At a glance
| Dates | Expected Sep/Oct 2027Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Recent seasons were autumn 2024 (11 Sep–6 Oct), spring 2025 (2 Apr–17 May), autumn 2025 (15 Oct–2 Nov) and autumn 2026 (2 Sep–24 Oct), so the next season is likely in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) 2027. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Recent seasons were autumn 2024 (11 Sep–6 Oct), spring 2025 (2 Apr–17 May), autumn 2025 (15 Oct–2 Nov) and autumn 2026 (2 Sep–24 Oct), so the next season is likely in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) 2027. |
| Weather | September average 26/18 °C (79/64 °F), 142 mm of rain October average 20/11 °C (68/51 °F), 52 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Seoul station. |
| Admission | ₩60,000 per person, covering the guided night tour, the dosuk royal meal and the performances. Ages 7 and over only (born 2019 or earlier).Admission (guided night tour, royal meal and performances), per person: ₩60,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Gyeongbokgung Palace (northern area)서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 (세종로) 경복궁 |
| Nearest station | Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역), Seoul Subway Line 3, Exit 5About 3–5 minutes to the palace (travel guides); the tour itself starts at Gyejodang inside the palace |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (host); National Heritage Promotion Agency (organizer)국가유산청 궁능유적본부 (주최) · 국가유산진흥원 (주관) |
| Usual timing | An autumn season of about three to eight weeks between early September and early November, Wednesday to Sunday (11 Sep–6 Oct 2024, 15 Oct–2 Nov 2025, 2 Sep–24 Oct 2026); some years add a spring season (2 Apr–17 May 2025). First held in 2016. Browse September / October festivals. |
| First held | 2016 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 21 sources · See sources |
What it is like
The Starlight Tour is a small, ticketed evening programme at Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, run by Korea's national heritage agency. In it, groups of 38 follow a guide through the palace's northern quarters after dark, stop in the rebuilt palace kitchen for a royal-style dinner with live traditional music, and finish beside the pond around Hyangwonjeong pavilion. It began in 2016. Recent seasons were autumn 2024, spring and autumn 2025, and autumn 2026; no spring season was found for 2026.
The 2026 season runs from 2 September to 24 October, Wednesday to Sunday, with a break from 30 September to 4 October while the palace hosts a separate music festival. There are two sessions a night, 18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20, each about 110 minutes. The route starts at Gyejodang in the crown prince's quarters and moves to Oesojubang, the outer royal kitchen, where guests eat the dosuk surasang: a modern take on the king's 12-dish table, served in a lunchbox-style set, with a vegetarian version available. It then passes Jagyeongjeon, Jibokjae and Parujeong, where a short changgeuk (Korean traditional opera) about King Gojong is staged inside his library this year, Geoncheonggung, and the Hyangwonjeong area, where the night sky is reflected in Hyangwonji pond. The route can change with conditions.
Tickets cost ₩60,000 per person, for ages 7 and over only. General sessions are sold by lottery on Ticketlink (for 2026, applications closed on 20 August) and then first come, first served for any seats left or returned. Foreign visitors have separate sessions from 21 to 24 October 2026, sold through Creatrip. As of 19 October, those four nights, Wednesday to Saturday, are all that remains of the 2026 season.
The honest caveats: places are few and go fast (every spring 2025 session sold out, leaving only cancellations); the language of the 2026 foreign-visitor sessions was not stated, although in spring 2025 they had English commentary; and the meal is eaten seated, which a visitor in April 2025 found cold even with the blanket provided. This is also not the same thing as Gyeongbokgung's regular night opening, a separate self-guided evening ticket with its own season.
Highlights
- Guided night walk through the northern part of Gyeongbokgung: Gyejodang, Oesojubang, Jagyeongjeon, Jibokjae and Parujeong, Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong
- Dosuk surasang: a modern take on the king's 12-dish table, served in the outer royal kitchen (Oesojubang) with live gugak; vegetarian menu available
- New in 2026: a special changgeuk (Korean traditional opera) about King Gojong, staged inside Jibokjae, his library
- Small groups of 38 per session, two sessions a night (18:20 and 19:30), about 110 minutes each
- Night view of Hyangwonjeong pavilion and the starlight on Hyangwonji pond at the end of the route
- Separate foreign-visitor sessions on 21–24 October 2026, sold through Creatrip
Who it suits. Best for visitors who want a small-group, after-dark look at Gyeongbokgung with a royal-style dinner and a traditional performance, and who can plan around a lottery or the foreign-visitor sale; less suited to families with children under 7 (not admitted), travellers on a tight budget, or anyone who wants a walk-in evening visit, for which the palace's regular night opening is cheaper and simpler.
Getting there
From Seoul
Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and leave by Exit 5, which leads towards the palace: about 3–5 minutes on foot. From Seoul Station, ride Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and change to Line 3 for two stops to Gyeongbokgung, about 15 minutes on the trains, then walk about 5 minutes. Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 2, is about 7 minutes' walk. The tour starts in front of Gyejodang, in the crown prince's quarters inside the palace; in spring 2025 the reception desk opened 20 minutes before each session.
From Busan
KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station, about 2 h 30 min (standard fare ₩54,400 since 1 September 2026), then Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.
Last leg from Gyeongbokgung Station
Seoul Subway Line 3, Exit 5. About 3–5 minutes to the palace (travel guides); the tour itself starts at Gyejodang inside the palace
Getting home
The later session ends at 21:20, well before the last subway trains, and Gyeongbokgung Station is a few minutes' walk from the palace.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Admission (guided night tour, royal meal and performances), per person | ₩60,000 | Ages 7 and over only (born 2019 or earlier). General sessions by lottery on Ticketlink, then first come, first served; the foreign-visitor sessions are sold through Creatrip, whose price was not checked. |
- Booking
- Advance booking only. General sessions: lottery on Ticketlink (for 2026, applications 14–20 August, winners announced 24 August and booked 25–27 August), then remaining and returned seats first come, first served from 28 August, 14:00. Foreign visitors: separate sessions on 21–24 October 2026, sold through Creatrip. In 2025 some seats could be booked by phone by people aged 65 and over, people with disabilities and national merit holders. Enquiries 1522-2295.
- English on site
- General sessions are guided in Korean. Foreign visitors have their own sessions on 21–24 October 2026, sold through Creatrip; the guiding language was not stated, but the spring 2025 foreign-visitor sessions had English commentary.
- Crowds
- Small groups by design: 38 people per session, 76 a day in 2026. Tickets are the bottleneck: every spring 2025 session sold out, leaving only cancellations.
- Best time to go
- For 2026 only Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October remain, the dates of the foreign-visitor sessions. For later seasons, enter the lottery as soon as it opens, about two to three weeks before the season starts.
- What to bring
- A warm layer, since the meal is eaten seated and a visitor in April 2025 found it cold even with the blanket provided; comfortable shoes for about 110 minutes of walking; and your booking confirmation.
- Step-free access
- The tour is mostly walking, for about 110 minutes, with a seated meal. Wheelchair access along the route was not published; in 2025 some seats were set aside for phone booking by people with disabilities.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Recent seasons were autumn 2024 (11 Sep–6 Oct), spring 2025 (2 Apr–17 May), autumn 2025 (15 Oct–2 Nov) and autumn 2026 (2 Sep–24 Oct), so the next season is likely in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) 2027. | expected | The lottery has opened about two to three weeks before each season starts (13–19 March for spring 2025, 24–30 September for autumn 2025, 14–20 August for autumn 2026), so watch for an announcement in early spring or late summer 2027. |
| 2026 | 2 Sep – 24 Oct 2026 | ended | Northern part of Gyeongbokgung. The tour starts at Gyejodang in the crown prince's quarters; in spring 2025 the reception desk opened 20 minutes before each session and groups waited in front of Gyejodang. |
| 2025 | 15 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 | ended | Autumn season. A spring season also ran from 2 April to 17 May 2025, Wednesday to Sunday, with sessions at 18:40–20:30 and 19:40–21:30, at ₩60,000; it was the first season with all places allotted by lottery, every session sold out, a vegetarian meal was offered for the first time, and English-commentary sessions for foreign visitors ran on 14–17 May. Some seats were bookable by phone for people aged 65 and over, people with disabilities and national merit holders. |
| 2024 | 11 Sep – 6 Oct 2024 | ended | Autumn season. Places were allotted by draw on Ticketlink, up to two tickets per ID, with results on 29 August; visitors in hanbok received a free souvenir. Session times and price were not given in the source opened, and whether a spring 2024 season ran was not checked. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
A free re-enactment of the Joseon royal guard changing its watch at Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung's main gate, with costumed guards, banners and drums. Watch the 14:00 ceremony (about 20 minutes; there is also one at 10:00) and you still have the whole afternoon before the 18:20 or 19:30 tour session. Tip: it is not held in rain, when only a reduced guard stands at Heungnyemun.
Getting there: At Gwanghwamun, the palace's main gate, and the Heungnyemun forecourt behind it; on foot, free and no ticket needed
Korea's museum of the Joseon royal court, with royal seals, court dress, carriages and scientific instruments, free to enter, beside the palace where the tour starts. Since March 2026 it opens and closes 30 minutes earlier than the old 10:00–18:00 (about 09:30–17:30, with late opening on Saturdays), so on a weekday come in the early afternoon. Tip: an hour is enough for the main galleries, which leaves time to queue at the tour reception, which opened 20 minutes before each session in 2025.
Getting there: On foot inside the palace grounds, next to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5); free
A hillside neighbourhood of lived-in hanok, Korea's traditional tile-roofed houses, where you walk the lanes for views over the rooftops and browse craft shops and cafés. Go in the afternoon: since November 2024 tourists may enter the red zone around Bukchon-ro 11-gil only from 10:00 to 17:00 (₩100,000 fine since March 2025), which still leaves time to get back to the palace for the 18:20 session. Tip: keep your voice down, people live here.
Getting there: Line 3 one stop from Gyeongbokgung to Anguk Station, then walk uphill; or walk east from the palace
Questions travelers ask
When is the Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour 2026?
2 September–24 October 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, with no sessions from 30 September to 4 October. There are two sessions a night, 18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20. Foreign visitors have their own sessions on 21–24 October, sold through Creatrip.
How much does it cost and what is included?
₩60,000 per person. That covers a guided night tour of the palace's northern area of about 110 minutes, the dosuk surasang (a modern 12-dish royal meal, with a vegetarian option) with live gugak in the palace kitchen, and in 2026 a short changgeuk about King Gojong at Jibokjae.
How do I get a ticket?
General sessions are allotted by lottery on Ticketlink about two to three weeks before each season (for 2026, applications 14–20 August), and leftover or returned seats are then sold first come, first served. Foreign visitors book the special sessions on 21–24 October 2026 through Creatrip.
Can foreign visitors join, and is it in English?
Yes. Foreign visitors have dedicated sessions on 21–24 October 2026, sold through Creatrip. The language of those sessions was not stated; in spring 2025 the foreign-visitor sessions had English commentary. General sessions are guided in Korean.
Can children take part?
Only from age 7: in 2026 the tour is open to people born in 2019 or earlier.
Is this the same as Gyeongbokgung's night opening?
No. The Starlight Tour is a small guided programme with a meal and performances at ₩60,000. The regular night opening is a separate, self-guided evening admission with its own seasons (13 May–14 June in spring 2026), sold on Interpark, with on-site tickets for foreign visitors at the Gwanghwamun ticket office.
When is the next Starlight Tour after October 2026?
Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Recent seasons ran in autumn 2024 and in spring and autumn 2025, and the 2026 season is in autumn, so the next is likely in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) 2027.
What is the weather like during Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour?
September in Seoul: average high 26 °C (79 °F), low 18 °C (64 °F), 142 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). October in Seoul: average high 20 °C (68 °F), low 11 °C (51 °F), 52 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
19 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO TourAPI listing 경복궁 별빛야행 (contentId 2648460)kto — 2026 dates 2 Sep–24 Oct; sessions 18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20; paid, ₩60,000 per person; organizer 국가유산청 궁능유적본부; phone 1522-2295; homepage kh.or.kr; address 사직로 161 and coordinates; northern area, 12-dish royal table served as a dosuk at Oesojubang, changgeuk at Jibokjae, starlight on Hyangwonji
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — festival listing: 경복궁 별빛야행ministry — 2026 dates 2 Sep–24 Oct, sessions 18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20, ₩60,000 per person, host 국가유산청 궁능유적본부, enquiries 1522-2295, traditional-history event
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 경복궁 별빛야행kto — 주관 국가유산진흥원; 2026 route 계조당→외소주방→자경전→집옥재·팔우정→건청궁→향원정, may change; 12-dish dosuk surasang and gugak at the palace kitchen; address and phone 1522-2295
- The Korea Times — Gyeongbok Palace to offer nighttime cultural experience this fall (18 Aug 2026)news — English name; 2 Sep–24 Oct 2026, Wed–Sun, none 30 Sep–4 Oct (palace music festival); starts 18:20 and 19:30, about 110 min; ₩60,000; Ticketlink lottery 14 Aug 14:00–20 Aug 14:00, winners 24 Aug, rest from 28 Aug; foreign-visitor sessions 21–24 Oct via Creatrip; route; 12-course dosuk surasang, vegetarian menu; gugak; changgeuk on Gojong in Jibokjae; professional guides; debut 2016
- Fanplus community post — 2026 경복궁 별빛야행 summary of the booking noticeblog — 38 people per session, 76 per day; ages 7 and over (born 2019 or earlier); sessions 18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20, about 110 minutes; winners 24 Aug 17:00, winners' booking 25 Aug 14:00–27 Aug 23:59, remaining seats from 28 Aug 14:00; no sessions 30 Sep–4 Oct
- Insight — 2025 autumn Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour (22 Sep 2025)news — Autumn 2025: 15 Oct–2 Nov, Wed–Sun, starts 18:30 and 19:40, 110 min, ₩60,000; Ticketlink lottery 24–30 Sep, winners 2 Oct, booking 3–7 Oct for up to 2, rest from 8 Oct; phone booking for 65+, disabled and national merit holders; start at Gyejodang; Gyotaejeon, Geoncheonggung, Hyangwonjeong; Jibokjae interior opened for the first time; 12-dish dosuk surasang; play at the Janggo
- Newsis (via Daum) — 봄밤 별빛·달빛 쏟아지는 궁궐로…올해부턴 참가자 '추첨' (12 Mar 2025)news — Spring 2025: 2 Apr–17 May, Wednesday to Sunday, two sessions a day, ₩60,000; all places by lottery from 2025; Ticketlink, one entry per ID, up to 2 tickets; applications 13–19 Mar; phone booking for 65+, people with disabilities and national merit holders; English-commentary sessions 14–17 May, Creatrip from 2 Apr 09:00
- Seoul Mediahub — 별빛 아래 특별한 경복궁 체험 (citizen reporter, 8 Apr 2025)municipal — Spring 2025 sessions 18:40–20:30 and 19:40–21:30, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, about 110 minutes, ₩60,000, all sessions sold out; reception opens 20 minutes before, wireless receivers, groups wait in front of Gyejodang; route via Oesojubang, Jagyeongjeon, Janggo, Jibokjae and Parujeong, Geoncheonggung, Hyangwonjeong; vegetarian meal new in 2025; blanket at the seated meal, chilly evenings
- Korea JoongAng Daily — Reservations to open for special night tours of Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces in Seoul (19 Aug 2024)news — Autumn 2024: 11 Sep–6 Oct; draw on Ticketlink, up to two tickets per ID, results 29 Aug; royal cuisine, play about palace servants, King Gojong story; free souvenirs for visitors in hanbok; English name 'Starlight Tour at Gyeongbokgung Palace'
- Newsis — 봄밤 여는 창덕궁 '달빛기행'…올해도 '궁케팅' 예고 (20 Mar 2026)news — The spring 2026 palace night-tour announcement covers only the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour: 16 Apr–31 May 2026, Thursday to Sunday, ₩30,000, Ticketlink lottery, English, Chinese and Japanese sessions on Creatrip
- 뉴스서울 — 국가유산청, 경복궁에서 즐기는 품격 있는 궁궐의 밤 (29 Apr 2026)news — Separate regular night opening of Gyeongbokgung in spring 2026: 13 May–14 Jun, tickets on Interpark, foreign visitors' on-site tickets at the Gwanghwamun ticket office
- Creatrip — 2026 Gyeongbokgung Palace Ballet x Sujecheonother — Ballet and court-music concert in the Jibokjae courtyard, 2–5 Oct 2026
- Seoul Searching — 4 tips for Gyeongbokgung night tours (2023)blog — The regular night opening is a self-guided evening admission (₩3,000 in 2023), with on-site tickets for foreign visitors showing ID
- Mile Asia — Seoul Station to Gyeongbokgung Palace 2026blog — Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga, then Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung; about 15 minutes on the trains; Exit 5, about 5 minutes' walk; about 20 minutes in all
- Korea Todo — Gyeongbokgung Palaceblog — Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 5, about 3 minutes' walk; Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 2, about 7 minutes; address 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu
- Busan → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Same last trains on Fri 16, Sat 17 and Sun 18 Oct: 22:00 KTX 82 (arr 00:27) and 22:10 KTX 84 (arr 00:42), i.e. about 2 h 30 min Busan–Seoul; matches korail.com for 16 Oct
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 경복궁 (contentId 126508)kto — Gyeongbokgung hours: March–May and September–October 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), November–February 09:00–17:00 (16:00), June–August 09:00–18:30 (17:30); closed Tuesdays; adult ₩3,000
- Yonhap via Daum — 국립고궁박물관, 다음 달부터 月 1회 정기 휴관…야간 관람 축소 (8 Feb 2026)news — National Palace Museum of Korea: closed on the last Monday of each month from March 2026; night opening (to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays) reduced, Wednesday nights only in the last week of the month
- Newneek — 국립고궁박물관도? 3월부터 30분 일찍 문 열고 닫아요blog — National Palace Museum of Korea opens and closes 30 minutes earlier from March 2026 (previously 10:00–18:00); Saturdays to 21:00; free admission
- Money Today — '야간 통금' 북촌 (5 Nov 2024)news — Bukchon red zone around Bukchon-ro 11-gil from 1 Nov 2024: tourist visits restricted 17:00–10:00; ₩100,000 fine from March 2025 after a grace period
What we could not confirm
- The organizer's own 2026 notice (kh.or.kr) was not opened; session size (38), the age limit (7+, born 2019 or earlier) and winners' booking dates come from a community post summarising it.
- Guiding language, price and session times of the 21–24 October 2026 foreign-visitor sessions on Creatrip, and whether general sessions also run on those nights.
- Which palace gate participants enter by in the evening, and whether palace admission is included in the ₩60,000 ticket (the 2025 reception was in front of Gyejodang).
- Whether a spring season will return in 2027: none was found for spring 2026 (the March 2026 announcement covered only the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour).
- Ticket limit per person in 2026 (up to 2 in 2024 and 2025), cancellation and refund rules, rain policy and wheelchair access.
- Seasons from 2016 to 2023 and spring 2024 were not checked, so the total number of seasons is unknown; 2024 session times and price were not found.
- Japanese and Chinese names were not found on a KTO or official page.
- Walking times from Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun stations come from travel guides, not an official page.
- National Palace Museum of Korea hours after the March 2026 change (about 09:30–17:30, later on Saturdays) come from news reports; the museum's own hours page was not opened.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Corrected the metro directions from Seoul Station (three stops on Line 1, then two on Line 3) and added the autumn Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour season. · 2026-10-19 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-21 — Tense: two FAQs no longer describe the running autumn 2026 season as over. · 2026-10-22 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: clock times checked, nothing to change (the only time is the 21:20 session end, well before the last subway); prices: none changed.
