Seoul in Autumn — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Seoul in Autumn offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for mountain hikers, palace heritage & photographers. Expect temperatures of 11–19°C, around 5–7 days of rain, and high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around ₩90,000–150,000 for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
Autumn is the season when the mountains inside Seoul come into their own. The city is ringed and cut through by granite peaks, Bukhansan in the north, Gwanaksan in the south and Namsan in the middle, and from September the summer haze lifts and they all stand out at once. It is the driest, clearest season, cooling from the mid-20s in September to the low teens by November, and the leaves turn from the summits downwards, reaching the palaces and the ginkgo avenues at the end of October.
Two holidays shape the calendar: Chuseok, the harvest festival, on 14 to 16 September 2027, which empties the city; and two long weekends in October, which fill the trails.
#Weather in Seoul in Autumn
Seoul in Autumn averages 11–19°C (52–66°F), ranging 4–26°C across the season, with around 5–7 days of rain, and crowds are high.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Wet days | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | About 26°C / 79°F | About 18°C / 64°F | About 7 | 7:02pm on the 1st, 6:18pm on the 30th |
| October | About 20°C / 68°F | About 11°C / 52°F | About 5 | 6:16pm on the 1st, 5:35pm on the 31st |
| November | About 12°C / 54°F | About 4°C / 39°F | About 6 | 5:34pm on the 1st, 5:14pm on the 30th |
Figures are Korea Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals for Seoul; sunset times are calculated for the city centre.
What that actually means for your trip:
- September still feels like late summer at first, humid in the first week, then dry and fresh.
- October is the clearest month, with about five wet days and long views from every summit.
- November turns cold. By the last week, nights are near freezing and the trees are bare.
- A typhoon can still reach the peninsula in September, though a direct hit on Seoul is rare; expect a day or two of heavy rain and wind at worst.
Is autumn a good time to visit Seoul? Yes; for most visitors no season beats it: dry, clear and comfortable for walking and hiking, with the foliage from late October. Plan around Chuseok, which closes much of the city for three days, and book early for the October holiday weekends and the foliage weeks.
#Three Months, Three Seasons
September begins in late summer and ends in autumn, and Chuseok, on Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2027, is the year's biggest family holiday: millions leave the city, trains and buses out sell out weeks ahead, and many family-run restaurants close, while the palaces stay open and the centre goes quiet.
The Seoul International Fireworks Festival over the Han at Yeouido, once an early-October event, was held in September in both 2025 and 2026; the organiser announces each year's date in the summer.
October is the peak: National Foundation Day falls on Sunday 3 October 2027, with Monday 4 October as a substitute holiday, and Hangul Day on Saturday 9 October, with Monday 11 October off; both weekends send the city onto the trails. From the last week of the month the colour reaches the city.
November is the coda: the first week or so still has the foliage, then the trees go bare, and the second half is cold, quiet and cheaper.
The university entrance exam, Suneung, on Thursday 18 November 2027, changes the city's morning: offices open late and flights pause for the English listening test.
#What to Do in Seoul in Autumn
Solo Travellers
Climb Inwangsan in the late afternoon, about an hour up from near Gyeongbokgung, past shamanist shrines and a stretch of the old city wall to a granite summit with the palace below and the whole centre behind it; it is at its best at sunset.
For a full day, take on Baegundae, Bukhansan's 836-metre summit, the highest point in Seoul, whose last section is steep granite with cables.
Couples
Walk the stone-wall road beside Deoksugung when its ginkgo turn gold at the end of October, then book the guided tour of Huwon, the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung; it is the city's finest autumn colour and the tours sell out.
Take the evening on a terrace in Bukchon or Seochon, before the cold arrives.
Families
Seoul Forest and Children's Grand Park are made for mild autumn days; ride bikes along the Han riverside paths, and walk up Namsan through the park, taking the cable car down rather than up to avoid the weekend queue at the bottom.
Groups
Organise a hike and finish it the Korean way, with pajeon, the savoury pancake, and makgeolli, rice wine, in one of the restaurants at the foot of every trail. For a bigger night, the pojangmacha tents and barbecue restaurants of Euljiro and Jongno are at their best before the cold.
#Getting Around
From Incheon Airport, the AREX train reaches Seoul Station in under an hour, and a T-money card works on the subway and buses; a subway ride is ₩1,550 on a card, and a transfer to a bus within 30 minutes counts as one journey. The subway reaches the foot of most mountains: Gyeongbokgung station for Inwangsan, Achasan station for the hill of that name, and Bukhansan Ui or Gupabal with a short bus for Bukhansan.
Ttareungi, the city's bike scheme, is at its best on the long paths beside the Han.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₩90,000–150,000 | Guesthouse, markets, the subway |
| Mid-range | ₩210,000–330,000 | A central hotel, restaurants, palaces and a tour |
| Luxury | ₩500,000+ | Five-star rooms, fine dining, a private hiking guide |
What things cost:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Subway ride, on a card | ₩1,550 |
| Palace entry | ₩3,000 |
| Pajeon and makgeolli for two | ₩20,000–30,000 |
| Taxi flagfall | ₩4,800 |
Where the money actually goes:
- October is the dearest month, with two holiday weekends and the foliage.
- Chuseok week is quiet in the city but expensive for travel out of it.
- Late November is the season's best value.
- There is no tourist tax, but check whether a hotel price includes tax and service.
Autumn costs more than any other season in Seoul, and it is worth it: the best views, the best walking weather, and a city spending as much time outdoors as you are.
#Food & Dining
Autumn is the harvest. New rice, chestnuts, jujubes and persimmons fill the markets, and songpyeon, half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame or sweet beans, are made for Chuseok, along with jeon, pan-fried savoury slices; in November oysters arrive from the south coast.
Gwangjang and Mangwon markets are at their best in the cool weather, and for a first full Korean meal, hanjeongsik brings a table of small dishes all at once.
#Nightlife
Autumn is the season for sitting outside at night, and the pavement bars of Euljiro and Jongno are at their best in September and October, Seongsu and Mullae, the old ironworks district, have craft beer and cocktails in former warehouses, and Hongdae has the live music. The riverside parks fill on mild evenings, and the night markets beside the Han usually run into October.
#Shopping
New-season stock reaches the stores in autumn: Seongsu, Garosu-gil in Sinsa and Hongdae for Korean designers, Namdaemun Market for everyday goods and cheap outdoor gear, which Koreans take seriously. Ask about the tax refund at the till and carry your passport.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Greet other hikers. A nod or "annyeonghaseyo" on a mountain trail is normal.
- Respect Chuseok rites. Families visit graves and hold ceremonies; treat any you see as you would a service.
- Two hands for giving and receiving, and turn slightly away to drink in front of older people.
- Shoes off on heated floors and in homes.
- Do not tip; it is not expected.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Korean | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) | Hello | Also the greeting on a trail |
| 단풍 (danpung) | Autumn leaves | On every forecast in October |
| 등산 (deungsan) | Hiking | What the city does at weekends |
| 추석 (chuseok) | Harvest holiday | Mid-September in 2027 |
| 화장실 어디예요? (hwajangsil eodiyeyo?) | Where is the toilet? | Before the long climb |
| 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) | It's delicious | To anyone who cooked for you |
#Packing List
- Light layers for September, a warm jacket for November
- Walking or light hiking shoes with grip for granite
- A small daypack and a refillable bottle
- Sunglasses, as autumn days are bright
- Gloves and a hat for late November
- Your passport, for tax refunds and some bookings
#Backup Plans (Rain or Typhoon)
If a September typhoon brings a wet day: the National Museum of Korea, free and huge, and the War Memorial of Korea next door fill it.
If the trails are crowded on a holiday weekend: go to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art beside Gyeongbokgung, or the lanes of Ikseon-dong.
If the cold comes early: a jjimjilbang, the bathhouse with heated floors, and a long lunch in a covered market.
#Safety & Health
Autumn is the safest season to be outdoors in Seoul. The risks are on the mountains: granite is slippery when wet or under leaves, and trail injuries are the most common reason visitors need help. Start early enough to be down before dark, which by November is half past five.
For rescue or an ambulance call 119; for the police 112; and the 1330 tourist line answers in English day and night.
#What's New for Autumn 2027
- Chuseok falls on Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2027
- Substitute holidays on Monday 4 October and Monday 11 October 2027 make two long weekends
- The Seoul International Fireworks Festival has moved to September in recent years; check the 2027 date
- Suneung, the university entrance exam, is on Thursday 18 November 2027
- K-ETA: the temporary exemption for many nationalities ran to 31 December 2026, so check before you travel whether you need one
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), first written in September 2026 and rewritten in October 2026 for autumn 2027. Climate figures are Korea Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals for Seoul. Dates and rules verified against:
- Korea Meteorological Administration for the autumn normals
- Korea AeroSpace Administration for the 2027 public holidays
- Seoul Media Hub for the 2026 fireworks festival date
- Royal Palaces of Korea for palace hours and the Secret Garden tour
- K-ETA for the exemption
For each month in detail, see Seoul in September, Seoul in October and Seoul in November; for the holiday, our Chuseok guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do the autumn leaves peak in Seoul?
The official 2026 forecast put the Seoul area’s peak as beginning in late October. The colour starts on the summits, so Bukhansan turns first, and reaches the palace gardens and the ginkgo avenues at the end of October and in the first days of November.
What happens in Seoul over Chuseok?
Chuseok, the harvest holiday, falls on Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2027. Millions leave Seoul to visit family, so trains and buses out sell out and many small restaurants close, while the subway runs as normal, the palaces stay open and the centre goes quiet.
Can you go hiking from central Seoul?
Easily, and autumn is the season for it. Inwangsan starts near Gyeongbokgung and takes about an hour to the top; Bukhansan National Park, with the 836-metre Baegundae summit, is a subway and short bus ride away. Go on a weekday: the October holiday weekends fill the trails.
How much does an autumn trip to Seoul cost?
Allow about ₩90,000–150,000 a day on a budget and ₩210,000–330,000 mid-range. October is the dearest month, with two holiday weekends and the foliage; late November is the best value. Palace entry is ₩3,000 and a subway ride ₩1,550.
What’s the weather like in Seoul in Autumn?
Seoul in Autumn typically sees temperatures of 11–19°C with around 5–7 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.