If you’re in Korea right now, don’t miss out on the chance to see Seoul’s beautiful fall foliage! Peak foliage season is from late October to early November. Explore major parks, trails, and royal palaces where locals love to spend their autumn days!
Forest & Parks
Near Seongsu
1️⃣ Seoul Forest
Close to Seongsu, Seoul Forest is rich with ginkgo trees, fall flowers, and silver grass. For better access to all the key areas, enter through Entrance 2 near Seoul Forest Station Exit 4. Since many locals visit on weekends, we recommend coming on a weekday, especially in the morning or early afternoon.
✔ Ginkgo tress ✔ Mirror Pond ✔ Family Garden with maple trees ✔ Fountains
Walking Trails
2️⃣ Namsan Dulle-gil & Namsan Library
Take a walk along the trail that circles Namsan and enjoy views of Seoul’s landmark, ‘N Seoul Tower.’ Starting from Exit 8 or 10 at Seoul Station, you’ll arrive at Baekbeom Square, where vibrant autumn foliage awaits. Begin your easy trek here and take in sights of nature, traditional hanok cultural sites, and the city skyline.
① Cable car & N Seoul Tower observatory ② Take a bus to Namsan from Chungmuro or Dongguk University stations, if you prefer to walk less.
- Namsan Dulle-gilMust-See · Myengdong
- Baekbeom PlazaMust-See · Myengdong
- Namsan LibraryMust-See · Myeongdong
✔ Located next to Baekbeom Square, ‘Namsan Library’ is a hidden photo spot even for locals! Take a picture of N Seoul Tower at the rooftop terrace on Floor 2 of Namsan Library.
Key Landmark in Seoul
3️⃣ Olympic Park
Olympic Park is home to the ‘KSPO DOME,’ a popular venue for K-POP concerts. The park is also close to Lotte World, offering views of the Lotte World Tower framed by stunning autumn foliage. With beautiful seasonal flowers like chrysanthemums and cosmos and artistic sculptures throughout, it’s the perfect spot to soak up the autumn vibes.
✔ Inside Olympic Park, you’ll find the iconic ‘Lone Tree.’ This beloved photo spot is popular for wedding shoots and a favorite among locals.
Small island near Seoul
4️⃣ Nami Island
Korea's beautiful island located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Seoul Station! You can reach the island by ferry or zipline from the dock, and the island offers unique and charming vibes. In fall, the ginkgo tree-lined paths and trails are especially stunning. How about renting a bike to enjoy a scenic ride through the autumn foliage?
You might run into peacocks, ostriches, rabbits, and other animals roaming on the island.
4 Royal Palaces
Find a Hanbok rental shop and dress up in traditional Korean clothes! If you wear Hanbok, you can enter these palaces for free.
Iconic cultural heritage
1️⃣ Gyeongbokgung Palace
The first palace of the Joseon Dynasty that embraces Korea's traditional architectural style. The antique atmosphere makes you feel as if you are traveling back in time. The walking path along the outer walls of Gyeongbokgung is also famous for its beautiful ginkgo trees. Stroll along the palace walls and enjoy the autumn foliage in Seochon and Samcheong-dong as well.
✔ The most beautiful spot is the pavilion ‘Hyangwonjeong’ in the garden. It sits on a round hill in the middle of a pond, surrounded by autumn foliage.
Perfect harmony with nature
2️⃣ Changdeokgung & Changgyeonggung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace, known for its emphasis on natural beauty, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Changdeokgung is connected to another of Seoul's Four Great Palaces, Changgyeonggung. The pond within Changgyeonggung, called ‘Chundangji,’ is surrounded by dense autumn foliage, casting a beautiful, almost mystical reflection on the water's surface.
✔ The ‘Secret Garden’ of Changdeokgung Palace is the best photo spot. Make sure to secure a slot in advance before you head over!
Enjoy day & night
3️⃣ Deoksugung Palace
Deoksugung Palace is relatively small, making it ideal for a quick, light tour. This palace is unique for its blend of traditional palace buildings and Western-style architecture. The stone wall path surrounding the palace is especially beautiful in autumn.
The palace is open until late evening, with last entry at 8 PM.
✔ Don’t forget to visit ‘Jeongdong Observatory’ on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall, right in front of Deoksugung Palace. Take a panoramic view of Deoksugung’s autumn foliage!
🍁 Foliage View Restaurants & Cafes
- Falbalas 🍽️
blog.naver.com/moni_moni_/222925764745
Falbalas is a French restaurant located a 10-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace. We recommend the ‘French Duck Leg Confit’ and ‘French Onion Soup.’
- Mishmash 🍽️
instagram.com/p/CIj1GYJhrzD
With its Hanok interior, the space offers a great view. Changgyeonggung and Hanok village are nearby, so don't forget to drop by when you're around.
- Staff Picks ☕️
blog.naver.com/ririsiu/223249068278
Next to Gyeongbokgung Palace is Seochon Village, and the cafe sits right beside a large ginkgo tree. The brown brick building and the tree create a perfect harmony.
- Tung ☕️
instagram.com/p/CkczorBuGzS
Take in the breathtaking view of autumn foliage and one of the royal palaces from the window. You can also see N Seoul Tower from the cafe.