Gyeongbokgung Night Viewing 2026: Dates, Tickets & Tips

Gyeongbokgung's autumn night viewing runs from Sept. 2 to Oct. 2, 2026. Here are the dates, how to get tickets, what you'll see, and where to eat.

At a glance

• Autumn 2026 program: Ran Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2026 (this program has ended; check for the next season)
• Hours (that program): 19:00–21:30, last entry 20:30; closed Mondays and Tuesdays
• Tickets: NOL ticket website, first come, first served; price not confirmed in our sources

In this guide

• This Autumn's Dates and Hours
• What You'll See
• How to Get Tickets
• How to Get There
• Where to Eat Nearby
• Why Visit the Palace at Night?
• Spring and Autumn: A Seasonal Program
• A Friendly Sample Evening
• Tickets: A Closer Look
• What to Wear and Bring
• If the Night Viewing Has Ended: Other Evening Ideas
• Frequently Asked Questions
• A Few Friendly Tips
• Bottom Line

Last updated: September 2026

Okay, so you already know Gyeongbokgung is beautiful in the daytime (if not, here's our Gyeongbokgung guide). But after dark, when the palace is softly lit, it feels like a whole different place. The catch? The night viewing is a special seasonal program, and this autumn's run is short. Let's make sure you don't miss it!

This Autumn's Dates and Hours

• Dates: September 2 through October 2, 2026, according to news reports.
• Days: Wednesday through Sunday.
• Hours: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m.
• Closed: Monday and Tuesday (the spring program in May and June was closed on those days too).

The night viewing is a seasonal program, so if you're visiting outside these dates, keep an eye out for the next one. Details can change, so please confirm on the official ticket site.

Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall, glowing at night.

Photo: Hhk1201 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

What You'll See

The evening route covers the central area of the palace:

• Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun Gates: The grand entrance, lit up in the dark.
• Geunjeongjeon: The royal throne hall.
• Gyeonghoeru: The famous banquet pavilion set over a pond.
• The royal living quarters: The private areas where the royal family lived.
• Court music and dance: On select dates, 15 shows of court music and dance are planned near Sujeongjeon Hall.

Gyeongbokgung Palace after dark.

Photo: Shinae Hyun / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Night view of Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall of Gyeongbokgung.

Photo: Noh Mun Duek / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

How to Get Tickets

• Online (most people): Tickets go on sale through the NOL ticket website on a first-come, first-served basis. This autumn, online sales opened on August 26 at 10:00 a.m. Domestic buyers can get up to four tickets per person, with a daily quota of 3,000.
• Foreign visitors: You can buy up to two tickets per person on-site at the Gwanghwamun ticket booth on the day of your visit. Bring your passport! There's a daily limit of 300 tickets.

Because the on-site tickets are limited, it's smart to arrive early in the day. We'd also check the official palace and ticket pages for the latest details, since rules and quotas can change between seasons.

How to Get There

Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5), or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, and head to Gwanghwamun Gate. Not sure about the subway? Our Seoul transportation guide is here to help.

Gyeongbokgung Palace at night (2016 night viewing).

Photo: LEESUNGWOO / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Where to Eat Nearby

Since entry starts at 7:00 p.m., dinner before your visit is a great plan:

• Tosokchon Samgyetang (5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu): A famous ginseng chicken soup restaurant near Gyeongbokgung, open since 1983, in a traditional hanok setting in Seochon.
• Mijin: A MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pick in Gwanghwamun (19 Jong-ro) serving Korean cold buckwheat noodles since 1952.
• Gwanghwamun Gukbap (53 Sejong-daero 21-gil, Jung-gu): Another Bib Gourmand pick, known for a clean, mellow take on dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup) made with black pork.
• Samcheongdong Sujebi (101-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu): Hand-torn dough soup served in an earthenware pot, a sujebi specialist since 1982.

Menus and hours change, so it's worth checking before you go.

Why Visit the Palace at Night?

In the daytime, Gyeongbokgung is grand and busy. After dark, it becomes quiet and glowing. The halls are softly lit, and the palace's elegant rooflines stand out against the night sky. If you've already seen the palace by day, the night viewing is a wonderful second look, and if you haven't, it's a magical first one.

This program lets you see the central part of the palace, including the gates, the throne hall, the banquet pavilion, and the royal living quarters, after regular daytime hours. Some evenings even come with live court music and dance, which makes the experience feel like stepping back in time.

Spring and Autumn: A Seasonal Program

The night viewing is a seasonal program, not a year-round one. This year, according to news reports:

• Spring 2026: May 13 to June 14, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last admission at 8:30 p.m. The palace was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Autumn 2026: September 2 to October 2, Wednesday through Sunday, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m.

Because the dates change each season, always check the official announcement and ticket site before you plan your trip.

A Friendly Sample Evening

1. Late afternoon: Arrive in the neighborhood and have an early dinner. Try Tosokchon Samgyetang, Mijin's cold buckwheat noodles, or sujebi at Samcheongdong Sujebi.
2. Before 7:00 p.m.: Head to Gwanghwamun Gate. If you're a foreign visitor buying on-site tickets, bring your passport to the Gwanghwamun ticket booth.
3. 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.: Enter the palace and stroll through Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun Gates toward Geunjeongjeon Hall.
4. Evening: Continue toward Gyeonghoeru, the pond pavilion, and the royal living quarters. The exact route can vary, so follow the signs and the staff.
5. If there's a performance: Watch the court music and dance near Sujeongjeon Hall. Fifteen shows are planned on select dates.
6. After 9:30 p.m.: Wind down with a walk through nearby Gwanghwamun Square, whose media glass plays media art daily from sunset to 10:00 p.m.

Tickets: A Closer Look

• Where: Online sales run through the NOL ticket website, first-come, first-served.
• When: This autumn, online sales opened on August 26 at 10:00 a.m. In spring, reports said online reservations opened at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday.
• Limits (online): Up to four tickets per person, with a daily quota of 3,000.
• Foreign visitors: Up to two tickets per person, sold on-site at the Gwanghwamun ticket booth on the day of the visit, with a valid passport or ID. There's a daily limit of 300 tickets.
• Price: We couldn't find a confirmed ticket price in the reports we read, so please check the ticket site.

Because on-site tickets for foreign visitors are capped at 300 a day, arriving early in the day is a smart idea. Rules and quotas can differ between seasons.

What to Wear and Bring

• A light jacket: Autumn evenings can be chilly.
• Comfortable shoes: The palace grounds are large, and the paths are uneven in places.
• Your passport: Needed if you're buying a foreign-visitor ticket on-site.
• A charged phone or camera: The lit-up halls are photogenic.
• Your ticket confirmation: Keep it handy on your phone.

If the Night Viewing Has Ended: Other Evening Ideas

Missed this season? Don't worry, here are some other after-dark options in Jongno-gu:

• Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour: A seasonal evening tour offered in spring and fall. Check Visit Seoul for this year's dates. See our Changdeokgung guide.
• Gwanghwamun Square: Open 24 hours, with a media glass that shows media art daily from sunset to 10:00 p.m. See our Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon guide.
• Naksan Park: A famous spot for the Seoul nightscape, with a lit-up city wall path. See our Naksan Park guide.
• National Folk Museum: Extended Wednesday hours, open until 8:00 p.m. from March to October. See our museum guide.
• Gwangjang Market: The food alley is open until 11:00 p.m. every day. See our Gwangjang Market guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the autumn 2026 night viewing?

Reports say it runs from September 2 to October 2, 2026, Wednesday through Sunday, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m.

How do I buy tickets?

Domestic visitors can buy online through the NOL ticket website, first-come, first-served. Foreign visitors can buy up to two tickets on-site at the Gwanghwamun ticket booth on the day of the visit with a valid passport.

What can I see?

The route covers Gwanghwamun, Heungnyemun, Geunjeongjeon, Gyeonghoeru, and the royal living quarters.

Are there performances?

Fifteen court music and dance shows are planned near Sujeongjeon Hall on select dates.

Is the palace open to the public in the evening every day?

No. The night viewing is a limited seasonal program. Outside those dates, the palace follows its regular daytime hours. See our Gyeongbokgung guide for those details.

How do I get there?

Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5) or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, then head to Gwanghwamun Gate. Our transportation guide can help.

What should I eat before?

Tosokchon Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), Mijin (cold buckwheat noodles), Gwanghwamun Gukbap (pork and rice soup), and Samcheongdong Sujebi are all good choices nearby. Check hours before you go.

A Few Friendly Tips

• Autumn evenings can be chilly, so bring a light jacket.
• Arrive before the last entry at 8:30 p.m., and give yourself time to wander.
• Bring your passport if you're buying a foreign-visitor ticket on-site.
• For more night-time palace magic, Changdeokgung also runs a seasonal Moonlight Tour. Check Visit Seoul for this year's dates, and see our Changdeokgung guide.

Bottom Line

This year's autumn night viewing ends on October 2, so plan your evening soon, grab your tickets early, and enjoy dinner first. Seeing Gyeongbokgung glowing after dark is one of Seoul's most memorable experiences. Have a magical evening!

Up next: the National Folk Museum of Korea, right inside the palace grounds. Coming soon!

More in Jongno-gu: see all our Jongno-gu guides on one page in the Jongno-gu Seoul Travel Guide.

Last checked: October 2026. Hours, prices and access rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.