Checked September 16, 2026 · Holiday dates: September 24–26 · Chuseok Day: Friday, September 25.
Visiting Seoul during Chuseok 2026? This guide explains what is open, what may close and which holiday opening hours still need confirmation at 20 Seoul attractions: 10 north and 10 south of the Han River. It includes Gyeongbokgung, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower, Starfield Library and Lotte World.
How to read this guide: “Date-specific” means the official calendar or 2026 holiday notice covered the dates. “Current schedule” means a standing timetable, not a guarantee for every holiday date. “Unconfirmed” means we did not verify a dated notice: contact the official operator before traveling. All times are Korea Standard Time (KST).
Chuseok opening hours: the most useful confirmed details
- Lotte World Adventure Seoul: September 24–26, 10:00–22:00; admission closes 21:00.
- Seoul Sky: September 24–26, 10:30–23:00; last admission 22:00.
- Royal palaces and tombs: free general admission during the three-day holiday; special tours and night visits have separate rules.
- September 25 warning: the National Folk Museum is closed; check each DDP indoor facility separately.
Sources: 2026 holiday announcement · official operating calendar · official operating calendar · National Folk Museum · official visitor information.
North of the Han River: 10 Seoul attractions
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Status: Holiday policy confirmed; hours from the current regular schedule.
September daytime hours are 09:00–18:00; last admission 17:00. Normally closed Tuesdays. The official 2026 Chuseok announcement confirms free general admission to the four royal palaces during September 24–26. This does not mean every special tour or evening visit is free. The separate autumn night program runs September 2–October 2, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays, 19:00–21:30 (last admission 20:30); check ticket availability. Gyeonghoeru and Hyangwonjeong special tours are suspended September 24–27. Nearby National Folk Museum is CLOSED September 25; its closure must not be confused with the palace. Contact: 02-3700-3900.
Sources: 2026 holiday announcement · Royal Palaces and Tombs Center · 2026 night opening · special-tour exceptions · National Folk Museum.
2. Gwanghwamun Square
Status: Outdoor public space; individual holiday activities unconfirmed.
Treat the square as an outdoor sightseeing stop. Events, controlled areas, nearby museums and shops have their own schedules. No specific September 24–26 access notice was verified; check Seoul’s current visitor notices before departure.
Sources: Seoul Tourism Organization.
3. Changdeokgung Palace
Status: Holiday policy confirmed; hours from the current regular schedule.
September palace hours are 09:00–18:00; last admission 17:00. Normally closed Mondays. Free holiday general admission does not automatically include the Secret Garden. Garden visits use separate timed admission with limited places; current English tours in September are 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Recheck the reservation calendar and available places. Contact: 02-3668-2300.
Sources: 2026 holiday announcement · Royal Palaces and Tombs Center.
4. Bukchon Hanok Village
Status: Current visitor restrictions; holiday-specific arrangements unconfirmed.
This is a residential neighborhood. In the restricted visitor area, sightseeing is permitted 10:00–17:00; do not enter for sightseeing between 17:00 and 10:00. These limits do not describe every street in Bukchon. Follow on-site boundary signs, keep voices low and respect private homes. Check current district guidance before visiting during Chuseok. Contact: 02-2133-1372.
Sources: official visitor information.
5. Insadong
Status: Public streets; shops and cultural venues unconfirmed.
The neighborhood is not a single attraction with one holiday timetable. Plan an outdoor walk, but confirm each gallery, tea house and shop directly before making a special trip. No common September 24–26 opening hours were verified.
Sources: Seoul Tourism Organization.
6. Gwangjang Market
Status: Regular schedule only; vendor holiday hours unconfirmed.
Official tourism information lists general shops 09:00–18:00, normally closed Sundays, and the food alley 09:00–23:00 year-round. This is not confirmation that each stall will open on September 25. Verify the individual vendor before relying on a visit. Market contacts: 02-2267-0291 / 02-2272-0967.
Sources: official visitor information.
7. Myeongdong
Status: Public streets; individual businesses unconfirmed.
Myeongdong is a shopping district, not one venue with a shared Chuseok opening time. Outdoor sightseeing and access to a specific store, department store or attraction are separate questions. Check the operator of every must-visit business for September 24–26.
Sources: Seoul Tourism Organization.
8. N Seoul Tower
Status: Current year-round and public-holiday schedule.
The operator lists year-round operation, including holidays. Public-holiday observatory hours are 10:00–23:00, with last admission 30 minutes before closing (22:30). This is a standing holiday schedule, not a separate dated Chuseok notice. Weather or operations may change it. Observatory hours do not establish cable-car or restaurant hours. Contact: 02-3455-9277 / 02-3455-9288.
Sources: official visitor information.
9. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Status: Closure warning; verify each indoor facility.
The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture directory lists Chuseok Day as a closing day, with schedules differing by space. Do not assume all exhibitions are open September 25, or that this means every outdoor plaza is closed. Check the exact exhibition and DDP’s current notice before visiting. Current DDP contact: 02-2096-0000.
Sources: official visitor information.
10. Hongdae
Status: Public neighborhood; individual venues unconfirmed.
An outdoor neighborhood walk is different from a confirmed visit to a shop, performance or museum. September 24–26 schedules for individual venues were not verified. Contact the venue or its official operator before booking a timed activity.
Sources: Seoul Tourism Organization.
South of the Han River: 10 Seoul attractions
11. Starfield Library at COEX
Status: Regular hours only; Chuseok notice unconfirmed.
Current regular library hours are 10:30–22:00. A separate September 24–26 holiday notice was not located. Check the official library/COEX notice before travel; these hours do not establish every mall tenant’s opening time.
Sources: official visitor information.
12. Bongeunsa Temple
Status: Current year-round schedule; special programs separate.
Official tourism information lists 05:00–22:00 and year-round operation. No separate 2026 Chuseok schedule was verified. Temple ceremonies, visitor programs and individual buildings can have different access arrangements. Contact: 02-3218-4800.
Sources: official visitor information.
13. Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs
Status: Holiday policy confirmed; hours from the current regular schedule.
Current March–October hours are 06:00–21:00, last admission 20:00; normally closed Mondays. The 2026 holiday announcement includes free general admission to royal tombs during September 24–26. Recheck the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center before visiting; special programs are separate.
Sources: 2026 holiday announcement · Royal Palaces and Tombs Center.
14. Gangnam Station and Gangnam-daero
Status: Public streets; businesses unconfirmed.
Use this as a district walk rather than a promise that every business is open. Shops, underground retail spaces and entertainment venues may set their own Chuseok hours. Verify any specific destination with its operator.
Sources: Visit Gangnam.
15. Garosu-gil
Status: Public streets; businesses unconfirmed.
Street access does not confirm boutique, cafe or gallery opening. No shared September 24–26 timetable was verified. Check each business’s official announcement before a dedicated visit.
Sources: Visit Gangnam.
16. K-Star Road
Status: Outdoor street; indoor access separate.
Gangnam’s official visitor information describes this as a 24-hour outdoor attraction. That does not grant access to entertainment-company offices or confirm nearby shops are open during Chuseok. Follow public-street signage and current on-site restrictions.
Sources: official visitor information.
17. Banpo Hangang Park and Moonlight Rainbow Fountain
Status: Current September fountain schedule; holiday show not guaranteed.
The city’s fountain page, updated September 14, 2026, lists the June–September schedule as 12:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 and 21:30, 20 minutes per show. Use this updated September schedule rather than older pages ending at 21:00. Shows can stop for wind of 7 m/s or more, rain forecasts during operation, water conditions, maintenance or events. No separate guarantee for September 24–26 was verified. Park access and fountain operation are different: check same-day notices. Fountain: 02-3780-0578–9; park office: 02-3780-0541–4.
Sources: Seoul fountain schedule · Banpo park information.
18. Lotte World Adventure Seoul
Status: Date-specific calendar confirmed for all three holiday dates.
The official calendar showed 10:00–22:00 on September 24, 25 and 26, 2026. Ticketing/admission closes one hour before the park closes (21:00). Ride schedules, weather and operational changes can affect your visit. Check the calendar again and the separate ride-closure list before buying. This is the Seoul park, not Lotte World Adventure Busan. Contact: 1661-2000.
Sources: official operating calendar.
19. Seoul Sky at Lotte World Tower
Status: Date-specific calendar confirmed for all three holiday dates.
The official calendar showed 10:30–23:00 on September 24, 25 and 26, 2026; last admission is one hour before closing (22:00). This observatory has its own ticket and schedule, separate from Lotte World Adventure. Recheck operating notices before arrival. Contact: 1661-2000.
Sources: official operating calendar.
20. Seokchon Lake
Status: Outdoor lake area; date-specific restrictions unconfirmed.
Plan this as an outdoor walk. No specific September 24–26 access notice was verified. Events, weather restrictions and nearby indoor venues require separate checks with Songpa’s official visitor information or the individual operator.
Sources: official visitor information.
Before you set out on September 25
- Recheck the official calendar the day before and on the morning of your visit. A closing time is not the last-admission time.
- For palaces and tombs, the standing rule moves a regular closure that falls on a public holiday to the next non-holiday. The September 24–26 holiday itself falls Thursday–Saturday.
- Keep a flexible outdoor alternative, but obey weather, event and residential-access restrictions.
- A market’s general hours do not confirm an individual stall.
Plan the rest of your Korea trip
Check our South Korea entry requirements for 2026 before departure. For getting around, compare Seoul’s Climate Card and Tmoney. Use the official sources above for the latest operating updates.
Research checked September 16, 2026. Hours and availability can change after publication; unconfirmed holiday arrangements are deliberately identified.
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