Changgyeonggung Palace창경궁

At a glance

Changgyeonggung stands where King Sejong built Sugang Palace in 1418 for his father, the retired King Taejong. In 1483 King Seongjong enlarged it for three queen dowagers and gave it its present name, and together with Changdeokgung it formed one royal compound, the 'East Palace', used mainly as living quarters for the royal family. Burned in 1592 and rebuilt in 1616, it lost most of its buildings again in an 1830 fire. From 1907 a zoo and botanical garden were built inside, and in 1911 it was downgraded to 'Changgyeongwon' park; it regained its name in 1983, the zoo moved out, and restoration began. Unlike other palaces, its main gate and throne hall face east.

Book ahead

Paid links · These are affiliate links: when you book through them, K for All earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Booking, payment, cancellations and refunds are handled by the booking site — check its final terms before you pay.

Changgyeonggung Palace · 4 tours & tickets

1. KKdayChanggyeonggung guided night tourA 2-hour guided night tour that takes in Honghwamun Gate, Okcheongyo Bridge and the Grand Greenhouse.Book
2. KlookChanggyeonggung Palace guided tourA guided half-day history tour of Changgyeonggung Palace, run as a night tour.Book
3. Trip.comNight palace & market food tourA small-group evening tour that starts with a walk through Changgyeonggung Palace and continues to Gwangjang Market for food.Book
4. GetYourGuidePalace, market food & Squid Game funA 4-hour small-group walk that begins at Changgyeonggung Palace, then moves on to market street food, traditional Korean games and the Naksan hillside.Book

Places to stay nearby

Paid links · Expedia links are affiliate links: when you book through them, K for All earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Distances are rough straight-line figures. Pick your dates on Expedia for live prices, and check each property's cancellation policy before you book.

Map

Numbers match the list. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

KakaoMapNaver MapGoogle Maps

Tips

• 01
  Changgyeonggung and Changdeokgung were once one palace compound, so it is natural to see them on the same day.
• 02
  Open until 21:00, it is one of the easiest palaces to visit in the evening.

Nearby

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (Secret Garden)The UNESCO-listed palace Joseon kings used most, set into wooded hills, with a guide-only Secret Garden of ponds and pavilions.Ikseon-dong Hanok StreetA maze of 1920s hanok turned into cafés and shops — best at dusk, when the street-food tents next door light up.Jongmyo ShrineThe royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage site where kings' and queens' spirit tablets rest in long, austere halls.Naksan ParkA hilltop park along the old city wall above Daehak-ro, known for its night views and the mural lanes of Ihwa-dong below.