When Is the Best Time to Go to Seoul, Korea | RJ Weather Guide | 2018 Edition

Seoul, Korea has 4 seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. The weather in Korea is very distinctive like New York or Boston. You will get the warm, cold and hot depending on what month you visit.

Me during winter in Korea. It was still cold with this much layer!

Best time to go to Korea totally depends on what you want to achieve in Korea. Personally for me, going to Korea is to eat, drink and party. And the sight seeing is secondary. If you are looking for more details on what to do in Korea, please leave us a comment and I will write in full detail with video and pictures. 

Related: Everything You Need to Know about Korea from What to Eat to How to Ride a Subway

So Which Month Is Best to Visit Korea?

April, May, June is the best time to visit Korea with May being the nicest with flowers starting bloom. However, April can be an issue with some people. With fine dust becoming a big issue in Korea, sometimes it is unbearable to even go out in APril when the fine dust level goes up.   

Summer in Korea. You can wear short sleeves 🙂

September and October is also the best with the brutal summer ending and the leaves changing the colors to yellow and red.

Let’s Break It Down by Month

December to February Is the Brutal Winter in Korea and because of the Weather, But Best Time to Visit Korea to Ski and Skate

December, January and February

Korea’s winter is brutal like New York. It can go down to negative Celsius. Except for Christmas, people will try to stay in. It is unbearable to walk around and hard to enjoy the nice + cute streets of Seoul, Korea.

 

You will not enjoy the cold weather unless you are used to the cold weather like Russia or Alaska. However, there are some unique activities you can enjoy during this month of the year. 

Everybody Is Feeling the Brutal Cold Weather in Korea (December)

The main attraction will be going skiing or skating outdoors. Travelers from tropical country can sure appreciate the snow as it can be an unique experience. I have some friends from Philippine, and they love coming to Korea in January to go skiing. Also, with PyeongChang Olympics, it is a lot easier to get to ski resorts now

 

There are many other countries like Japan, Canada or Switzerland that offers better facilities with less crowded lines. As we all know Pyeongchang Olympics is approaching and a lot of travelers will be visiting to Korea. So when you are visiting, please be prepared with jackets and thick paddings. Also, if you want to have a smooth transition and trip in Korea during Pyeongchang, please start reading my blog from here. It will help you not fight with your partner getting lost. 

March and April Is the End of Winter with Durable Coldness and Best Time to Visit to See the Blossoms 

 

March

March weather in Korea will be still cold but not as brutal as January. You will still need a thick jacket and it will snow occasionally. But there will be days with a hint of warmness and people will slowly be out of their den and stretching their legs to get ready for spring and summer. 

 

March and April Will be Enjoyable to Walk Around the Towns of Seoul, Korea with a Jacket

 

April

It is that time when the snow melts, and the warm weather kicks in. The flowers start to boom. You will still feel the chill and there will be days that will still be cold and snow. But if you are looking for a cheaper flight, this is the time to go.

April in Korea Is Still Cold, But You Will Feel the Warmth and Able to Wear Short Sleeves

Like Japan, there will be lots of flower festivals in Korea. It will be the best Time to visit Korea if you are into flower blossoms. It is also a month of low seasons, so the hotels and flight fare would be reasonable.

However, in recent years, there have been a lot of warning with fine dust which makes it hard to breathe while outside. So if you have asthma, you should consider going to Korea in April. 

If you are planning your trip in Korea, but feel overwhelmed with all the information, please contact us. We not only help travelers by sharing our experience, but also help create the best customized itinerary. The best way to reach us is by filling out a questionnaire about your travel style and needs. You can reach us by What’s App by clicking below or send a message on FB Message on below right. 

 

May and June Is the Best Time to Visit Korea with Entering High Season 

 

May and June

May and June is the best time to go to Seoul, Korea. The weather is getting warm and there is not much rain. You can just easily walk around town and try different types of street food and shop, shop, shop.

 

You will occasionally need a sweater but it will be enjoyable to walk around and don’t have to worry about sweating.

 

End of June is when all the beaches and pool start to open. Especially if you were going to go to Caribbean Bay, June – August would be a good time to visit Korea (Even though, they open all year around). 

End of June at Shilla Hotel Pool. It Is a Perfect Weather to Sun bath and Swim

July and August Is Brutally Hot Where Lots of Koreans Start to Go on Holidays Domestically and Internationally

July and August

July and August is probably the worst time to visit Korea. The worst weather for me is the constant rain and the high humidity.

 

Between July and August also has a rainy season with occasional flooding happening in rural area. It will be gloomy or rainy during these month. On your vacation or holiday, you want to kiss the sun and walk around with no umbrella over your head.

me at Banyantree Hotel Pool in July

July and August will be a good time to visit Korea if you want to go swimming or the the beach. This is when a lot of Koreans go out of town for their holidays.

 

One of the most famous town to visit is, as you may know, Busan. It is an absolute madness during this time of the year. The alternative to Busan is Tongyeong which is more beautiful than Busan.  

Haewoondae during the peak season (Summer)

It is also good to eat samgyetang which is basically a chicken soup. It is known to give you stamina and energy. 

 

If you are planning to dine out in Korea, I made an exhaustive list of what to eat in Korea. This will help you choose which food you want to eat and where. 

September and October: Best Time to Go to Korea with No Rain and No Hot Days but with Cool Nights Especially If You Want to Experience the Out Door Style PoCha

September and October

September and October is one of my favorite month in Korea in terms of weather. It is hot but not too hot. The sky is high and the night is cool.

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You can sit outside and enjoy the famous pocha. Pocha is one of the reason I love going to Korea, and September and October is the best time to visit Korea to enjoy Pocha. If you are planning to go eat Gopchang in Korea, I recommend going in September or October. 

November Is the Month of Autumn With Some Chill Sneaking In and Sweater is Required

November

November is the autumn in Korea. The weather in November is when you start feeling the chill in the air and need to take out your blankets. It is the time when the color of the leaves start to change.

November is the best month to visit for hiking and trekking, because the color or leaves are so beautiful and not too hot to hike. 

Hiking in October is the best!

If you decided which month to visit Korea, now you have to see what kind of food you will be eating. I have wrote a list of different food types and where to eat it with full details. You can check it out here!

 

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