When is the best time to visit South Korea? — The best, worst, affordable & best season to visit Korea

Korea is a country with an extremely strongly developed tourism industry, every year it welcomes millions of international visitors to explore. Coming to Korea, each season you can witness different beauty. You will be overwhelmed by the scenery of bright cherry blossoms in spring, admire the romance of streets filled with red maple leaves in autumn, or immerse yourself in the cold of the white snowflakes in the winter, basking in the sun at stunning beaches in summer. Don’t forget to learn about the weather of four seasons of the year in Korea to make your own trip!

So, what is the best month to travel to Korea, what is the best time to travel to Korea, when is the best time to visit Korea (when is the best time to visit South Korea). Let’s check out our suggested best season to go Korea, best season to travel to Korea, best season to visit Korea, best season to visit South Korea, cheapest time to visit Korea as well as worst time to visit South Korea as follows!

Planning a trip to Korea but don’t know “which season or month is best to travel to Korea”, this article will help you clearly understand the climate, weather, and scenery of Korea in 4 seasons and in 12 months.

Korea brings many feelings about traditional Asian features but no less modern with many beautiful scenery, rich history, delectable cuisine. This country attracts tourists around the world with its beautiful four-season nature, each season has a different characteristic, and therefore, which month is the best time to travel to Korea, you also need to find out information and rely on your preferences.

Some information about Korea

Korea is located in Northeast Asia, the terrain has many hills and mountains mixed with plains along with a long and beautiful coastline. This country has an extremely developed entertainment industry, through music and movies, the image of the beautiful country of Korea has been promoted worldwide.

Korea is one of the countries with an extremely unique culture with diverse tourist destinations. There are rarely any countries in the world where traditional and modern features are strangely harmoniously interwoven, cultural beauty remains intact after a long history, and everyone has a special affection for art and beauty.

Overview of Korean climate (# when is the best time to visit south korea)

Korea is located in a temperate zone so there are four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Spring and autumn have the most pleasant weather. Meanwhile, the summer is hot and humid while the winter is cold and long with lots of snow falling at the end of the year.

• Spring usually starts in mid-March and ends in May.
• Hot and humid summer starts from June to August.
• Autumn starts from September and ends at the end of November.
• Winter is cold from late November to mid-March.

Except in the mountains, the average annual temperature is between 6 and 16°C. The hottest month is August, the coldest month is January. Thunderstorms often appear in the summer months, but there are fewer storms here than in neighboring countries. You also don’t need to worry about natural disasters when traveling to Korea, because this country rarely has earthquakes or tsunamis.

Average monthly temperatures range from 23 to 27°C in August and -6 to 7°C in January.
The annual rainfall in Korea is 1,000 mm to 1,800 mm, and in the central area is 1,100 mm to 1,400 mm.

Rainfall in winter is less than 10% of the total rainfall each year. Precipitation in winter occurs mainly in the form of snowfall, with the T’aebaek Mountains receiving the most precipitation.

July has the highest humidity, reaching 80 – 90% across the country. In contrast, January and April have the lowest monthly humidity ranging from 30 – 50%. Low relative humidity from September to October contributes to good harvests.

Korean climate characteristics by each season

Spring (March to May) (# when is the best time to visit south korea)

Like other countries around the world, spring in Korea is a warm season, no rain, bright sunshine, and extremely pleasant weather. The scenery is especially beautiful in spring, which is the season of flower festivals. In spring, Koreans often go to cherry blossom viewing spots with their families to chat, enjoy the flowers, eat, drink and have fun, or climb mountains to enjoy the scenery. Some mountains in Korea are very beautiful in spring, such as: Hallasan Mountain, Sobaeksan, Jirisan and Taebaeksan Mountain.

Spring in Korea starts from late March and ends from early May, with mild, pleasant temperatures. In the ideal space of spring, when visiting Korea, we will have the opportunity to enjoy cherry blossoms, forsythia, magnolia and lilac blooming on the streets and gardens.

When coming to Seoul, visitors will be amazed by the cherry blossoms blooming on the Yunjung-ro flower road around the National Assembly Building. On both sides of the road there are more than 1,400 cherry trees about 30 to 40 years old. Around April every year, this nearly 6 km long road will be full of life, welcoming millions of tourists to visit and admire. The pale pink and pure white colors of cherry blossoms in full bloom brighten up the entire sky, captivating visitor’s hearts.

However, spring is not the most beautiful and best season to travel to Korea, because April and May are months when Korea experiences yellow dust storms, you will feel uncomfortable with this phenomenon and encounter many problems when going out.

Summer (June to August) (# when is the best time to visit korea)

Summer in Korea begins from June to early September. Summer will be very hot and rainy, especially at the end of July. During this season, the temperature and humidity both increase extremely high, sometimes the temperature heats up to 38 – 40 degrees Celsius. However, in return, Korea’s summer beaches are very beautiful, especially in the summer with many special festivals.

The weather at this time is quite hot, but beach tourism in Korea is extremely exciting with clear skies and blue sea. This is also the time in Korea where many exciting summer festivals take place.

If you come to Korea in the summer, you can go to Busan, where Haeundae beach is famous for its beauty. Coming to Busan, visitors can admire camellia anywhere in the city and meet hospitable, enthusiastic and friendly people.

There are many hot springs near the beach and there are many activities such as Haeundae Sand Festival, Busan Beach Festival and World Beach Volleyball Competitions. Usually in early summer, the Sand Festival attracts tourists from around the world with sculptures of famous figures, beautifully displayed castles and sandboarding activities.

Although tourists who have had fun and visited in Korea also remind that summer is not the most suitable season to travel to Korea, because both plans, mood and health will be affected by the hot and humid weather. But if you want to travel to Korea this season, go to Mangsang, Naksan, Seokcho, Gyeongpo, Hwajin, Gyeongpodae, Haeundae Beach and Jeju Island to escape the summer heat.

Fall (September to November)

It can be said that autumn is the best time to visit Korea. Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year in the land of kimchi and lasts from September to November. It is pleasantly warm during the day and slightly chilly at night. The mountain roads began to be carpeted with bright red leaves, creating an extremely impressive sky.

The weather at this time is extremely cool, very suitable for tourist activities. In autumn, nature puts on an extremely brilliant red-yellow color.

The most interesting thing is to see the scenery on top of Naejangsan Mountain in Jeongeup-si Province, Jeollabuk-do. This mountain peak will be an extremely popular tourist destination in the fall. The entire landscape around Naejangsan is covered in the brilliant yellow and red of dense forests. This place has become a national park. Besides, you can also visit Seoul city – the largest city in Korea, where the famous royal palace is located and Nami Island, where the movie “Winter Sonata” was filmed. Ginkgo trees sheds yellow leaves in the cool autumn breeze.

In particular, autumn in the land of kimchi is the season of abundant fruits, food and agricultural products. Therefore, traveling to Korea on your own with accommodation or travel in the fall can both satisfy and fill your stomach. In short, there is no fall travel destination as special and attractive as autumn in Korea.

Winter (December to February) (# best season to visit korea)

Winter in Korea is usually cold and dry, begins from December to early March of the following year. The land of kimchi not only has golden autumn colors but also has the beauty of white snowflakes that cover the entire sky. Many tourists like to travel to Korea in winter, watching romantic snowfall and skiing in Korean movies, or participating in unique ice fishing festivals. Relaxing in hot springs, exploring snow-capped mountain peaks, strolling through famous amusement parks, or enjoying hot dishes for winter days are all wonderful and enjoyable experiences for tourists. visitors come to explore the land of kimchi.

Winter is not the most ideal time to travel to Korea, but it is a special choice and interesting experience. You will be able to soak in the hot springs at Asan Spavis Water Park, ski at Vivaldi Park, Mujukyusan, Pheonix, Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon, or participate in the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival and ice fishing festival at Hwacheon Sancheoneo…

Which month (which season) should I travel to Korea? (# when is the best time to visit korea)

It can be seen that every month in Korea has its own beauty and it is very difficult to choose which season is the best time to visit Korea.

However, the most suitable time for you to travel to Korea is probably spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October, November) when the weather is cool and pleasant, not too hot. cold, not too hot, little rain and lots of sunshine, poetic and romantic natural scenery.

The peak tourist season in Korea is spring and fall, however Korea is actually beautiful in all four seasons. Each season has its own beauty and excitement for you to explore. From the scene of cherry blossoms blowing in the wind in spring, the cool atmosphere in summer to the carpets of colorful leaves in autumn, they all bring you many different emotions, even in winter despite being extremely cold but it will be an interesting experience if you want to see beautiful Korea covered with layers of white snow.

Which is the cheapest time to travel to Korea ?

Which season is the cheapest to go to Korea is always a question and curiosity of many tourists. With its painting-like beauty, autumn is considered the peak tourist time in Korea. So if you go to Korea in the fall, the cost will be a bit higher.

Because of some typical weather and climate characteristics, spring, summer and especially winter in Korea often not crowded with visitors. Therefore, the cost of traveling in these seasons will also be much cheaper than going to Korea in the fall.

Which month should I go to Korea?

If you still don’t know when to travel to Korea, April, October, or December will be great choices. The weather and scenery in Korea during these months are extremely suitable for typical experiences here.

January

• Average temperature: minus 7°C – 3°C
• Suitable tourist destinations: Northern provinces Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do

The weather in January in Korea is very cold, the average daily temperature is quite low, there is a lot of snow but the advantage is that there is often little rain. Such weather conditions make January a suitable time to go skiing.

The coldest month of the year, the weather in Korea is often very cold. The average temperature is – 2.1°C, average humidity is 55%, it is dry, there may be snow. This is the right time to travel to Korea in winter with fun activities such as skiing.

February (# what is the best month to travel to korea)

• Average temperature: minus 7°C – 24°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Seoul, Yongpyong and Alpensia Ski Resorts.

The Korean weather in February is still quite cold, there is a lot of snow and everything is often frozen. Therefore, if you intend to go to Korea in February, prepare lots of warm clothes and thermal bags.

Normally, February is the time when some Asian countries celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year. If you come at this time, you will be immersed in unique festivals such as Lunar New Year or the winter sports.

March

• Average temperature: minus 1°C – 9°C.
• Suitable tourist destination: Ski resort north of Pyeongchang

The weather in Korea in March is still chilly and snowy in some places. If you want to take photos with snow but don’t want to experience cold weather, come to Korea in early March, and if you want to catch the spring breeze, come here at the end of March, because at this time the weather will be cold. It’s getting warmer and the flowers are starting to bloom again!

The weather is cold. The average temperature is minus 1°C – 9°C. When the weather in Korea begins to warm up, it is also the season when spring flowers begin to bloom. The most famous is cherry blossoms. Coming to Korea at this time, you will be walking under romantic and poetic flower streets.

April

• Average temperature: 5°C – 16°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Seoul, Busan, Nami Island, Yeouido…

Saying goodbye to the cold, April welcomes the return of spring throughout the Land of Kimchi. If asked which season is beautiful to travel to Korea, the answer is definitely April, is the middle of spring, if you miss the cherry blossoms in March, you can still go to Korea to see the flowers in April, especially the weather will be much less cold with an average temperature of about 5°C – 16°C.

The weather in Korea in April is milder, the temperature is very stable and suitable to welcome bright pink cherry blossoms all over the streets. This is also the most popular time of year to visit Korea.

May

• Average temperature: 11°C – 22°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Jirisan National Park, Jeju Island…

May is also considered one of the good time to go to Korea during the year. This is the transition time between spring and summer, the weather gradually becomes warm, not too cold nor too hot, very suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

The weather in Korea in May gives you a refreshing feeling as if your fatigue has been washed away. Try the feeling of walking on the streets watching the late blooming cherry blossoms and the freshness of young buds on the trees, it will definitely be an unforgettable experience.

The weather is starting to get warm. The average temperature is around 11°C – 22°C. This is the transition time between summer and spring in Korea. At this time, visitors can easily see the fragile beauty of late blooming cherry blossom petals on young green foliage. The weather is not too cold or too hot, extremely suitable for sightseeing activities.

June

• Average temperature: 16°C – 26°C.
• Suitable tourist destination: Han River camping area, coastal city of Busan.

Korean weather in June gradually bids farewell to spring to welcome summer, temperatures begin to rise everywhere. However, the typical summer showers have not yet arrived, which is also the reason why this is a quite suitable time to travel to Korea. This is the ideal time for you to visit coastal cities in the Land of Kimchi.

The weather in Seoul is usually warm to hot, with occasional showers. At this time, the temperature increases somewhat (average temperature is from 16°C – 26°C), suitable for many interesting outdoor activities such as picnics, swimming, etc.

July

• Average temperature: 21°C – 28°C.
• Suitable tourist destination: Beaches.

In July, the weather in Korea is hotter and rainy, the humidity in the air is high, making you always feel wet. Take advantage of this time to go swimming and visit major amusement parks in Korea like Everland Park.

The weather in Seoul is often hot, humid and rainy. The average temperature is 21°C – 28°C. This is the time when many summer festivals are held in Korea.

August (# what is the best time to travel to korea)

• Average temperature: 23°C – 30°C.
• Suitable tourist destination: Southern Korean resorts.

This is the hottest month of the year in Korea, the weather is hot and rainy, but the weather in the night is relatively pleasant. If you intend to travel to Korea in August, always remember to bring an umbrella with you.

This time in Korea is the most suitable for nighttime exploration and fun activities. The most popular activity that cannot be missed is exploring the bustling night markets in this city. We suggest everyone to visit Dongdaemun night market, the food here is very delicious.

September

• Average temperature: 17°C – 26°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Seoul, Seoraksan, Busan…

September sees the beginning of the autumn of red leaves in the Land of Kimchi. The weather in Korea is no longer hot and can still rain, but not as much as the previous month. The pleasant atmosphere combined with beautiful natural scenery is ideal conditions for tourist activities.

If you choose September to come to Korea, you should participate in the Jinju Namgang Yudeung festival – the largest lantern festival held at the end of September every year. Release your own lantern and pray for luck, health and peace.

October (# what is the best month to travel to korea)

• Average temperature: 9° – 19°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Beopjusa Temple, Songnisan, Seoul…

If you don’t know which month to go to Korea, choose October. The weather in Korea in October is extremely mild, making it one of the best months to admire the beautiful scenery of yellow and red leaves in this country. The climate in Korea at this time is quite pleasant, the days are mildly sunny but the nights are still a bit chilly, so remember to bring some warm clothes for the evening.

In October in Korea, many major events and festivals take place such as: International Fireworks Festival, Seoul Arirang Cultural Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival,… Come here at this time. There will be no need to worry about whether there will be anything to do in Korea or not.

November (# best season to visit south korea)

• Average temperature: 7° – 16°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Nami Island, Changdeokgung Palace, Everland Park, Bukchon Hanok Village.

The Korean weather is now starting to get colder as it has entered the last days of autumn, but the weather is still warm and favorable to visit tourist destinations. Take advantage of the opportunity to capture the last moments of the maple leaves dyeing red in this extremely poetic Korean landscape.

In addition to enjoying the romantic scenery of Korea, at this time there are many traditional festivals for you to participate in such as: Gwangju Kimchi Festival, Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival, Jangdan Soybean Festival…

Traveling to Korea in November, the weather in Seoul starts to get colder because it is late fall and early winter. The average temperature is 7.2°C, but it is sunny, very favorable for visiting tourist attractions. The Korean landscape at this time is filled with extremely poetic red and yellow leaves.

December

• Average temperature: minus 7°C – 3°C.
• Suitable tourist destinations: Lotte World, Busan, Namsan.

Winter comes, the weather in Korea in December becomes cold. Snow and ice can also appear during this time, so you still need to prepare plenty of warm clothes when traveling to Korea in December. This is also a good time to immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of year-end festivals, especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Furthermore, you can also experience the Pyeongchang Trout Festival and Ice Fishing – one of the largest ice festivals in Korea.

Traveling to Korea in December, the weather begins to enter winter, it is very cold with an average temperature of only about minus 7°C – 3°C and it starts to snow. This is the right time to realize the “white snow dream” and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of year-end festivals such as Christmas…

Suggested some places to visit all year round in Korea

Changgyeonggung Palace, Seoul in spring

Located in the capital Seoul, Changgyeonggung Palace is a destination that you should not miss when traveling to Korea. With a total area of up to 580 thousand square meters, Changgyeonggung Palace is divided into four main areas.

The architecture at Changgyeonggung Palace is extremely unique, representing traditional Korean architectural style. If you come here in the spring, you will see Changgyeonggung Palace even more brilliant with the decoration of cherry blossoms, sansuyu, azalea, apricot blossoms…

Jeju Island in winter and spring

Jeju Island is a tourist paradise in Korea. Jeju Island is located about 130km from the mainland, the flora and fauna system is extremely lush and green. Coming here, visitors will visit and experience many interesting activities such as: admiring Cheonjiyeon waterfall, exploring Manjanggul cave, kayaking, scuba diving to see coral…

The appropriate time to travel to Jeju is from November to May of the following year because this is the time when the weather here is dry and cool, convenient for surrounding tourist activities.

Beomeosa Temple, Busan in autumn

This is one of the oldest temples in Korea with a history of more than 1300 years. After many restorations, Beomeosa Pagoda still retains its traditional architectural features mixed with modern elements. Coming here, visitors will have a quiet feeling far away from the bustle of the city. Especially in the fall, Beomeosa Pagoda becomes even more ancient when the surrounding trees turn a bright yellow color.

The ideal time to travel to Beomeosa Temple as well as Busan is from spring to autumn. This is the time when the weather in Korea is extremely pleasant and warm for traveling as well as viewing cherry blossoms around March and April.

Nami Island, Gangwon-do

Nami Island with its beautiful natural scenery is the setting in many famous Korean movies. On the island there are rows of many years old redwood trees. Walking under the trees, visitors will feel like they are lost in a fairy tale land. In winter, white snow covers everywhere on Nami Island, creating an extremely poetic scene.

Notes before traveling to Korea

• Before traveling, check the weather forecast carefully so you can prepare the most suitable luggage for your trip to Korea.
• Korean weather is somewhat colder than other Asian countries, so you should prepare more warm clothes and thermal bags to avoid catching a cold.
• In early spring, there will often be a lot of fine dust in Korea, so choose a hotel with an air purifier to ensure your health.
• Regarding clothing, you should monitor the weather in Korea in advance when traveling to prevent the climate from changing compared to your country.
• Plan a trip that fits your stay in Korea. Please pay attention to your tourist destination to choose appropriate clothing, such as visiting a temple or sacred place, choose long and discreet clothing.
• In general, the food here in the land of kimchi is mildly spicy. If you are someone who can eat spicy food, be prepared to enjoy it. If you can’t eat spicy food, you can prepare some instant foods and seasoning.
• Use an international credit card to pay (most restaurants in Korea today accept this payment method).

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Seoul you can refer to

• Private Incheon International Airport Transfers (ICN) for Seoul
• Private Incheon Airport Transfers (ICN) for Seoul
• Incheon International Airport (ICN) Limousine Bus Transfers for Seoul (Gangnam District)
• Klook Exclusive Seoul 5 Day Pass
• Discover Seoul Pass (BTS Edition Available)
• [SALE] Instant Ticket! Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS) 2/3/4/5 Days to travel around the cities in Korea
• Private Incheon Airport (ICN) and Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfers for Seoul by S.A Tour
• Everland Private Car Charter with Admission Ticket by Wondertrip
• KAL Limousine Bus Ticket for Seoul
• [Limited Offer] AREX Incheon Airport Express Train One Way Ticket in Seoul
• Bukchon Oneday Hanbok Rental Experience (4/24 Hrs)
• Nami Island, Petite France, Garden of Morning Calm, and Gangchon Rail Bike Day Tour from Seoul
• Seoul City Sightseeing Bus (Downtown Palace Namsan Course/Seoul Panorama Course)
• [Limited Offer] Incheon International Airport (ICN) Luggage Services (Between Airport and Hotel) by Safex
• 4G Prepaid SIM Card (SK Airports Pick Up) for South Korea
• [Sale] Hanbok Experience (Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung Store) with Korean Hairstyling
• [SALE] South Korea 4G Pocket WiFi (KR Airports Pick Up) from KT Olleh
• 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for South Korea (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for South Korea from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)

Are you finding more top things to do in Seoul: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.