Free Pass to 12 Seoul Palaces and Royal Tombs Available at the Airport Through Oct. 11
From September 19 to October 11, a 23-day stretch that overlaps with Korea's Chuseok holiday (September 24-27), Japan's Silver Week and China's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is running "2026 Seoul Welcome Week" for visiting travelers. Foreign tourists arriving at Incheon or Gimpo airport can pick up a free pass at the airport tourist information center, while supplies last, that grants free admission to 12 palaces and royal tombs, letting you tour Seoul's major heritage sites at no extra cost from the very first day of your trip.
At a glance: runs September 19 to October 11 · free, first-come first-served distribution at four tourist information centers, Incheon Airport Terminal 1 (east and west) and Terminal 2, and Gimpo Airport · Myeongdong Welcome Center October 1-8, near Myeongdong Station Exit 6 · 20 percent discount on Han River cruises from the Yeouido pier · Seoul Culture Lounge programs September 19-October 10 (11th floor, Samil Building, 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro) · website autumn.sto.or.kr.
Known as the Discover Seoul Pass Heritage Edition, the pass gets you free entry to 12 national heritage sites, including the Joseon royal tombs, the four major palaces such as Gyeongbokgung, and Jongmyo, the Confucian shrine housing the memorial tablets of Joseon kings and queens, plus discounts at more than 110 partner restaurants, shops and experience venues across the city. From October 1 to 8, a Welcome Center near Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station offers English, Chinese and Japanese interpretation along with K-pop performances and prize draws. At the Seoul Culture Lounge near Seoul Plaza, visitors can try on hanbok (traditional Korean dress) for a traditional dance class or make songpyeon, the half-moon-shaped rice cake filled with sweet or savory fillings that is the signature food of Chuseok, free of charge. The program, jointly run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Tourism Organization and the Seoul Tourism Association, was timed to the peak travel season created by overlapping holidays across East Asia.