Seoul attractions closed on Monday and Tuesday typically include palaces and museums. More specifically, Palazzo Gyeongbokgung is closed every Tuesday, while Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, and the remaining two of the five main palaces are closed on Mondays. Big marts like Lotte Mart, Emarte Casa in più also have their own specific closing schedules. The opening hours of attractions also vary, particularly during public holidays like Chuseok and Seolla, when small businesses may suddenly stop operating on short notice. At such times, your best alternative will be to opt for other activities.
Seoul Attractions Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays: Quick Table
| Chiuso | Palaces in Seoul | Museums in Seoul | Art Galleries, Markets, Festivals, & More |
| lunedì | Palazzo Deoksugung, Palazzo Changdeokgung, Palazzo Changgyeonggung, Palazzo Gyeonghuigung | Memoriale di guerra della Corea, Leeum Museo d'Arte, Seoul Museum of Art – Seosomun Main Branch, Museo di Cheonggyecheon, Museo di storia di Seul, Museo della musica popolare coreana di Seoul, Seoul Museum of Craft | Villaggio di Namsangol Hanok, Sala della storia della prigione di Seodaemun, Galleria Arario, Biblioteca letteraria di Chungwoon, Inwangsan |
| Martedì | Palazzo Gyeongbokgung, Tour stellare di Gyeongbokgung | Cheongwadae Sarangchae | Mercato delle pulci popolare di Seoul |
| Domenica | All five main royal palaces are open on Sundays. | - | Mercato di Dongdaemun, Galleria Arario, Mercato di Namdaemun, Mercato di Gwangjang |
| Holiday & Special Closure Dates | All five main royal palaces remain open during public holidays. | War Memorial of Korea, Leeum Museum of Art, Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music, Seoul Museum of Craft, Museo del Palazzo Nazionale della Corea, Museo di Cheonggyecheon | Ttukseom Winter Festival, Seodaemun Prison |
What’s Closed on Monday in Seoul?
Most of Seoul’s palaces, museums, and cultural sites close on Monday. This includes Palazzo Deoksugung, Palazzo Changdeokgung, Palazzo Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung Palazzo, Memoriale di guerra della Corea, Seodaemun Prison, Leeum Museum, and more. One thing to note: four out of Seoul’s five royal palaces are closed on Monday, with Gyeongbokgung Palace being the only exception.
* Important info: SEOULDAL Hot Air Balloon is no longer closed on Mondays; it operates from Monday to Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00.
Palazzo Deoksugung
- Orari di apertura: Tue-Sun: 09:00 – 21:00 (Last admission at 20:00)
- Chiuso il: Ogni Lunedi
Palazzo Deoksugung is the smallest of Seoul’s five main royal palaces, and you only need to spend around an hour to explore. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday and is closed every Monday. The highlight is the “Changing of the Guard Ceremony,” held thrice a day at 11:00, 14:00, and 15:30. The ceremony takes place every day except on Mondays. * Note: If a scheduled closing day falls on a public holiday, Deoksugung Palace will close the following day instead.
💡 Tip: First-time visitors typically opt for a half-day or full-day tour that combines a palace visit with other Seoul attractions. Here’s what the booking platforms charge:
Memoriale di guerra della Corea
- Orari di apertura: Tuesday-Sunday: 09:30 – 17:40
- Chiuso il: Ogni Lunedi
Migliori Memoriale di guerra della Corea is closed every Monday and open from 9:30 AM to 5:40 PM on the remaining days. This military museum commemorates the military forces and civilians affected by the Korean War. It houses approximately 33,000 artifacts, including 10,000 on display at indoor and outdoor exhibitions. * Note: The War Memorial of Korea is closed on New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok.
Sala della storia della prigione di Seodaemun
- Orari di apertura: Tuesday-Sunday: 09:30 – 18:00
- Chiuso il: Ogni Lunedi
Located in the Seodaemun district, Sala della storia della prigione di Seodaemun is closed every Monday and is open from 9:30 AM to 6 PM from Tuesday to Sunday. It was a prison during the Japanese colonial period in the early 1900s. People who opposed Japanese rule were imprisoned and brutally tortured here. It is now a museum where visitors can see prison cells and learn about the prison’s history. * Note: Seodaemun Prison is closed on January 1st, Seollal, and Chuseok.
Leeum Museo d'Arte
- Orari di apertura: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
- Chiuso il: Ogni Lunedi
One of three private art museums in Korea, Leeum Museo d'Arte is among the Seoul attractions closed on Mondays. It is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from Tuesday to Sunday. The museum features two sections: Museum 1 (M1) housing a gigantic collection of traditional Korean art and Museum 2 (M2) housing modern and contemporary art. It also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions by Korean and international artists. * Note: Leeum Museum is closed on January 1st, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok.
What’s Closed on Tuesday in Seoul?
Palazzo Gyeongbokgung is closed every Tuesday. Since first-time visitors typically plan to visit Gyeongbokgung, they have to avoid visiting it on Tuesdays. This also makes Gyeongbokgung the best alternative destination on Monday when the rest of Seoul’s palaces are closed. Take a look at the official opening hours of the palace below:
| Mesi | Wednesday-Monday Opening Hours |
| Gennaio febbraio | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Marzo-maggio | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Giugno-agosto | 09:00 – 18:30 |
| Settembre ottobre | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Novembre dicembre | 09: 00-17: 00 |
* Note: Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed every Tuesday year-round. If the scheduled closing day falls on a public holiday, it will close the following day instead.
Unlike Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Museo del Palazzo Nazionale della Corea is open 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from Sunday to Friday and 9:30 AM to 9 PM on Saturdays. It is only closed on the last Monday of every month.
Mercato delle pulci popolare di Seoul
- Orari di apertura: 10: 00-19: 00
- Chiuso il: Ogni martedì
Aside from Gyeongbokgung, Mercato delle pulci popolare di Seoul is also closed every Tuesday. This is one of the best budget shopping spots in Seoul, where you can buy traditional arts and crafts, commonplace goods, souvenirs, vintage clothing, and rare collectibles. * Note: During Chuseok Day, some businesses may remain open.
Seoul Attractions Closed on Sunday
Galleria Arario
- Orari di apertura: Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 -18:00
- Chiuso il: Ogni domenica e lunedì
Galleria Arario is closed twice a week on Sunday and Monday. Launched in 1989, the art gallery has promoted Asian art and artists through bold exhibitions. It runs three spaces across Seoul, Cheonan, and Shanghai. Check the www.filmingitalylosangeles.it/en to see which exhibition is happening before visiting.
Mercato di Dongdaemun
- Orari di apertura: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 – 19:00
- Chiuso il: Ogni domenica
L'iconica Mercato di Dongdaemun is closed every Sunday and is open from 9 AM to 7 PM on the remaining days. The ultimate destination for both modern and traditional shopping, it features over 20 shopping malls and traditional markets selling wholesale clothing and affordable items. Just a heads up, the market is closed every Sunday, but many shops are also closed on Monday.
Mercato di Namdaemun
- Orari di apertura: 0:00 – 23:00 (Operating hours vary per store)
- Chiuso il: Ogni domenica
Similar to Dongdaemun Market, Mercato di Namdaemun is closed every Sunday. It is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets, where you can find almost everything, from clothes, accessories, and shoes to electronics and street food. The best part is that the prices here are reasonable and even 10-20% lower than other markets.
Mercato di Gwangjang
- Orari di apertura: 09: 00-18: 00
- Chiuso il: Every Sunday except for Food Alley
One of the oldest traditional markets in Korea, Mercato di Gwangjang is closed every Sunday, similar to Dongdaemun and Namdaemun. It specializes in traditional Korean cuisine, such as tteokbokki, kalguksu, bindaetteok, kimbap, buchimgae, and eomuk. It also features vintage and hanbok clothing stores, ideal if you want to shop for clothes. While the market is closed every Sunday, the food alley is open every day from 09:00 to 23:00.
Holiday & Special Closure Dates
Many attractions in Seoul are closed during Chuseok, Seolla, and other public holidays. The five main royal palaces in Seoul are the exception, as they open even if the holiday falls on their designated closing day. Some markets and attractions also suspend their business on specific dates or days of the week. Attractions that close on public holidays are:
| Festività | attrazioni |
| Chuseok | War Memorial of Korea, Leeum Museum of Korea, Seodaemun Prison History Hall, National Palace Museum of Korea, Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music |
| Seolla | War Memorial of Korea, Leeum Museum of Korea, Seodaemun Prison History Hall, National Palace Museum of Korea, Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music |
* Note: Namdaemun Market, Gwangjang Market, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdonge Insadong will be open during Chuseok and Seollal, but many businesses may be closed.
Attractions closed on special dates or days:
- Museo del Palazzo Nazionale della Corea: Closed on the last Monday of every month, Chuseok, Seollal, and New Year’s Day.
- Mercato della carne di Majang: Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month.
- Baia dei Caraibi: Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday during the low season.
- Ttukseom Winter Festival (Running from late December to mid-February): Has a short break from 12 PM to 12:40 PM every day for snow maintenance.
- Cheongwadae Sarangchae: Closed every Tuesday and on January 1st.
- Cheonggyecheon Museum: Closed every Monday and on January 1st.
- Seoul Museum of History: Closed every Monday and on January 1st.
Cosa fare invece?
Instead of letting your day go to waste, swap your initial itinerary with alternative destinations, such as DMZ, N Seoul Towere Lotte World. Here are attractions you can visit in Seoul when the above-mentioned palaces, markets, and museums are closed:
DMZ Tour
- Orari di apertura: DMZ Tours depart daily from Seoul
- Chiuso il: Specific sites are closed every Monday, New Year’s Day, & Chuseok Day
When Seoul’s palaces, museums, markets, and malls are closed, book a DMZ tour, which offers the chance to see North Korea up close. This 250 km-long, 4-km-wide buffer zone separates North and South Korea and can only be visited through an authorized guided tour. While DMZ tours depart daily from Seoul, sites like the Dora Observatory, Infiltration Tunnel, and Dorasan Station are closed every Monday, New Year’s Day, Chuseok, and weekdays that fall on a public holiday. Some tours may also be suspended on specific Tuesdays due to military training exercises. On those days, the operators sell DMZ Starbucks tours instead.
Mercato notturno di Myeongdong
- Orari di apertura: 16:00 or 17:00 until 22:00 or 1:00 AM
- Chiuso il: No designated closing days
A differenza di altri mercati, Mercato notturno di Myeongdong opens every day of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays. That said, opening hours vary by store, with some operating from 4 PM until late at night. Plan your visit a little later than 5 PM, when all stalls have started their business.
Lotte World
- Orari di apertura: Sunday-Thursday: 10:00 – 21:00, Friday-Saturday: 10:00 – 22:00
- Chiuso il: No holiday closings
Il prossimo, Lotte World is open year-round with no holiday closings or closed seasons. It is an ideal destination for visitors traveling during Seollal, Chuseok, or Hangeul Day. The no holiday closing rule applies to Lotte World Aquarium as well, which is open every day. It operates from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 10 PM on weekends.
Online tickets are cheaper than buying at the entrance. Current charges are:
Cielo di Seul
- Orari di apertura: Sunday-Wednesday: 10:30 – 22:00, Thursday-Saturday: 10:30 – 23:00
- Chiuso il: No regular closures
Il prossimo, Cielo di Seul is open year-round, making it an ideal Seoul attraction to visit during weekdays, weekends, and public holidays. Located on the upper floors of the Lotte World Tower, this observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city. Since it is adjacent to Lotte World and Lotte Aquarium, you can plan a day trip combining all three attractions.
COEX Starfield Library
- Orari di apertura: 10: 30-22: 00
- Chiuso il: No holiday closings
Situato nel centro di Centro commerciale COEX, Biblioteca Starfield is open every day of the year from 10:30 AM to 10 PM. Its gigantic 13-meter-tall bookshelf holds approximately 70,000 books of various genres, including 600 types of magazines. Visitors are welcome to read, relax, or work on their laptops. They can also participate in any ongoing book-themed cultural events.
Are Malls Closed on Mondays in Seoul?
Yes, many shopping malls and department stores in Seoul are typically closed on Mondays. This includes the majority of modern malls, not traditional markets, the latter of which typically close on Sundays. Shopping districts like Myeongdong, Hongdaee Insadong are open year-round, though individual shops may vary.
| Shopping Malls & Department Stores | Chiuso | Ore di funzionamento |
| Lotte Department Store Main (Myeongdong Branch) | lunedì | 10:30 – 20:30 |
| Lotte Mart Zettaplex | Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. | 10:00 – 24:00 |
| Shinsegae Department Store Main | It is closed once a month on a rotating day. | 10:30 – 20:30 |
| La Hyundai Seul | Third Monday of every month, Chuseok, Seollal, and New Year’s Day | Monday-Thursday: 10:30 – 20:00, Friday-Sunday: 10:30 – 20:30 |
| Dongdaemun Design Plaza | Every Monday, New Year’s Day, Chuseok, and Seollal | 10:00 – 20:00 |
| Giovane oliva N Seongsu | Opera quotidianamente | 10:00 – 22:00 |
| Emart | Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month | 10:00 – 23:00 |
| Home plus | Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month | 10:00 – 22:00 |
* Note: The closing schedules of Lotte Mart locations in Seoul vary, so always check the operating hours on Naver before visiting. The same applies to Shinsegae, Hyundai, Emart, Olive Young, and Homeplus.
Plan Your Trip Around Opening Hours With KTP
The easiest way to avoid a closed gate is to plan with the days of the week in mind. IVisitKoreaè gratis Pianificatore di viaggio in Corea (KTP) builds a day-by-day itinerary around your travel dates. You only need to input the city you want to explore, travel dates, travel style, the size of your group, your pace, and budget level. The KTP will then create a personalized plan based on the data you input.
KTP’s attraction database records each attraction’s regular opening hours, its last admission time where one applies, whether booking ahead is needed, and the season dates for seasonal sights. Your travel dates tell KTP which day of the week each day of your trip falls on, so KTP places an attraction only on days it is open. A museum that closes on Mondays will not appear on your Monday itinerary. Or, your Tuesday itinerary will not have Gyeongbokgung Palace, since it is closed on that specific day. For seasonal sights such as cherry blossoms or fall foliage, KTP suggests them only when your dates fall in season.
✨ Recommended Itineraries to explore on KTP:
Itinerario di 5 giorni a Seul tra storia e cultura
Seoul 5-Day Itinerary for Autumn Foliage with Friends
Even if you don’t know which attraction is open on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or public holidays, KTP will consider closure dates and create an itinerary recommending alternative activities. So, build your Korea Itinerary with Korea Trip Planner prima di pianificare il tuo viaggio.
FAQ
Leggi anche:
- DMZ (zona demilitarizzata) coreana: la guida definitiva
- Chuseok in Corea: date, cosa fare, cosa è aperto e consigli di viaggio
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