21+ best places to visit Korea in autumn

Jeju Island is one of the places known as the paradise of Korea. The natural scenery here is even more poetic in the fall because you can not only immerse yourself in the salty breath of the ocean but also stroll through the fields of pink reeds and rows of bright red maple trees.

Jeju Top Attractions Day Tour

Seoul Forest Park

Seoul Forest Park is an extremely suitable place for the whole family to enjoy the autumn colors with roads of bright yellow dry leaves. There is nothing better than gathering the whole family with a delicious outdoor meal and chatting together in extremely pleasant weather.

Asan Gingko Tree Road – Chungcheongnam

If you often look for romantic photos of autumn, you must have seen the road covered with yellow leaves called Asan Gingko Tree Road somewhere. The two rows of trees along the road intertwine with bright yellow leaves, the bottom is also covered with a layer of yellow leaves, making this road an extremely hot “virtual living” place every fall.

Deoksugung Stone Wall Road – Seoul

If Namsan Tower with its colorful locks is a favorite destination for lovers, Deoksugung Stone Wall Road is equally hot because of its peace and romance. This road is lined with rows of yellow and dark red ginkgo trees like beautiful blooming bouquets.

Seoul Tram Tour English

Seoul One Day City Tour & Night View Tour

Seokchon Lake Park – Seoul

Although famous for its cherry blossoms in spring, Seokchon Lake Park does not lose its beauty in autumn. This is also one of the sightseeing and camping spots that you cannot miss when traveling to Korea in autumn. Just sitting quietly under the trees, watching the calm lake is enough to make your trip unforgettable!

Yeouido Park – Seoul

Located in the heart of Seoul, Yeouido Park is one of the places not to be missed when visiting Korea in autumn. With its poetic scenery and diverse structures, you can both enjoy the scenery and learn more about Korean culture and people right in the capital without having to go too far from the city.

Seoul Yeouido Eland Han River Cruise

Seoul Olympic Park

Lotte World Ticket in Seoul

 

Seoul Olympic Park is a must-see when it comes to impressive autumn foliage. It takes about 3 hours to explore the entire park. The Seoul Olympic Ecosystem includes the Sports and Recreation Park, the Arts and Culture Park, the Ecological Environment Park, and the Historical Experience Park dedicated to the rich historical heritage of the area.

Garden of Morning Calm – Gyeonggi-do

Garden of Morning Calm never disappoints visitors no matter what time of year they visit. However, autumn is still the season when the scenery here becomes more charming with the wonderful blend of trees, mountains and water.

Nami/Hanbok/Alpaca/Rail Bike/Petite France/Morning Calm Oen Day Tour

Incheon Park

When you visit Incheon Park, you will be amazed by the beautiful autumn foliage at Incheon Grand Park, surrounded by Gwanmosan Mountain and Sangasan Mountain. For the best foliage, head to the Maple Tree Tunnel.

In addition to the vast garden grounds, Incheon Park is also home to other facilities such as the Children’s Zoo, which is a great place to visit if you are traveling with children.

Incheon Day Tour (Ganghwado Luge) From Seoul

Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest – Gangwon-do

Alpaca World Ticket in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do

Another place that is more known to locals than tourists, Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest is home to over 2,000 golden ginkgo trees, making it a spectacular sight in the fall. This area is privately owned and only opens in October, so plan your itinerary carefully before deciding to visit!

Bomun Lake – Gyeongju

Gyeongju Autumn Foliage One day Tour from Busan

Bomun man-made lake is a place that Koreans love when autumn comes because you can cycle around the lake or paddle on the lake to fully admire the beauty here. This is definitely a golden place to save a collection of “million-like” check-in photos.

Jiri Mountain – Busan

Jiri Mountain in Busan – the second highest mountain in Korea, makes many tourists flutter with its unprecedented natural beauty. In autumn, Busan becomes a popular destination for people from all over the country, as they flock to this majestic mountain to witness the magical changing of the landscape. Wandering through the well-preserved area, you will discover many large Buddhist temples, along with wildlife and giant local foliage.

[Autumn Foliage] Ulsan-Taehwa River Natl. Garden Day Tour from Busan

During your free time in the park, you can stroll along the paths that are ablaze with the red and yellow of the autumn foliage, or visit the temples and learn about the colorful Korean culture. The mountain also has countless legends and myths surrounding it, and you can learn about some of them, adding a little autumn magic to your visit.

Palgongsan Natural Park – Busan

Another beautiful autumn scene in Korea that you often see in pictures is the autumn colors along the 16.3 km long path inside Palgongsan Natural Park in Busan. Located near Palgongsan Mountain, the park is full of rocks and valleys and is carpeted with azaleas in the spring, making you feel like you are in a fairyland. Take a break from the hustle and bustle and breathe in the fresh air of the mountains and immerse yourself in the rugged peaks of the surrounding mountains through the morning mist at the park!

Naejangsan National Park Autumn Foliage One Day Tour from Busan

What to Eat When Traveling to Korea in the Fall?

Hoddeok (Hotteok)

Although it is just a rustic street food, hoddeok is extremely loved by Koreans and tourists every fall. This type of cake is made from wheat flour with the filling inside made from cinnamon powder, nuts such as melon seeds, walnuts, almonds. The outer shell of the cake is crispy, sweet and not too greasy.

The feeling of biting into a piece of hot, crispy, fragrant cake in the cold autumn, watching people passing by on the streets and traditional markets will definitely make your Korean travel experience extremely interesting.

Jeungpyeon

Jeungpyeon is a type of rice wine cake that Koreans always look for when autumn comes. It has a variety of colors with the main ingredients made from wheat flour and rice wine. This type of cake is a Korean creation from traditional soju wine.

When you take a bite of Jeungpyeon, you will feel the satisfaction of your taste buds with the spicy taste of yeast, the light sour taste of the cake makes you unable to stop from the first piece. Although there are many places selling Jeungpyeon cakes, nowhere can bring you a wonderful experience like when traveling to Korea.

Baked Sweet Potato

South Korea 4G Pocket WiFi (KR Airports Pick Up) from KT

In late autumn, you can easily find countless places selling baked sweet potatoes in Korea. This dish is certainly not strange to us, but enjoying sweet, hot baked potatoes just out of the oven in the cold weather in Korea is definitely something you will never regret when traveling here.

Sujeonggwa (Korean Cinnamon Tea)

You have certainly heard of or enjoyed Korean wind-dried persimmons, but what about cinnamon tea? This is definitely one of the best drinks you must try when traveling to Seoul and other tourist destinations in Korea.

After harvesting, the persimmons will be processed by the locals to preserve them longer, then add cinnamon and ginger to create extremely delicious cups of tea. Drinking a cup of hot tea after walking around, chatting with friends and relatives will definitely make your trip more memorable!

Ganjang-gejang (Raw crab marinated in soy sauce)

When it comes to raw crabs in soy sauce, you will definitely feel a little scared. However, Koreans are very strict in choosing crabs that are firm, fresh and hygienic to prepare their raw crab dishes.

The crab is soaked in soy sauce with a blend of chili, lemongrass, and rice wine, which will help the dish not be fishy but still extremely delicious, especially when eaten with white rice.

Famous Autumn Festivals in Korea

Andong Maskdance Festival

In the fall, Koreans will hold many big festivals because this is the time of the year when the weather is the most beautiful. One of the most famous festivals in the country is the Andong Mask Dance Festival, held in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The dances here are full of tradition, reflecting the bad habits in society to ultimately honor the victory of justice and humanity. Not only can you admire the beautiful dances, but when you come here, you can also buy masks as souvenirs.

Busan Fireworks Festival

If you visit Busan in the fall, you definitely cannot miss the extremely unique fireworks festival here. Unlike other fireworks festivals, the organizers in Busan will shoot fireworks from the sea to the mainland so that visitors can easily admire them. The festival is held in October every year on the Gwangalli beach with the most beautiful and brilliant fireworks. In addition, there will also be exciting music performances from famous Korean artists.

Busan One Day City Tour: Haeundae Sky Capsule & Gamcheon & Yacht

Korean Food Festival

The Korean Food Festival is an opportunity for food lovers to enjoy the most delicious and typical dishes of the land of Kim Chi. This festival is held by Koreans every October in the beautiful city of Jeonju. Coming to the Jeonju Food Festival, you will have an overview of Korean cuisine with the talented hands of the top chefs here.

In addition to the above festivals, Korean people also organize many other grand festivals such as the Hanji Festival, the Hyoseok Cultural Festival or the Geumsan Festival, …

Some tips for Traveling to Korea in Autumn

Apply for a Korean Tourist Visa

A visa is one of the most important documents for you to start your trip to Korea. The procedure for applying for a visa to Korea is not too difficult, however, you also need to meet certain conditions regarding documents, income, existing assets as well as booking airline tickets and hotels.

Book Hotel Rooms and Airline Tickets in Advance

You should choose different hotels based on the places you want to visit. Because Korea is one of the leading countries in the tourism industry in Asia, you will have countless options for hotels with different forms and prices from budget to luxury. Booking hotels online is also very simple today. With Klook, Agoda or Booking you can choose hotels by location, price, accommodation policy, room amenities. Hotels in Seoul, Busan or Geyongsang Nam are the top choices you can consider.

Discover Seoul Pass

With air tickets, you can book a few months before your departure date to get the best price. On average, the price to Korea will fluctuate between USD 240.63 – USD 481.25/way from Vietnam depending on the time you book and the airline you choose.

Prepare Appropriate Clothing and Luggage

Seoul – Busan KTX Train Ticket

Autumn in Korea has an extremely cool climate, suitable for wearing thin sweaters, autumn and winter coats and hoodies that are not too thick. You can also bring scarves and hats to avoid sudden cold winds. For shoes, you should choose sneakers or sandals to be able to comfortably walk around in the extremely pleasant weather in Korea!

In addition, some basic medicines such as fever reducers, digestive medicines, insect repellents or moisturizers are also extremely necessary when traveling to Korea in the fall.

About Currency Exchange and Language

AREX Incheon Airport Express Train Ticket

In Korea, most shops and tourist attractions use the currency of this country, so you need to exchange money before traveling so that you can make transactions as soon as you get off the plane. Regarding language, Koreans do not use English much, so if possible, you should learn some basic communication words. If you are not confident to travel independently, you can travel to Korea on a tour so that the tour guide can help you during the travel and communication process.

Means of Transportation in Korea

KORAIL PASS – KTX Train Ticket

If you come to Korea in the fall, there is nothing more suitable than taking the train and bus because of the convenience and savings it brings.

In addition, you also do not forget to pocket the tips for traveling to Korea with the experience of buying a 4G sim card or tips for renting a self-driving car to be able to fully explore the trip. At the same time, quickly “hunt” for Korean travel deals to save maximum costs for your trip!

The post first appeared on Klook Vietnam and was translated and edited by Living Nomads. If you find any images or text that belong to you, please contact us, so we can credit you or give us permission to use them. Thank you very much!

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.