Autumn in Seoul | 14 Spectacular Places to Visit in Seoul during Autumn

During autumn in Seoul, the skies are brilliantly blue, the weather is perfect and the city is painted in a kaleidoscope of spectacular colours. It’s Korea’s peak travel season for good reason.

This is the time of year I personally look forward to most. After all, what could be better than wandering down streets bursting with every brilliant shade of orange, yellow and red imaginable.

In this post you’ll find out:

• exactly when autumn starts and ends in Seoul
• what you can expect weather-wise, month by month
• the best things to wear during autumn in Seoul
• when the best time is to see the fall foliage in Seoul
• my tips for 9 outstanding places to visit in Seoul during autumn to see the best of Mother Nature
• PLUS 2 bonus places to visit in Seoul during autumn for all my introvert sisters and brothers out there

When is Autumn in Seoul?

Autumn in Seoul lasts for approximately 3 months. It starts in September, with the leaves slowly changing colour from mid-October to late November. By the end of November, autumn is well and truly over in Seoul.

Most, if not all of the leaves have fallen from their limbs and cold blasts of air demand warmer clothes, boots and scarves.

If you’ve got your heart set on seeing something like this, visit Korea from mid-October to mid-November

The good news is that the changing of leaves during autumn in Seoul, is a gradual process that happens over a few months. There’s a big window of time to catch this colourful show, but if you’re looking for the absolute peak, I recommend visiting sometime between mid-October to mid-November.

Autumn in Seoul | Weather Month by Month

After the heat and humidity of summer in Korea, autumn seems to hit Seoul overnight, but the changing of the leaves still takes a few months to reach completion. There’s plenty of time to see autumn foliage at every stage of its colourful transition.

Autumn in Seoul | September

In the month of September in Korea, the grey skies, choking humidity and stifling temperatures of summer in Seoul finally surrender to cloudless, cobalt skies and crisp air. It’s wonderfully refreshing and like most Koreans, autumn in Seoul is, without a doubt, the season I look forward to most.

Average temperatures range between 18 to 26°C | 64 to 80°F, so it’s a very, very comfortable time to be outside.

September is the perfect month to spend lots of time outside

We take full advantage of the superb weather by spending as much time outdoors as possible. Days and nights are still warm and it’s easy to while away an entire afternoon simply basking in the glow of a perfect post-summer sun.

Autumn in Seoul | October

In Korea in October, the nights cool, and it’s time to cuddle up under the cozy comforters that have been stored away all summer. The days feel nostalgic and I start to crave the creamy richness of an expertly stewed seolleongtang. In the month of October, average temperatures in Seoul range between 10 to 20°C | 50 to 68°F.

Persimmons are a delicious autumn fruit

During October in Seoul, hints of yellow peek shyly through the green growths, ginkgo trees begin dropping their foul-smelling fruits, and blue trucks loaded with persimmons ply the streets with their wares.

Autumn in Seoul | November

In Korea in November, the days and nights get chillier, with average temperatures ranging between 3 to 11°C | 38 to 53°F. This is definitely the month to pull out thicker sweaters, coats and warmer shoes.

The beauty of red, yellow, orange.

The ingredients for kimjang appear in stores, and autumn in Seoul is in full swing and nearing the finish line. A wave of fall colour sweeps its way down the peninsula, dramatically transforming rocky mountains and monotone tree-lined streets into a prismatic orchestra of vivid crimsons, burnt oranges and mellow yellows.

READ NEXT: Autumn Leaves in Korea | 48 Places to See Breathtaking Fall Foliage in South Korea

Is it cold in Seoul in autumn? | What to Wear

Cold is a relative concept. I grew up in Canada and I find autumn in Seoul to be incredibly comfortable. I can usually get by with just a sweater and scarf right up until winter hits Korea in December.

The autumn season can be quite warm at times.

However, if you grew up in a hot climate, you would definitely find Seoul chilly, as it gets closer to winter. Pack accordingly, depending on which month of autumn you plan to visit Seoul. Layers are a good idea. T-shirts, sweaters, scarves, and coats can all be useful at different times of your trip.

READ NEXT: Where to See the Best Pink Muhly in Korea in Autumn

Just Released | Limited Edition Autumn Tours in Korea

These autumn tours in Korea only take place for a few months each year, and they get booked up fast, because space and timing for them is limited. If you’ve got your heart set on seeing any of these places during autumn in Seoul, I recommend reserving a spot as soon as you can.

Naejangsan during autumn is simply stunning ⓒ Ha Nam-gi, Korea Tourism Organization

Day Tours from Seoul

• Wondae-ri Birch Forest + Seasonal Flower Festival | September 13th – November 15th, 2024
• Nari Park, Pink Muhly Grass + Dumulmeori  |  September 23rd – October 18th, 2024
• Seoraksan (Osaek Autumn Foliage) + Nami & Garden of Morning Calm OR Alpaca World  |  October 2nd – November 29th, 2024
• Seoraksan Autumn Maple Leaves Tour | October 16th – 25th, 2024
• Seoraksan National Park Hiking Tour (Private or Join-in | no set dates, recommend booking in the last 2 weeks of October
• Alpaca World + Hongcheon Ginkgo Tree Forest  | October 8th – 18th, 2024
• Hwadam Botanic Garden + Namhansanseong Fortress (UNESCO)  |  October 15th – November 5th, 2024
• Seoraksan National Park with Cable Car Day Tour from Seoul | October 15th – November 8th, 2024
• Seoul City Autumn Tour (Gamaksan, Eunpyeong Hanok Village, Haneul Park + Jingwansa)  |  October 16th – November 24th, 2024
• Jangtaesan and Jeonju Hanok Village Day Tour from Seoul | October 28th – November 22nd, 2024
• Classic Naejangsan National Park Tour |   October 25th – November 15th, 2024
• Naejangsan National Park + Jeonju Hanok Village from Seoul  |  November 1st – 13th, 2024

Day Tours from Busan

• Jirisan National Park Autumn Tour | October 21st – November 4th, 2024
• Bulguksa Temple and Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil Autumn Tour | October 24th – November 12th, 2024
• Naejangsan National Park Autumn Foliage Tour | October 25th – November 10th, 2024
• Naejangsan Autumn Tour with Transfer from Seoul to Busan | October 25th – November 11th, 2024
• Gyeongju Autumn Foliage One Day Tour | October 28th – November 15th, 2024

UNESCO sites AND pink muhly in Gyeongju in autumn © Dodream – Korea Tourism Organization

A few years ago, pink muhly grass took over the insta feeds of Korea and there’s no end in sight for this craze. Here’s a few places to see pink muhly in Korea during autumn.

• Yangju Nari Park, Nami Island, and Gangchon Rail Bike Tour
• Herb Island Pink Muhly Festival and Pocheon Seasonal Attractions
• Jeju Autumn Highlights and Pink Muhly Tour
• Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage One Day Tour from Busan (book in October)

9 Spectacular Places to Visit during Autumn in Seoul

Where can you see fall foliage in Seoul? The simple answer is pretty much everywhere you turn. But there are undeniably pockets of the city that really wow the senses due to the concentration or combination of trees in the area. Here are just 9 incredible places to enjoy autumn in Seoul.

It’s stunning everywhere you look during autumn in Seoul.

READ NEXT: Jangtaesan Recreational Forest is Breathtakingly Beautiful in Autumn

Autumn in Seoul from Above

Seoul can seem like a mass of concrete blocks until you get above it. Venture to higher ground to see just how many trees there are in the city.

N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain | 남산

Address: 231, Samil-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 중구 삼일대로 231

From street level, it’s difficult to get a real sense of just how many trees there are in Seoul, but from the top of this mountain in the middle of the city, it’s easy to get a birds-eye view of Seoul’s glorious changing autumn landscape.

Namsan is simply glorious in autumn

We took an easy stroll up to the N Seoul Tower in October, and were rewarded with the startling sight of autumn colour as far as the eye could see. If the walk’s not your thing, there’s also electric buses or the Namsan cable car up to the top.

Gwanaksan Mountain | 관악산

Address: Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 관악구 관악로 (신림동)

Gwanaksan, with its rocky peaks, deep valleys, and easy subway access, is one of the most popular mountains to visit in Seoul in autumn. On a hike in late September, all I could think about, was how beautiful it would be when it erupted in a rainbow of autumn colours, a month later.

Get thee to the top of a mountain for incredible autumn views of Seoul

There are multiple hiking trails, ranging from 1 – 4.5 kilometres long, so it’s easy to find one that suits your athletic ability. If you’d feel more comfortable with a local guide, join a hiking tour here.

Autumn in Seoul | Traditional Places

Seoul’s palaces and traditional sites are a draw in any season, but in Seoul in autumn, they’re a real delight for the senses. These places are the ideal backdrop for renting a Korean hanbok, and having a photoshoot.

Renting a hanbok in Seoul is one of the best ways to experience Korean culture.

READ NEXT: Eunpyeong Hanok Village | A Hidden Gem Hanok Village in Seoul with Gorgeous Autumn Views

Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden | 창덕궁 후원

Address: 99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99 (와룡동)

Behind Joseon-era Changdeokgung Palace lies the Secret Garden. Originally used by the royal family and palace women, the garden has a lotus pond, pavilions, flowers and over 100 different species of trees, some of which are over 300 years old.

There are more than 26,000 trees in the Garden alone, and that means one thing – an awful lot of leaves changing colour during autumn in Seoul.

Make sure to book a guided tour for the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung

The only way to enter the Secret Garden is on a guided tour, and it does sell out. Be sure to reserve in advance on their website, ESPECIALLY during the busy autumn season in Seoul (reservations are available 6 days in advance).

Deoksugung Doldam-gil | 덕수궁 돌담길

Address: Jiha 101, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 지하 101

Deoksugung is probably one of the least visited Seoul palaces, but in autumn, you should definitely head there to walk along the doldam-gil, or “stone-wall” road.

Deoksugung Palace by traveloriented/@Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

This 1100 metre pedestrian pathway winds next to a traditional stone wall and is lined with 130 trees. During autumn in Seoul, the street is romantically covered in a carpet of gorgeous yellow leaves.

Autumn in Seoul | Best Parks

You’re guaranteed to see gorgeous fall foliage in any of Seoul’s public parks, but here’s a few suggestions that are particularly special.

Seoul Forest | 서울숲

Address: 273, Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 성동구 뚝섬로 273 (성수동1가)

Seoul Forest consists of 5 separate parks, covering nearly 600,000m² of land in Seongsu-dong. Between the playgrounds, deer park, flower displays, skate park, and experiential learning park, you could easily spend days and days at Seoul Forest, in ANY season.

The ginkgo tree forest is so romantic!

Gorgeous fall foliage paints the entire park in a glorious array of colour, but a real highlight is the Ginkgo Tree Forest full of towering woods and golden leaves.

READ NEXT: 14 Sublime Places to See Gingko Trees in Seoul and Beyond

Olympic Park Seoul | 올림픽공원

Address: 424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 424 (방이동)

Seoul’s Olympic Park was originally created in 1986, to host the Asian Games and then, the 1988 Summer Olympics. Today, it’s a popular place for visitors to spend the day, with biking trails, multiple museums, cafes and gardens on its grounds.

Olympic Park is full of gorgeous fall foliage.

There’s a few extra-special places to visit in Olympic Park during autumn in Seoul though. Look out for a huge field of cosmos in the wildflower garden, the gourd tunnel, and beautiful roses in the Rose Garden.

Seokchon Lake | 석촌호수

In springtime, delicate pink Yoshino cherry blossom petals romance those walking along the shores of Seokchon Lake in Seoul’s Songpa district. During autumn in Seoul however, a multitude of Yoshino Cherry and pine trees ring the water with a dramatic kaleidoscope of colour.

Seokchon Lake is stunning in autumn © Songpa Tour

Places to see Ginkgo Trees during Autumn in Seoul

As the weather cools, the leaves of the ginkgo tree turn into a sublime shade of golden yellow. During autumn in Seoul, you’ll often see groups of spunky Korean ajumma scavenging for gingko berries, as they fall from these majestic trees.

Gingko Tree Path along Wiryeseong Daero | 위례성대로

This a popular spot for locals to the area, but it’s not very well-known among tourists. You’re in luck though, because there are 1320 majestic gingko trees lining this stretch of road near Olympic Park, and it won’t be overrun with people.

Gingko trees are a sight to behold during autumn in Korea. Photo by HeungSoon.

Head out Exit 1 of Mongchontoseong Station on Line 8, to walk under this almost 900 metre avenue of golden leaves.

Garosu-gil | 가로수길

Address: Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 신사동 일대

Garosu-gil actually translates into “tree-lined street,” and the moniker is pretty accurate. This street in Seoul’s Sinsa district is lined with magnificent ginkgo trees, and it’s the place to enjoy autumn colour in Seoul if mountains aren’t your thing.

You just might end up sipping a latte in a Garosu-gil cafe and shopping for designer clothes, instead of watching the autumn leaves though. 😉

Best Autumn Day Trips from Seoul

Don’t limit your autumn explorations to just Seoul – because there are several absolutely stunning places to see fall foliage just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the capital.

There are gorgeous autumn day trips from Seoul.

These autumn foliage spots are close to the capital, and totally reasonable to tackle on a day trip. Honestly – it’s probably easiest to visit these places on a day tour with transportation included to save time, but it’s totally possible to do it DIY too if that’s your preference.

Nami Island | 남이섬

Address: 1, Namiseom-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do | 강원도 춘천시 남이섬길 1 남이섬

With a stunning forest full of crimson maple leaves, majestic Metasequoia pathway, and golden ginkgo trees, Nami Island has one of the most beautiful autumn landscapes near Seoul.

Nami Island is spectacular in autumn.

It takes about 2 hours to get there using public transit, so most people join Nami Island day tours that also go to other popular autumn attractions in the area, like the Gangchon Rail Bike, Garden of Morning Calm, and Alpaca World.

This is the option I recommend to make the best use of your time (since these places aren’t that close to each other), but if you still want to do it independently, check out this guide to the Gapyeong City Tour Bus.

Hwadam Botanic Garden | 화담숲

Address: 278-1, Docheogwit-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 광주시 도척면 도척윗로 278-1

Hwadam Botanic Garden is one of the hottest tickets in Seoul in late October, and early November, due to its spectacular autumn leaves and gorgeous gardens.

Hwadam Forest is an autumn hotspot near Seoul © Kim Dae-hyeong, Photo Korea

It takes 2 to 3 hours to reach Hwadam Forest from Seoul using a combination of public transit and taxi. If you’d like to skip all the hassle, and see a few other sites along the way, it’s a good idea to join one of the many day tours to Hwadam Botanic Garden instead.

READ NEXT: How to Visit Hwadam Botanic Garden in Autumn | A Definitive Guide

Yangju Nari Park | 양주나리공원

Address: 731 Gwangsa-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 양주시 광사동 731

It’s getting harder and harder to see pink muhly in Seoul, but fortunately there are some great spots just on the outskirts of the city.

Most of the pink muhly was removed from Seoul last year. 🙁

If your fall itinerary in Seoul just HAS to include fields of cotton candy pink, check out Nari Park in Yangju. Yes, there’s pink muhly, but you’ll also be able to enjoy autumn flowers like globe amaranth, kochia scoparia, and more.

It’s totally possible to get to Nari Park using public transit in about 90 minutes. If you prefer to join a tour, this is a good one that also goes to the Dumulmeori (where many K-dramas have been filmed), along with Nari Park.

Kochia Scoparia is stunning too! © Park Yeong-gi, Photo Korea

BONUS | Secret Places to Visit during Autumn in Seoul

The well-known autumn places in Seoul can be rammed with people oohing and ahhing over the beauty of the trees around them. It’s understandable. But it can definitely get tiring for the introverts among us. Here are 2 secret spots in Seoul, where you can enjoy autumn foliage in relative peace.

Looking for a little autumn solitude? It IS possible in Seoul

Seonjeongneung Tombs | 성종과 정현왕후

Address: 1, Seolleung-ro 100-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 선릉로100길 1

Seonjeongneung is one of Korea’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, but it’s rarely visited by tourists, who gravitate towards marquee attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace instead.

But if you should find yourself in Gangnam during autumn in Seoul, definitely make the trip over to Seonjeongneung Tomb. You’ll be richly rewarded.

You can enjoy autumn foliage in total solitude at Seonjeongneung Tomb

You’ll find the royal tombs of King Seongjong, Queen Jeonghyeon and their son, King Jungjong here, along with a huge green space, soaring trees and almost total serenity. Look out for the 500 year old gingko tree that sits next to the tomb keeper’s house!

We visited Seonjeongneung near the end of November, and most of the leaves had already fallen, but it was still incredibly beautiful (and deserted). Get there a few weeks earlier to enjoy the best of autumn.

Most of the autumn leaves in Seoul have fallen by the end of November.

Jamsil-dong 5-Danji | 잠실동 오단지

Address: 567 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul

I was first introduced to this “secret” spot in the shadow of the sky-high Lotte World Tower during Korea’s cherry blossom season. Nestled amongst an eyesore of old apartment buildings that seriously needs to be renovated, the trees form a canopy that feels like a cathedral.

How gorgeous will this be when autumn hits Seoul?

The truth is I haven’t actually seen this secret spot during autumn in Seoul, but I just KNOW it’ll be incredible.

Did this article help you? Writers (and moms especially) need caffeine!

Help support my small business with a cup of coffee.

Now you’ve got the full scoop on the best places to visit in Seoul in autumn. What’s at the top of your list of autumn hotspots to check out?