Explore › Changdeokgung
Things to see

Changdeokgung

Palace in Seoul, South Korea

About

Changdeokgung (Korean: 창덕궁; Hanja: 昌德宮) is a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Historic Site of South Korea, it is among the best preserved of all Korean palaces. It and its neighboring palace Changgyeonggung have together been called the "East Palace".

Changdeokgung was established in 1405. It was the second palace to be established in Seoul, after Joseon's official main palace Gyeongbokgung. Despite Gyeongbokgung's legally superior status, a majority of kings preferred to reside in Changdeokgung instead. In 1592, amidst the Imjin War, Changdeokgung and all the other palaces in the city were completely destroyed. After the war, due to budgetary constraints, Gyeongbokgung was not repaired, while Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung were. This effectively made Changdeokgung Joseon's main palace for several centuries.

Huginn is writing the Changdeokgung guide — this takes a few seconds the first time.

Nearby

More to see within walking distance

Places to eat nearby

Finding places to eat…

Traveler reviews

Loading reviews…

Tickets & tours

We may earn a commission from some of these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Photos from Unsplash, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA); facts from Wikipedia; maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, weather from Open-Meteo. Huginn’s tips are AI-written — check prices, hours and entry rules before you go.