Autumn in Korea: Magical Spots to Experience Fall in Korea

Bold seasonal colors, scenic meandering pathways, and fields of silver grass make autumn in Korea a perfect time to explore.

As the sun softens, the landscape warms itself to striking hues—shades gradating from luxurious gold to breathy yellow, rich burgundy to crimson red, ginger-kissed bronze to flame hot orange paint autumn leaves in Korea.

Our ultimate Korea autumn guide will teach you everything you need to know about the Korea autumn season. We’ll explore why autumn in Korea is the best time to visit, teach you how to say autumn in the Korean language, outline when autumn happens in Korea, and go into what clothes you should pack. Finally, we’ll explore the most magical spots to experience the Korea autumn season, so that you too can see the colorful wonderland unfold!

Also be sure to head to our fall in Korea sister post, 30 photos that prove the South Korea autumn just won at life!, to see what makes Korea in autumn so spectacular.

 

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Before You Go

• Download the Korean Naver app and use the Seoul Metro website to plan out directions
• Read our guide on how to score the cheapest flights
• Book your flight to Korea
• Arrange your rental car or airport pickup
• Search for discounted hotel stay or vacation rental
• Protect your travel plans with trip insurance
• Check phone plan for international data or get unlimited Data SIM cards for Korea
• Review our carry-on packing list 
• Learn everything you need to know about traveling through airport security
• Pack the right travel cameras and comfortable travel clothes

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Korea in Autumn: The Perfect Time to Travel

The entire country transforms during autumn in Korea.

Korea in autumn is characterized, on the mainland, by flamboyant flourishes of these majestic seasonal colors, dotting everything from elegant traditional palaces to rugged rock peaks.

Autumn in Seoul, for one, speckles the city with shades of warmth, buttery gold gingko trees lining the sidewalks, leaves of ruby and crimson tickling the palace gardens.

Nami Island in autumn, for another, emerges as a ruby- and amber-hued wonderland with robust strokes of color everywhere you look.

 

Check out our travel vlog of autumn in Nami Island below:

 

Off the mainland, the Jeju Island autumn in Korea bursts with citrus as the famous Jeju tangerines reach their prime. Also on Jeju, feathery eulalia grass fields wave dramatically against the island’s black volcanic rock.

Truly, the Korea autumn brings no shortage of magical spots to explore.

If you’re looking to simplify your travel arrangements, this tour is a perfect day trip for experiencing several places during autumn in Korea.

 

How to Say Autumn in Korean

The word “fall,” or “autumn” in Korean is 가을, pronounced ga-eul.

Practice pronouncing autumn in Korean as you traverse the spectacular landscape during fall season in Korea. Remember ga-eul!

 

 

When is Autumn in Korea?

Autumn in Korea spans the months of September to November.

Korea in September is still quite summery and only at the end of the month begins to usher in the change to autumn season in Korea.

Note on September Korea weather: September Korea weather can be quite hot and muggy initially, with the weather cooling down towards the end of the month, so if you’re traveling during this time, pay close attention to the weather changes so you can know what kinds of clothing you should pack.

October and November will definitely cool down and become less humid as the Korea autumn takes over.

 

READ MORE| Check out the Top Autumn Travel Destinations

 

Changing Autumn Leaves in Korea

The bulk of the color change of the leaves during fall season in Korea is concentrated in the months of October and November.

The best time to see autumn leaves in Korea varies based on where you are in the country. However the colorful autumn leaves in Korea start emerging first in the North, and gradually move down South, so be sure to plan your travel accordingly.

In general, the most prominent autumn month in Korea is October, with most of our sites changing color during the mid and latter parts of this month.

 

Autumn Wear in Korea: What Clothes to Pack

As the weather cools throughout the months of October and November, be sure to bring appropriate autumn wear to Korea.

During the middle of the day the sun can still bring some warmth, so an autumn outfit in Korea might include a light sweater and removable items such as a scarf and beanie.

As the day wears off the nights will get even cooler, so be sure to bring a jacket that you can throw on as part of your autumn outfit in Korea.

For women, I love this North Face fall jacket, or this more affordable option.

For men, Ben loves this Columbia TurboDown Hooded fall jacket, or this more affordable option.

We’d also recommend taking advantage of the cooler weather to try out renting hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, and taking pictures around the autumn sights!

Hanbok is long and has many layers, so the cooler time of autumn in Korea is the perfect moment to try out this part of traditional Korean culture.

 

Hanbok: The Art of Korean Clothing	Pink Silver Hanbok Korean Dress	Pink Hanbok Korean Dress	Green & Red Hanbok Korean Dress

 

Stylish Autumn Fashion in Korea

If you’re looking to dress trendier for your travel, autumn fashion in Korea is very much defined by chunky knits, oversized wool coats, and mid-length pea coats for women or tailored trench coats for men.

Anatomie makes stylish, lightweight travel pants we loved for Korea in autumn, and you can see our in-depth review of their travel clothes here.

 

Urban Pioneers makes Ben’s absolute favorite male colder weather clothing, the perfect men’s autumn wear in Korea, and you can find our in-depth review of Ben’s Urban Pioneers autumn clothing here.

 

 

We also recommend the Mahi Leather Roma backpack as our stylish day bag to match your autumn fashion in Korea, and you can read our review of it here.

 

Autumn in Korea

From arboreal wonderlands of K-drama fame in the autumn of Nami Island and rainbow-coated jagged mountain edges of Daedunsan, to striking palaces and romantic walkways that define a Seoul autumn, and finally, to the iridescent feather fields and zesty groves of the Jeju Island autumn that make for an entirely different flavor of fall in Korea—you’ll never be at a loss for settings for those perfect warm-toned fall pictures.

Let’s now explore autumn season in Korea by highlighting the most magical spots to experience the season’s beauty.

Without further do, here are the best spots to witness autumn in South Korea!

Changdeokgung Palace

Seoul is known for its traditional palaces, but our favorite to enjoy autumn in Korea is Changdeokgung.

And why? The Secret Garden.

The rest of the palace grounds pale in comparison to the gorgeous Seoul autumn spectacle found in the Secret Garden.

A whopping 78 acres, this Secret Garden, otherwise known as Huwon (후원) or Biwon (비원), makes up 60% of the Changdeokgung grounds.

 

With over 26,000 trees (of hundreds of different species) the Secret Garden is a magical place to witness autumn in Seoul.

The garden becomes a symphony of Seoul autumn color, popping against the palace pavilions, lotus ponds and stone walls.

You’ll find many Koreans taking pictures in hanbok during this beautiful time. Try renting hanbok in Seoul for yourself, as Changdeokgung Palace is the perfect photo backdrop!

 

 

We easily spent a full day wandering around the romantic paths beneath the colorful trees—lost in the magnificent beauty of the vibrant leaves set against the elegant traditional Korean architecture.

Changdeokgung Palace is a fantastic travel destination any time of year, but autumn in South Korea is when the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung truly shines.

 

READ MORE| Looking for more autumn travel? Check out our guide to the best autumn in California

 

 

 Nami Island

The Nami Island autumn will take your breath away.

Otherwise known as Namiseom Island (남이섬 종합휴양지), this scenic half moon-shaped isle is an oasis of beautiful trees and peaceful pathways that burst to life during the Nami Island autumn.

Nami Island in autumn is undoubtedly one of the best places to enjoy the season of fall in Korea, as its abundant trees transform gloriously under the hand of the season.

The island shows great bursts of color, from the bold yellow gingko biloba trees to the fiery red maples.

These colors of autumn in Nami Island shape the isle into a stunning autumn landscape, framed by the glimmering sapphire waters of the North Han River.

With paths lined by colorful trees and accented with ponds, gardens, water fountains, and gazebos, the Nami Island autumn offers a magical natural immersion away from the hustle and bustle of the city—making it perfect for experiencing the Korea autumn.

You can take a tour that combines a visit to Nami Island Petite France, Gapyeong Rail Bike, and the Garden of Morning Calm.

How to Get to Nami Island

Nami Island is 63 km away from Seoul, and reachable only by ferry (or zip-line!).

You can take a couple trains from Seoul or a bus to Gapyeong, which is where Nami Island is.

Once in Gapyeong you can take a bus or a taxi from Gapyeong Station to the Nami Island ferry.

Getting to Gapyeong

By Subway

From Seoul Sangbong Station take the Gyeongchun line to Gapyeong station. The trip is about 95 min and costs 2350 won.

You can also take the high speed ITX train from Yongsan station to Gapyeong station, which takes about 60 minutes and costs 5200 won for reserved or 4900 won for non-reserved.

By Bus

Buses in Seoul can pick you up from places like Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, or Hongdae and take you to Gapyeong.

By Shuttle Bus

Or to simplify the journey, you can take a shuttle bus from Seoul to Nami Island.

 

Autumn Nami Island Weather

The Nami Island weather was slightly warm during our visit on November 1 in the daytime, but cooled down immediately once the sun started to go down. Prepare for Nami Island weather by bringing a proper coat and removable items for warmth such as a scarf and beanie.

During our visit, I wore a cashmere sweater, thick fleece-lined leggings, a red beanie, and a down jacket in the evening, and that was sufficient for the autumn Nami Island weather.

 

Daedunsan

The mountain of Daedunsan is defined by rocky ridges and steep peaks—natural canvasses which the paintbrush of autumn in Korea can transform with splatters of color.

We’ve gone into detail about everything you need to know about the mountain in our Daedunsan Guide, including how to get into Daedunsan, hours, cost, information about the cable cars and Cloud Bridge, and so much more.

 

Cloud Bridge of Daedunsan

During Korea in autumn, red, orange, and yellow saturate the trees of Daedunsan, as well as those trees in the park at the mountain’s base.

But the impressive seasonal color of this Korea autumn destination isn’t the only reason to make your way up the mountain—part of Daedunsan’s fame is its cloud bridge.

The 50 meter-long cloud bridge (otherwise known as Geumgang Gureumdari) is suspended over 24 stories (80 meters) above the ground, and if that doesn’t flush your cheeks, the wind certainly will!

This cloud bridge provides a stunning backdrop for Korea in autumn photographs, with incredible views of the surrounding colorful foliage against the mountain’s rocky edges.

 

Climbing Up Daedunsan

If the Cloud Bridge of Daedunsan isn’t high enough for you, you’ll continue farther up the mountain to a narrow exposed staircase, flanked beautifully by Korea autumn color on all sides.

If your heart isn’t already fluttering, it just might be after a look down at the depths beneath you while climbing the staircase! After you come down from the mountain, you can enjoy a romantic picnic beneath the robustly colored trees in the park at the base of the mountain—a perfect end to a slightly more adventurous taste of autumn in Korea.

You can take a shuttle bus to Daedunsan or arrange a Daedunsan day tour.

 

 

Namsan Mountain

At the top of Namsan Mountain is the 480 meter-high Seoul Tower offering magnificent views of autumn in Seoul.

But besides the tower, the Seoul autumn landscape of the mountain is well-worth the visit.

Get discounted admission to the N Seoul Tower Observatory.

 

 

 

 

During autumn in Korea, the dense forests of Namsan come out singing in a full burst of golds and oranges.

Although our visit on October 31 was slightly before the peak of autumn color at Namsan, we still had a field day frolicking around the picturesque tree-lined curving pathways, and would consider the mountain a lovely travel destination to enjoy autumn in Korea.

Namsan is also a super cool place to visit at night to get city views of Seoul.

 

Booking.com

 

Love is in the Air at Namsan

In addition to the loving autumn spirit Namsan can bring, the mountain is a fantastic couples travel destination all year round. With the famous love locks dotting the fencing around the top of the mountain, Namsan promotes kisses and cuddles.

Come prepared with a lock for you and your significant other or BFF to clip onto the rest of them!

 

Jeju Island

Don’t forget about Jeju Island in autumn!

The “Hawaii of Korea” known as Jeju Island is known for its magnificent beaches—but the volcanic island also brings a different kind of beauty during the Jeju Island autumn.

While vibrant leaves can certainly be found on the island, our favorite things to see on Jeju Island in autumn are its feathery fields of silver eulalia grass. With stunning landscapes, autumn in the perfect time to arrange a couples photo shoot on Jeju Island!

It’s also the time to go tangerine picking at one of Jeju’s tangerine groves, famous throughout Korea.

 

Jeju Tangerines

Jeju’s tangerines are adored throughout Korea—you can’t take a visit to the Jeju Airport without seeing Koreans bringing home boxes of Jeju tangerines home to their family—and it’s easy to taste why!

The perfect balance of sweet and tart, the seedless tangerines pop up all over the island during autumn, and it’s great fun going to a grove to pick some of your own. For 5000 Won (about $5 USD) a person, you can visit a Jeju tangerine grove, feast on as many of the delicious organic citrus fruits as you can stomach straight off the tree, and pick your own kilo of tangerines to take home.

Make sure to read our complete guide for Jeju tangerine picking.

 

And watch our Jeju tangerine picking vlog below:

 

With head floating in the bright bursts of citrus, flushed cheeks from running in the groves, and perhaps a peel or two in your hair after a few orange peel toss-offs, you’ll find Jeju to be a perfectly magical destination to experience autumn in Korea.

 

Booking.com

 

 

Korea Around the Year

Korea offers a full year of beauty. Our many South Korea travel guides have also explored summer, winter, and spring.

 

For summer, head to Jeju Island for volcanic beaches.

Perhaps you’ll seek seclusion at the Hidden Beach of Jeju Island, the stunning Mount Sangbansan views of Sagye Beach, or maybe you’d prefer the more accessible Iho Beach.

You might choose to climb the iconic Sunrise Peak (while staying at affordable Sunrise Peak accommodation and eating the nearby Willala Fish & Chips) or drink Jeju craft beer at a brewery.

 

For spring, don’t miss the cherry blossoms and other flowers.

We’ve selected our top 40 photos to convince you spring in Korea is also a magical time to visit.

Jeju Island in spring comes to life with stunning canola fields and Jeju cherry blossoms.

Spring is also a gorgeous time to explore Insadong, as the temples will  be covered with lanterns and cherry blossoms.

 

Winter in Korea brings snow-coated majesty.

Even on Jeju Island, the Hawaii of Korea, where we experienced a wild Jeju Island winter.

Winter is also the perfect time to visit Hallasan Mountain, the tallest mountain in Korea and an icon of Jeju Island.

 

Still, our few years in South Korea have shown that the most magical time is autumn in Korea.

From the fantastic bursts of color to palace-frolicking, mountain-climbing and tangerine picking—there’s no shortage of mesmerizing activities to enjoy the amazing season of fall in Korea.

 

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Have you ever experienced autumn in Korea?

Let us know in a comment below!