Seoul Travel Guide
When to Visit Seoul
Cherry blossoms in April, the monsoon in July, the glorious autumn foliage and the crisp cold of winter — how Seoul changes month by month, the holidays to plan around, and how to save money in any season.
Seoul has four strongly defined seasons, and each changes the city dramatically. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and the palaces and mountains are at their most beautiful, but summer and winter both have their pleasures and their bargains. Here is how to choose.
Spring (late March to May). Spring arrives quickly in Seoul, and the cherry blossoms usually peak in early April, transforming Yeouido's riverside avenues, Seokchon Lake by the Lotte World Tower, the slopes of Namsan and the palace grounds. Forsythia and azaleas color the hills, and the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung is at its freshest. Temperatures are pleasant, from cool mornings to warm afternoons. The drawback is air quality: spring is the season of fine dust and yellow dust blown from the west, which can haze the views from N Seoul Tower and Seoul Sky, so check the air-quality forecast and keep a mask handy. Buddha's Birthday, in late April or May depending on the lunar calendar, brings lantern festivals and a spectacular parade. Hotels fill quickly in blossom season, so book early.
Summer (June to August). Summers are hot and humid, and the monsoon season, jangma, typically brings heavy rain from late June through July. August is often the hottest month. Summer has its rewards: long evenings on the Han River, outdoor swimming pools at Ttukseom and other riverside parks, the Banpo rainbow fountain running nightly, night markets, and bingsu shaved ice to cool off. Plan outdoor sights for early morning, retreat to museums, Lotte World and the underground malls in the afternoon heat, and carry an umbrella. Prices can be lower outside the school-holiday peaks.
Autumn (September to November). Autumn is Seoul's finest season. Skies clear, the humidity fades, and from late October into mid-November the maples and ginkgoes turn the palaces, Namsan and Bukhansan scarlet and gold. The Secret Garden at Changdeokgung is unforgettable then, and views from the city's observatories are at their clearest. Autumn also brings the Seoul International Fireworks Festival over the Han River at Yeouido, and palace night openings and cultural events; in late 2026, the palaces even ran a free-admission period into mid-November. It is the busiest and most expensive season for hotels, so book well ahead.
Winter (December to February). Winters are cold and dry, with freezing temperatures common and bitter winds off the river, but skies are often brilliantly clear, and a light snowfall on the palace roofs is magical. The city glows with Christmas lights in Myeongdong and at the department stores, ice rinks open, and street stalls sell hotteok and fish-shaped bungeoppang. Indoor sights — the National Museum, Lotte World, COEX and the Starfield Library, the underground shopping arcades — come into their own. Pack thermal layers, a warm coat, gloves and a hat. Outside the holidays, winter offers some of the best hotel rates of the year.
Holidays to plan around. Seollal, the Lunar New Year, and Chuseok, the autumn harvest festival, are the two great family holidays. Each lasts about three days, often stretched by weekends and substitute holidays, and during them millions of people leave the city: trains and roads are packed, many restaurants and small shops close, and museums and palaces may shut on the main day or change hours. Seoul itself can be pleasantly quiet, but book transport early and check opening times. Children's Day in May and the summer school holidays bring crowds to theme parks and family attractions.
Saving money in any season. Seoul is already good value, and many of its best experiences are free or almost free: the Han River parks, Bukchon, Myeongdong and Hongdae, DDP's public spaces and the National Museum of Korea, whose permanent galleries remain free until paid admission arrives, expected from 2027. Palace entry costs a few thousand won and is free in hanbok. A rechargeable transport card gives transfer discounts between subway and bus. Eat lunch at markets and gukbap restaurants, where meals cost a fraction of hotel dining, and use convenience stores for breakfast. Tax refunds on shopping and money changers in Myeongdong stretch your budget further. For hotels, midweek stays and the shoulder months — early March, June, and late November to mid-December — usually offer the best rates.
Our verdict. If you can choose, come in mid-April for blossoms or from late October to mid-November for foliage, and book everything early. For value and clear skies, consider early winter, and for long, lively evenings by the river, early summer before the monsoon sets in.