The Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace: Why This Hidden Place Is Worth the Extra Ticket

When we bought our tickets for Changdeokgung Palace, we didn’t hesitate for a second and went straight for the combo ticket with the Secret Garden. Entry to the Secret Garden is time-slotted, so you need to choose a specific time, but for us, the decision was instant. A Secret Garden? Of course, we wanted to see what all those secrets were about. Curiosity got the better of us, and we couldn’t wait to explore what’s hidden behind the palace walls. Read on to discover why this quiet corner of Seoul completely exceeded our expectations and why it’s so worth adding to your visit.

Where Is the Secret Garden and How to Get There

The Secret Garden (Huwon) isn’t some separate attraction hidden across the city; it’s part of the Changdeokgung Palace complex itself. You don’t need to leave the palace grounds or travel anywhere else in the city. After entering Changdeokgung Palace, follow the internal signs pointing toward the Secret Garden. Once your time slot is up, staff will guide visitors toward the entrance, which is deeper inside the complex. Getting there is easy and feels like a natural continuation of the palace visit. You keep waddling further in, away from the busier areas, until the surroundings slowly turn greener and quieter.

Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul: Why This Was Our Favorite Royal Palace

Why Is It Called the Secret Garden

The name Secret Garden (Huwon) sounds mysterious, but the meaning behind it is actually quite simple. Historically, this area was never officially called the “Secret Garden.” Over the years, it was known by several names, most commonly Huwon (Rear Garden) or Biwon, reflecting its location behind the main palace buildings and its function as a private retreat for the royal family. It was a space reserved exclusively for kings, queens, and court members, closed off from the public rather than secret in a dramatic sense. As we learned from our guide, the modern name Secret Garden is a visitor-friendly term, used today to spark curiosity and make the place more appealing. And honestly, it works. While it may not be secret in the literal sense anymore, the calm, secluded atmosphere still makes it feel like you’ve uncovered something special. So that was one disappointment, as we thought we would uncover some secrets. 😏

Opening Hours & Tickets for the Secret Garden

Opening Hours 

Opening hours for the Secret Garden (Huwon) follow the general schedule of Changdeokgung Palace, but with important differences. Changdeokgung Palace usually opens at 9:00 a.m., with closing times varying by season (around 5:30 p.m. in late autumn and winter). The Secret Garden also starts admitting visitors from 9:00 a.m., but entry is time-slotted, and the last entry is much earlier than the palace’s closing time. This is because visits are limited per slot to protect the area and maintain a calm experience. Always double-check the official website on the day of your visit, as time slots and last entry times can change seasonally.

Tickets 

Ticket prices for the Secret Garden are separate from the main palace. Adult admission to Changdeokgung Palace costs ₩3,000, while the Secret Garden ticket starts at ₩5,000 per adult. Entry to the Secret Garden requires its own ticket, either purchased separately or as part of a combo. As with the palace, certain visitors may qualify for free or discounted entry depending on age, hanbok wearing, or special days. Because prices and rules can change, it’s best to confirm current rates on the official website of Changdeokgung Palace.

As mentioned earlier, we bought our Secret Garden ticket as part of the combo when purchasing our Changdeokgung Palace tickets, which was quick and very convenient. That said, if you didn’t buy the combo ticket in advance, don’t worry. There is also a ticket booth located directly at the entrance to the Secret Garden, where you can purchase tickets on the spot, provided there are still available time slots.

Facilities and Amenities at the Secret Garden (Huwon)

• Restrooms are also available inside the Secret Garden itself.
• Clearly marked walking paths, though many are natural and uneven
• Benches and resting spots are scattered throughout the garden
• Staff and guides present during time-slotted entries to manage visitor flow.
• No cafés or food stalls inside the Secret Garden.
• No lockers within the garden area.
• Photography is allowed, but tripods and disruptive equipment are generally restricted.

Our Waddle Through the Secret Garden

As soon as we bought our tickets and started exploring Changdeokgung Palace, we were already counting down to our Secret Garden time slot. Ours was at 10:00 a.m., and by the time it rolled around, we were already queuing in front of the entrance, very much ready to uncover some secrets. A quick practical note: have your ticket ready, because before entering, you’ll need to scan it at the gate, and a staff member will also double-check it on the spot. Once through the scanner, we were greeted on the other side by a guide waiting for the group. We were lucky to have a super lovely, very knowledgeable lady guide who shared so many interesting details about the garden and its layout. That said, the guided tour is technically optional; you can choose to waddle through the Secret Garden on your own. But honestly? We highly, highly, highly recommend joining the guided tour. It adds so much context and depth to the experience, and it’s absolutely worth it. And the best part: once the guided portion ends, you’re free to stay and wander around the Secret Garden at your own pace for as long as you like, soaking it all in slowly.

Buyongji Pond & Juhamnu Pavilion

Buyongji Pond and Juhamnu Pavilion were our very first stop inside the Secret Garden. It was the perfect place to ease into the experience, because this is where we started learning about the garden. The pond and pavilion stand out, and we loved how calm the water was and how stunning the reflections of the surrounding buildings were. Standing there, watching the pavilion mirror itself in the pond, felt peaceful and grounding. This spot quickly became one of my personal favorites in the Secret Garden.

Buyongji Pond itself is rectangular, measuring about 34.5 by 29.4 meters, with a round island roughly 9 meters in diameter at its center. This combination of a square and a circle is not random; it reflects traditional Korean ideas of balance and harmony.

The pond area was first developed in the early 18th century, but the pavilion you see today, Buyongjeong, was completed in 1792 under King Jeongjo. Near the pavilion, a beautifully placed decorative stone symbolizing a Taoist hermit adds a subtle spiritual element to the scenery.

What makes this area especially spectacular is the reflection. When Juhamnu Pavilion to the north, Yeonghwadang Hall to the east, and Buyongjeong Pavilion to the south are mirrored on the pond’s surface, the view becomes one of the most photogenic and memorable scenes in the entire Secret Garden.

Juhamnu Pavilion itself played a very important role. It is a two-story royal library, with the lower floor used for storing tens of thousands of books and the upper floor serving as a reading and study room. The name Juhamnumeans “the pavilion where all principles of the universe gather,” reflecting its role as a place of learning for future officials.

The surrounding landscape was deliberately designed to support this purpose. Gates, ponds, symbolic sculptures, and architectural elements were all carefully positioned to create an environment that encouraged reflection and study. Even small details, like a stone fish carving near the pond, were added with meaning in mind. Altogether, this first stop explained exactly why the Secret Garden feels so different.

Yeonghwadang Pavilion

Yeonghwadang Pavilion was our second stop in the Secret Garden, and it appears almost naturally as you turn right from Buyongji Pond. The pavilion opens up into a wide, elegant space that feels different from the more reflective, water-focused scenery of the pond area. It’s lighter, more open, and feels like a place meant for gathering rather than quiet contemplation.

Originally, Yeonghwadang was a space where the king and his subjects enjoyed poetry, flowers, and seasonal beauty. Over time, its role evolved. During the reign of King Jeongjo, this pavilion became the site of an important state examination known as Jeonsi, part of the broader Gwageojedo examination system. This system was how the Joseon Dynasty recruited scholar-officials, selecting them based on merit rather than birth alone.

Aeryeonji Pond

Aeryeonji Pond was our next stop, and is our second favorite spot in the Secret Garden. After leaving the area behind the Juhamnu Pavilion and waddling downhill along the slope and stairs, the scenery suddenly opens up to this beautifully calm space. The pond sits quietly opposite you, with a pavilion on its northern bank, and the whole setting feels intimate and perfectly composed.

The pavilion here, Aeryeonjeong, is small and simple, made up of just one kan, but that’s exactly what makes it special. Looking out through its windows feels like looking at a framed painting, thanks to the decorative elements along the upper pillars. The view changes completely with the seasons, but no matter when you visit, it feels intentional and serene.

Yeongyeongdang Hall & Seonhyangjae Hall

We continued our waddle deeper into the Secret Garden and soon arrived at Yeongyeongdang Hall, a place that felt different from everything we had seen so far. This complex was designed to resemble the homes of the Korean gentry, not a royal palace, which makes it truly unique. Built during the reign of King Sunjo, the complex originally consisted of 99 kan, and no other palace in Korea has anything quite like it. Waddling through the area felt intimate, almost like stepping into a well-preserved snapshot of everyday upper-class life rather than a ceremonial royal space.

What fascinated us most was the movement through Yeongyeongdang’s halls. Visitors would dismount from their horses or carriages, step on a stone at the base of the stairs, waddle up three steps, remove their shoes on another stone, and then enter the wooden veranda before reaching the main hall. Inside, the space was divided into living and reception areas, simple and practical rather than decorative. Nothing remains inside today, but even in its empty state, the structure tells a clear story about how people lived, moved, and interacted in the past.

Just nearby, we reached Seonhyangjae Hall, which complemented Yeongyeongdang. While Yeongyeongdang represented daily life, Seonhyangjae was all about education. It served as the library and school of the royal family, a place where children were taught by skilled tutors and surrounded by books.

The building faces west, which means it is exposed to strong sunlight in the summer evenings. To solve this, special structures like oil-paper blinds were installed to block the heat, and the roof was even decorated with bronze plates.These details made Seonhyangjae one of the most luxurious educational buildings of its kind in Korea at the time.

Waddling Around Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul

Did You Know? The Royals Loved Collecting Strange Stones

One of the most unexpected and fun details we learned during our waddle through the Secret Garden (Huwon) is that Korean royalty had a real fascination with oddly shaped stones. These naturally formed rocks were admired for their unique shapes and textures and were seen as symbols of nature’s creativity and balance. Once you know this, you’ll start spotting them everywhere, scattered quietly around the garden and near pavilions. They’re easy to overlook at first, but once your eye is trained, it almost turns into a little scavenger hunt.

Gwallamjeong Pavilion

Gwallamjeong Pavilion was one of our last stops in the Secret Garden, and once again, it surprised us in the best way. This is where our guide really brought the bigger picture together. She pulled out a very old map of the palace and gardens, and suddenly everything made sense. Seeing the map helped us understand how the Secret Garden is woven into the surrounding mountain landscape rather than sitting separately from it. It’s not just a garden placed behind a palace; it’s fully integrated into the natural terrain.

We had already learned that wildlife sightings here aren’t uncommon, especially in summer, when animals like birds, squirrels, and even snakes can be spotted. But then our guide mentioned that a tiger had once been seen in this area. Many people don’t realize that South Korea was home to a large tiger population, and hearing that a tiger was once spotted here, right inside what is now the Secret Garden, gave the place a completely different dimension. It suddenly felt wilder, more untamed, and deeply connected to Korea’s natural past.

The Gwallamjeong Pavilion is just as fascinating. It sits at the edge of the Bandoji Pond and has a very distinctive design. The pavilion’s layout resembles an extended fan, and both the floor and roof were built using curved materials that follow this shape. While no one knows the exact year it was built, it’s believed to date back to the late Joseon Dynasty or the early colonial period. And if you are a fan of Korean dramas (as we are), this pavilion will be familiar to you because it was used in a dozen Korean dramas.

Right around Gwallamjeong Pavilion, we stumbled upon one of the most beautiful autumn scenes in the Secret Garden. Nearby stands a huge, old ginkgo tree, and during our visit, it was fully dressed in golden-yellow autumn vibes.

After this stop, our official guided tour ended. We said goodbye to our guide (or you could stay a little longer to ask extra questions if you had any), and then the best part followed: we were free to waddle around the Secret Garden at our own pace for as long as we wanted. It was really nice to revisit a few favorite spots, slow down, and just enjoy the atmosphere without following a set route.

The only minor downside during our visit was that some hiking trails were already closed due to winter approaching. This meant we couldn’t do any full loop or round-trip waddles, and a larger part of the deeper garden area was closed off. We simply took the same path back the way we had come, which didn’t feel like a loss at all, as it gave us another chance to enjoy the scenery again.

How Long to Spend at the Secret Garden

You should plan to spend 1 to 1.5 hours here, depending on how much time you want to take. The guided portion itself already takes a fair amount of time, and once it ends, you’re free to continue wandering at your own pace. If you enjoy photography, quiet waddles, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, it’s very easy to stay longer without noticing the time. Even with some seasonal trail closures, the Secret Garden never feels rushed, and giving yourself enough time here really allows you to appreciate its calm, secluded nature.

Best Time to Visit the Secret Garden

Talking about season, is beautiful throughout the year, but autumn is something special. We visited in the fall and can highly recommend it. The colors you’ll see here feel almost unreal, deep yellows, warm oranges, and soft reds blending perfectly with the ponds and pavilions. The garden already feels calm and secluded by design, and autumn only enhances that atmosphere, making every corner feel photo-worthy and serene.

in terms of whne to visit during the day, we visited the palace grounds earlier and entered the Secret Garden  at our 10:00 a.m. time slot. By then, some people were already around, but it never felt overwhelming. Thanks to the limited entry and guided groups, everything still felt well-paced and enjoyable. While earlier slots might be slightly quieter, we felt that mid-morning was still a great time to visit, with good light, a relaxed flow, and plenty of space to enjoy the garden without feeling rushed.

Is the Secret Garden Worth Visiting

Absolutely, it is 100% penguin approved. If you’re already buying tickets for Changdeokgung Palace, do yourself a favor and get the combo ticket right away. You’ll want to go in anyway, and trust us, you should. We loved the experience. And while the garden may not feel “secret” in the dramatic sense at first, let’s just say there are now a few penguin secrets scattered around. Keep your eyes open and see if you can spot the penguin stones we hid along the way.

Buy Me a Ko-fi

As we made our way out of the Secret Garden (Huwon), leaving a few penguin secrets behind, this experience was absolutely worth it. The calm, the greenery, the stories, and the slow pace stayed with us long after we passed back through the gate.

And for us, this wasn’t the end of the waddle just yet. Right after exiting the Secret Garden, we decided to buy tickets on the spot and continue to Changgyeonggung Palace. It was the perfect way to round out the day.

So here’s our final advice: buy the combo ticket, don’t skip the Secret Garden, and finish your visit exactly as we did at Changgyeonggung Palace.

Pack your bags and waddle the Secret Garden.

---

Save This Pin for Later!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a tiny commission, enough to help a penguin keep up its globe-trotting lifestyle. No extra cost to you, just more fish for me. Thank you for supporting the adventure!