Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul

Changdeokgung Palace is one of the better palaces along with the bigger Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's a shame that you can only see this palace by guided tour, but it's still well worth exploring. There are tours in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. The English tour takes place three times a day. I believe adults cost 3,000 won, 1.50 pounds sterling, 3 dollars. Children are half the price of an adult ticket.

Remember to wear some ...
...a good shot.

To be honest, once you've seen one palace, they're pretty much all the same. It's probably a good idea just to pick two to see, and in my choice that would be Gyeongbokgung Palace first and then Changdeokgung Palace.   ... more

Changdeokgung Palace is one of the better palaces along with the bigger Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's a shame that you can only see this palace by guided tour, but it's still well worth exploring. There are tours in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. The English tour takes place three times a day. I believe adults cost 3,000 won, 1.50 pounds sterling, 3 dollars. Children are half the price of an adult ticket.

Remember to wear some good walking shoes as you have to walk quite far. If you have young children, you might want to rethink about taking them. The palace is also not pram friendly, so that's definitely a no, no! It would be a good idea to take a parasol, sun screen and sunglasses if walking around in the summer. Likewise, wrap up warm in the winter months.

You will see traditional Korean rooms which have multiple functions. These rooms in do not have a definite purpose. Tables and mats are used which can then be folded up and removed from the room depending on the need. Underneath the floors are stone flues. Hot air was vented through the flues to provide heat. This under floor heating is called 'Ondol' and is still used today in Korean homes, only now the under floor heating has been modernized by gas and electricity.

The highlight of this tour is the 'Secret Garden' which really is beautiful and makes for a great photo opportunity. There's also a short toilet stop here. By this time, you've nearly finished the tour, it's just a short walk through the woods to the back gate.

I really liked this tour, but I found it hard to hear the guide unless I was standing right next to her. Sometimes the groups are on the large size so you constantly have hoards of people in your photo shots, unless that is you stay behind the group and miss what the guide is saying for the sake of capturing a good shot.

To be honest, once you've seen one palace, they're pretty much all the same. It's probably a good idea just to pick two to see, and in my choice that would be Gyeongbokgung Palace first and then Changdeokgung Palace.  

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