Deoksugung Stone Wall Path is a pedestrian-friendly street in Jeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, that runs along the outer walls of Deoksugung Palace. You don’t pay to walk it, and it’s open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It’s also easy to reach: Daehanmun Gate is only about 70 m from Exit 1 of City Hall Station (시청역) on Subway Lines 1 and 2. After dark the path is lit up, so it’s a good spot for an evening walk in downtown Seoul.
What Is Deoksugung Stone Wall Path?
The path follows the palace’s outer stone wall. It’s well known as a street that was redesigned for walkers: the road was narrowed and the sidewalks widened. As you follow the old wall, you pass a string of modern-era heritage sites, including the Seoul Museum of Art, Jeongdong Theater, Jungmyeongjeon Hall, and Gojong’s Road.
Each season changes the scenery, which is why it ranks among Seoul’s favorite walking routes. It sits in the middle of the busy city center, but it’s still a calm place to slow down for a while.
When to See Deoksugung Stone Wall Path at Night
Because the path is a public walkway outside the palace, it never closes. You can come after sunset at any hour you like. Once the night lighting comes on, the wall looks quite different than it does by day.
If you’d also like to go inside the palace, plan an evening visit. Deoksugung Palace stays open until 21:00, with last entry at 20:00. Enter through Daehanmun Gate and see the palace grounds first. Then come back out and follow the wall toward the Seoul Museum of Art, Jeongdong Theater, and Jungmyeongjeon Hall.
Deoksugung Stone Wall Path Hours & Admission
Opening Hours
| Area | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deoksugung Stone Wall Path (walkway outside the palace) | 24 hours | Open year-round |
| Deoksugung Palace (inside) | 09:00–21:00 | Last entry 20:00; closed Mondays |
| Seokjojeon Hall | 09:30–17:30 | Online reservation required (with a guide) |
| Dondeokjeon Hall | 09:00–17:30 | Last entry 17:00 |
| Jungmyeongjeon Hall | 09:30–17:30 | Last entry 17:00 |
Deoksugung Palace is regularly closed on Mondays. When a Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next weekday instead. According to Seoul city materials from November 2019, the walkway inside the palace wall is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 and can’t be used on Mondays.
Admission Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deoksugung Stone Wall Path | Free |
| Deoksugung Palace (inside), adults | 1,000 KRW (~$0.75 USD) |
| Deoksugung Palace (inside), groups of 10+ | 800 KRW (~$0.60 USD) |
- “Adult” means Korean nationals aged 25–64 and foreign visitors aged 19–64.
- Entry is free for foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over, Korean nationals aged 24 and under or 65 and over, people wearing hanbok, and certain other groups.
- Admission is free every Wednesday, which is “Culture Day” (문화가 있는 날).
- Tickets for the Deoksugung Museum of Art are sold separately.
Construction Notice to Check Before You Go
On September 29, 2026, the Deoksugung Palace Management Office (덕수궁관리소) posted a notice about construction on the palace’s outer wall.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Work area | South outer wall (Daehanmun Gate to Ungyo site (운교터)), roof of Pyeongseongmun Gate (평성문) |
| Work | Removing and re-laying roof tiles |
| Period | September 21 (Mon) – November 19 (Thu), 2026 |
| Pyeongseongmun Gate closure | October 25 (Sun) – November 19 (Thu) |
The schedule may change depending on conditions on site. The notice doesn’t mention any closure of the stone wall path itself, but part of the south wall may be under construction during this period. The suspension of visits to Dondeokjeon Hall (October 13 – November 1, 2026) ends on November 1.
How to Get to Deoksugung Stone Wall Path
Nearest Subway Station and Bus Stop
| Transport | Get off at | Distance / walking time |
|---|---|---|
| Subway Lines 1 & 2 | City Hall Station Exit 1 → Daehanmun Gate | About 70 m, about 2 min on foot |
| Subway Lines 1 & 2 | City Hall Station Exit 3 → entrance on the British Embassy side, in front of the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture (서울도시건축전시관) | About 60 m, about 1 min on foot |
| Bus | City Hall Deoksugung Palace stop (시청덕수궁) | 3 min on foot |
Getting There from Other Cities and the Airport
| From | Route | Travel time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Station | Subway Line 1 → City Hall Station | – | – |
| Busan Station | KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station, then Subway Line 1 → City Hall Station | KTX: 2 hr 18 min – 2 hr 56 min | KTX standard class: 59,800 KRW (~$45 USD) |
| Incheon International Airport | AREX Express Train to Seoul Station, then Subway Line 1 → City Hall Station | – | Express Train: 13,000 KRW (~$9.70 USD) for adults; 12,500 KRW (~$9.40 USD) for members |
The KTX standard-class fare is the same no matter how many stops the train makes. Cells marked ”–” are ones we couldn’t confirm.
Parking
The Korea Tourism Organization’s English page lists parking as “Not available,” so take the subway or a bus.
Deoksugung Stone Wall Path Tips
- Check the car-free hours. The 310 m stretch from Daehanmun Gate to the circular fountain is a car-free street on Deoksugung-gil (덕수궁길). It runs 11:00–14:00 on weekdays, 10:00–18:00 on Saturdays, and 12:00–18:00 on Sundays.
- Combine it with a palace visit. Deoksugung Palace is open until 21:00 (last entry 20:00). See the palace grounds first, then walk the wall afterward.
- Wear hanbok and get in free. Visitors wearing hanbok don’t pay the palace admission fee. Entry is also free every Wednesday on Culture Day.
- Join a free guided tour. According to a Seoul city article from May 2024, free palace tours start in front of the information board just inside Daehanmun Gate and take about 50 minutes. English tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 10:45, Chinese at 10:00 and 14:30, and Japanese at 09:30 and 16:00.
- On Mondays, it’s the wall only. The palace is closed on Mondays, but the path is open every day of the year, so you can still walk it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an admission fee for Deoksugung Stone Wall Path?
No, the stone wall path is free. You pay only to go inside Deoksugung Palace, and the adult ticket is 1,000 KRW (~$0.75 USD).
How late can I walk Deoksugung Stone Wall Path?
You can walk the path at any hour, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The inside of Deoksugung Palace is open 09:00–21:00, with last entry at 20:00.
Which subway station is closest to Deoksugung Stone Wall Path?
Get off at City Hall Station on Subway Lines 1 and 2. From Exit 1, Daehanmun Gate is about 70 m away (about 2 minutes on foot). From Exit 3, the entrance on the British Embassy side is about 60 m away (about 1 minute on foot).
Is there parking near Deoksugung Stone Wall Path?
No, there’s no parking. The Korea Tourism Organization’s English page lists parking as not available, so take the subway or a bus.
Is Deoksugung Palace closed on Mondays?
Yes, Monday is the palace’s regular closing day. When a Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next weekday instead. The stone wall path is open every day of the year, so you can still walk it on a Monday.
How do I get to Deoksugung Stone Wall Path from Incheon International Airport?
Take the AREX Express Train to Seoul Station, then Subway Line 1 to City Hall Station. The Express Train costs 13,000 KRW (~$9.70 USD) for adults, or 12,500 KRW (~$9.40 USD) for members.
How do I get to Deoksugung Stone Wall Path from Busan?
Take the KTX to Seoul Station, then Subway Line 1 to City Hall Station. The KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station takes 2 hours 18 minutes to 2 hours 56 minutes, and a standard-class seat costs 59,800 KRW (~$45 USD).
Is there construction on Deoksugung Stone Wall Path right now?
Yes, roof tile work continues until November 19, 2026, on the palace’s south outer wall (Daehanmun Gate to the Ungyo site) and on the roof of Pyeongseongmun Gate. The official notice doesn’t mention any closure of the path itself. Pyeongseongmun Gate is closed from October 25 to November 19.
Are there English guided tours at Deoksugung Palace?
Yes. According to a Seoul city article from May 2024, a free English tour runs Tuesday to Sunday at 10:45. It starts in front of the information board just inside Daehanmun Gate and takes about 50 minutes.
