Changdeokgung to Daehak-ro: Palaces and City Wall Walk

This four-stop route links Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces with the Seoul City Wall at Naksan Park, then descends into Daehak-ro's theater district. Allow 5.5–6.5 hours before any performance; the palace sections are easy-paced, while the 1.8 km approach to Naksan climbs steadily and the shortest final descent uses stairs.

Palace and venue information checked August 11, 2026. Walking measurements are a Naver Map snapshot from August 9, 2026.

Route at a glance

• Route: Changdeokgung Palace → Changgyeonggung Palace → Naksan Park → Marronnier Park
• Time: About 5.5–6.5 hours without a performance
• Walking: About 3.4 km · 62 minutes across the three outside transfers
• Best start: 09:00 at Changdeokgung Palace
• Best for: Palace architecture, a moderate city-wall climb, and an optional Daehak-ro performance

The map connects the stops in order; it is not turn-by-turn navigation. Use Naver Map for live walking directions. The distance and time above cover the public-entrance route—16, 33 and 13 minutes—not the walking done inside the palaces.

1. Changdeokgung Palace — let the terrain set the pace

Changdeokgung makes the strongest first stop because its ceremonial halls, residential buildings and courtyards follow the slope rather than one rigid axis. Keep this itinerary to the main palace area. A timed Secret Garden visit is a separate experience and is likely to push the Naksan climb later into the day.

• Hours: Tue–Sun 09:00–18:30 in June–August; seasonal closing is 17:30 or 18:00 in other months; last admission one hour before closing; normally closed Mon (official visitor information, checked 11 Aug 2026)
• Price: ₩3,000 for the main palace; the Secret Garden requires a separate paid ticket and timed entry
• Highlight: Move from Injeongjeon into the residential precincts and watch how roofs, walls and trees frame the slopes
• Stay: 90–120 minutes for the main palace
• Good to know: Hamyangmun links the two palaces, but you must buy the next palace ticket at the gate; re-entry is not allowed, and the gate closes with Changdeokgung admission (official FAQ)
• Maps: Google Maps · Naver Map

Hamyangmun leads into Changgyeonggung, not directly into the Secret Garden. Ask at the desk if a same-day notice changes the connection; the outside alternative measured 1.1 km and 16 minutes on August 9.

2. Changgyeonggung Palace — read the royal landscape in one sweep

Changgyeonggung is smaller and easier to follow as one continuous visit. Give Myeongjeongjeon enough time, then continue through the residential buildings toward Chundangji instead of trying to stop at every structure.

• Hours: Tue–Sun 09:00–21:00; last admission 20:00; normally closed Mon (official visitor information, checked 11 Aug 2026)
• Price: ₩1,000
• Highlight: The transition from Myeongjeongjeon's formal courtyard to the pond landscape around Chundangji
• Stay: 75–90 minutes
• Good to know: Admission is separate from Changdeokgung; if Hamyangmun is unavailable, use the public entrance shown on the maps
• Maps: Google Maps · Naver Map

3. Naksan Park — earn the route's widest view

The 1.8 km transfer from Changgyeonggung is the physical part of the day. The August 9 route measured 33 minutes, but heat and the continuous rise can make it feel longer. Once on the ridge, a short section beside the wall is enough to reveal the shift from palace grounds to the dense city below.

• Hours: Open 24 hours (official visitor information, checked 11 Aug 2026)
• Price: Free
• Highlight: The Seoul City Wall path and the broad view over central Seoul
• Stay: 45–60 minutes
• Good to know: The shortest descent to Marronnier Park includes stairs; Naver Map also shows a longer stair-avoiding option
• Maps: Google Maps · Naver Map

4. Marronnier Park — finish where Daehak-ro performs

Marronnier Park changes the rhythm from royal and military history to Daehak-ro's working theater district. The plaza and ARKO Arts Theater still make a clear finish when no performance fits the day.

• Hours: The outdoor park is open 24 hours (Seoul Metropolitan Government, checked 11 Aug 2026)
• Price: Free to visit; performance prices vary
• Highlight: The open plaza and cluster of small venues around ARKO Arts Theater
• How to join: Browse the official ARKO performance schedule and book the exact production separately; visiting the park does not guarantee busking or a theater performance
• Stay: 30–45 minutes without a show
• Good to know: Hyehwa Station Exit 2 is beside the park, so this is the simplest place to end the walk
• Maps: Google Maps · Naver Map

Before you go

• Both palaces normally close on Monday. When Monday is a public holiday, the substitute closure may move to the next business day; check the current palace notice before setting out.
• Bring water and take a food break before the Naksan climb. The route total excludes all walking inside the palaces and any time spent at a performance.
• If stairs are a problem, select the longer step-free descent in a live local map instead of following the shortest leg to Marronnier Park.