Autumn is one of the most beautiful season to spend in Seoul. The weather gets colder and the trees’ leaves turn a bright yellow and orange. It’s the perfect time to explore, relax and enjoy everything the season has to offer ! Here is my list of the best things to do in autumn in Seoul.
Dress Up to Visit a Palace
It’s a classic but you can’t skip it ! If you haven’t had time to do it before, autumn is the perfect season to wear a hanbok and visit one of Seoul’s palaces. The colourful leaves make an incredible background for photos, and the weather is cool enough to walk comfortably.
Where can you rent a hanbok ?
One of the most popula place is near Gyeongbokgung Palace, around Jahamun-ro 2-gil. The street has a lot of different stores offering similar prices and services so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from !
I tried Gigibebe Hanbok and it was such a nice experience ! We got to choose our skirt and top colors. The owners helped us get dressed and did our hairstyles with pearly pins ! If you are feeling fancy, you can also add shoes as extras !
My favourite palaces for beautiful pictures are Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace. If you can get tickets for Changdeok Palace Secret Gardens, the autumn trees there are truly breathtaking. Plus, it’s less crowded so it is a bit easier to take pictures (though you still have to follow the tour !). Changgyeonggung Palace is another good option as it is smaller than both Gyeongbeokgung and Changdeokgung making it less tiring for you to walk around.
💡Small tip: entry to all the palaces are free if you are wearing a hanbok ! (except for the Secret Gardens, which requires a separate guided tour ticket)
Bonus : Less famous than the 3 main palaces, Deoksugung Palace is also a beautiful spot to see colourfull trees.
Spend Time with Friends at a Board Games Café
You will quickly notice that autumn in Seoul can get rainy and while I love that cosy vibe, it can get tricky to decide what to do with friends. Luckily, Seoul offers a large range of indoor activities. One of my favourite is spending time at a Board Games café. At these cafés, you can choose any board game you like and play with your friends as long as you like. If you don’t know a game’s rules, the café has some explanation available or you can ask the staff so it is beginner-friendly !
My favourite address is Board Game Café Red Button in Gangnam (they have several other locations in Seoul). The space is larger than it looks from the outside and can welcome quite a lot of people but it can fill up fast ! The rooms look like bunk beds, but once you are inside, you feel like you’re in your own private room. Each table has a tablet that explains the games’ rules, and you can also order drinks and food while you play !
Roam around Kyobo Bookstore
Kyobo Bookstore is the most popular bookshop chains in Korea. They offer a large variety of genres and have many stores accross the country. One of their largest location is in Gwanghwamun known as Kyobo Book Centre. From cooking books to novals and passing by art books, you’ll find almost anything you can imagine. There is even a large English-language section, so even if you don’t speak korean you will still be able to find your match !
Kyobo also has a large stationary section filled with colourfull pens and notebooks as as well as CDs & DVDs. (including K-pop albums but not as much as a dedicated store).
I really love spending time there, it’s so easy to lose track of time while exploring the shelves. So, if you are also a book or stationery lover, you should definitely have a look !
Go Café Hopping in Insadong
Cafés are one of Seoul’s signatures, and Insadong has built a reputation as the perfect neighbourhood to enjoy a cup of coffee. On a rainy autumn day, Insadong is the place to go to find a cozy spot and unwind. Reading or studying inside with a warm coffee, hot chocolate and a pastry sounds pretty perfect, doesn’t it ?
Two suggestions : On the left Knotted Café, a popular chain in Seoul known for its delicious donuts ! I cheated a little here, since it’s actually in Anguk but it’s close enough that I had to include it. On the right, Nakwon Café a unique spot with a railway running through the interior, and the desserts were surprisingly good too !
Have some fun at a Photobooth
Photobooths are everywhere in the streets of Seoul and they are always a fun activity to do with friends ! You can dress up with the hats and accessories provided. Some photobooths even have curling irons and straightners so you can look perfect !
Most photobooths look quite similar, but if you are looking for something unique, you can find themed ones that make it look like you are in the subway car or in an airplane !
I found this website referencing some orginial ones, so check it out !
💡Quick reminder : always bring cash with you, when visiting a photobooth most of them don’t accept card ! Around 10,000â‚© should be enough, unless you plan on taking a lot of pictures
Enjoy a Quiet Walk in Itaewon
Itaewon is often famous for its nightlife, bars and fancy houses, and according to many people there is not much else to do there. But I disagree ! Of cour if you are visiting Korea for the first time, Itaewon doesn’t need to be on your list. However, if you are staying longer, it’s definitly a neighbourhood to check out.
As it is less crowded and more spacious, Itaewon feels peaceful especially during autumn in Seoul. The streets turn beautiful shades of orange and red with the trees’ leaves. The white façades of the cafés contrast perfectly with the autumn leaves collours, creating a lovely atmosphere for a quiet walk. You will also find plenty of stylish boutiques and a record store, perfect for a calm afternoon walk.
If you want to do more than just wander around, head up to the Leeum Museum. It owns a large collection of both historical and contemporary artworks. And even if you don’t go inside, the view from the top is worth the climb !
Try Hotteok
When autumn in Seoul arrives and the weather turns cooler, eating a warm hotteok is a nice and comforting. This sweet pancake is filled with nuts, brown sugar, and sometimes cinnamon. It’s the perfect snack during an afternoon full of walking and exploring.
You can find hotteok mainly in indoor markets like Gwangjang Market or Dongdaemun Market !
Take a Cooking Class
If you are looking for a fun and interesting experience , taking a Korean cooking class is a very good idea ! It is the perfect opportunity to learn how to make your favourite dishes like bulgogi, bibimbap, or kimbap. You can go alone or make it a team event for even more fun !
I booked my class on Airbnb Experiences, and it was such an interesting and fun activity ! We started with a quick tour of the nearby market to get the last ingredients and explore the local stalls. Then, we headed back to the studio and we started cooking ! Phoebe, our instructor, taught us how to make bulgogi, kimbap, and steamed eggs ! Everything tasted amazing and the best best part is that I can recreate them at home !
Now that you know everything there is to do in autumn in seoul, check out my article on Korean Souvenir Ideas !
