Changdeokgung, an Optional Secret Garden Visit and Ikseon-dong Hanok Lanes

Visit in This Order

• Changdeokgung — Plan general palace-building admission first and distinguish whether you will enter the Secret Garden.
• Changdeokgung Secret Garden — Add it only if your booked session and meeting time fit. Allow for travel to the exit after the garden visit too.
• Ikseon-dong Hanok Streets — Respect residential lanes and check individual shops' closing days and entry queues.

How Much Walking Is Involved in Each Section?

The times and distances below are map-route records checked in the source. Allow separate time for visits, queues and meals. Actual walking distance changes if your starting or finishing point changes.

Opening Hours and Bookings

Changdeokgung palace buildings: February–May and September–October, 09:00–18:00 (last admission 17:00); June–August, 09:00–18:30 (last admission 17:30); November–January, 09:00–17:30 (last admission 16:30). The regular closing day is Monday; if it is a public holiday, the palace opens and closes on the first following non-holiday. Ikseon-dong shops operate individually.

General palace-building tickets can be bought on site. The Secret Garden requires both a separate garden ticket and palace-building admission, with 50 online and 50 same-day on-site places per session. Online booking opens at 10:00 six days before the desired date, excluding the visit day; meet payment deadlines and entry times. If you cannot secure a garden ticket, use only the basic palace-buildings and Ikseon-dong plan.

This suggests half a day for the palace buildings and Ikseon-dong, adding the garden session and breaks if including the Secret Garden. Actual time varies with your visiting pace and queues.

You Can Adjust the Plan to Your Time and Interests

• Changdeokgung Palace Buildings → Ikseon-dong
• Changdeokgung Palace Buildings + Your Booked Secret Garden Session → Ikseon-dong

Things to Know Before Setting Out

• A palace-building ticket alone is not presented as allowing Secret Garden entry without a garden ticket.
• Account for walking, stairs and the set visitor route inside the Secret Garden.

Places in the Photos

The photos show Changdeokgung's Daejojeon Hall and Ikseon-dong streets. Dedicated photos inside the optional Secret Garden section have not yet been secured.