Autumn in Seoul doesn't arrive all at once.
One week, the city still looks mostly green. Then yellow ginkgo leaves begin appearing along the streets, maple trees turn red, and suddenly Seoul feels like a completely different city.
As a certified tour guide in Korea, I think autumn is one of the best seasons for exploring Seoul on foot. The weather is cooler, the skies are often clear, and you don't have to travel far from the city center to find beautiful fall colors.
But where should you actually go?
Instead of giving you a huge list, here are six of my favorite places to see fall foliage in Seoul, depending on the kind of experience you're looking for.
When Is the Best Time for Fall Foliage in Seoul?
This is probably the first question travelers ask.
Seoul's autumn colors generally become most impressive from late October into early November, although the exact timing changes every year depending on temperature and weather conditions.
Mountain areas such as Bukhansan can begin changing earlier, while some city streets and parks remain colorful into November.
My advice: If you're visiting Seoul around the last week of October or first week of November, you usually have a good chance of seeing beautiful autumn colors somewhere in the city.
Don't plan your entire trip around one exact "peak foliage" date. Nature doesn't follow our travel schedules!
 |
| Colorful fall foliage in Seoul with N Seoul Tower during autumn in Korea. |
1. Changdeokgung Palace — Best for Palace + Autumn Scenery
If I had to recommend only one royal palace for autumn, I would choose Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁).
The reason is its famous Secret Garden, or Huwon (후원).
Unlike a formal European-style garden, Huwon was designed to work with the natural landscape. Ponds, old trees, traditional pavilions, stone paths, and hills blend together beautifully.
In autumn, red and yellow leaves surrounding Buyongji Pond and the traditional pavilions create one of Seoul's most classic fall scenes.
Changdeokgung became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, and even Korea's official tourism information describes fall as one of the most beautiful times to experience the garden.
Guide Tip: Access to the Secret Garden is managed separately from general palace admission, so check the current tour and ticket arrangements before visiting.
Best for: First-time visitors, photographers, couples, and Korean history lovers.
 |
| Autumn foliage around Buyongji Pond in Changdeokgung Secret Garden Seoul. |
2. Namsan & N Seoul Tower — Best for Autumn + Seoul Skyline
Want fall foliage and a panoramic Seoul view at the same time?
Go to Namsan Mountain (남산).
Namsan is right in the middle of Seoul, but once you start walking through its wooded trails, the busy streets below can feel surprisingly far away.
In autumn, the walking paths become surrounded by yellow and orange leaves, while N Seoul Tower rises above the trees.
You can walk up, take the cable car, or use other transportation to reach the upper area. If you have enough time, I recommend walking at least part of the way rather than going straight to the tower.
The combination of autumn leaves + Seoul skyline + N Seoul Tower makes Namsan especially good for photography.
 |
| Namsan autumn walking trail with colorful leaves and N Seoul Tower in Seoul. |
Turn It Into a Seoul Night Experience
If you're visiting Namsan later in the day, you can also combine the autumn scenery with Seoul's night views.
My N Seoul Tower & Myeongdong Night Tour takes you to Namsan and N Seoul Tower before continuing into Myeongdong, where you can experience one of Seoul's liveliest nighttime neighborhoods.
👉 Book on your preferred platform:
GetYourGuide – Seoul: N Seoul Tower & Myeongdong Night Tour
Viator – Seoul N Seoul Tower and Myeongdong Night Walking Tour
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, photographers, and travelers who want autumn scenery without leaving central Seoul.
3. Deoksugung Stone Wall Road — Best Romantic Autumn Walk
You don't need a mountain to enjoy autumn in Seoul.
The Deoksugung Stone Wall Road (덕수궁 돌담길) is one of the city's most atmospheric autumn walks.
The historic stone wall, yellow ginkgo leaves, cafés, museums, and surrounding city architecture give this area a very different feeling from Seoul's large parks.
It's also easy to reach from City Hall, making it perfect if you only have an hour or two.
There is an old Korean urban legend that couples who walk along Deoksugung's stone wall road will eventually break up.
Why?
One popular explanation connects the story with the old Seoul Family Court, which used to be nearby. Divorcing couples would walk along this road on their way to court.
Don't worry too much.
Plenty of couples still walk here!
Best for: Couples, casual walkers, street photography, and travelers with limited time.
 |
| Yellow ginkgo leaves along Deoksugung Stone Wall Road in Seoul during autumn. |
4. Seoul Forest — Best for a Relaxed Local Autumn
If you want somewhere less historical and more like a place where Seoul residents actually spend their weekends, try Seoul Forest (서울숲).
This large urban park offers tree-lined paths, lawns, gardens, and plenty of space to slow down.
During autumn, you'll find yellow ginkgo trees, red and orange foliage, and many locals walking dogs, having picnics, or simply enjoying the cooler weather.
And there's another advantage.
You're right next to Seongsu-dong, one of Seoul's trendiest neighborhoods.
My favorite way to enjoy this area would be:
Seoul Forest → autumn walk → Seongsu café → dinner.
That's a very Seoul-style afternoon.
Best for: Families, café lovers, slow travelers, and anyone wanting a more local atmosphere.
 |
| Golden autumn foliage and ginkgo trees at Seoul Forest in South Korea |
Don't Stop at Seoul Forest — Explore Seongsu-dong Too
Since you're already here, don't head straight back to your hotel after your autumn walk.
Seongsu-dong is right next to Seoul Forest, and it's one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Seoul for cafés, pop-up stores, fashion, shopping, and converted industrial spaces.
I've already put together a separate guide showing you how to enjoy the neighborhood beyond the obvious tourist stops.
👉 Continue your day with my Seongsu-dong Guide: How to Experience One of Seoul's Coolest Neighborhoods.
5. Bukhansan National Park — Best for Hiking
Want the most dramatic autumn scenery?
Then leave the sidewalks behind and head to Bukhansan National Park (북한산국립공원).
Bukhansan rises directly beside Seoul, making it possible to enjoy genuine mountain scenery without traveling far outside the capital.
During peak autumn season, the slopes become covered in mixtures of red, orange, yellow, and green.
You don't necessarily need to climb to the highest peak either.
If you're not an experienced hiker, choose one of the easier trails and simply enjoy the forest and mountain scenery.
Wear proper shoes, bring water, and remember that popular trails can become very busy during peak foliage weekends.
Best for: Hikers, nature lovers, active travelers, and landscape photographers.
 |
| Bukhansan National Park covered in colorful autumn foliage overlooking Seoul. |
6. Seokchon Lake — Best Easy Autumn Walk
Not everyone wants palaces or hiking.
Sometimes you just want a flat, easy walk with beautiful scenery.
That's where Seokchon Lake (석촌호수) works perfectly.
The walking path around the lake is about 2.5 kilometers, and the combination of water, trees, cafés, and the surrounding Jamsil skyline makes it an easy place to spend an hour or two.
In autumn, colorful trees reflect on the lake while Lotte World Tower provides a very modern Seoul backdrop.
You can also combine the walk with Lotte World, Seoul Sky, or dinner around Jamsil.
Best for: Families, casual walkers, seniors, and travelers staying around Jamsil.
So, Which Seoul Autumn Spot Should You Choose?
If you only have time for one, here's how I would choose:
| What You Want | Where to Go |
|---|
| Classic Korean autumn | Changdeokgung |
| Seoul skyline + foliage | Namsan |
| Romantic city walk | Deoksugung Stone Wall Road |
| Relaxed local atmosphere | Seoul Forest |
| Mountain scenery | Bukhansan |
| Easy flat walk | Seokchon Lake |
For a first-time visitor, my personal choice would be Changdeokgung during the day and Namsan around sunset.
That combination gives you two very different sides of Seoul: traditional Korea surrounded by autumn leaves, followed by the modern city lighting up below N Seoul Tower.
A Local Guide's Final Autumn Tip
One thing visitors sometimes underestimate about Seoul is just how quickly autumn changes.
A place that looks mostly green one week can suddenly turn yellow and red, and a few days of rain or strong wind can bring many of those leaves down.
So don't worry too much about finding the single "perfect" day.
If the weather is nice, go outside.
Walk through a palace, climb part of Namsan, sit beside Seokchon Lake, or grab a coffee after wandering through Seoul Forest.
Autumn in Seoul isn't only about taking the perfect foliage photo.
Sometimes the best part is simply walking through the city while yellow ginkgo leaves crunch beneath your shoes.
And if you're lucky enough to visit Seoul when the colors are at their peak?
You'll understand why autumn is one of my favorite seasons to show people around Korea.
