Seoul in November — Travel Guide

By Harry Nara · Last updated September 24, 2026

#Weather in Seoul in November

Seoul in November averages 4–12°C (39–54°F) with around 6 days of rain, and crowds are medium.

November is when autumn turns to winter. The first half of the month is usually crisp and clear, with highs in the mid-teens and the foliage at its peak in the city; the second half is noticeably colder, with the first frosts at night and sometimes the first snow by the end of the month. Across the month the typical afternoon falls from the mid-teens to single figures.

The light fades fast. The sun sets around twenty past five by mid-month, and the evenings are cold. Fine dust readings can start to rise again as the heating season begins.

#What to Do in Seoul in November

Foliage at its peak

In the first half of November the leaves reach the city itself. The ginkgo trees that line the avenues turn gold and drop their leaves in a carpet, and the maples in the palace gardens turn red. Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, visited on a booked tour, is the best single place to see it; Deoksugung's stone-wall road and Seoul Forest are close behind.

Kimjang season

Late November into early December is kimjang, when families make the kimchi that will last them through the winter, together, in huge batches. Kimjang is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. The markets pile up with napa cabbages and radishes, and the city has in recent years held a kimjang festival where visitors can join in.

A walk on Namsan

Namsan's paths, lined with maples and ginkgo, are at their best in early November. Walk up from the Namsangol Hanok Village side and take the cable car down, or walk the whole way in the late afternoon for the city lights coming on.

Museums on cold days

By the end of November, the evenings are cold enough to make a long indoor day appealing. The National Museum of Korea, free and enormous, can take a whole day, and the War Memorial next door explains the Korean War.

#Getting Around

On the morning of the national college entrance exam, Suneung, held on a Thursday in mid-November, the whole country changes its routine for the students. Offices and the stock market open late, extra subway trains run in the morning rush, and police give lifts to candidates running late. During the English listening test, planes are held on the ground.

The foliage spots are all on the subway map: Anguk for Changdeokgung, City Hall for Deoksugung, and Seoul Forest station for the park.

#Budget & Costs

The first half of November, with the foliage at its peak, is still high season. Prices ease in the second half as the cold sets in, and late November is one of the better-value times of the year.

The foliage walks, Namsan and the National Museum are free, which keeps November days cheap.

#Food & Dining

November is the start of kimjang season, and suyuk, boiled pork, eaten wrapped in fresh kimchi, is the traditional kimjang meal. Oysters, gul, come into season.

The first street carts of winter appear: hotteok, bungeoppang and roasted sweet potatoes. Hot soups, stews and barbecue take over the menus as the evenings cool.

#Nightlife

November evenings are cold, and nightlife moves indoors. The bars of Euljiro and Seongsu are busy, and the pavement tents put up their plastic sheeting and heaters.

Company year-end parties begin in late November, filling the restaurants on weeknights.

#Shopping

Winter collections are in the shops, and Korean down jackets, very popular with locals, are sold everywhere. The department stores often hold autumn sales early in the month.

11 November is Pepero Day, when Koreans give each other chocolate-covered biscuit sticks, and the convenience stores pile them high.

#Culture & Etiquette

On the morning of Suneung, keep noise down near schools, which are the exam centres, and do not use a car horn. The country takes it seriously.

If you join a kimjang event, wear gloves and an apron, both usually provided, and expect to be fed while you work.

#Essential Local Phrases

#Packing List

• A warm coat for the colder late-month weeks
• Layers for crisp days and cold evenings
• A hat and gloves
• Comfortable walking shoes for leaf-covered paths
• Hand cream, because the heating dries skin fast
• A few KF94 masks for fine dust days
• A camera or phone with space for foliage
• An umbrella for the odd shower

#Safety & Health

The mountain trails are slippery when covered in fallen leaves, especially after rain. Take care on descents.

The cold arrives quickly in the second half of the month, and fine dust can rise with the heating season. Check the air-quality forecast before a long day outside.

#Backup Plans

Cold or rainy November days are good for the museums, the jjimjilbang and the covered markets. The underground shopping streets beneath Gangnam and Jamsil stay warm.