We were there by 10am and that was good as the place quickly filled with tourists. Lots of scenic spots to take memorable shots in hanbok. There’s free guided tour in English at specific timing. Bring a hat or umbrella along as the place can get very hot with limited shaded areas.

The palace of the Joseon (last dynasty of Korea) is magnificent, grand, beautiful and royal. The change of guards in the morning and afternoon is an added bonus if you manage to catch it. Take your time and explore this great historical site.

We went there on a holiday so admission is free. You can also get free admission if you wear a hanbok but you have to pay to rent this. I think admission is 3,000 won so not expensive. It is a great palace but I would recommend doing one of their free tours to give you context. We missed out on it so although everything is really magnificent, you don't know the historical significance of each building. We watched the changing of the guard ceremony that I believe is done at 10 am and 2 pm each day. There is some English commentary but hard to understand so there are so many people talking around you. This is also free. All in all, a good experience. I am not sure if you need to go at night or have to go to all 5 of the palaces in Seoul.

Many buildings faithfully reproduced and some a few hundred years old. Very large area to cover, and made all the more engaging by the hundreds of guests dressed in Hambok. Changing of guards commentary in English is difficult to understand but very colourful and culturally accurate ( they say). Worth a visit

The palace is beautiful and rich in history. Better to visit with a local friend or with a tour guide if you are into history. Some historical halls are open for public viewing. There are lots of Hanbok rental shops outside the palace for visitors who desires the costume experience. Entrance to the palace is free if you rented a Hanbok.

The palace visit was excellent. We loved the change of guard ceremony. It was very colourful. The other points in the Palace was very nice and well maintained. We could imagine the life style of the Korean kings. A wonderful palace more than 600 years old.

If there is only time to visit one palace while in Seoul, this would be the one. It’s really nice to see the preservation of such a historic landmark in the middle of an ever changing modern city. It’s has everything you would expect or want to see; a grand main hall, well kept gardens, beautiful architecture and historical buildings. An amazing experience not to miss would be to time your visit such that you have the chance to view the changing of the guards. Do come early to secure the best possible spot to watch the entire procession. The colors of the guard’s costumes are so vivid and beautiful against the backdrop of historical and modern buildings around. Another tip when visiting the place is wear comfortable shoes, bring along some fluid to keep hydrated and slap on some sunscreen as the place is quite big. One will easily need an hour or two to cover the entire place. Lastly to truly make the trip memorable is to play dress up and blend into the surroundings landscape by renting a traditional hanbok from one of the many hanbok shops just outside the grounds and enter the palace grounds for free.

Its intricate design and regal atmosphere make it a truly magnificent experience. From the grand courtyards to the intricate architecture, this palace is a must-see for anyone visiting Korea. Be sure to take in the history and culture that this palace has to offer.

The palace area is really nice and is one of the best restored palaces in the area. The information office can provide a free map in English and it provides good information on the area and history or use of each building. You cannot go inside many of the buildings but you can look inside some. The palace area is easy to navigate with the map and it was nice having the map to know what we were looking at. Many people had come in Hanboks and these can be rented at many nearby shops. The closest metro is Gyeongbokgung station and the entrance fee is 3000 won. Plan to spend about an hour or two here and plan to spend more time in the area if you want to check out the nearby hanok village, museums or nearby palaces. This palace is closed on Tuesdays and the others are closed on Mondays so plan accordingly.

This was my second visit to Gyeongbokgung, with the first 10 years ago...the place looks exactly the same... magnificent! We came on a sunny afternoon in November. It was pretty busy and definitely full of people in Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), which is always lovely to see. We had a good look around and made sure we saw the changing of the guard. It was a lot bigger than I remember. Very grand and colourful. For me, this represents Korea, so it would be a travesty if someone came to Seoul but didn't visit. You'll need a good few hours to see the Palace properly.