Best Places To See Autumn Leaves In Seoul

With temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Celcius, you might think that summer has started all over again here in Seoul. But the seasons are changing and autumn is on its way, so what better time is there to start planning where you are going to go to see autumn foliage in Seoul?

Autumn is considered one of the best times to visit Korea as temperatures drop after a scorching hot and humid summer, and leaves transform into stunning shades of yellow, red and orange. On average, this usually happens between mid to late October through to early November. It's hard to predict exactly when this change in the foliage will come due to the weather, so each year an autumn foliage forecast is published for the whole country. We're still waiting for the 2024 update!

In the meantime, you can start planning which places you'd like to visit in Seoul to see the autumn foliage. Whilst there are some very popular and well-known places, I'm going to share with you some quieter spots that some visitors may not even know about.

Namsangol Park

For me, this one is a hidden gem. An easy 5 minute walk from Chungmuro Station, Namsangol Park is a great place to enjoy Seoul's autumn foliage. The park is actually located just north of the more popular (and busy) Namsan Park and Namsan Tower, so if you're looking to escape from the crowds and take a peaceful stroll beneath the colourful leaves, and get a good view of the Namsan Tower while doing so, this is the park to visit.

Another great feature of this park is that it also has a Hanok village. Namsangol Hanok Village is much smaller than some of Seoul's other Hanok villages, but thanks to the absence of many tourists, you can take your time and appreciate the village in peace. There are also several cultural experiences and activities on offer in the village, from traditional Korean games, to crafting and making royal sweets.

Address: 84-1, Pildong, 2(i)ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Seonyudo Park

Perhaps one of Seoul's less well-known parks (to tourists that is), Seonyudo Park is located on a small island in the Han River. Once used as a water treatment plant, the land has since been transformed into Korea's first water-themed ecological park. As you stroll around the park you can still see the infrastructure used in the plant, but these sites have been transformed with walking trails and even a botanical garden.

Aside from the island's fascinating history, it's a great location to relax and take in the view of Han River from a slightly different perspective. Whilst this park is beautiful in any season, autumn offers a chance to explore Korea's stunning autumn foliage.

Address: 95, Yanghwa-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Yongmasan

Address: Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul

Perhaps one of the easiest mountains to climb in Seoul, Yongmasan not only offers great views of southern Seoul all year round, but it's a good location to view the autumn foliage.

As mentioned above, Yongmasan is pretty easy to climb and you can reach the point photographed above in about 20-30 minutes depending on your hiking ability. It's a great place to gain a different perspective of the city, and also gives you the chance to see some colourful autumn leaves. On the way to the mountain trail you'll find a waterfall (completely manmade) which is nice addition to the mountainside park.

So why not get outside and enjoy the cool autumn weather and explore the city as it comes to life with autumns stunning colours?