Changdeokgung Palace has been going strong since it was first established in 1405 as the secondary imperial palace. Rumors have it that Kim Taejong decided to have this palace built after he murdered his brother in an attempt to rule the country on his own. For that reason, Kim Taejong didn’t want to stay at Gyeongbokgung which was the original palace his brother settled in before.
The main thrill about Changdeokgung that gets people hooked first comes from the serene harmony between the architecture and the surrounding nature. Other than gazing at the impeccable traditional architecture of the main hall, people flock here on any given sunny day to immerse in the gorgeous beauty of the Secret Garden. After hundreds of years, the garden has been used to serve everything from banquets to recreation and farming.
In this article, I’ll walk you through my itinerary touring around Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden, plus the best way to reserve tickets before you get there.
How To Get To Changdeokgung Palace By Metro?
Located in Jongno-gu District, Seoul, the Changdeokgung Palace can be reached by Seoul Metro on line 3. Head out of Exit 3 at the Anguk Station and the palace should be a short 10-minute walk away.
How To Reserve Tickets For Changdeokgung Palace?
All tickets for entry visits and guided tours to the Secret Garden should be booked in advance via the official website. All you need to do is click on the website, change the language to English, and log into your account. For new subscribers, create a new account by verifying your email address, completing the registration, logging in, picking the date you wanna visit, choosing your group size, and completing the reservation.
Once you’re done, save the reservation e-ticket to your phone and show it to the ticket conductor at the main gate upon your visit.
Friendly Reminder: There are a total of 100 tickets offered each day for Secret Garden tours, half of which are bookable online. The opening time for reservation begins at 10 am daily but your slots should be reserved at least 6 days in advance prior to your tour date.
Obtain Your Ticket At Changdeokgung Palace
After arriving at the gate of Changdeokgung Palace, follow a small sign board that says “ONLY FOR RESERVED TICKETS” with an arrow towards the right entry direction to condemn your visit. There is literally no line-up but remember to pick up your physical tickets at least 30 minutes before your reserved entry time.
A Scenic Itinerary And Sights Of Interests At Changdeokgung Palace’s Secret Garden
The palace can be flooded with people during your visit. Keep a close eye on the black signboard so you won’t get lost.
Once you arrive at the front of the Secret Garden, you will need to go through the ticket inspection counter.
As mentioned earlier, all visits to the Secret Garden have to be part of a guided tour. Once the tour comes to an end, you will have some free time meandering around at your own pace.
Juhamnu Pavilion
This is the first pavilion you will encounter on the tour. It appears to be a 2-story building that once served as a library during the reign of King Jeongjo. At the facade, you will see a small square gate called Eosumun, a meaningful terminology with a profound meaning translated as “a fish cannot live without water”. The name can be used as a reminder to the king of each dynasty to follow and respect the wishes of the citizens under his reign.
Aeryeonjeong Pavilion
Aeryeonjeong Pavilion overlooking Aeryeonjeong Pond serves as a picture-worthy corner of the Secret Garden. The duo attractions have been together since the end of the 17th century. The little pavilion jutting out at one end of the pond represents a lotus. There used to be an island emerging in the heart of the pond but was later relocated to a new area.
Bulromun Gate
In contrast to the rest of the garden, this old stone gate has a rustic, simple beauty that envelops a spiritual meaning behind it. The legend has it that anyone passing through the gate will be blessed with longevity. The Bulromun also opens out to the Aeryeonjeong Pavilion.
Conclusion: More Travel Ideas After Completing Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden
Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden shouldn’t take more than 2 hours to complete. The best time to hit the garden is during autumn as it’s considered to be one of the best places to spot fall foliage in Seoul.
Looking for more autumnal beauty in South Korea? Check out our guide to: South Korea’s Top 10 Autumn Leaf Peeping Spots
You can visit the palace in the morning before having some kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup with chicken) for lunch at Wonjo Dakhanmari. At the end of the day, cap off your trip with retail therapy at Lotte Mart by Seoul Station.
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