Autumn is here and you know what that means! It’s time to immerse yourself in a sea of red/orange/yellow leaves (or 단풍 danpoong in Hangul)! If you're heading to Seoul in mid to late October, you're in luck as that's the period when the autumn leaves are predicted to be in bloom! Start planning your autumn trip and be prepared for an amazing view of the autumn foliage around the cityscape.
P.S. Planning a trip to Seoul soon? Find the yummiest halal eateries, nearby prayer spaces and top attractions in Seoul on our website!
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Tourist Spots
So you didn’t plan your trip around the autumn foliage but you’ll be Korea for that period of time anyway. Don’t worry, we have you covered with these tourist attractions in Seoul.
1. Namsan Tower
HHWT Tip: We recommend taking the shuttle bus up and walking through the park when you're heading out. Namsan park has a really scenic route!
Opening Hours for the Observatory: Monday to Friday, Sunday - 10am to 23pm, Saturday - 10am to 12midnight
Price for Observatory: Adults - 9,000won, Children - 7,000won
How to get there:
- Namsan Sunhwan Shuttle Bus No. 01
Closest subway stations: Chungmuro Station (Line 3,4), Dongguk Univ. Station (Line 3) - Intervals every 7~10 minutes
Operating hours: Daily; 6:30am - 11pm
Price: 1,100 won in cash & with transportation card (transfer possible)
Bus route
Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot->Toegye-ro 3-ga, Hanok Village → Chungmuro Station, Daehan Theater → Toegye-ro 5-ga→ Jangchung Culture and Sports Center → Dongguk Univ. Station, Jangchung-dong→ National Theater of korea, Banyan Tree Club&Spa→ Namsan North Ringway Namsan Seoul Tower→ Namsan Public Library → Baekbeom Square->Hilton Hotel→ Namdaemun Market → City Hall → The Seoul Shinmun → KT (Gwanghwamun bldg.) - National Palace Museum of Korea → The Blue House → Spring and Autumn Gate → Gyeongbokgung → Anguk Station, Jongno Police Station, Insa-dong→ South Insa Square → Jongno 2-ga, Samilgyo→ Namdaemun Tax Office, Seoul Paik Hospital → Namsan Yejang Bus Transfer Parking Lot
2. Samcheongdong
Samcheongdong is pretty much where traditional meets modern Korea. The road is filled with traditional Korean styled houses, also known as hanok, that have been renovated to house different types of shops, cafes and restaurants. Autumn is pretty much the perfect time to visit Samcheongdong as you get to stroll along the gorgeous tree lined streets and enjoy an atmospheric view of the hanoks with the autumn leaves! 
How to get there: From Gyeongbokgung Subway Station (Line 3), take exit 5 and walk along the front entrance of Gyeongbokgung. Turn left into the adjacent road next to Gyeongbokgung and walk straight for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Cheongyecheon
Before heading to Dongdaemun for your shopping trip, drop by Cheongyecheon and stroll along the stream! Even though the stream isn't lined with trees, the creepers along the stream turn a beautiful reddish orange hue and it's a pretty unique sight from your usual autumn foliage.
How to get there: - City Hall, Jonggak, Jongno 3-ga, Jongno 5-ga, Dongdaemun, Sinseol-dong (Seoul Subway Line 1) - Jongno 3-ga (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3 and 5) - Gwanghwamun (Seoul Subway Line 5)
4. Songpa Naru Park – located just behind Lotte World
How to get there: Jamsil Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 2 or 3. Go straight 200m to arrive at the entrance of Songpa Naru Park.
5. Shinsadong Garosugil
Garosugil is no secret by now. This tree-lined street, also known as ‘Europe in Seoul’, has exploded in popularity for it’s trendy shops and cafes. During autumn, you’ll be in for a sight as you stroll the street filled with ginko trees!
How to get there: Alight at Sinsa Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 8. Go straight (250m), until you see the street on the left.
6. Nami Island
Okay, so technically Nami Island is not exactly in Seoul, but we HAD to add this under our tourist attractions as the island just off Seoul is simply breathtaking in autumn! Did we mention that you can also get halal certified dakgalbi along the way? 
Parks
7. Seoul Forest
Seoul Forest is one of the more underrated parks in the city. We've previously recommended it as a cherry blossom viewing site and in autumn, it's no different. The serenity and calming atmosphere of the park can be experienced as you stroll through the streets lined with numerous trees and falling autumn leaves.
How to get there: Seoul Forest Station (Subway Bundang Line), Exit 3. The park is a 5 min walk away.
8. Olympic Park
Granted that Olympic Park probably wouldn’t be on top of your lists of ‘must-visit’ attractions in Seoul, but it does provide a pretty good reprieve from the bustling city. You can also get a glimpse of the Peace Gate that was built for the 1988 Olympics and stroll down paths lined with trees!
How to get there: Olympic Park Station (Subway Line 5) Exit 3
9. Haneul Sky Park
HHWT Tip: Don’t miss the Seoul Eulalia Festival throughout the month of October!
How to get there: World Cup Stadium Station (Subway Line 6) Exit 1. To take the free shuttle bus to the park, cross the street and walk 3-5 min towards the Mapo Agriculture-Fisheries Market. The shuttle will be available at the right-hand side of the building at 20 minutes intervals. A
lternatively, you can take Blue Bus numbers 171, 271 and 571 and Green Bus numbers 7011, 7013 and 7715.
Palaces
If you’re a fan of sageuks or historical Korean dramas, a visit to the four palaces during Autumn is a must! The autumn foliage looks spectacularly atmospheric with the historical palaces and architecture as a backdrop. It’s almost as if you’re filming a Korean drama!
#HHWT Tip: An integrated ticket for access to all four palaces costs 10,000won (inclusive of the Secret Garden in Changdeokgung)
10. Changdeokgung
Hands down our favourite palace to visit regardless of the seasons, thanks to a particular place in Changdeok palace known as Secret Garden. With 26,000 trees in the secret garden, it’s pretty hard not to be in awe when strolling around this area.
Opening Hours: Regular Tour (Changdeokgung Palace) April–September: 09:00-18:30, October: 09:00-18:00, March & November: 09:00-17:30, December–February: 09:00-17:00 Huwon Course (Guided Tour only) February–May & September-October: 10:00-18:00, June-August: 10:00-18:30, November-January: 10:00-17:30
Price: Adults (ages 19-64): Regular: 3,000 won / Secret Garden: 5,000 won Children and Teenagers (ages 18 and under): Regular: 1,500 won / Secret Garden: 2,500 won
How to get there: Jongno 3 ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3 or 5) Exit 7. Go north from the exit along Donhwamun-ro Street for about 500 m. OR Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 3. Go straight from the exit (east) for about 300 m.
11. Gyeongbukgung
Operating Hours: January-February 09:00-17:00 / March-May 09:00-18:00 / June-August 09:00-18:30 / September-October 09:00-18:00 / November-December 09:00-17:00 Price: Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won, Children (ages 7-18): 1,500 won
How to get there: Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5 OR Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2
12. Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung
You can also catch the autumn foliage at two other smaller palaces – Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung. If you’re planning to visit all the palaces, we highly recommend searching for an English tour guide (usually free) to learn more about the history of the different palaces! 
HHWT Tip: If you’re not a huge history buff, you may want to stick to visiting Changdeokgung and Gyeongbukgung, as these two palaces are more than enough to give you a feel of what it’s like to experience autumn in the royal palaces.
Bonus: If you’re planning a hike at any of the major mountains in South Korea, do refer to the table below for more information on the predicted dates on when to catch the autumn foliage! These are for 2018 but we'll be sure to update the list once the forecast is out for 2019! If you're not keen on travelling too far away, we highly recommend visiting Bukhansan, which is still within the Seoul district.
| Mountain | First Appearance | Peak |
|---|
| Seoraksan National Park (NaeSeorak) | September 27 | October 18 |
| Odaesan National Park | October 2 | October 17 |
| Chiaksan National Park | October 8 | October 23 |
| Jirisan National Park (Nogodan Peak) | October 12 | October 26 |
| Woraksan National Park | October 12 | October 25 |
| Bukhansan National Park (Dobong) | October 15 | October 29 |
| Hallasan National Park | October 19 | November 1 |
| Palgongsan Natural Park (Gatbawi District) | October 19 | October 30 |
| Gyeryongsan National Park | October 19 | October 29 |
| Naejangsan National Park | October 21 | November 9 |
| Mudeungsan National Park | October 24 | November 7 |
* Forecasted dates above are subject to change depending on weather conditions.