Why You Should Rent a Hanbok Right by Gyeongbokgung
Under a palace wall, visitors in colorful hanbok line up to take photos. Put on a hanbok before walking into Gyeongbokgung Palace, and your travel photos look completely different.
At a glance: Wearing hanbok gets you free admission to Gyeongbokgung and Korea's other three main palaces, plus Jongmyo Shrine · Rental shops cluster along Sajik-ro, just west of Gyeongbokgung · Rental periods usually run 2 to 4 hours · An ID (passport) is required to rent.
Hanbok is Korea's traditional dress, made up of a jeogori (top) paired with either a skirt or trousers. Rental shops cluster around Gyeongbokgung, a Joseon-dynasty royal palace, especially along Sajik-ro, so you can pick an outfit and change the moment you arrive. Most shops throw in simple hair accessories along with the color and style of your choice, so you don't need to bring anything of your own.
Walk through Gyeongbokgung's ticket gate in hanbok and you get in without paying admission. Crossing the wide courtyard, you'll feel the skirt brush against the breeze, find a moment of shade under the eaves, and catch the autumn sunlight filtering between the palace's painted pillars — sensations you simply don't get in your usual clothes. If your visit lines up with the royal guard-changing ceremony held roughly on the hour in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, standing next to the guards in their traditional dress for a photo is a favorite moment among visitors in hanbok.
Prices, rental periods, and what's included vary by shop, so check the rate card before you book. Returning late usually adds extra fees, so it's safer to pick a rental window generous enough for touring the palace and taking photos. The long skirt or overcoat hem is easy to step on going up and down stairs, so packing a pair of low, comfortable shoes beforehand makes getting around much easier.