Want a fall holiday in Seoul? Check out the 10 best places and peak autumn predictions first!
Seoul becomes more beautiful when autumn arrives. The leaves on the city’s trees turn reddish and golden. The hot weather turns cool and refreshing. Festivals are held to add to the excitement, not to mention the various snacks and warm drinks that make traveling in autumn even more fun.
So, for those of you who are planning a vacation to Seoul this fall, check out this guide to autumn in Seoul to make the most of your vacation!
What you also need to prepare before leaving for Korea:
SIM Card/4G Wifi for South Korea – Make sure you are always connected to the internet throughout Korea
Korea Rail Pass – Explore 80 high-speed train routes in Korea without limits as long as the pass is valid! You can explore Korea as much as you like with this one pass
Klook Pass Seoul – Visit up to 5 tourist attractions and activities in Seoul and surrounding areas with just one pass, saving you more!
Discover Seoul Pass – Pass that can be used for free entry to more than 50 tourist attractions in Seoul and discounted entrance tickets to 101 other tourist attractions
Airport transportation
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Airport buses and trains
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Private airport transfer
A mandatory tour choice in Korea
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Tour to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
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Tour to Nami Island and surrounding tourist attractions
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One Day Tour to Everland
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East & West Busan Exploration
Popular tourist tickets
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Lotte World Seoul
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N Seoul Tower
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Everland
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Everland EVER SMTOWN PASS
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Coex Aquarium Seoul
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Busan SEA LIFE
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Running Man Thematic Experience Center Busan
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Busan Haeundae X the Sky
When is the Best Time to Visit South Korea in Autumn?
According to the weather reporting company, WeatherI Inc., changes in the color of autumn leaves ( autumn foliage in English) in 2023 will occur at a later time than the previous year.
According to Weather estimates, leaf color changes will begin to occur on October 1 or 2, starting at Mount Seoraksan in Gangwon-do (not far from Sokcho). However, the peak of autumn colors there will only be visible towards the end of October (around October 22 or 23).
The northerly a region is located, the faster the leaf color changes occur. So, if you want to enjoy autumn in Seoul, the danpung muldeulda period starts from mid-October, with peak autumn colors being seen towards the end of October.
The Best Spots to Enjoy Autumn in Seoul
So, after knowing the best time to visit, now is the time to look for the best destinations to make your autumn trip to Seoul super exciting. If you’ve never been to Seoul, you don’t need to worry because this city is known as a tourist-friendly destination. Starting from adequate transportation facilities, a choice of hotels from various price ranges , culinary centers – both halal and non-halal – shopping destinations, to natural beauty; everything is in this city.
Try checking out the various activities and attractions that you can enjoy in Seoul. The good news is, you can order tickets for various activities and attractions in Seoul online via Klook. Just scan the barcode at the destination of your choice, your adventure can start immediately without queuing and hassle.
1. Seoul Olympic Park
Seoul Olympic Park was built in 1986 because South Korea was chosen to host the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics. After these two events came of age, Seoul Olympic Park actually became a popular spot for Seoul residents and tourists to spend the day basking in the sun. In this park, you can have fun in an effortless way; even in autumn. Try how relaxing it is to cycle or take a leisurely walk in this park while enjoying Seoul’s cool autumn breeze.
Uniquely, autumn at Seoul Olympic Park is not only reddish and golden, but also pink! Hmmm… Maybe you are wondering about this pink color. It turns out that Seoul Olympic Park’s autumn pink color comes from a stretch of muhly grass. If you take photos here, your Instagram feed is guaranteed to be really beautiful!
Seoul Olympic Park Location: 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Operation Hours: 05.00-22.00 (Every day)
Nearest Station: OlympicPark Station
2. Seoul Forest
Image credit: @record_dailytravel on Instagram
The streets of Seoul are not all high-rise buildings and super busy shopping districts. You can also still enjoy the beauty and beauty of nature in Seoul Forest . Visiting Seoul Forest during autumn will feel like venturing into a fairy tale.
This 600,000 m2 destination has 5 separate parks, which have hiking trails, playgrounds and various types of flowers. You may even see deer in this area! All spots in Seoul Forest are truly beautiful. However, if you want to know who the ‘main hero’ is, of course the answer is the giant golden ginkgo tree above the river which creates beautiful and colorful autumn reflections,
Seoul Forest Location: 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Operating Time: 24 Hours (Every day)
Nearest Station: Seoul Forest Station
3. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is a popular destination among tourists on holiday in Seoul. Why not? In this place you can learn history while admiring the splendor of the largest palace built by the Joseon Dynasty.
Gyeongbok Palace was actually founded in 1394 by an architect named Jeong Do Jeon. Unfortunately, this palace was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592-1598. However, Gyengbok Palace was successfully rebuilt during the 1860s with a complex of 330 buildings with 5,792 rooms. Standing on an area of 410,000 square meters, Gyeongbok Palace is believed to be a symbol of the majesty of the Korean kingdom and people.
Vacations won’t be fun if you just study history, right? Well, Klook knows that. Therefore, Klook recommends that you rent traditional Korean clothes or hanbok while you are here. The scenery and atmosphere that is thick with historical South Korea will definitely be perfect if combined with the colorful hanbok that you wear. If this is the case, it’s time to increase your photo stock!
Gyeongbokgung Palace Location: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Operating Hours: 9.00-18.00 (closed Tuesday)
Nearest Station: Gyeongbokgung Station
4. Haneul Park
There’s no reason not to visit Haneul Park in autumn. The reason is, this is the most amazing period for the park which is located at World Cup Park. In autumn, you can enjoy the extraordinary view of a stretch of pink muhly grass. This romantic view is also what makes Haneul Park a regular K-drama shooting location.
In Korean, Haneul Park means Sky Garden. The name is not an exaggeration because in fact, visitors there can enjoy the sky in clear weather, including autumn. The beauty of Haneul Park is not only an attraction for tourists, but also photographers who are hunting for beautiful and magical moments.
Haneul Park Location : 482 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Operation Hours : 10.00-20.00 (March-November) & 10.00-18.00 (December-February)
Nearest Station : Seonjeongneung Station
5. Garosu-gil
Do you like fashion and autumn at the same time? Garosu-gil could be the best shopping place in Seoul for you! This shopping tourist destination is famous for its streets lined with ginkgo trees, which give the nostalgic impression of walking in a park, like in a K-drama! Visiting in autumn, when the leaves are the most golden, is the best choice for shopping in this district.
Garosu-gil is heaven for those of you who like big shopping. This area also features a range of beauty and fashion products, most of which consist of luxury brands. Forgot time because you were shopping until it was time to eat? Don’t worry because Garosu-gil also has various comfortable restaurants and cafes that you can visit after shopping.
Garosu-gil Location: Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul,
Operating Time: 24 Hours (Every day)
Nearest Station: Sinsa Station
6. Seoul City Wall
Let’s take a time machine back to ancient Seoul by walking along the Seoul City Wall ! This wall was built to provide protection to Seoul, previously called Hanyang, from intruders and attackers. This 18.6 kilometer long wall snakes around four mountain ridges: Mount Inwangsan, Mount Baegaksan, Mount Naksan, and Mount Namsan. This wall was previously called Hanyangseonggwak (Seoul Fortress Wall), but officially changed its name to Hanyangdoeseong (Seoul City Wall) in July 2011.
The Seoul City Wall has four trails that follow the main mountains: Baegaksan Mountain Trail, Naksan Mountain Trail, Namsan Mountain Trail, and Inwangsan Mountain Trail; while the other two routes pass through two major city gates: Sungnyemun Gate Route and Heunginjimun Gate Route. These four routes not only provide their own beauty, but also their own level of difficulty.
So, if you want to enjoy autumn here, you have to walk, you know! However, don’t worry; Your trip will definitely pay off because you can enjoy extraordinary beautiful natural views which are of course even more charming in autumn.
How come? Just imagine how beautiful the leaves of the trees around the walls are turning golden and reddish. Not to mention the autumn air which is a bit cold, but refreshing. Surely your visit to this place will be truly memorable!
Seoul City Wall Location: Seongbuk, Seoul
Operating Time: 24 Hours (Every day)
Nearest Station: Gyeongbokgung Station
7. Bukhansan National Park
Another autumn natural tourist destination in Seoul, Bukhansan National Park . In fact, Bukhansan is a favorite mountain for visitors on holiday to Seoul. The reason is, this mountain not only has a location that is easily accessible by public transportation, but also holds historical stories from the Baekje Period (18 BC-660) to the Korean War.
The peak of Mount Bukhansan is famous for its large flat rock face which is a favorite spot for climbers to enjoy the extraordinary views. If you really intend to take an autumn holiday by climbing this mountain, Klook recommends that you get enough rest first because it takes sufficient stamina and a long time to reach the top.
So, for those of you who want to climb leisurely, this mountain also has easier routes. You can even visit Guknyeongsa Temple while admiring the splendor of the 24 meter high golden Buddha statue.
8. Deoksugung Stone-wall Road
Want to enjoy the leaves turning golden and reddish in autumn in Seoul by just taking a leisurely walk? Very possible! You can walk along Deoksugung Stone-wall Road , which is famous for its romantic atmosphere when autumn arrives.
Along the stone-paved road, you will be amazed by the trees neatly lined up. If you want to chat casually, you can also sit on the benches provided along the road. Well, when else can walking be as super romantic as this?
Deoksugung Stone-wall Road Location: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
Operating Time: 24 Hours (Every Day)
Nearest Station: City Hall Station
9. Bukchon Hanok Village
If you are not satisfied with wearing hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace , you can wear this traditional South Korean clothing again at Bukchon Hanok Village. This destination provides a pleasant cultural tourism experience while you are traveling in Seoul. Similar to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village is also a legacy of the Joseon Dynasty.
The difference with Gyeongbokgung Palace, this area is not surrounded by palace-style splendor, but traditional houses that are still well preserved today. Try walking along the village wearing the hanbok you rented. So, are you ready to shoot the latest Korean drama?
10. Cheonggyecheon Stream
So, now is the time for you to enjoy Seoul’s autumn by taking a walk along the banks of the Cheonggyecheon Stream which stretches for 10.9 kilometers. No need to worry about being tired because your trip here will definitely be enjoyable.
Apart from enjoying the beautiful colors of autumn leaves, you will also be amazed by the beauty of the river lights. If you are confused about where to walk, you can start your journey from Gwanghwamun Station or Jonggak Station to Dongdaemun-gu Station.
Enjoying autumn at Cheonggyecheon Stream will be even more exciting if you join in the fun at the Seoul Lantern Festival which is regularly held every month at the beginning of November, aka the beginning of winter. Don’t worry, the autumn atmosphere hasn’t passed yet, during the festival. Klook is sure to make your autumn trip truly memorable!
Cheonggyecheon Stream Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Operating Time: 24 Hours (Every day)
Nearest Station: City Hall Station
