Changdeokgung Secret Garden
10 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/seoul, r/koreatravel13 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Overall, visitors lean toward recommending the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace. Several call it beautiful, a couple describe it as calm and restful, and one prefers it to the main palace. The main caveat is getting in: a couple of visitors found booking hard, with slots going almost immediately, and others say booking ahead may be needed. One visitor found it underwhelming, closer to woods with a few buildings than a true garden, while another notes English tours run at set times and suggests pairing it with the palace tour and nearby hanok village.
Address
Changdeokgung Secret Garden, 99번지 율곡로 Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
At a glance
- Opinions divided
- Yes
- Known for
- Juhamnu Pavilion, the two storey main attraction, Ponds and pavilions in the rear garden
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Changdeokgung Secret Garden, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/pncol in r/seoul · Aug 2024
Prefers it to the royal palace, finds it beautiful and restful, and brings visiting friends there.
- Recommendsu/darkapao in r/koreatravel · Dec 2024visit time
Notes English tours run at set times and suggests pairing the Secret Garden with the palace tour and nearby hanok village.
- Mixedu/ArtemisElizabeth1533 in r/koreatravel · Dec 2024access
Says it's hard to secure Secret Garden entry tickets; unsure it's worth visiting in November, though autumn colours might help.
- Recommendsu/PreviousCelery7652 in r/seoul · Nov 2026photography
Calls it beautiful and praises the framing in the author's photos.
- Recommendsu/Peachy_Wind in r/seoul · Nov 2026
Calls the garden very beautiful.
- Recommendsu/cyanc0112 in r/seoul · Nov 2026photography
Says the place looks amazing.
- Recommendsu/SeoulMate_Korea in r/seoul · Nov 2026
Simply calls it amazing.
- Caveatu/Aploki in r/seoul · Nov 2026access
Found booking nearly impossible: slots were gone within seconds even while logged in.
Show all 13 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Positive_Bug398 in r/seoul · Nov 2026
Finds the spot very beautiful and says so with an emoji.
- Recommendsu/CrazyCraisinAbraisin in r/seoul · Nov 2026
Calls it a favorite; found it calm and park-like, feeling like a break from the city.
- Recommendsu/Fearless_Push_4227 in r/seoul · Nov 2026photography
Admits they wouldn't have bothered booking, but the photos persuaded them to try.
- Recommendsu/Quirky_Flounder_8493 in r/koreatravel · Oct 2026seasonality
Expects the Secret Garden to be at its seasonal best around 31 October.
- Caveatu/Smartypants7889 in r/seoul · Nov 2026
Found it underwhelming, closer to woods with a handful of structures than a true garden.
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Freshness
Details last checked 3 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.