Get an Aerial View of Deoksugung Palace

Here’s a fun little post on how to get that iconic aerial view of Deoksugung that everyone who visits Seoul seems to get!

Deoksugung is one of the five grand palaces of Seoul built during the Joseon dynasty. It became an official royal residence when the others were burnt down during the Japanese invasions and until Changdeokgung was fully restored. I’ll write a separate post about actually visiting the palace now that I have, but the best view is actually from a cafe situated above! It’s especially stunning when Korea’s fall colors are strong.

How to Get an Aerial View of Deoksugung Palace

1. Go to Seoul City Hall Seosumun Building (서수문)

The easiest way is to take the subway. Get off at City Hall Station (시청역) and use Exit 11. It’s kind of behind the main entrance, so you might think you went the wrong way at first, but just keep going. If you’re not sure, I’ve always seen a few security guards around, and you can ask to make sure. I’ve done this both times because, despite all my traveling and navigating via public transportation, I’m still not very good with directions.

• If you take a taxi, here are the addresses:
  • 15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
  • 서울특별시 중구 덕수궁길 15 (서소문동) 서울시 서소문청사 1동 13층

2. Head through the entrance and up to the 13th floor for the Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대).

This is the entrance you’re looking for. There are giant lion statues, so you can’t miss it! Once you’re inside there are signs pointing you where to go, and they have a specific elevator designated for it.

3. Head into Café Darak (다락) and to the giant windows and snap away!

Pretty easy, hey? And it’s technically free. It’s a café, so you can order something if you’d like.  There’s also some history about Deoksugung around the cafe if you’d like to read more. It’s always been pretty crowded when I go, so I’ve never gotten a chance to really sit and read more.

Don’t worry about taking photos above people’s heads either, those same people were probably doing it ten minutes before you!

Opening times for the café vary these days:

• Mon – Fri: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Sat – Sun: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

4. Other things to note:

When you exit, you can actually walk over to the entrance of Deoksugung, so it’s easy to do both in a day (though the lighting for the observatory is going to be best towards closing). City Hall is also nearby (you can get an aerial view of it as well), and there ALWAYS seems to be some big events going on. You can also walk along the Deoksugung Stonewall Road (덕수궁 돌담길). It’s not as cute as it seems in Yoona’s video, though, as each time I’ve been there is always vendors and crowds. For a tour, check here.

And there you have it! A little post on a fun thing to do in Seoul. What are some of your favorite city views?

For more Seoul travel:

• Seoul Travel Guide
• Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korea’s Main Royal Palace
• Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden

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