Gwanghwamun Gate

Built in 1395, this is the main and the largest gate leading to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the house of the royal dynasty. The construction has three arched entrances, the middle one for the king and the side ones for princes and officials.

The gate, easily recognizable for its double-roofed pavilion, had only narrowly escaped complete destruction several times. After a bombing during the 1950s, it laid in a state of disrepair for many decades. Its full reconstruction came in 2010, as a part of the project of restoring the entire Gyeongbokgung Palace.

You can get to the Gate by subway, lines 3 and 5. The right stations to exit at are easy to recognise by their names, as you can either travel to the Gyeongbokgung Palace Station or the Gwanghwamun Station. If you want to make the most out of your visit, time your arrival to the gate so that you catch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, which takes place every day at 10 am and at 2 pm.