Gyeongbokgung Changing of the Guard Guide: 10AM & 2PM Times, Free Entry & Best Spot [2026]
Want to watch Joseon-era royal guards in full crimson and blue uniforms march to booming drums, without paying a single won? The Gyeongbokgung changing of the guard (수문장 교대의식) is Seoul's most spectacular free show, and getting the timing right is everything: there are two main ceremonies a day, two shorter warm-up acts, a weekly day off, and this week a special schedule change that catches a lot of visitors out!
On top of that, Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is completely free to enter until November 15, 2026. Here is the Easy Route Korea tactical guide to ceremony times, where to stand, and how to stack the whole morning like a pro.
⏰ 1. Gyeongbokgung Changing of the Guard Ceremony Times (Daily Schedule)
The palace runs three different guard events, and many visitors mix them up. Here is the official line-up, every day except Tuesdays (the palace's weekly closing day):
09:35 & 13:35
Open Guard Training (about 15 min) outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate (협생문), the side gate next to the ticket office. Guards drill up close with almost no crowd.
10:00 & 14:00
Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (about 20 min) in the Heungnyemun Gate (흥례문) courtyard. This is the big one: roughly 70 guards plus a traditional military band.
11:00 & 13:00
Gwanghwamun Guard-on-Duty Ceremony (about 10 min) at the main gate, with around 15 guards.
The courtyard between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun sits outside the ticket gates, so you can watch everything for free with no booking. Heavy rain or snow can cancel the ceremony, although guards still stand duty at the gate.
🚨 Visiting October 30 – November 1, 2026? Read This!
From October 29 to November 1, 2026, the regular changing ceremony is not held. Instead, a short Gwanghwamun guard ceremony runs at 10:00 and 13:00 on the Gwanghwamun Woldae terrace, and the Heungnyemun courtyard hosts Cheopjong (첩종), a free 45-minute royal guard review with battle formations and martial-arts drills, at 11:00 and 14:00 (October 30 – November 1). It is a longer, bigger show, so don't skip it!
🎟️ 2. Free Gyeongbokgung Entry Until November 15, Tickets & Hanbok Rules
The ceremony is free either way, but after it you will want to walk through Heungnyemun into the palace itself. During the Korea Grand Festival, Gyeongbokgung admission is free from October 29 to November 15, 2026 (Tuesdays excepted, so November 3 and 10 are closed).
| Item | November 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); October hours run an hour later |
| Closed | Every Tuesday |
| Ticket (from Nov 16) | ₩3,000 for foreign adults aged 19–64; 18 and under and 65+ free |
| Hanbok wearers | Free entry, but you need a proper jeogori top with a skirt or trousers. A hanbok top over jeans doesn't count. |
| Night tour | The autumn 2026 night tour ran September 2 – October 2 and has already ended |
Renting hanbok anyway for photos? Many rental shops sit around Anguk Station, so pair it with our Bukchon Hanok Village walking guide.
📍 3. Best Spot to Watch the Gyeongbokgung Guard Ceremony
Where you stand decides whether you see the drums or the back of someone's selfie stick. Korean visitor reports agree on a few clear rules:
Where to Stand
- Hug Heungnyemun, not Gwanghwamun: Visitors who wait on the blue line just inside Gwanghwamun often say the crowd blocks the ceremony. Move up to the blue line near Heungnyemun (Korean bloggers single out its left flank) for a full view of the two guard columns facing off.
- Want close-ups instead? The spot right by Gwanghwamun is worse for the ceremony itself but great for shots of individual guards as they pass.
When to Arrive
- Weekdays: Grab your spot about 15 minutes before 10:00 or 14:00.
- Weekends and holidays: Come 20–30 minutes early. Tour groups often overlap with the 14:00 show.
- The combo hack: Catch the 09:35 open training at Hyeopsaengmun first, then head straight to the Heungnyemun courtyard next door. Training ends around 09:50, so the 10-minute gap is enough only if you don't dawdle.
📸 After the Drums Stop
Once the ceremony ends, the new shift stands motionless at Gwanghwamun, which is your chance for a respectful photo beside them. Organisers ask visitors not to touch the guards' uniforms or ceremonial gear, so keep a small gap.
🚇 4. How to Get to the Gyeongbokgung Changing of the Guard by Subway
Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역), Exit 5, about 220 m from the palace. Or ride Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2, about 440 m away, and walk up Gwanghwamun Square. Staying nearby? The airport limousine drops you close by (see our Incheon Airport to Gwanghwamun guide). If you are coming down from Namsan, the Namsan circular bus 01A also loops past Gyeongbokgung.
🗓️ 5. Weekend Bonus: Royal Guard Patrol & a Gyeongbokgung Half-Day Plan
On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until November 29, 2026, the guards also march a patrol procession (순라의식) from 15:00 to 16:00. On Saturdays they walk inside Gyeongbokgung, and on Sundays and holidays they march outside, from the Gwanghwamun Woldae terrace toward Insadong (road conditions can move it back inside).
A smooth November day: 09:35 training ➔ 10:00 ceremony ➔ the free palace with its autumn colour (our Seoul autumn foliage guide has peak dates) ➔ lunch in Bukchon ➔ back for the 15:00 weekend patrol. Prefer wheels? Rent a Ttareungyi Seoul Bike outside Gyeongbokgung Station.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What time is the changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
A. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony runs twice a day at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes each, in the Heungnyemun Gate courtyard, every day except Tuesdays. The shorter Gwanghwamun guard-on-duty ceremony is at 11:00 and 13:00, and the open guard training outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate starts at 09:35 and 13:35.
Q. Do I need a ticket to watch the Gyeongbokgung changing of the guard?
A. No. The courtyard between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun is outside the ticket gates, so the ceremony is free to watch with no booking. You only need a ticket to go past Heungnyemun, and from October 29 to November 15, 2026, Gyeongbokgung admission is free anyway (closed on Tuesdays).
Q. Is the changing of the guard held from October 30 to November 1, 2026?
A. No. From October 29 to November 1, 2026, the changing ceremony is replaced by the Gwanghwamun guard ceremony at 10:00 and 13:00 on the Gwanghwamun Woldae terrace, while the free Cheopjong royal guard review is staged in the Heungnyemun courtyard at 11:00 and 14:00 from October 30 to November 1.
Q. Where is the best spot to watch the guard ceremony?
A. Stand on the blue line near Heungnyemun Gate rather than just inside Gwanghwamun, where the crowd blocks the view. Arrive about 15 minutes early on weekdays and 20 to 30 minutes early on weekends.
Q. What are Gyeongbokgung's opening hours and ticket prices in November 2026?
A. In November the palace is open 09:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and it is closed every Tuesday. Entry is free until November 15, 2026; after that, foreign adults aged 19 to 64 pay ₩3,000, and visitors wearing hanbok get in free.
Time it right, stand by Heungnyemun, and enjoy the Gyeongbokgung changing of the guard like a local with Easy Route Korea!
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