Are you planning a trip to South Korea during the fall season? If you are, this ultimate Autumn in South Korea Bucket List is the best way to make sure you enjoy everything the country has to offer.
Koreans do things very differently, but that’s what makes September, October, and November the best months to visit. Autumn in Seoul is my favorite and every year I have an endless list of fall things to do.
This blog post is dedicated to all my favorite places and activities during the fall in Korea… After all, I spent six years living in the country and had the opportunity to find all the best spots so you don’t have to.
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- Best Places To Visit in Korea in Autumn
- The Ultimate Guide To Autumn in Korea
- Where To See Fall Foliage in Seoul
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Autumn in South Korea Bucket List Ideas
If you’re wondering what to do in Korea in fall, you’ve come to the right place. I also have a comprehensive guide on the Korea Autumn Season.
1. Visit a Korean Fall Festival
There’s nothing I love more than a festival and an opportunity to be outside during the best time of year. The autumn months mean lots of opportunities to interact with Korean history and culture.
I have a complete guide on The Best Autumn Festivals in Korea from September through November if you’re visiting during this time.
The top three autumn festivals I recommend to visit are the Andong International Mask Dance Festival, Icheon Rice Cultural Festival, and the Seoul International Fireworks Festival.
2. Take a day trip to Nami Island
This is probably the most popular destination outside of Seoul. There’s a lot of beautiful scenery and is most famous for the Korean drama, Winter Sonata.
I recommend going during the week so you can avoid the crowds. I also have a blog post on the BEST day trip destinations from Seoul.
3. Take a day trip to Namhansanseong
This is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason. A co-worker of mine recommended this fortress and I’m so glad she did because it is the perfect place to get those Korean fall vibes.
The best time to visit is late October. You can get there via public transportation but it will take you awhile and you will most likely get lost if you’re not familiar with the bus and subway system.
If you’re a first time visitor during autumn, then I recommend going on a Namahansanseong Autumn tour.
4. Go on a day tour to Gyeongju Korea
To enjoy autumn in Korea, I recommend you take trips around the country. While Seoul is spectacularly fun, there’s so much Korean culture to experience elsewhere.
One of my favorite must-visit places in Korea is Gyeongju. You’ll see royal tombs and have a great opportunity to see Korea as it was during the Joseon Dynasty.
Gyeongju was once the old capital of Korea, and I highly recommend you book a day trip to Gyeongju. If you wanna do it yourself, I have an entire DIY Itinerary on Gyeongju.
P.S. One of my most viral photos was taken at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.
5. Visit Jeonju Korea for the day
Another great place for your Korea fall trips is Jeonju. It is the 16th largest city in Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province with lots of hanok houses.
Popular foods there include Jeonju bibimbap and chocopies. The province is also home to the Jeonju Hanok Village which displays 800 traditional Hanok-style homes.
If you’re looking for a city to experience traditional Korean culture, Jeonju is the place to do it. You can book a one day fall foliage tour to Jeonju Korea or check out my DIY Jeonju Guide here.
6. Demilitarized Zone
Not only is the DMZ the best way to see North Korea, but you can also see many fall blooms and trees. Since the DMZ is neutral territory it has allowed many plant species to thrive.
The easiest way to see the DMZ is by booking a tour.
7. Frolic in Silver Grass at Haneul Park
Did you really experience fall in Seoul if you didn’t frolic in a large field of Silver Grass? These plants come around during this time of year and many Koreans flock to the park to take photos with them.
8. Take the Namsan Tower Cable Car
The Namsan Tower Cable Car becomes an autumn dream! If you take it up the mountain, you’ll get to see the trees in all their glory with the cityscape below.
9. Take a fall walk through Pink Muhly Grass
Many parks in Seoul no longer plant pink muhly because they are an invasive species, but two of the most popular places to still see pink seas are Yangju Nari Park and Hueree Natural Park.
10. Fall Foliage at Changdeokgung Palace
This is one of the largest of the grand palaces in Seoul because of the Secret Garden. It’s so popular for autumn foliage, that you have to get a ticket from the office right when it opens at 9am to even get in.
11. Rent a hanbok and take pictures at Gyeongbokgung
This makes for an amazing souvenir! Plus, if you book the Discover Seoul Pass, you can get a free hanbok rental and entrance into the grand palaces.
12. Do a temple stay
There are lots of Buddhist temples in Korea where you can do this and the best place to find information is the website, Temple Stay. I did an autumn temple stay at Bohyeonsa and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
13. Go on a fall walk
The months of September and early October will not have any autumn leaves. It’s a good idea to plan your trip around the Fall Foliage 2024 Forecast.
I also have a blog post on the best places to see Fall Foliage in Seoul.
14. Snap a photo with the Ginko Trees
These trees become a vibrant yellow in autumn making them look like money. Some of the best places to snap photos with these trees are Garosugil or Asan Gingko Tree Road.
15. Take an autumn hike in Korea’s National Parks
Hiking should honestly be the national sport of South Korea because there are so many national parks and the perfect time to hike is in fall. Below are the top hikes to see Korean fall foliage in the mountains.
I want to note these places are very difficult to get to without a car or by yourself. I do recommend booking a tour if possible to save yourself a headache.
Bukhansan National Park
Located right outside Seoul, this is a great way to get a workout and take a day trip. Nature lovers are going to love this beautiful place.
I’ve only hiked Bhuksansan a few times while I lived in South Korea. However, there’s an awesome couple over at Jack and Jill Travel who have a full guide on hiking Bhukansan.
If you don’t wanna DIY it, there’s a Bhukansan Tour here where they will give you lunch.
Naejangsan National Park
Late October to mid-November is the best time to go to Naejangsan for fall foliage. They’re most famous for the maple trees around with a gorgeous pagoda on a lake.
Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan Mountain is located in Gangwon Province. One of the top spots to take fall foliage pictures is at Sinheungsa Temple.
Seoraksan is a really popular fall foliage destination in Korea! I highly recommend you go for cool temperatures and clean Autumn air.
Odaesan National Park
Odaesan National Park is a total treasure for nature lovers all around! It has some of the best hiking with lovely temples, forests, and seas of clouds.
The best time to go is early in the morning so you can beat all the tour buses there. This gorgeous forest is located in Pyeongchang Province, South Korea.
Hallasan National Park
Mount Halla is the tallest mountain in Korea and is located on Jeju Island. The highest point measures 1,947 meters (6,388 feet) tall.
You can see stunning autumn foliage here from early November.
16. Make a trek to Hwadam Botanic Garden
This has become one of the most popular seasonal spots in Korea. Not only is it stunning in spring for cherry blossoms, but it also amazes in autumn with the foliage.
It’s a bit out of the way so you can take the (route here) or you can book a Hwadam Autumn Foliage tour.
17. Go on a coffee shop date
Next on our autumn in South Korea bucket list, we gotta try for a little adventure in the dating world. After all, fall is cuffing season is it not? No one wants to be alone for the holidays, so I hear this is a great time to date in Korea.
Rather than going out on a fancy date, you can dress cute and have a chat over coffee. If you’re interested in dating in Korea, check out my guide.
18. Eat seasonal food
The best seasonal foods to eat in Korea in autumn are persimmons, Asian pears, and Blue Crab. This is also a great time to eat street food in Myeongdong at night to keep you warm.
19. Try a new drink at Starbucks Korea
The Starbucks Korea fall menu is pretty fun. They have cool drinks for the Halloween and autumn seasons. They even have limited-edition items you can’t get anywhere else.
20. Have a fall photoshoot
Fall is the time I feel most creative and inspired. If you need ideas for your Instagram or travel souvenirs, check out these fall photo shoot ideas.
Some of the best places in Seoul for autumn photos are Deoksugung Palace, Namsan Mountain, and Seokchon Lake. For a full guide, I have a blog post on the best places to see fall foliage in Seoul.
21. Take Spooky Photos at Yongma Land
Is any Autumn in South Korea bucket list complete if you don’t celebrate spooky season.
If you’re the Halloween King or Queen, then you HAVE to go to Yongma Land for Halloween photos! It’s basically an abandoned theme park that got a second life as a photographer’s haven.
This is one of my favorite things to do and I went to Yongma Land almost every year I lived in Korea. If you’re interested, I also have a complete guide on How To Celebrate Halloween in Korea.
22. Go on a ghost walk
While the Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Tour is a year-round event, I feel like this is more fun in October around Halloween season.
For more fun things to do in Korea during Halloween check out my guide. You can also check out these super scary Korean urban legends and horror stories here.
23. Have a fall picnic
I prefer having picnics in autumn rather than summer. The weather is perfect and you can spend all day hanging out with your friends.
Maybe you can even get a game of backyard football going on. Some great places for a fall picnic in Korea are Yeouido Hangang Park, Seoul Forest, and Olympic Park.
24. Go to the Cosmos Field at Olympic Park
The most Korean thing you can do is take photos at the Cosmos Field at Olympic Park. These vibrant orange blooms are perfect for that autumn field.
I recommend going early in the week for the best photos.
25. Go to Everland’s Halloween Spectacular
One of the best things to do is celebrate Halloween in Korea at amusement parks. Although ever since the Itaewon tragedy many of the events have been subdued.
I have a full guide on How to Celebrate Halloween in Seoul if you’re looking for a good time.
26. Go to Lotte World’s Halloween Events
Lotte World is the world’s largest indoor amusement park. This is a family-friendly park and a lot of fun for dates and friend hang-outs.
I hope you found a lot of inspiration from this post and have lots of fun things to do for your autumn in South Korea bucket list!
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