All around Seoul you are surrounded by beautiful architecture, from the castle of Korea University to the beautiful Buddhist temples. But one of the places that is beyond compare is the Gyeongbokgung Palace that lies in the center of Seoul. This palace started its construction back in 1395 under the Joseon Dynasty. The palace has undergone many ups and downs throughout the years but still remains standing with its gorgeous designs.
An amazing thing that you can do before going to the palace is to rent Hanbok, a traditional Korean style of clothing. There are many places up and down the streets near the palace. You get to decide between multiple colors and styles of Hanbok, as well as accessories and getting your hair styled. The prices to rent are also fairly cheap; depending on where you rent from the prices can range from 15,000 to 25,000 won. ( The equivalent to $13.00 to $23.00 USD.)
After renting your Hanbok you can now go to the palace in style. You will be able to get the full experience and feel like royalty walking around all the beautiful buildings. Tickets to the palace range from 1,500 won to 3,000 won depending on one’s age. It is also best to go during Cherry Blossom season when all the trees are decorated in cherry blossoms. The palace is the best place to go to learn some history of Korea and feel like royalty exploring the grounds!
If you decide you do not want to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace there are many other grand palaces around Seoul. You can also get dressed in Hanbok and explore Changdeokgung Palace or Changgyeonggung Palace. But no matter where you go Hanbok will always be around the corner!
Erin King is a student at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. She is an ISA Featured Photo Blogger and is studying abroad with ISA in Seoul, South Korea.