Best Time to Visit Seoul

Spring: April and May are the sweet spot

Spring is when Seoul feels easiest. April days are mild and bright, and the cherry blossoms usually peak in early April. Yeouido, along the Han River, and the lanes around Seoul National University are popular spots. Expect crowds under the trees, especially at weekends.

May is warmer and a bit wetter, but the afternoons are still comfortable for walking. It's a good month for Bukhansan trails and for the palaces: Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung are both easy on foot. Buddha's Birthday brings lantern displays to Jogyesa temple, and the Lotus Lantern Festival lights up the streets around Jongno. Travelling with kids? Early May has several public holidays, so family spots fill up fast.

Autumn: October is just as good

October matches spring for comfort. Skies are clear, the air is dry-ish and the nights turn cool. The leaves peak in late October and into early November, and Namsan, Bukhansan and the palace grounds look their best. Changdeokgung's Secret Garden is lovely then.

September is a different story. It's still warm and sticky, and rain lingers. Fair, but not great. November is cooler and quieter, with bare branches and good light. Pick it if you hate crowds and don't mind a jacket. It's also kimchi-making season, when Seoul Kimjang Festival events are held.

Summer: hot, then very wet

June is warm and fairly manageable, though rain picks up. Then July arrives with the heavy rains, known locally as jangma, the monsoon season. It's the wettest month by far, and rain falls on most days. August is nearly as wet and slightly hotter, and it's the hottest month.

Nights stay muggy. Sightseeing turns into a game of ducking between museums, cafés and underground shopping malls. If you must come now, base yourself near a subway line and plan indoor stops like the National Museum of Korea.

Winter: cold, dry and clear

December to February is properly cold, with lows well below freezing in January. But it's dry, and the days are often crisp and bright. Palaces under snow are a real treat. You can warm up with hot tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) at a market stall, or a long soak in a jjimjilbang, a Korean bathhouse. Ski resorts in Gangwon province are a short trip away. Winter is the quietest time for crowds, except around the Lunar New Year holiday, when many shops close for a few days.