying.
Eligible hanbok wear can qualify for ordinary free palace admission, subject to the official clothing guidelines. It does not make Secret Garden admission free. Confirm the outfit and ticket rules with the venue rather than relying on a rental shop’s broad promise.
Rent an outfit because you want that experience. In a hypothetical case, paying ₩20,000 to avoid a ₩3,000 admission fee adds ₩17,000 to the outing before any accessories. Rental return time, weather and comfortable footwear also affect the day.
For indoor context, compare Korea’s museum options. For a booked activity instead of another large site, see our cultural experience guide. Add a break with the café branch and route guide so the café you save is actually near your chosen palace.