Start at Deoksugung Palace, follow the famous stone wall road, and continue into Jeongdong-gil.
The route is short, but there’s quite a lot along the way: palace architecture, autumn foliage, modern Korean history, museums, small shops, and a few places to stop for coffee.
It’s an easy way to spend an afternoon without having to plan a whole itinerary around it.
🏯 Start at Deoksugung Palace
Deoksugung is one of Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces, but it has a slightly different atmosphere from the others.
The palace became particularly important during the late Joseon and Korean Empire period. It’s also known for the mix of traditional Korean buildings and Western-style architecture found within the palace grounds.
If it’s your first visit, take some time to look around Junghwajeon Hall, Jeonggwanheon, and Seokjojeon Hall before heading back toward Daehanmun Gate.
You don’t need to spend hours here for this route. The palace is just the beginning.
🎨 Optional Stop: MMCA Deoksugung
Inside Deoksugung is MMCA Deoksugung, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s branch dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
It’s an easy addition if you’re already interested in museums, especially because you can go from traditional palace architecture to modern Korean art without changing neighborhoods.
Opening hours and exhibitions change, so check the current schedule before you go. The museum is generally open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, with late hours until 9 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
If you’re mainly here for the autumn walk, though, you can also save the museum for another day.
MMCA Deoksugung – visitor information & current exhibitions: MMCA Deoksugung Official Site
🍂 Walking the Deoksugung Stone Wall Road
Once you leave the palace, follow Deoksugung Stone Wall Road (덕수궁 돌담길) toward Jeongdong-gil.
This is the part most people come for in autumn.
The stone wall, old trees, and surrounding historic buildings make the walk feel quite different from the busy streets around City Hall. Seoul also highlights Jeongdong-gil as an autumn walking route, particularly for its ginkgo trees and historic streetscape.
There’s no complicated route to follow here. Just walk along the wall and take your time.
💔 What About the Deoksugung Breakup Legend?
You may have heard the Korean urban legend that couples who walk along Deoksugung’s stone wall road will eventually break up.
The story is often linked to the former location of the Seoul Family Court near the end of the road. Couples supposedly walked this route before heading there to file for divorce.
It’s a long-running piece of Seoul folklore, not exactly a reason to avoid the street.
And considering how many couples still walk here, most people seem willing to take the risk. 😇
🏛️ Welcome to Jeongdong-gil
Keep walking and the scenery gradually changes.
This is Jeongdong-gil, a roughly one-kilometer street connecting Deoksugung with the area around Sinmun-ro.
Jeongdong was an important area during Korea’s transition into the modern era. Western diplomatic missions were established here, while schools, churches, and other new institutions also appeared around the neighborhood.
You can still see some of those layers today.
Old brick buildings, churches, schools, museums, and newer cultural spaces sit surprisingly close together. That mix is what makes Jeongdong more interesting than simply being another pretty autumn street.
Jeongdong-gil / autumn information: Seoul Metropolitan Government – Jeongdong-gil in Autumn
🏙️ Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture
One of the more interesting stops along the route is the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture.
The building itself has a surprisingly complicated history.
The site was once home to Deokangung, a shrine associated with Consort Eom Sun-heon, the mother of Prince Yeongchin. In 1937, a building for the Japanese Government-General’s postal administration was constructed here. After liberation, the site became the Namdaemun annex of the National Tax Service.
The former building was demolished in 2015, and the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture opened on the site in 2019.
So this isn’t just a random modern building next to Deoksugung. The site itself reflects several different periods of Seoul’s history.
Today, the exhibition hall focuses on architecture and the urban environment through exhibitions, talks, and cultural programs.
There’s also Seoul MARU on the rooftop. It works as a public space where you can take a break and look out over the surrounding area. Some traces of the former National Tax Service building were also preserved here.
The exhibition hall is free to enter, although some special exhibitions may have separate admission. It’s currently open 10 AM–6 PM and closed on Mondays.
If you’re interested in how Seoul developed as a city, this is probably the most worthwhile stop on the route after Deoksugung itself.
🛍️ A Couple of Small Stops on Jeongdong-gil
After the history and architecture, you can slow things down a little.
🍽️ SOILBAKER Jeongdong
If you like Korean tableware and ceramics, SOILBAKER Jeongdong is worth a look.
It’s one of my favorite Korean tableware brands. I like its clean, restrained designs — they feel very Korean without leaning too heavily into traditional Korean aesthetics.
I actually own one of their Jaeju sets, and it’s one of those pieces I keep coming back to at home. The design is simple enough for everyday use, but still has a distinct character to it.
The Jeongdong store is on the second floor of Shina Memorial Hall at 33 Jeongdong-gil. So if you’re already walking this way, it’s an easy place to pop in and browse.
It’s open Tuesday–Sunday, 11:30 AM–6:30 PM, and closed on Mondays.
SOILBAKER Jeongdong: SOILBAKER Official Store Information
📝 Trolls Paper
Trolls Paper is in the same building, at 33 Jeongdong-gil: Trolls Paper – Naver Place
It’s a small stationery and paper goods shop, which makes it a nice contrast to the museums and historic buildings around the neighborhood. You can easily visit both in one stop. No need to dedicate half a day to stationery shopping.
☕ Finish With Coffee
By this point, you’ll probably want somewhere to sit down.
🥐 Round & End
Round & End is at 35 Jeongdong-gil, just a short walk from the route.
It’s a bakery cafe, so it works well as a simple ending point after walking around Deoksugung and Jeongdong.
If you’re visiting in autumn, the area around the cafe is also nice for lingering a little longer before heading back toward City Hall.
🤫 My Secret Den
If you want something quieter, My Secret Den is another option.
I previously included it in my guide to cafes for solo contemplation, so it works particularly well if you’re doing this walk alone and want to sit somewhere after the sightseeing part.
🗺️ Deoksugung to Jeongdong-gil Walking Route
You can keep the route very simple:
| Stop | What to see |
|---|---|
| 1. Deoksugung Palace | Palace grounds and historic architecture |
| 2. MMCA Deoksugung | Modern and contemporary art |
| 3. Deoksugung Stone Wall Road | Autumn foliage and the famous stone wall |
| 4. Jeongdong-gil | Historic streetscape and old buildings |
| 5. Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture | Seoul’s urban history and architecture |
| 6. SOILBAKER + Trolls Paper | Tableware and stationery |
| 7. Round & End | Bakery and coffee |
| 8. My Secret Den | A quieter coffee stop |
You don’t have to visit everything.
For a shorter walk, I’d do Deoksugung → Stone Wall Road → Jeongdong-gil → coffee.
If you have more time, add the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture and a look around SOILBAKER and Trolls Paper.
🍁 When to Go in Autumn
The route works throughout autumn, but late October through November is usually when you’ll get the classic fall atmosphere. The exact peak changes every year, so check the foliage forecast if you’re planning your trip around autumn leaves.
For the most comfortable walk, go in the afternoon.
You can visit Deoksugung first, walk along the stone wall while there’s still plenty of daylight, then continue into Jeongdong-gil and finish with coffee.
If you’re interested in photography, later afternoon also gives the old buildings and stone walls a warmer look.
📌 Deoksugung & Jeongdong-gil Quick Info
📍 Area: Deoksugung Palace → Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
🚇 Nearest station: City Hall Station
⏰ Time: Around 1.5–3 hours, depending on your stops
🍂 Best for: Autumn foliage, history, architecture, museums, small shops, and cafes
💰 Budget: You can do most of the walk for free, with admission only if you choose to visit the palace or paid exhibitions.
🍂 A Different Side of Central Seoul
Deoksugung is an easy place to visit if you want to see one of Seoul’s palaces, but the area becomes more interesting once you keep walking.
The stone wall leads into Jeongdong-gil, where the city’s modern history is still visible in the streets and buildings around you.
Add a museum, an architecture exhibition, a small stationery or tableware shop, and a coffee stop, and you have a pretty solid afternoon without going very far.
That’s probably the best reason to visit in autumn.
Not one huge attraction. Just a good walk through several layers of Seoul.
Catch you in the next SeoulBits! 🍁🚶