Chuseok in Seoul 2026 | 9 Wonderful Things to do for Korean Thanksgiving

Chuseok in Seoul is undoubtedly one of the best times to be in the city. Seoul empties out beautifully and the weather is close to perfect. In fact, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday is one of the rare times when I actually CHOOSE to stay in Seoul, rather than book a plane ticket to parts unknown.

Over the 15 years I’ve lived in Korea, I’ve discovered plenty of wonderful things to do during the holiday. Read on to discover all the best free, fun, and unique things to do during Chuseok in Seoul 2026.

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When is Chuseok?

Because Chuseok is tracked on the lunar calendar, the exact dates shift every year, falling right on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month under a full harvest moon.

In 2026, Korean Thanksgiving—or Chuseok—lands on Friday, September 25th. The official public holiday dates run from Thursday, September 24th to Saturday, September 26th, 2026. Because the final day hits on a Saturday, there’s no extra substitute holiday on the Monday. However, since Sunday rolls right up against it, you can look forward to a fantastic four-day weekend block off.

Chuseok is an incredibly important time for families to gather together, which triggers a huge domestic travel rush. You’ll find completely gridlocked roads across the country and a strangely empty city as Seoul locals head out to their hometowns all over the peninsula.

It’s actually (strangely) the perfect time to plan an urban escape to Seoul from other parts of Korea, since highway traffic is mostly moving in the exact opposite direction.

The mass exodus also means truly crazy prices on flights out of Korea, as more and more locals choose to take advantage of the time off by booking a vacation abroad instead of battling bumper-to-bumper traffic jams.

Seoul during the Chuseok holiday becomes quiet, peaceful, and beautifully uncrowded in a way you rarely see, so make sure to enjoy it while you can! The late-September weather is usually pretty warm and comfortable during the day, making it a lovely window of time to wander around the city.

Chuseok Transit Crunch: Watch out for the Strict KTX Booking Window

If you’re planning to travel from Seoul to major hubs like Busan or Gyeongju right before or during the Chuseok holiday, you need to be ready for a literal battle.

KORAIL runs a highly structured special Chuseok ticket reservation window that usually drops in late August. They sell tickets on specific dates and times depending on the train line you need. Even trickier, they hold a priority booking morning for local account holders before throwing the remaining leftover seats open to foreign tourists booking as guests online.

The general public tickets sales usually open at a very specific time on the final sales day, and popular routes sell out completely within seconds. If you want any chance at a train seat, you’ll need to have the official Let’s Korail website pulled up and be logged in the exact second the clock strikes.

If you miss out on that crazy train booking minute, don’t panic! Shifting your strategy to the express bus system is an incredibly reliable backup that lets you bypass the worst highway gridlock completely.

What’s open in Seoul during Chuseok?

Travellers heading to the capital during the holidays usually have one big question on their minds, and it’s a good one. What the heck is open in Seoul during Chuseok? Will I be able to grab a bite to eat? Find a coffee? Enjoy anything at all? It’s a totally fair worry, since this is one of the most significant national holidays on the Korean calendar!

The great news is you can completely stop stressing. There are a ton of spots open in Seoul over Chuseok, including local restaurants, trendy cafes, and major theme parks like Everland and Lotte World.

In my experience, the only minor hurdle is finding open restaurants and cafes on the actual morning of Chuseok day itself—which falls on Friday, September 25th in 2026. This is when business owners head home to perform traditional family ancestral rituals like Charye. Outside of that specific morning window, finding food is pretty easy.

It is actually one of the rare times you might spot a Starbucks closing its doors for the day. Fortunately, plenty of local Korean mega-chains like Mega Coffee, Compose Coffee, and Hollys stay open. You’ll have zero trouble tracking down your morning caffeine fix.

Department Store Closures vs. Open Shopping Malls

It’s worth noting that Seoul’s massive retail landscape splits down the middle during the Chuseok holiday. Traditional department store flagships—specifically Lotte, Shinsegae, and The Hyundai Seoul—traditionally close completely for two days over the holiday period (usually the day before and the actual day of Chuseok, September 25th). This includes their main retail shopping areas and underground luxury food markets.

Don’t let that put a damper on your shopping plans, though! Giant multi-complex shopping malls operate on regular or slightly adjusted schedule throughout the holiday. Places like Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Starfield COEX Mall in Gangnam, and Starfield Hanam stay open, though individual shops inside might open a bit later around noon on Chuseok day.

If you want to stick to central neighbourhoods like Myeongdong, the surrounding open-air pedestrian streets stay incredibly lively, with independent boutiques, skincare shops, and street food stalls operating all day and night.

Quick Holiday Backups & The 1330 Hotline

If you ever find yourself in a pinch, popping into a local convenience store like CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven is always a fun breakfast backup. Most have indoor counter seating, and there is absolutely always one open nearby. I highly recommend grabbing a pack of their perfect soft-boiled eggs!

Additionally, make sure to download Naver Maps or Kakao Maps before you land in Seoul. Google Maps does not give walking directions in Korea due to security laws, but the local apps will show you live holiday transit updates, up to date opening hours, and pinpoint open spots near you in real time.

Things to do during Chuseok in Seoul

This specific checklist of what to do during Chuseok in Seoul is gleaned from over 15 years of living right here in the capital. Some of these are special cultural events put on just for the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, some are completely free, and others are simply way more pleasant to experience without the usual chaotic crowds around.

Visit a Royal Palace or Korean Heritage Site Completely Free

If you haven’t ventured into one of the city’s spectacular historical spots yet, the Chuseok weekend is the absolute perfect chance to finally go.

Major royal palaces like Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung—as well as traditional royal tombs across the country stay open during the whole Chuseok holiday. Best of all, admission into every single site is completely free!

You can also wander through the UNESCO World Heritage Jongmyo Shrine, which is normally strictly reservation-only for guided tours.

Over Chuseok in Seoul, they throw the gates open for general public exploring. Keep your eyes peeled for various special holiday performances, as well as traditional folk games like yut-nori (a classic board game) and juldarigi (traditional tug-of-war) set up in the courtyards for anyone to play.

Rent a Traditional Korean Hanbok near Gyeongbokgung

Swapping your regular clothes for a gorgeous traditional Korean hanbok when visiting these historic sites is an excellent way to get into the local Chuseok spirit. This is one of the very rare times when you will actually see local Korean families wearing their own beautiful hanbok out and about in public.

I highly recommend reserving your Korea hanbok online well in advance. Even though the rest of the city feels pretty quiet, the grand Joseon Dynasty palaces turn into a major hub of activity. Renting a Korean hanbok is an incredibly popular afternoon plan for tourists and locals alike, especially on major national holidays.

Step Back in Time at Local Cultural Villages

Chuseok traditions have evolved a lot over generations. If you want to see how Korean families used to celebrate the harvest centuries ago, heading to these beautifully preserved cultural spaces is easily your best bet.

Korean Folk Village | 한국민속촌

Covering a vast 990,000㎡ space out in Yongin, this open-air living museum is quite possibly one of the best places near Seoul to learn about the Joseon era. It’s made up of authentic, historic houses that were carefully relocated from all over the country. Walking the dirt paths, you can really feel what it must’ve been like to live in Korea back then.

You could easily spend an entire day out at the Korean Folk Village, exploring the multiple history museums, watching traditional performances, hunting down famous K-drama filming locations, and even hitting the retro amusement park rides. Over the Chuseok in Seoul long weekend, they run a fantastic special schedule packed with traditional showcases and special activities to take part in.

Namsangol Hanok Village | 남산골한옥마을

Every time I’ve visited Namsangol Hanok Village, it’s been relatively deserted, but this definitely won’t be the case during Chuseok in Seoul. Located right at the foot of Namsan Mountain, this central hanok village turns into a major holiday hotspots. There’s a ton of activities and outdoor performances, where you can learn about Korean Chuseok traditions.

See Seoul from Above during Chuseok

With its crisp blue skies and clear air, autumn is hands down the best season to see Seoul in all its mega-city glory.

Seoul Sky Observatory at Lotte World Tower

My absolute top pick for the best birds-eye view of the city is from the Seoul Sky Observatory in Korea’s tallest building – the Lotte World Tower. During Chuseok in Seoul, there’s a chance you could even get pictures without other people in them.

The Seoul Sky Observatory has seven different levels to explore, but the 120th-floor outdoor Sky Terrace sits at a dizzying 486 metres high. It’s the highest outdoor observatory platform in the world, giving you a completely unobstructed view of the Han River and the city before you.

N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain

If the Seoul Sky Observatory is a bit heavy on your budget, the Observatory at the N Seoul Tower also offers expansive views from its perch high atop Namsan Mountain, but at a much cheaper price.

It isn’t even necessary to buy a ticket to go up inside the tower itself. You can hang a love lock on the wooden decks, soak in the sweeping city vistas from the base plaza, and watch the free traditional drumming and sword-dance performances right in the courtyard.

Dine in Style during Chuseok in Seoul

Splurging on a fine dining experience at a top-tier Seoul restaurant during dinner can be pretty intense on your wallet, just like it is in most major capital cities. At lunchtime though, prices drop significantly for almost the exact same high-end menu experience.

The problem for most people is that everyone is tied to their office desks during the week, making a midday tasting menu nearly impossible.

Not during Chuseok, though! It’s a glorious day off for just about everyone, making it the perfect window to try out some of the city’s fancier food experiences at a discount.

Jungsik Seoul

Jungsik has locations in New York and Seoul, both with coveted Michelin Stars. It’s famous for serving up incredibly clever, modern interpretations of traditional Korean staples. They draw inspiration from totally familiar comfort foods—like gimbap and bibimbap—and reinvent them into something entirely unique, yet completely authentic.

Opting for their multi-course lunch menu is a fantastic strategy to sample their iconic dishes (like the viral Jeju stone statue dessert) without paying the dinner prices. Their signature lunch menu starts at 230,000 KRW, which is an absolute steal when compared to their dinner service, which shoots straight up to 330,000 KRW for pretty much the exact same thing.

Other Top-Tier Fine Dining Alternatives

If you’ve already been to Jungsik or want to see what else the city’s contemporary food scene has to offer, here are two incredible spots to add to your list. While I haven’t snapped my own photos here yet, their reputation among local foodies is legendary.

Mingles | 밍글스

This two-Michelin-starred spot is famous for its wild “Jang Trio” dessert, which uses traditional fermented soy pastes to make a surprisingly sweet treat. It’s easily one of the most talked-about modern menus in Cheongdam-dong if you want to try something completely unique.

Evett | 에빗

Run by an Australian chef who loves foraging for wild countryside ingredients, Evett serves up crazy creations like fermented soybean doughnuts filled with black garlic. It’s a super fun, laid-back lunch choice in Yeoksam-dong where the dishes feel like a bit of a performance.

Take an Easy Autumn Day Tour to the Countryside

While peak fall foliage across downtown Seoul won’t arrive until late October in Korea, late September marks the absolute beginning of the autumn transition. It is the perfect time to catch the rare pink muhly grass in full, fluffy pastel bloom or take a day trip out to cooler national parks and mountain peaks.

While public transit between major cities is highly efficient, reaching rural parks and fall foliage hidden gems independently can turn into a bit of a headache.

Once an intercity bus drops you off at a regional station, tracking down local countryside taxis or connecting rural buses is notoriously tough, especially during peak seasonal weeks or major public holidays when local operators take time off.

Joining an organized group day tour is easily the most stress-free way to sort out your transport, ensuring you don’t end up stranded at a quiet countryside terminal. Check them out here.

The Garden of Morning Calm & Nami Island

Heading out to the Garden of Morning Calm and adding a stroll through Nami Island is one of the most loved autumn escapes in Korea.

Tucked away in Gapyeong, these classic day trips from Seoul offer a quiet, fresh-air getaway from the urban concrete, with towering pine trees, traditional Korean pavilions, and massive flower beds that look incredible as the fall season kicks off.

It’s an especially great choice if you happen to be travelling over a holiday like Chuseok, because organized day tours out here run regular daily schedules regardless of the calendar. You can wander the peaceful walking paths and take in the early autumn flowers without worrying about missing any local transit connections.

Go Hiking on one of Seoul’s Crowd-Free Mountains

Let’s face it, hiking the popular trails around Seoul isn’t always the quiet, peaceful escape into nature it’s supposed to be. On a normal weekend, you’re usually shuffling along in a single-file line of local hikers. But on Chuseok in Seoul, there’s a very real chance you’ll have a mountain completely to yourself.

If you want to catch the very first crimson and golden leaves of the season, look for an early autumn day tour heading up to Seoraksan National Park. Because of the high altitude, the northern mountain peaks see the autumn transition start right around the final weeks of September, offering a gorgeous window for a crisp hike before the rest of the country catches up.

Bukhansan National Park & Gwanaksan Mountain

Both Bukhansan and Gwanaksan are incredibly easy to reach using the local subway and bus systems. Because they sit at a slightly higher elevation than downtown, you might even spot the very first fall foliage of the autumn season starting to show on the upper ridges.

If you want a truly quiet walk where you won’t run into anyone else, skip the main popular peaks and head to one of the lesser known trails, like Hyangnobong Peak. It gives you lovely, unobstructed views of the empty city down below without any of the noise.

Learn Local History at the War Memorial of Korea

If you want a deep dive into local history but don’t want to leave the city centre, hitting the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan is a brilliant morning plan. While actual DMZ border tours completely shut down on the public holiday dates, this massive museum stays open to the public throughout the entire holiday.

The outdoor plaza is packed with real historic military aircraft, tanks, and ships you can walk right up to, which look incredible against a clear autumn sky.

Best of all, admission to the main permanent indoor history galleries is completely free, making it an excellent budget-friendly or rainy-day backup option for Chuseok in Seoul.

Catch up on your reading at the Starfield Library

If books are your thing, the Starfield Library in Starfield Coex Mall is not to be missed. It’s truly grand in scale, with 2,800 square metres of space spread over 2 stories. Without a doubt though, it’s most eye-catching feature is 3 gigantic bookshelves stuffed with over 50,000 books and magazines.

Heading here during a major holiday like Chuseok in Seoul—or simply popping in early on a normal weekday morning—is the absolute best strategy to score a comfortable seat. You can take your time soaking in the atmosphere without the usual chaotic rush of office workers and shoppers crowding your photos.

Check Out the Viral Starfield Library Suwon

If you have an extra afternoon on your autumn itinerary and want to see something truly spectacular, heading just outside the city centre is well worth the transit ride. The brand-new Starfield Library Suwon features an even more dramatic, multi-story architectural layout that looks absolutely incredible in pictures.

Enjoy a blissfully empty city during Chuseok in Seoul

And finally, simply enjoy the rare treat of exploring Seoul without gazillions of people in it. Wander the streets aimlessly without crashing into wayward Koreans. Eat in your favourite restaurants without waiting, and maybe, just maybe find silence in a cafe.

Travelling through the capital when it feels this beautifully uncrowded is an absolute dream. Enjoy every minute of it!

Chuseok in Seoul: Your Holiday Questions Answered (FAQ)