Free Day and Night in Hanbok, No Reservation! Gyeongbokgung Opens at Night to October 2, Wed–Sun From 19:00 for 3,000 Won—300 Same-Day Foreigner Tickets, Plus the Moonlight Tour and Seokjojeon Lotteries [Things Worth Doing in Korea #12]

At seven in the evening you pass through Gwanghwamun and the lights come up on the forecourt of Geunjeongjeon. The corridors packed with people by day glow quietly at night. To see Gyeonghoeru reflected in its pond, foreign visitors time their trips to the twice-yearly night opening. This autumn, Gyeongbokgung opens at night from September 2 to October 2, Wednesday through Sunday.

The palace at night connects to a second trick: hanbok. Here’s the thing—wear a matching jeogori and skirt and both Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung are free, day or night, no reservation needed. Rental shops line the streets beside Gyeongbokgung, 10,000–30,000 won for two to four hours, and you walk straight from the changing room to the gate.

“How do I get a ticket, and which hanbok counts?” This guide covers the three autumn night programs at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Deoksugung with their dates and booking, the same-day tickets for foreigners, how to choose a hanbok and qualify for free entry, and how to work around the Chuseok holiday. Let’s get into it.

300 Same-Day Tickets for Foreigners! Gyeongbokgung at Night—to October 2, Wednesday to Sunday From 19:00

✔ Only twice a year, spring and autumn
This autumn it’s September 2 to October 2. Doors open Wednesday through Sunday from 19:00 to 21:30, with last entry at 20:30, and it stays closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is 3,000 won. Tickets went on sale first-come on NOL (Interpark) on August 26, at 3,000 a day and up to four per person; weekends go fast.

Foreigners have a second door. The Gwanghwamun booth sells same-day tickets from the morning to visitors who show a passport—300 a day, two per person. They often sell out before noon, so if you’re counting on them, plan to queue before the booth opens.

Three things to see at night: the forecourt of Geunjeongjeon beyond Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun, Gyeonghoeru reflected in the pond, and Hyangwonjeong to the north. The route is one-way, and the crowd slows around Gyeonghoeru where everyone stops for photos. Allow an hour to ninety minutes.

Autumn 2026 palace night programs — three compared

Program	Dates and days	Hours	Price	Booking
Gyeongbokgung night opening	Sep 2 – Oct 2, Wed–Sun	19:00–21:30 (last entry 20:30)	3,000 won; free in hanbok	First-come on NOL (3,000 a day, up to 4 per person). Foreigners: same-day tickets at the Gwanghwamun booth, 300 a day, 2 per person, passport required
Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour	Sep 10 – Oct 17, Thu–Sun	19:00 and 20:00 sessions, about 100 minutes	30,000 won	Ticketlink lottery (closed). Leftover seats first-come from 14:00 on Sep 3
Deoksugung Seokjojeon at Night	Late Sep – early Nov	Evening sessions; interior tour and coffee on the 2F terrace	26,000 won	Ticketlink lottery. Winners buy; ID required at entry

✔ Worth reading first. Go through “The Autumn Session Sells Out on Announcement Day” and the calls ahead get a lot easier.

A Jeogori Over Jeans Doesn’t Count? Entering in Hanbok—the Free-Entry Rule and Choosing a Rental

✔ The rule is a jeogori top worn with a skirt or trousers
In hanbok, the four main palaces—Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung—and Jongmyo shrine are free, and the night opening needs no reservation. The rule is set by the Korea Heritage Service, and a jeogori over jeans doesn’t count. Men’s or women’s, traditional or modern, all qualify as long as top and bottom are a set.

Rental shops cluster east of Gyeongbokgung, on the streets between Anguk and Gyeongbokgung stations, and in front of Changdeokgung. Expect 10,000–30,000 won for two to four hours, or 30,000–50,000 won with hair styling and accessories. If you’re going to the night opening, check closing times and pick a shop that accepts returns after 21:00 or offers next-day return. For photos, change while it’s still light and capture Gyeonghoeru by day and by night in one outing. The basics of hanbok and the palaces are in a separate guide.

Leftover Seats Drop at 14:00 on September 3! Changdeokgung’s Moonlight Tour and Deoksugung’s Seokjojeon at Night—Lotteries and Leftovers

✔ Gyeongbokgung is the night you wander; the Moonlight Tour is the night you’re guided
From September 10 to October 17, Thursday to Sunday, sessions at 19:00 and 20:00 walk you by blue silk lantern from Donhwamun to the Secret Garden in about 100 minutes, with court refreshments and a traditional performance at Yeongyeongdang. It costs 30,000 won and takes 25–30 people a session. Tickets go by Ticketlink lottery—applications closed in August—but leftover seats go on sale first-come from 14:00 on September 3, and a separate foreigner allocation is posted on Ticketlink’s English page.

Deoksugung’s Seokjojeon at Night runs from late September to early November: a guided tour of the interior of Seokjojeon, the Korean Empire’s Western-style hall, coffee on the second-floor terrace (called gabae in the period), and an original musical. It’s 26,000 won, also by lottery; winners purchase, and ID is checked at the door.

Change at 15:00 and See Day and Night in One Go! How to Run the Day, and Chuseok

✔ For a single day, change into hanbok around 15:00
Change east of Gyeongbokgung, spend ninety minutes in the palace by daylight, eat an early dinner in Bukchon or Seochon, and re-enter through Gwanghwamun at 19:00 for the night opening. In hanbok you’re free day and night with no reservation, so there’s no ticket queue. Tell the rental shop you’ll return after 21:00.

September 24 to 26 is the Chuseok holiday. In most years the four palaces open free during the holiday, though closing days can shift, so check the Korea Heritage Service’s announcement just before. Shops in Seoul close while the palaces get crowded, so for the night opening a weekday just before or after the holiday is better. Chuseok in Seoul is covered in a separate guide.

On the map — recommended places and Google ratings

Ratings and review counts were checked on Google Maps on September 4, 2026. They change, so tap through for the latest before you go.

• Gyeongbokgung — Google ★4.6 (46,802 reviews)
• Changdeokgung — Google ★4.6 (13,933 reviews)
• Deoksugung — Google ★4.6 (20,388 reviews)

FAQ

Can foreigners buy night-opening tickets?

Yes. Besides online booking on NOL, the Gwanghwamun booth sells same-day tickets (300 a day, two per person, passport required). They often sell out before noon, so go early. In hanbok you enter free with no reservation.

Which hanbok qualifies for free entry?

A jeogori top worn with a matching skirt or trousers. A jeogori over jeans does not count. Traditional or modern, men’s or women’s, all qualify.

How much is a hanbok rental?

About 10,000–30,000 won for two to four hours, or 30,000–50,000 won with hair and accessories. For the night opening, choose a shop that allows returns after 21:00 or the next day.

I lost the Moonlight Tour lottery — any chance?

Leftover seats go on sale first-come on Ticketlink from 14:00 on September 3, and a foreigner allocation is posted separately on the English page.

Are the palaces open during Chuseok?

In most years the four palaces open free during the holiday (September 24–26), but closing days can change. Check the Korea Heritage Service announcement before you go.