Gyeongbokgung and Chandeokgung palaces (walking)
Tour of the royal palace of Gyeongbokgung.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first residence of the new dynasty of Korea - Chosun, that is "Moring Calm". Construction of the palace was completed in 1395.
During the war with Japan (1592-1598), the palace was almost completely destroyed; but it was rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century, and again became the residence of the Korean kings.
There is a regular guards changing changing ceremony in the palace, recreated according the to court etiquette of the Lee/Chosun Dynasty.
Chandeokgung Palace
"Palace of prosperous virtue" (1405-1412). In this very palace, the Korean kings - wangs - resided mostly during the 500 years (1392-1910) of Joseon dynasty history.
Destroyed in the 1592-1598 (Imjin War)
Restored in 1609
From 1623 to 1868 it was the official residence of the Korean kings. Since 1997, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The highlight of the palace is the so-called "Secret Garden" pivon (비원), or huvon ("back garden") 후원, recognized as a model of classical Korean garden and landscape design (not included in this excursion).
What's included
Experience on This Tour
Experiences
The main palace of the Joseon dynasty — rebuilt more than once, but never lost its grandeur.
Its perfect symmetry, royal guard ceremony, and the chance to wear a hanbok turn your visit into a journey through time.
Winding lanes, wooden hanoks, hidden cafés — this is where time slows down.
Samcheong-dong charms with its hills and galleries, while Bukchon preserves the everyday beauty of Joseon-era homes.
Together, they offer a quiet, romantic escape — a walk through history lined with soft light and gentle stories.
Once there was a small Nudongun palace here, a royal estate, so to speak. In the 1920s (the period of Japanese colonization of Korea), the population of Gyeongsong (Seoul) was growing rapidly, and this place was being built up densely with hanoks (Korean houses with a tiled roof). Now it is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the capital of Korea, populated with traditional houses.
Now Iksondon is experiencing a rebirth: it has become a fashionable area of cafes and restaurants, both Korean and European. In some of them, prices a quite expensive; in others, they are quite democratic.