1. For a palace, Jongmyo or royal-tomb visit during the free-entry dates

    1. Palaces, Jongmyo and the royal tombs

    궁궐 · 종묘 · 조선왕릉

    The Korea Heritage Service's 21 September notice confirms free admission from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo and 22 Joseon royal-tomb sites. The sites remain open during the holiday, and Jongmyo switches to general admission. The notice excludes Changdeokgung's Secret Garden special tour. Deoksugung's separate notice also lists palace hall talks and Seokjojeon museum visits by reservation. Source: Korea Heritage Service: 2026 Chuseok free opening of four palaces, Jongmyo and royal tombs

    An illustrated grassy royal tomb mound and stone railing beyond a wooded path.
    A royal-tomb landscape, illustrated. AI-generated, not a photograph of any specific palace or tomb.

    For a Seoul day, choose a palace or Jongmyo near the rest of your route. Our Gangnam guide covers Seonjeongneung if you would rather visit a royal-tomb site; Deoksugung also lists scheduled talks.

    The free-entry notice does not cover Changdeokgung's Secret Garden special tour. It also does not set each site's hours or the terms for separate programs.

    Use the 21 September notice for the shared dates and admission, then check the chosen site's visitor page for hours, last entry and any reservation before traveling.

    Continue with our Seonjeongneung royal tombs note.

    Also checked: Korea Heritage Service: '26 추석 연휴 덕수궁 관람 안내.

  2. For a museum day that needs one date checked

    2. The National Museum of Korea, on the right day

    국립중앙박물관

    The National Museum of Korea lists Chuseok, 25 September 2026, among its closed days, alongside 1 January and Lunar New Year's Day. Its regular hours run to 5:30 p.m. most days and to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. That makes Thursday 24, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September the museum days of the break, and Friday the one to avoid. Source: National Museum of Korea: hours and closed days

    Illustrated quiet museum gallery with a generic pale ceramic jar and bench.
    A gallery visit, illustrated. AI-generated fictional room and object, not the National Museum of Korea.

    Use the museum as an indoor anchor on an open day. Its published holiday rule identifies Friday 25 September as closed; check special-exhibition tickets and any temporary gallery closures separately.

    Permanent galleries and special exhibitions have different admission arrangements. Check temporary gallery closures before choosing the objects or exhibitions you want to see.

    Check the museum’s holiday notice before visiting. Saturday is normally a late-opening day; use the confirmed September 26 hours to decide whether to visit before or after dinner.

    Continue with our National Museum of Korea and the Yongsan area.

  3. For the plan that needs the most improvising

    3. Eating when family restaurants close

    추석 연휴 식사

    Visit Seoul's holiday guide says many stores and restaurants close during Chuseok. Choose one meal each day around a venue that has confirmed its holiday service. Hotel restaurants, convenience stores and chain outlets are useful options to check, while individual market stalls may follow different schedules. Source: Visit Seoul: National Holidays

    A compartmented Korean lunchbox with rice, noodles and side dishes beside plain chopsticks.
    A market lunchbox, illustrated. AI-generated; contents are examples, not a menu available on the holiday.

    A confirmed meal gives the rest of the day more flexibility. Neither Thursday nor Sunday is an automatic normal-service day: choose the date after checking the restaurant or stall you want.

    Naver Map and KakaoMap opening flags depend on the information supplied by businesses. For a special meal, use the venue's own holiday notice or reservation confirmation instead of assuming a whole market shares one closure date.

    Reserve or confirm one meal for each day of the break, then keep a nearby convenience-store option for changes of plan. Use our market comparison to choose the food you want and check that stall's holiday service.

    Continue with our Seoul food market comparison.

  4. For a riverside walk or Sunday's Chuseok event

    4. Hangang parks and neighborhood walks

    한강공원 산책

    Seoul's Hangang park guide, marked as of October 2025, describes 11 parks along the river. For this holiday, the city's 2026 Reading Hangang Park notice schedules a Chuseok event on Sunday 27 September at Yeouido Hangang Park's Multiplaza, with traditional games and hanji paper crafts. During Chuseok week, this Sunday event replaces the program's usual Saturday session. Source: Seoul Hangang Headquarters: 2026 Reading Hangang Park autumn program

    An illustrated riverside path beside broad water and a distant city skyline.
    A riverside walk, illustrated. AI-generated scene, not a photograph of a Hangang park.

    Choose Sunday if you want the holiday activities; choose a simple riverside walk if you would rather leave the afternoon flexible. Yeouido is already covered in our park guide, so you can plan the riverfront and your next stop together.

    The city lists free entry, with walk-in or advance booking depending on the activity. The notice checked on 14 September does not give the event's exact hours. Park facilities, access restrictions and weather notices have their own updates.

    Check the linked event notice for program times and reservations before heading to the Multiplaza. For a walk on another day, use the park's current access notices and keep café or meal stops separate from the outdoor route.

    Continue with our Yeouido parks note.

    Also checked: Seoul Metropolitan Government: Hangang Parks.

Before you go

The Korea Customs Service lists 24–26 September as the public holiday; Sunday 27 makes four days to plan around. For palaces, Jongmyo and royal tombs, check each site's visitor notice for hours and last entry. Museum, restaurant and event programs have their own holiday notices.

Sources & checks

Sources checked .

Official visitor information and venue details used for this guide.