4 Ginkgo Walks in Jongno: Gyeongbokgung, Seochon and Beyond

Yellow leaves above palace roofs, old walls and rows of trees: Jongno rewards a slow autumn walk. You do not need to fit every stop into one day. Choose the scenery you want to spend time with.

When should you go?

Seoul’s 2026 forecast places peak autumn colours in early to mid-November. Trees change at different speeds, and rain or wind can shorten the season; this is not a guarantee of yellow ginkgo leaves on a specific date.

Search the place name and year just before visiting, and compare recently taken photographs. An upload date is not always the date a photograph was taken.

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace: roofs and yellow leaves

For a first Seoul visit with palace sightseeing, consider the ginkgo near Geonchunmun on the eastern side. Move between close views of leaves and wider compositions with walls or halls. Geonchunmun is a location reference; enter through an operating visitor entrance.

• Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
• Subway: Gyeongbokgung, Line 3; or Gwanghwamun, Line 5.
• November: 09:00–17:00; last admission 16:00; closed Tuesdays.
• Korea Grand Festival free admission in 2026: October 29–November 15. Check regular closure days and separately booked programmes.

2. Hyoja-ro: add a palace-wall walk to Seochon

West of the palace, photograph the repeating wall and ginkgo or plane trees rather than just one tree. Continue into Seochon for a meal or coffee afterwards.

Keep narrow pavements clear. Do not step into the road for a photograph; use crossings to reach the other side.

• Location: Hyoja-ro along the palace’s western wall.
• Subway: Gyeongbokgung, Line 3. Map search: “효자로” or “경복궁 영추문”.
• Public outdoor walkway; no separate admission charge.

3. Samcheong-dong-gil: autumn east of the palace

Seoul’s autumn-walk guide includes roughly 1.2 km from the eastern palace wall towards Samcheong Tunnel, with ginkgo and zelkova trees. Pair it with a gallery or cafe.

Try photographs towards both the wall and the shop-lined street, including a portrait and a wider view. This is a road, not one enclosed garden: choose your turning point according to the leaves and your next stop.

• Location: Samcheong-ro, from the eastern palace side towards Samcheong Tunnel.
• Subway: Anguk, Line 3. Search “삼청로” or “국립현대미술관 서울”.
• Public outdoor walkway; no separate admission charge.

4. Sungkyunkwan Myeongnyundang: a large tree and traditional halls

This historic study hall suits visitors most interested in the large ginkgo itself. It is away from the palace area, so pair it with Hyehwa and Daehangno instead.

Compare looking up beneath the tree with stepping back to include the building. Watch distortion at the edges of ultrawide portraits, respect barriers and keep out of restricted buildings.

• Address: 25-1 Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
• Subway: about 749 m from Hyehwa, Line 4, Exit 4. Search “성균관 명륜당”.
• November–February: 09:00–17:00; free admission.
• Enquiries: 02-760-1472.

Pick a route that suits your day

• Palaces and photographs: Gyeongbokgung + Samcheong-dong-gil. Check the route from your actual exit.
• Cafes and neighbourhood streets: Hyoja-ro + Seochon.
• A large ginkgo: Myeongnyundang + Daehangno.

With Gyeongbokgung’s 16:00 last admission in November, visit before settling into a cafe. Check recent photographs, weather and notices, then linger in the light you find rather than rushing after the yellowest tree.