When is the Best Time to Visit Korea?

When is the best time to visit South Korea? You probably had this question in mind when you decided to visit South Korea.

You’re about to embark on a magical journey full of amazing food, vibrant culture, and some of the friendliest people you’ve met in your life. Who knows – you may love it so much that you decide to move to South Korea and live here permanently!

Read on for some insight into when you should travel to South Korea, and good luck planning your upcoming vacation!

When should I visit South Korea?

The best time to visit Korea is whenever you can! The country has four seasons, namely spring, summer, fall, and winter. Whether you’re visiting Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island, or any part of Korea, each season has something different and exciting to offer visitors.

However, they also highlight different events, so it’s important to try to determine which season and activities would be in your best interest. This will set you up for success, so make sure that you have the vacation of your dreams.

Visit South Korea in Spring

Birds chirping, cherry blossoms blooming, long and warm days – what’s not to love about spring? Korea has four distinct seasons, so they experience a true spring (rather than a couple of temperate weeks between winter and summer). You can generally experience the best parts of Korean spring anytime between early April and mid-June.

In those months, you’ll see cherry blossom trees blooming everywhere you look, and you’ll enjoy warm (but not too hot!) weather, so you’ll be able to explore national parks and outdoor markets without sweating your face off.

Korea is also home to some pretty amazing outdoor festivals out in the hills away from the cities. Many of them coincide with the spring because it’s the best time to be outside without worrying about extreme heat or inclement weather.

You should visit Korea during the spring if your interest is split between indoor and outdoor activities — it’s the perfect season to enjoy shopping and restaurants and then head out for a hike or festival to wrap up your trip.

Visit Korea in Summer

Summer temperatures will leave you drenched in sweat and running for the air-conditioner every chance that you get. With that said, do do not book a summer trip if you’re not a fan of the heat (especially since Sambok occurs during this season). Not to mention, most of the best Korean dishes are spicy, so you won’t have much relief from the sweat while you’re indoors, either!

The latter half of summer is known as the monsoon season, which usually affects China and Japan far more than South Korea. That being said, South Korea still traditionally experiences at least two or three big storms in this period.

Fear not, though! Even though you’re on vacation during the monsoon season doesn’t mean it’s ruined by any means – it just means you’ll have more time to shop, enjoy restaurants, and spend time experiencing the best indoor parts of Korean culture.

There are some benefits to summer travel — due to being an off-peak season, summer flights are usually much less expensive than spring and fall flights from most parts of the world. You should visit Korea during the summer if you’re not afraid of the heat and you’d like to save some money on plane fares, so you have more to spend while you’re in Korea! You’re still bound to have the best time!

Visit Korea in Fall

While spring is definitely a popular time to visit Korea, fall is even more popular. The trees turn brilliant colors ranging from rich red to vibrant yellow, the summer heat dissipates, and autumn leaves cool, and crisp days and festivals are even easier to come by.

Fall in Korea is usually warm enough that you can enjoy a stroll about town in a tee shirt and jeans, but it’s also cool enough that you won’t be uncomfortable and can pop on a sweater if you’re so inclined.

One of the best parts of visiting Korea is wandering around the city streets to check out different shopping districts and generally exploring. There is no better time to do that than September through November when the days get shorter and cooler.

If spending time outdoors on your upcoming vacation is important to you, consider making your trip to Korea in September or October. Both months have an average temperature ranging between 50 and 75 degrees, so it’s the best time to get outside and see what this interesting country is all about!

Visit Korea in Winter

I’m not going to sugarcoat it – winter sinks its claws into Korea at the beginning of December, making it pretty miserable to go outside for a solid three months. While it’s not impossible by any means to venture outside in this period, your skin will definitely be a bit red from the brisk temperature when you make it to your final destination!

Because Korea has so much to offer in terms of music, movies, and indoor shopping, there’s still plenty to do in the winter – if you’re not afraid of the cold and come well-equipped with multiple layers and a good winter coat, you’ll have an amazing time.

Also, don’t forget that most Korean food is pretty up there in terms of spiciness – eating spicy food is one hundred times more fun in the winter than it is in the summer, so you’ll definitely have to eat your way around town to counteract the cold.

Winter is also an off-peak time to travel, so you’re bound to find similar deals on airfare and lodging as you would traveling in the summer. Consider making your trek to Korea in the winter if you’re used to winter and can’t be scared off by a little snow – you won’t be disappointed! You’ll get to enjoy some winter sports during this time too!

Wrap Up

Whether you’re a lover of sky-high temperatures or would rather stroll around while it’s snowing, a well-timed Korea trip will give you everything you want (and more). When do you think is the best time to go to Korea? Please let us know in the comments below – there’s no wrong answer!