Exciting Things to Do in Seoul During Fall

The smell of roasting chestnuts, the crunch of leaves with every step, and cool, crisp mornings that make you grab a jacket on your way outside. You guessed correctly! It’s that magical time of the year, autumn, when the city transforms, and fall comes to Seoul.

When you’re caught up in the city’s fast pace, it’s easy to forget the little things about the season that make it so enjoyable in Seoul. Whether this is your first fall in Seoul or you have lived here for years, there’s always a wide variety of things to do in the fall to truly get the most out of the season.

The season is brief but beautiful in Korea, so pick a day to retire from the sometimes stressful city life and enjoy one of these exciting things to do in Seoul during fall.

When Is Fall in Seoul?

Fall in Seoul usually runs from September through November, bringing crisp weather, colorful maple and ginkgo leaves, silver-grass fields, palace walks, and seasonal street food. For most visitors, late October through early November is the strongest period for classic autumn foliage, though conditions vary by weather and elevation each year.

September in Seoul

September can still feel warm during the day, particularly early in the month. It is a good time for outdoor sightseeing, Han River walks, rooftop cafés, and visiting palaces before peak-season crowds arrive.

The leaves are usually still green, but the heat and humidity of summer begin to fade. Bring short sleeves, a light cardigan or overshirt, comfortable walking shoes, and a small umbrella for occasional rain.

October in Seoul

October is one of the best months to visit Seoul. Days are typically cool and pleasant, while evenings can be chilly. This is when the city begins to feel unmistakably autumnal: markets sell roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, cafés introduce seasonal drinks, and parks gradually change color.

If you are visiting in October, combine city sightseeing with a foliage-focused outing. Seoul Forest, Namsan, Haneul Park, and the palace districts are all especially appealing at this time.

November in Seoul

November is often the best month for travelers hoping to see vivid fall foliage in Seoul. Ginkgo leaves turn bright yellow, maple leaves deepen into shades of red and orange, and cooler air creates clearer views from hills, parks, and observation points.

It can feel cold, especially after sunset. Pack a warm coat or padded jacket, knitwear, closed shoes, and a scarf if you plan to be outdoors in the evening.

Best Things to Do in Seoul in Fall

Take A Hike, Not Really

Namsan Seoul Tower | Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Offering its visitors beautiful panoramic views of Seoul and being a relatively easy hike for all ages, a hike up to Namsan Tower is a perfect way to spend a fall day in Seoul.

In the fall, the dense spread of trees and greenery surrounding Namsan slowly begins to change to beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows, making a grand gesture of fall’s arrival. With its convenient location in the center of Seoul and many access points, this might be one of the easiest day hikes to take while staying in the city.

Any time of the day is perfect for a visit to Namsan once fall has arrived. The cool air makes this hike most enjoyable in the fall, so wake up early to avoid more visitors and see the sunrise, or sleep in and watch the sun go down over the beautiful city we call home. Trust me, the hike up will be well worth it. 

Once you’re at the top of the mountain, you can take a break and enjoy one of the many restaurants or cafes that Namsan Tower has to offer. Once you’ve caught your breath again, you can continue to explore the different levels and shop inside the tower or head back outside and admire the beauty of Seoul amidst the fall foliage.

Depending on which way you decide to head down the mountain (or if you decide to take the shuttle bus back), you can then enjoy the rest of your day shopping in Myeongdong, grab a bite to eat in the popular Haebangchon, or if your hike was especially hard, go out for a drink in Itaewon. 

Explore a Forest

Seoul Forest | Seongdong-gu, Seoul

The grounds of Seoul Forest offer Seoulites a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. As if it wasn’t already enjoyable enough, the fall breeze brings with it a completely different atmosphere and color palette to the usually green forest. You could spend the whole day inside this beautiful forest and still not run out of things to do.

The entire forest welcomes the fall and changes in many ways compared to other seasons, but the most popular foliage viewing area would be the Ginkgo Tree Forest (Forest Road). The golden yellow leaves of the ginkgo trees will leave you speechless. Forest Road makes a nice rest area, offering many benches to relax under the canopy of ginkgo trees, and is perfect for taking fall pictures. 

After you’ve experienced the mesmerizing beauty of the ginkgo trees, you can then head to another popular area of the forest, the Hill of Wind. This area is the highest point in Seoul Forest Park and is known for its fields of silver grass in the fall.

The skyscrapers in the background of the hill create a great contrast between the city and forest, offering a great spot for Instagram photos. If you don’t feel like exploring on foot, there are many bike rental shops that you can rent from near the cafe street alongside the forest. By foot or on a bike, Seoul Forest is a great place to explore and relax on a nice fall day. 

Enjoy A Cafe With The Best View Of The Fall Foliage

Center Coffee Seoul Forest| Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Address: 28-11 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Center Coffee is the perfect café to relax in and pair with your trip to Seoul Forest when going to view the fall foliage. This cozy café is nestled in the same café street next to Seoul Forest.

The café’s second floor offers you a beautiful view through its glass windows facing the forest’s trees in their fall splendor. While the weather is still crisp and just before winter sets in, the café will leave its windows open, and you will be able to smell the perfect mix of fall leaves, baked goods, and coffee- basically everything you could love about a café in the fall.

You will likely see Center Coffee appear the most on Instagram and Pinterest in the fall, as it is a popular destination for perfect fall cafe pictures. Many people come for the cafe’s bright window seats, so if you’re looking to do the same, or take some Instagram pictures with fewer people watching, try to visit Center Coffee during the week before the late afternoon.

Cafe Smeltz | Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Address: 103 Sinhyeon-ro, Opo-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

For caffeine addicts looking for the perfect café to view the fall foliage with coffee in hand, Smeltz is the place for you. Although not technically in Seoul, this popular café was too amazing (and gorgeous) to leave off the list!

This cafe is a favorite among Korean cafe hoppers and less known to foreigners in Korea, so it is definitely worth adding to your list. Smeltz is a minimal-themed cafe with huge glass windows perfect for taking in the changing leaves on the hills surrounding the cafe. This cafe sells a variety of food, desserts, baked goods, wine, and yes, coffee. Smeltz occupies its own huge building, and the cafe boasts two floors of seating and an outdoor terrace.

Because this cafe is situated in Gyeonggi-do, it might be a bit harder to get to for those without their own form of transportation. But if you’re willing to make the trip and explore a bit, Smeltz is sure to impress you. 

Walk Through a Silver And Pink Dream

Haneul Park | Mapo-gu, Seoul

Located within World Cup Park alongside the Han River, Haneul Park is the highest of the World Cup Parks and the best for photos.

Once a giant landfill for the Seoul government, the area comprising the World Cup Parks now stands as a beautiful ecological park and ode to the 2002 Korea and Japan FIFA World Cup. Haneul Park is one of the less visited of the Seoul public parks, but it truly shines in the fall.

There’re many things to enjoy in Haneul Park, but the reason most people visit in the fall is to see the famous pampas grass (silver grass) and the pink muhly fields. Imagine waves of tall, silver, flowing fields as far as you can see and fields of what appear to be clouds of pink and fluffy cotton candy. Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Walking through Haneul Park feels like something out of a dream.

Haneul Park also has many lookout points and an amazing view of the Seoul skyline from over the Han River. It would take more than a day to enjoy all of the World Cup Parks, so on a brisk fall day, try to at least make it to Haneul Park! 

Enjoy A Panoramic View Of Deoksugung Palace

Jeongdong Observatory | Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong Observatory gives its visitors a panoramic view of the Deoksugung Palace grounds, City Hall, and the trees surrounding the palace that turn a stunning red in the fall.

The observatory is located on the 13th floor of the Seoul City Hall Seosomun building, and because it is sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it is completely free for visitors. Jeongdong Observatory still remains relatively unknown to tourists visiting Korea, so don’t worry about beating the crowds for a good view.

In addition to the observatory, there is also Cafe Darak on the 13th floor for visitors to enjoy. Cafe Darak is sponsored by the government’s ISEOULU campaign, so you can expect lower prices than average for an aesthetic drink and a cafe with an amazing view. Jeongdong Observatory is a great place to visit solo or with friends to take in the beauty of Deoksugung Palace in the fall.

A 3-Day Fall in Seoul Itinerary

Day 1: Palaces, hanok streets, and autumn cafés

Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace in the morning, then explore Bukchon Hanok Village respectfully and continue toward Changdeokgung Palace. Spend the late afternoon in Insadong or Ikseon-dong, where you can browse small shops, eat Korean food, and stop for tea or dessert.

This is the best day for first-time visitors who want history, architecture, and an easy introduction to Seoul’s autumn atmosphere.

Day 2: Seoul Forest, Seongsu, and Namsan sunset

Visit Seoul Forest in the morning for a relaxed foliage walk. Then explore Seongsu-dong for lunch, coffee, shopping, or a design-focused afternoon.

Later, travel to Namsan for a sunset walk, cable-car ride, or visit to N Seoul Tower. You will see both autumn trees and the city skyline as day turns into night.

Day 3: Haneul Park and central Seoul

Go to Haneul Park in the afternoon, especially if you want to see silver grass and sunset views. Allow time for the uphill approach and bring a warm layer for the evening.

If you prefer a more central alternative, spend this day at Deoksugung Palace and the Jeongdong Stonewall Walk, then continue to Myeong-dong, Euljiro, or Gwangjang Market for dinner.

What to Pack for Fall in Seoul

What you need depends on the month, but layers are essential.

Seoul is highly walkable, but fall itineraries often include parks, palace grounds, hills, subway transfers, and uneven pathways. Comfortable shoes will make a bigger difference than choosing a fashionable but impractical outfit.

If you found this article helpful, please leave a comment below! You can also check out 11 Great Things to Do in South Korea This Fall.