Best Time to Visit South Korea

October is the safe bet

If you only have one choice, pick October. It's the best month in every city on our list, from Seoul down to Jeju City. Days are dry and mild, and the hills turn red and gold. Seoul's palaces, like Gyeongbokgung, look their best, and a hike up Bukhansan National Park is a joy.

May is the other good pick, and it works for Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Daegu, Daejeon and Ulsan. Busan, Jeju City, Gwangju and Changwon pick only October. Still, May is pleasant almost everywhere. Spring blossom comes earlier, in early April, and it's lovely but busy. Jeju's canola fields are bright yellow around then.

Summer is hot, then very wet

August is the hottest month everywhere, at 28 to 30°C. Daegu and Daejeon are the warmest at 30°C. Daegu is known for baking in summer, so go easy on the sightseeing there. July is the wettest month in every city. Seoul and its neighbours (Incheon, Suwon, Goyang-si) all share the top figure of 360 mm. That's the monsoon season, called jangma. Expect sticky days and sudden downpours. Busan's beaches, such as Haeundae, are fun in August, but they're packed.

Holidays and crowds

Two holidays move millions of people. Seollal (Lunar New Year) falls in January or February. Chuseok, the harvest festival, falls in September or October. Trains and buses sell out, and some shops and restaurants close for a day or two. If your October trip overlaps with Chuseok, book KTX trains early. Sights themselves stay open and often feel calm in Seoul, as locals head home.

High season is spring and autumn, plus the summer school holidays from late July into August. Winter is the quiet time. It's cold and dry, and flights to Jeju tend to be easier to find. Ski fans will like it, and so will anyone who wants a hot jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse) after a chilly day.