What’s Closed on Monday and Tuesday in Seoul?

Seoul attractions closed on Monday and Tuesday typically include palaces and museums. More specifically, Palácio 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, Emart e Casa Plus also have their own specific closing schedules. The opening hours of attractions also vary, particularly during public holidays like Chuseok e Seolal, 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

Fechado	Palaces in Seoul	Museums in Seoul	Art Galleries, Markets, Festivals, & More
Segunda-feira	Palácio Deoksugung, Palácio de Changdeokgung, Palácio de Changgyeonggung, Palácio Gyeonghuigung	Memorial de Guerra da Coréia, Museu de Arte de Leeum, Seoul Museum of Art – Seosomun Main Branch, Museu Cheonggyecheon, Museu de História de Seul, Museu de Música Folclórica Coreana de Seul, Seoul Museum of Craft	Namsangol Hanok Village, Salão da História da Prisão de Seodaemun, Galeria Arário, Biblioteca de Literatura Chungwoon, Inwangsan
Terça-feira	Palácio Gyeongbokgung, Passeio pelas estrelas de Gyeongbokgung	Cheongwadae Sarangchae	Mercado de pulgas folclóricos de Seul
Domingo	All five main royal palaces are open on Sundays.	-	Mercado de Dongdaemun, Galeria Arário, Mercado de Namdaemun, Mercado de 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, Museu do Palácio Nacional da Coreia, Museu 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 Palácio Deoksugung, Palácio de Changdeokgung, Palácio de Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung Palácio, Memorial de Guerra da Coréia, 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.

Palácio Deoksugung

• Horário de funcionamento: Tue-Sun: 09:00 – 21:00 (Last admission at 20:00)
• Fechado em: Toda segunda-feira

Palácio 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:

Memorial de Guerra da Coréia

• Horário de funcionamento: Tuesday-Sunday: 09:30 – 17:40
• Fechado em: Toda segunda-feira

O Memorial de Guerra da Coréia 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.

Salão da História da Prisão de Seodaemun

• Horário de funcionamento: Tuesday-Sunday: 09:30 – 18:00
• Fechado em: Toda segunda-feira

Located in the Seodaemun district, Salão da História da Prisão de 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.

Museu de Arte de Leeum

• Horário de funcionamento: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
• Fechado em: Toda segunda-feira

One of three private art museums in Korea, Museu de Arte de Leeum 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?

Palácio 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:

Meses	Wednesday-Monday Opening Hours
Janeiro-Fevereiro	09: 00 - 17: 00
Março-maio	09: 00 - 18: 00
Junho-agosto	09: 00 - 18: 30
Setembro Outubro	09: 00 - 18: 00
Novembro dezembro	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 Museu do Palácio Nacional da Coreia 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.

Mercado de pulgas folclóricos de Seul

• Horário de funcionamento: 10: 00-19: 00
• Fechado em: Todas as terças-feiras

Aside from Gyeongbokgung, Mercado de pulgas folclóricos de Seul 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

Galeria Arário

• Horário de funcionamento: Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 -18:00
• Fechado em: Todos os domingos e segundas-feiras

Galeria Arário 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 website oficial to see which exhibition is happening before visiting.

Mercado de Dongdaemun

• Horário de funcionamento: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 – 19:00
• Fechado em: Todos os domingos

O icônico Mercado de 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.

Mercado de Namdaemun

• Horário de funcionamento: 0:00 – 23:00 (Operating hours vary per store)
• Fechado em: Todos os domingos

Similar to Dongdaemun Market, Mercado de 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.

Mercado de Gwangjang

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• Horário de funcionamento: 09: 00-18: 00
• Fechado em: Every Sunday except for Food Alley

One of the oldest traditional markets in Korea, Mercado de 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, Seolal, 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:

Férias	Atrações
Chuseok	War Memorial of Korea, Leeum Museum of Korea, Seodaemun Prison History Hall, National Palace Museum of Korea, Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music
Seolal	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, Vila Bukchon Hanok, Myeongdong e Insadong will be open during Chuseok and Seollal, but many businesses may be closed.

Attractions closed on special dates or days:

• Museu do Palácio Nacional da Coreia: Closed on the last Monday of every month, Chuseok, Seollal, and New Year’s Day.
• Mercado de Carne Majang: Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month.
• Caribbean Bay: 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.

O que fazer em vez disso?

Instead of letting your day go to waste, swap your initial itinerary with alternative destinations, such as DMZ, Torre N de Seul e Lotte World. Here are attractions you can visit in Seoul when the above-mentioned palaces, markets, and museums are closed:

DMZ Tour

• Horário de funcionamento: DMZ Tours depart daily from Seoul
• Fechado em: 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.

Mercado Noturno de Myeongdong

• Horário de funcionamento: 16:00 or 17:00 until 22:00 or 1:00 AM
• Fechado em: No designated closing days

Ao contrário de outros mercados, Mercado Noturno de 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

• Horário de funcionamento: Sunday-Thursday: 10:00 – 21:00, Friday-Saturday: 10:00 – 22:00
• Fechado em: No holiday closings

Em seguida, 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:

Seul Sky

• Horário de funcionamento: Sunday-Wednesday: 10:30 – 22:00, Thursday-Saturday: 10:30 – 23:00
• Fechado em: No regular closures

Em seguida, Seul Sky 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

• Horário de funcionamento: 10: 30-22: 00
• Fechado em: No holiday closings

Localizado no centro de Centro Comercial COEX, Starfield Library 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, Hongdae e Insadong are open year-round, though individual shops may vary.

Shopping Malls & Department Stores	Fechado	Horário de funcionamento
Lotte Department Store Main (Myeongdong Branch)	Segunda-feira	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
O 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
Olive Young e Seongsu	Opera diariamente	10: 00 - 22: 00
Emart	Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month	10: 00 - 23: 00
Homeplus	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

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The easiest way to avoid a closed gate is to plan with the days of the week in mind. IVisitKoreaé grátis Planejador de Viagens para a Coreia (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:

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 antes de planejar sua viagem.

Perguntas frequentes

Leia também:

• DMZ (Zona Desmilitarizada) Coreana: O Guia Definitivo
• Chuseok na Coreia: Datas, O que fazer, O que está aberto e dicas de viagem