Deoksugung Palace & Stonewall Road
덕수궁
An ancient palace directly opposite Seoul City Hall, where traditional halls and Western-style stone buildings from the Korean Empire coexist. The guard-changing ceremony at Daehanmun Gate and the ginkgo-lined Stonewall Road are the most famous.
Deoksugung Palace stands directly opposite Seoul City Hall. It was originally a royal residence, became a temporary royal palace after the Imjin War, and during the Korean Empire period King Gojong lived here. The palace therefore has both traditional buildings such as Junghwajeon and neoclassical stone buildings, which house the Daehan Empire History Hall, along with the Deoksugung branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. A guard-changing ceremony takes place at the main gate, Daehanmun, every day at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:30, except on Mondays and canceled in bad weather. The Deoksugung Stonewall Road outside the palace walls turns golden with ginkgo leaves in autumn, making it Seoul’s most romantic walking path. Admission is 1,000 won. It is open 09:00 to 21:00 and closed on Mondays. Subway Lines 1 and 2 to City Hall Station exit right at the palace.
Opening hours
09:00–21:00, closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Gwanghwamun Square & Cheonggyecheon
- Sungnyemun (Namdaemun)
- Namdaemun Market
- Seoullo 7017
- Myeongdong
- Jogyesa Temple
- Myeongdong Cathedral
- Insadong