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If you’ve seen photos of Seoul’s palaces online, you’ve probably noticed something right away: a lot of people walking around in traditional Korean clothing.
At first glance it might look like tourists “dressing up” for photos. But that’s not really what’s happening.
When visiting the royal palaces in Seoul, renting a hanbok has become part of the experience. Tourists do it more often for sure, but locals do it as well.
As someone that’s done it twice, here is my take on what to expect and how to prepare for a full day of visiting Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace and renting a hanbok.
🥳 TOP PICKS
- Daehan Hanbok: A great place to rent your hanbok from right next to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Seoul Half-Day City Highlight, Palace Tour with Hanbok: A guided experience, with hanbok rental. Seeing the palace with a guide completely changes the experience. Much recommended!
One of my favorite photos I’ve taken on this trip.
What is a Hanbok?
A hanbok is traditional Korean clothing that dates back hundreds of years and became most prominent during the Joseon dynasty.
The outfit is very recognizable:
For women:
- A jeogori (short jacket)
- A chima (long flowing skirt)
For men:
- A jeogori
- Baji (loose trousers)
Today, Koreans usually wear hanbok for:
- weddings
- traditional holidays
- cultural ceremonies
But in cities like Seoul, renting one for a few hours to visit the royal palaces has become extremely common.
Why People Rent Hanbok in Seoul
There are two main reasons people rent hanbok when visiting Seoul’s palaces.
1. Free palace entry
This is the big one.
If you enter Gyeongbokgung Palace wearing a hanbok, your entrance ticket is free.
The regular ticket price is only about ₩3,000 (~€2) and yes renting the hanbok is way more expensive. But I still think it’s worth it.
2. The photos
There is no denying the biggest draw for wearing the hanbok and that is it’s insanely pretty and great for photography.
The palace grounds look so much better with well-dressed people all around.
And you feel like you are part of the setting in a whole different way as well.
Seoul’s palaces are already beautiful.
But walking through palace courtyards in traditional clothing makes the whole place feel like a historical film set.
Even locals do photoshoots there.
On a random note, I was asked to pose for photos with tourists a few times while wearing my hanbok. I
How much does renting a hanbok cost?
Since the palace ticket costs almost nothing, you might be curious how much the hanbok rentals cost.
Typical prices in Seoul go for:
- ₩10,000–₩20,000 (€7–€14) for 2 hours
- ₩20,000–₩35,000 (€14–€24) for 4 hours
Of course, there are plenty of add-ons to choose from as well such as:
- hairstyling
- hair accessories
- bags and props
- or professional photos
You could really spend quite a bit of money here if you want to.
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My Experience Renting a Hanbok
I actually rented a hanbok twice in Seoul. Once with my partner and the second time with a group of students I was working with and a local guide/friend.
Where Can You Rent a Hanbok?
Hanbok rentals are very common across South Korea, especially in places where there are historical sites or traditional neighborhoods.
Most rental shops are located near palaces, historic centers, or hanok villages, since these are the places where people usually want to walk around wearing traditional clothing.
You’ll find hanbok rental shops in several cities, including:
- Gyeongju, where many visitors rent them to explore the ancient capital and its temples
- Jeonju Hanok Village, one of the most famous traditional villages in Korea
- And of course Seoul, where renting a hanbok has become one of the most popular experiences for visitors
If you’re planning a trip around Korea, these are all great places to try it.
You might also be interested in these guides on Seoul:
📌 Experience Review of a Color Analysis in Seoul
📌 I Tried 2 Cooking Classes in Seoul
Where to Rent a Hanbok in Seoul
In Seoul, the easiest place to rent a hanbok is right next to the main palaces.
The two areas with the highest concentration of rental shops are around:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
There are probably dozens of rental shops so you can rent the hanbok and walk straight into the palace grounds.
You can also combine your visit to the palace with nearby Bukchon Hanok Village and keep your hanbok on for both.
Things to Know Before Renting a Hanbok
Booking in advance
There are dozens of rental shops within a few minutes walk of the palace gates, so which one should you pick?
In my experience, you will always find a place without pre-booking. The issue is availability of items and time slots.
So if you are set on specific items or don’t have much time to walk around and scout shops, you might want to book ahead.
If you are a larger group, you’ll definitely want to pre-book. Most stores prepare in advance for the sheer volume of people coming through, and in addition to getting dressed, you need to estimate time to pick accessories and have your hair and makeup (sometimes) done.
If you are walking in, you might have to wait for larger groups to be served first.
Where to book
If you are not familiar with the platform Klook it is the most popular in Asia similar to Get Your Guide and here’s where you’ll find the most options in terms of stores.
You can prebook in advance so you don’t have to worry about walking to multiple locations on the day.
📍Daehan Hanbok I rented hanboks here and it was excellent. It is a massive operation which you’ll note from the sheer number of reviews and options. They also have a ton of sizes including 9XL. In my experience you’ll want to go for 3 hours minimum and the premium option is worth the upgrade for the number of options you get.
Another really popular option is Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung and Oneday Hanbok, which are all a few minutes from each other. I also rented from a smaller shop that I can’t find listed on the first day.
The main differences between small and large operations:
- clothes options
- accessories
- space and room to change in general
- types of services (hair styling and photoshoots)
🔥 TOP CHOICE
Daehan Hanbok
Massive hanbok rental operations right next to the castle. Tons of options, in line with general pricing (very affordable) and friendly staff. I visited here with 22 people and we were all very satisfied! You can also book a photo session.
Weather
The weather in Seoul can be very very warm and humid. Traditional hanbok would have been made of natural fibers like silk and cotton but the modern rental options are polyester and synthetics to keep them lightweight, durable and easy to wash.
Which also means they are less breathable and you will get quite hot while wearing one.
There is no air conditioning in the palace grounds as it’s all outside, but there is also not a lot of shade, so you don’t want to overheat.
The best time would be the shoulder season since winter might also be too cold for hanbok.
Clothes
You are allowed to wear clothing under your hanbok and it is probably best for sanitary reasons as well. I would bring some long sleeve layers in the winter or a cami slip for summer and some cotton shorts for your bottoms.
Shoes
Even though shoes are offered as an add-on rental, I never opted for the option and instead used my own sneakers or trainers. If you are worried about the look of modern sneakers with your hanbok, you can opt for white canvas shoes that don’t stick out.
The first day I rented the hanbok in Korea was so insanely humid we only lasted a few hours before we were glad to change.
The second time there was a slight breeze, even though it was only a week later in May, so it was a lot more pleasant.
One of the accessories offered for women is a hand fan so I would definitely recommend picking one up.
Best time of the day
If you want to get good photos and have a comfortable experience, you will want to rent a hanbok first thing in the morning. Don’t wait until midday to get to the castle.
Book your appointment or 9 o clock and enjoy the experience without the crowds or the stress. Plus, you’ll have more light for photos.
How long do I need to rent the hanbok for?
Every hanbok store will offer different prices for your time slot.
The standard recommended time frame is 3–4 hours which is enough to go into the palace, wander around and take photos and return. Even though I only visited Gyeongbokgung Palace when I rented the hanbok the first time, it still took about 3 hours in total from getting ready to returning.
FAQ for Hanbok Rentals in Seoul
⭐ Is wearing hanbok considered rude?
This is a common question and since I was also visiting with a school group I wanted to be prepared. Even though I can’t speak for everyone, the local guides I worked with and the people I met in Korea were all either happy and or neutral about the idea of foreigners renting hanbok. Not only does this experience serve tourism but they also seemed to be happy to promote their culture especially since hanbok has been put in the same category with other East Asian cultures, especially the kimono in Japan or the hanfu in China.
⭐ How common is it for foreigners to rent hanbok?
Extremely common. You will see dozens or even hundreds of people walking around the palace area and the palace grounds wearing hanbok. There are dozens of rental shops as well so you will definitely not feel like you stand out.
⭐ Is a hanbok comfortable to wear?
I would say yes and no. It is not the least comfortable garment but the fabric in hot weather can be stifling. As a woman the skirt and waistband are very comfortable and pretty.
⭐ What happens if you are tall?
As a 1.80 cm woman (or 5.11ish) this might be a question you have as well and I can answer. While most of the big stores have various sizes they don’t always work for tall girls. If you are set on a specific style of hanbok you might want to pick one of the biggest stores to rent from since they will have more options for all sizes. Since the skirt gown wouldn’t reach the floor for my height I had to wear two skirts the inside one positioned much lower than the outside one so that it could reach the desired height.
⭐ Why is palace entry free while wearing the hanbok?
This ties into South Korea’s incentive to encourage interest in Korean culture and traditional clothing.
Things not to do when wearing a hanbok
This might be self-explanatory, but there are a few things you should avoid doing while wearing your hanbok. I didn’t see any “rules” on it specifically, but I would imagine it is quite rude.
- Be careful with food and drinks so you don’t stain or ruin the clothing
- Make sure to lift your skirt high when walking up the stairs so you don’t trip or rip it
- Don’t take rude photos while in your clothes
- Return the outfit late
What happens when you rent a hanbok the step by step process
- Once you arrive at your booked time you are shown to the main area of garments.
- If you haven’t picked a specific package (premium, basic, accessories) you’ll be asked to choose the one you prefer which narrows down your selections of what to pick from.
- You navigate the room of dozens of beautiful dresses (they are organized by size) and pick your skirt first.
- Your shirt or top is found in another area and I found this the most confusing part of the process usually as they all look the same at first but have small tiny details that are different.
- The staff will help find the right size and style for a matching top or offer suggestions.
- You are shown to a changing stall and the store attendant goes in with you to help you put them on correctly.
- Once satisfied with what you have you move to accessories and styling.
- Depending on your package you sit to have your hair and makeup done.
- Your normal clothes stay behind in a locked locker together with any other items you wish to leave behind.
- I recommend renting a bag, umbrella and hand fan at the least so you have space for phone and keys as well as protection from the sun.
- You are off to explore and can return at any time within your time slot.
- Once back in store you head to the changing stall and someone again helps take off the hoop skirt.
- You change into your clothes and head back outside.
Is renting a hanbok worth it?
In my experience, absolutely. And I would recommend it to everyone to do at least once. It completely changes the experience of visiting the palace and opens up a lot of conversations on culture, art and even the effects of tourism on such locations.
Wearing the hanbok also “slows you down” in a sense, since you need to be careful where you step, which makes you appreciate the experience more.
🥳 STILL LOOKING FOR A HOTEL?
Best Overall Value: Lotte City Hotel Mapo: Favorite stay overall. Spacious rooms, excellent service, great amenities, and fantastic subway access. Feels more premium than its price point.
Great Value if You Don’t Mind Being Further Out: IBC Hotel Dongdaemun: Solid option for good hotel in a budget. It’s further from the main sights, but clean, comfortable, and well connected by subway.
Budget Pick for First-Time Visitors: Look Home GuestHouse: A great budget option in a central location. Rooms are small but clean and practical, making it a good choice if you plan to spend most of your time out exploring.
