Visit Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace

Visiting one of the palaces in Seoul was a must for us, so we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace, where we also watched the Changing of the Guard.

The Palace has undergone numerous restoration and renovation efforts since it was originally built in the late 1300s, and was even left in a run-down state for nearly three centuries at one point in time after the invasion of the Japanese.

In the present day, it's an amazing, world-renown historical site drawing thousands of visitors daily.

We made it just in time for the Changing of the Guard, which takes place 10am and 2pm every day except Tuesdays.

We had prime viewing, and it was very neat to watch the whole process.  A narrator translates in English so you can understand what is happening and why.  She would explain what they were holding and wearing, and the gestures that were occurring.

After the Changing of the Guard, we self-toured the Palace grounds (a small fee for adults, kids are free).

We walked past the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, where feasts would be held, as well as the picturesque Hyangwonjeong Pavilion.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion

We also saw the Geunjeongjeon Hall, the site of major events.  Take a peek inside to see the throne, and be sure to look all around, up and down, to see the ornate designs.

Tucked away in the Northeast is a series of buildings away from the main buildings, which included shrines and halls.

The grounds are stunning, spanning acres, with beautifully maintained gardens, and intricately designed buildings.

There are places to sit throughout, and although there were a lot of people, it wasn't overwhelmingly crowded.

We could've spent a lot longer at the Gyeongbokgung Palace than we did, but we still got to see a lot in the short time we spent there.  It was such a significant place to visit!

Gyeongbokgung Palace

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-guSeoul, South Korea