BEST TIME TO VISIT KOREA

Like Japan, South Korea has four distinct seasons — Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The most popular times to visit Seoul are during the Spring (March-May) and Fall (Mid-September – Early November) months when the weather is ideal and the landscape is at its most striking. Both seasons are characterized by a dramatic change in color – Spring for its cherry blossom pinks and whites, and Autumn for its fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. Here’s what you can expect during every season.

​

MAR-MAY: Spring is one of the best times to visit Seoul. The weather is ideal and the city erupts with blooming flowers. If you want to catch the cherry blossoms, then you should plan on being in Seoul around the second week of April (around April 9-10). That will give you the best chance to see the cherry blossoms. With that said, keep in mind that the blossoms are largely dependent on the weather so it’s still no guarantee they’ll be blooming then, which is why I think it’s a good idea to go around that time or a little earlier. If they aren’t blooming yet in Seoul, then you’ll have the option of taking a day trip to Jinhae, home of Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival. Be sure to bookmark the Visit Koreawebsite for updates on the festival.

​

JUN-AUG: Summer isn’t an ideal time to visit Seoul. It’s hot, it’s humid, it rains a lot, and prices are at their highest with summertime being the peak of domestic tourism. Avoid these months if you can.

​

SEPT-NOV: Unless you’re chasing after the cherry blossoms, then Fall is arguably the best time to visit Seoul. Like Spring, the weather is ideal and the foliage is at its most striking. Shoot for late October or early November if you can. My niece visited Nami Island in November of 2017 and the Fall colors were absolutely stunning.

​

DEC-FEB: If you want to go skiing, snowboarding, or just experience snow, then Winter is obviously the time to go. However, Winter in Korea is freezing. We went in early November and we were surprised by how cold it already was. It felt even colder than Sapporo in February! If you can stand the cold, then there are several ski resorts you can visit from Seoul. Just be sure to dress warmly.

 

Climate: Annual Monthly Weather in Seoul

To help you better understand the weather in Seoul, I’ve included average temperature and annual rainfall graphs below. Suggested months to visit are indicated in orange.