Seoul: Best Time to Visit, Apr–May & Sep–Oct | Trailwind

City guideSouth KoreaBest time to visit Seoul: Apr–May & Sep–Oct. Palaces and K-pop, barbecue smoke and mountain trails. Weather and timing on Trailwind.

Best time: Apr–May & Sep–Oct

Country: 🇰🇷 South Korea

Region: Seoul Capital Area

Population: 25.6M metro

Currency: KRW

Language: Korean

Timezone: UTC+09:00

Nearest airport: Incheon (ICN) / Gimpo (GMP)

The lay of the landSeoul runs on contrast, Joseon-era palaces beside glass towers, mountain temples above all-night neighborhoods. The subway is fast and cheap, the food is endless, and the city barely sleeps.When to goThe sweet spot is Apr–May & Sep–Oct. Plan around it and you will catch Seoul close to its best.Getting thereFly into Incheon (ICN) / Gimpo (GMP). From there Seoul is an easy hop to the center.Know before you go

Get a T-money card for subway and buses.

Late-night eating is the norm.

Use a local maps app, Google Maps is limited in Korea.

What to see

Cheonggyecheon, Cheonggyecheon is a 10.9-kilometre-long (6.8 mi) stream and public space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. A natural stream sourced from the Suseongdong Valley in Inwangsan, it was historically maintained as part of Seoul's early sewerage until the mid-20th century, when post-Korean War rapid economic development and deteriorating conditions prompted the filling of the stream with concrete and the construction of an elevated freeway, the Cheonggye Expressway, in its place.

Joseon, Joseon, officially Great Joseon State, was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in 1897. The kingdom was founded after the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. In 1393, Korea was retitled and the capital was moved to modern-day Seoul. The kingdom's northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the rivers of Amnok and Tuman through the subjugation of the Jurchens.

Jongmyo, Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea. It was originally built during the Joseon period (1392–1897) for memorial services for deceased kings and queens. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. Such shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period (57–668), but these have not survived.

Changdeokgung, Changdeokgung is a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Historic Site of South Korea, it is among the best preserved of all Korean palaces. It and its neighboring palace Changgyeonggung have together been called the "East Palace".

Blue House, Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, is the executive office and residence of the president of South Korea. Located in Seoul's Jongno District, directly behind the former Gyeongbokgung palace, it has served as the center of presidential administration and state receptions since 1948, except for a three-year period during the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol from 2022 to 2025, during which it was opened to the public as a museum and urban park.

Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, On 29 October 2022, at approximately 22:20, a crowd surge occurred during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea, resulting in 159 deaths and 196 injuries. The total number of fatalities includes two individuals who died following the incident. Most victims were young adults, and 27 were foreign nationals.

National Museum of Korea, The National Museum of Korea (Korean: 국립중앙박물관) is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has been committed to various studies and research activities in the fields of archaeology, history, and art, continuously developing a variety of exhibitions and education programs.

Seoul World Cup Stadium, The Seoul World Cup Stadium (Korean: 서울월드컵경기장), a.k.a. the Sangam Stadium, is a stadium used mostly for association football matches, located in 240, World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and opened on November 10, 2001.

Where to eat

Onjium, No. 57 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Seoul, South Korea.

Mingles, No. 29 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Seoul, South Korea.

Pairs well with

National Museum of Korea, 3 mi away

Seoul World Cup Stadium, 4 mi away

Korean Peninsula, 5 mi away

National Library of Korea, 5 mi away

Frequently asked questionsWhen is the best time to visit Seoul?The best time to visit Seoul is Apr–May & Sep–Oct, in South Korea.Where is Seoul?Seoul is in South Korea. The nearest major airport is Incheon (ICN) / Gimpo (GMP).What is Seoul known for?Palaces and K-pop, barbecue smoke and mountain trails.Seoul month by month: when to visitWhat to plan a trip around, month by month. Jump to a month: March · April · May · July · September · OctoberMarch in SeoulWhat's on in Seoul in March: Typical daytime highs around 12°C.

South Korea Cherry Blossoms, Late March to mid-April 2027

April in SeoulWhat's on in Seoul in April: One of the best months to visit Seoul. Typical daytime highs around 18°C.

South Korea Cherry Blossoms, Late March to mid-April 2027

May in SeoulWhat's on in Seoul in May: One of the best months to visit Seoul. Typical daytime highs around 22°C.

Lotus Lantern Festival, May 8 to 13, 2027

July in SeoulWhat's on in Seoul in July: Typical daytime highs around 29°C.

Boryeong Mud Festival, Mid-to-late July 2027

September in SeoulSeoul in September. One of the best months to visit Seoul. Typical daytime highs around 26°C.October in SeoulSeoul in October. One of the best months to visit Seoul. Typical daytime highs around 19°C.Nearby on TrailwindMore to see near Seoul:

Itaewon Halloween crowd crush

National Museum of Korea

Seoul World Cup Stadium

Korean Peninsula

National Library of Korea

Lotte World Tower

Yeongyang Firefly Dark Sky Reserve

Keep exploring

Browse every city guide, national park and collection

Trailwind finds the moment a trip is unusually possible: the right season, a cheap fare, your open dates, and rare skies. Browse by calendar:

Cosmic calendar — meteor showers, eclipses and aurora, and the best time to see each

Nature's calendar — wildlife migrations, blooms and seasonal wonders, and when to go

World culture calendar — festivals, celebrations and rituals, and when they happen (Holi, Diwali, Day of the Dead and more)

Browse all city guides, national parks and collections