📝 Best Time to Visit Korea: Season-by-Season Guide

Spring (March to May)

Cherry blossoms usually bloom from late March in the south to early April in Seoul, and the timing varies by year. Temperatures are mild but mornings can be cold, and fine dust can affect air quality on some days. This is peak season for both flights and hotels, so book early, and expect crowds at popular blossom spots such as Jinhae and Yeouido.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is hot and humid, with a monsoon period (jangma) from late June into July that brings heavy rain. August can be extremely hot. It is the season for beaches in Busan and Gangneung, water parks, and festivals such as the Boryeong Mud Festival. Prices for domestic accommodation rise on the coast, but city hotels are sometimes cheaper.

Autumn (September to November)

Clear skies, comfortable temperatures and foliage make October the most popular month for hiking. Seoraksan, Naejangsan and Jirisan are especially striking. Typhoons can affect early autumn, and the Chuseok harvest holiday in September or October means crowded trains and closed shops for a few days.

Winter (December to February)

Winters are cold and dry, with temperatures well below freezing in Seoul and heavy snow in Gangwon. Ski resorts, hot springs, ice-fishing festivals and winter illuminations are the highlights. Airfare and hotels are cheaper, apart from the Lunar New Year holiday and Christmas week. Heated floors (ondol) in guesthouses make the cold bearable.

Whatever the season, check the calendar for national holidays, since Lunar New Year and Chuseok are both times when many Koreans travel and train and bus tickets sell out quickly.

Prices, schedules and entry rules change. The figures below are approximate and reflect information available when this guide was last reviewed; always confirm with the official source before you travel.