Hanbok rental in Seoul: where, how much, and what you get
Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, is everywhere around the palaces: visitors from all over the world rent it by the hour and wander the courtyards in it. It photographs beautifully, it gets you into the palaces free, and Koreans welcome foreigners wearing it. Here is how renting works.
The basics
- Price: roughly ₩15,000–30,000 for two to four hours for a standard set; premium silk and designer styles cost more.
- Included: the skirt or trousers and jacket, a bag, and a locker for your clothes. Hair styling and extra accessories are usually extra.
- Free palace entry: in hanbok you get into all five Seoul palaces and Jongmyo free.
Where to rent
| By Gyeongbokgung | The biggest cluster, around Gyeongbokgung and Anguk stations, with shops a few minutes from the palace gate. Go early on weekends; the popular shops queue by late morning. |
|---|---|
| Bukchon and Insadong | Smaller shops between the palaces, several with hair styling included, handy for Changdeokgung and the hanok lanes. |
| Jeonju and Gyeongju | Hanbok is part of the experience in both old towns, and cheaper than Seoul. See Jeonju and Gyeongju. |
Choosing a style
- Traditional sets have a long, full skirt and a short jacket for women, and trousers, jacket and vest for men. These are the ones the palaces mean by hanbok.
- Modern or fusion styles are shorter, lacier and more colourful. Popular for photos, but palace staff may not count heavily costume-like sets for free entry.
- Royal and court costumes are offered by some shops for photo shoots.
- Children’s sizes are widely available, and many shops do matching family and couple sets.
Practical notes
- Wear comfortable shoes you do not mind being seen with; most shops rent simple shoes or you keep your own.
- In winter, shops lend padded jackets, fur shawls and hand warmers to wear over the hanbok.
- Check the palace closing days before you book: Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays, Changdeokgung on Mondays. See the palaces guide.
- Return on time; late returns are charged by the hour.
![Changdeokgung Palace Complex [UNESCO World Heritage Site] (창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계유산])](https://tong.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/03/3092503_image2_1.jpg)
Seoul’s five palaces3 days in SeoulSeollal 2027Everything in Seoul
