Sometimes when you’re living abroad, it’s hard to get into the holiday spirit. Koreans do things so differently it’s hard to figure out what exactly to do during fall in Korea. However, just because they do things differently doesn’t mean you can’t have any less fun. Autumn in Seoul is my favorite and every year I have an endless list of fall things to do. If you find yourself visiting the Land of the Morning Calm during the best time of year, I have this amazing Korea fall bucket list.
This blog post is dedicated to all my favorite things I’ve done during fall in Korea. I’ve done each and every activity mentioned and that’s why I recommend it to you. Don’t forget to download your Korea bucket list sheet at the end of this post!
Table of Contents
Blog Posts You Might Like
- Best Places To Visit in Korea in Autumn
- The Ultimate Guide To Autumn in Korea
- Where To See Fall Foliage in Seoul
- What To Wear in Seoul During Autumn
Autumn in Seoul & Korea Ebook
Autumn in Seoul Ebook
Skip wasting your time Googling because this guide has your two week Autumn in Korea itinerary completely done for you. Autumn in Seoul is one of my favorite times of year so this book is packed with rare insider knowledge on the best tips, day trips, eats, and where to see the best fall foliage in Korea. You even get an exclusive map with your purchase so you can see exactly where everything is and maximize your time.
Korea Fall Bucket List Ideas
If you’re wondering what to do in Korea in fall, you’ve come to the right place. Below is a list of my favorite fall bucket list ideas for Korea.
1. Celebrate Oktoberfest
Even though the main event is in Germany, you can still probably find an Oktoberfest near you. In Korea, it takes place at the German Village in Gyeongsangnam-do. It’s a great opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry. And also to try delicious German food and snacks.
2. Go for a local walk
One of the best parts about walking around in your area is you never know what you will find. One of the best places to appreciate fall foliage in Seoul is the Deoksugung Stonewall Path. While you walk for your health, you can also listen to a great audiobook too! I’ve been listening to The Infernal Devices trilogy because I cannot get enough of Shadowhunters in Victorian England.
3. Check out a local brewery
Craft beer is a trend that’s here to stay. So many are popping up everywhere with different tastes and ways of brewing. When you go tasting, you never know which beer you’ll vibe with. It’s a good way to find new favorites. I suggest going to Art Monster in Gangnam. You get a bracelet and get to try different beers on tap.
4. Go to a Korean fall festival
If you think autumn in Korea is boring, I guarantee its anything but. There’s tons of events like harvest festivals, beer festivals, scarecrow festivals, and even fun events at the zoo. You can check out fun fall festivals in Korea here.
5. Go on a coffee date
Autumn 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 here.
6. Visit Gyeongju Korea
To really 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. It was once the old capital of Korea, and I highly recommend you book a day trip to Gyeongju here. If you’re looking for great fall foliage around Seoul, then you need to check out the best places for fall foliage in Korea.
7. Visit Jeonju Korea
Another great place for your Korea fall trips is Jeonju. It is the 16th largest city in Korea and the capitol of North Jeolla Province. 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 here.
8. Try a new drink at Starbucks Korea
The Starbucks Korea fall menu is pretty fun. They have cool drinks for the Halloween and autumn season. They even have great limited edition items you can’t get anywhere else.
9. Hike a mountain in Korea
Another great way to get outdoors and experience the fantastic fall foliage in Korea is to hike a mountain. The two most popular mountains in Korea in fall are Seoraksan and Naejangsan. I recommend booking an autumn foliage day trip to Seoraksan since it hits peak first. Then later on in November book a Naejangsan fall foliage tour here.
10. Have a fall photo shoot
You best believe I’m going to go out and take advantage of the beautiful weather and you should too! Fall is the time I feel most creative and inspired. If you’re looking for some ideas for your Instagram, check out these fall photo shoot ideas here.
11. Make your own pumpkin pie
As unbelievable as it may be to make your own pumpkin pie in Korea, you can definitely make it. I’ve bought pumpkin puree off of GMarket and Coupang. Try making a no bake pumpkin pie since the majority of Korean homes do not have ovens. I suggest using this recipe.
12. Have a movie marathon
Whether you like scary movies or Harry Potter, it’ a good way to stay inside and snuggle with a pet or hang out with your friends. It’s cheap and you can make it a potluck party where everyone brings something to share.
13. Make your own pumpkin spice latte
Skip out on the extra calories you would get at Starbucks and make your very own Pumpkin Spice Latte. I use this recipe here and it is absolutely amazing with less calories and easier on your wallet.
14. Have a fall picnic
I personally 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 at Yeouido Park and Olympic Park.
15. Switch up your skin care routine
Colder weather sadly means dryer skin. This also means it’s a good idea to switch up your skin care routine. In fall, winter, and spring, I use my favorite luxury Korean skincare brand, AHC. It really helps with anti-aging and moisturizing my skin in colder weather.
16. Switch out your closet
This is one of my favorite things to do come fall. I start bringing out cute fall pieces I already have. This is a good way to take inventory of what is in my closet. I can see what I absolutely love and don’t wear anymore. If you’re wondering what to wear during fall in Korea, check out my autumn Korean outfit inspo guide here.
17. Try a dark lipstick look
This is a great time to go bolder with your lipstick choices. If you’re into reds try deeper burgundy colors. I personally love the 3CE Blur Water tint during autumn. You never know what you’ll like or not like until you try it. Before you commit you can always borrow your sister’s or a friend’s lipstick to swatch or practice. 🙂
18. Rent a hanbok and take pictures at Gyeongbokgung
19. Try a new chili recipe
This easy vegetarian chili recipe will satisfy the vegans and meat eaters in every household and group of friends. I’m definitely looking forward to making this comfort food during fall.
20. Visit an amusement park
The best places to celebrate Halloween in Korea are at amusement parks. Everland and Lotte World also put on fantastic events with zombies and Halloween parades to entertain visitors. You can even scream your heart out on a roller coaster.
21. Tell a ghost story
Everyone likes a good ghost story during spooky season. Even though I’m a big scaredy cat, I’ve come to find that we as humans cannot resist classic entertainment like story telling. My favorite ghost story to tell is a true story that happened to me. Whether you believe in ghosts is up to you, but I promise you I never questioned their experience after what happened to me when I was 13.
One night, I had snuck down to watch Inuyasha on Adult Swim. It was dead silent downstairs and all the windows were closed because it was November. Everyone was upstairs sleeping for the night. I dropped the remote control from its resting place. When I leaned down to pick it up, I looked into the reflection of the TV and I saw a dark shadow and someone walking behind me as I heard the old floorboards creek. Terrified, I heard someone sit in the rocking chair behind me and when I looked back, it was moving back and forth.
Terrified, I ran up the stairs, closed the door to my room, and hid under the covers all night. I never went downstairs after 10pm ever again. You can also check out these super scary Korean urban legends and horror stories here.
Download Your Korea Fall Bucket List Here
Which ones are you going to try and check off your Korea autumn bucket list? I guarantee you I’ve done almost all of them (minus the pumpkin picking because Korea doesn’t have pumpkin patches.) But hey, we can’t win them all! Like this post? Pin this fall bucket list on pinterest.
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