Best time to visit

Best time to visit South Korea

Autumn (September–November) is spectacular with fiery foliage. Spring cherry blossoms rival Japan’s. Summer is hot and monsoon-prone; winter is bitter but festive.

Best monthsMarch–May, September–November

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Month-by-month overview

South Korea at a glance

GreatGoodOkayAvoid

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Verdict	okay	okay	good	great	great	okay	avoid	okay	great	great	good	okay
Temp (°C)	1° -6°	4° -4°	10° 1°	18° 7°	23° 13°	27° 18°	29° 22°	30° 22°	26° 17°	20° 10°	12° 3°	4° -4°
Rain (mm)	20	25	45	65	85	135	370	275	130	45	45	20
Crowds	low	low	medium	high	medium	medium	medium	medium	medium	high	medium	low
Price	$	$	$$	$$$	$$	$$	$$	$$	$$	$$$	$$	$
Notes	Cold but great for ski resorts	Lunar New Year	—	Cherry blossom season	—	Monsoon season begins	Heaviest monsoon rains	Hot and humid	Chuseok (harvest festival)	Peak autumn foliage	—	Ski season; Christmas lights

Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices in South Korea
Month	High / Low	Rainfall	Crowds	Prices	Verdict	Note
Jan	1° / -6°C	20mm	Low	$Low	Okay	Cold but great for ski resorts
Feb	4° / -4°C	25mm	Low	$Low	Okay	Lunar New Year
Mar	10° / 1°C	45mm	Medium	$$Mid	Good	—
Apr	18° / 7°C	65mm	High	$$$Peak	Great	Cherry blossom season
May	23° / 13°C	85mm	Medium	$$Mid	Great	—
Jun	27° / 18°C	135mm	Medium	$$Mid	Okay	Monsoon season begins
Jul	29° / 22°C	370mm	Medium	$$Mid	Avoid	Heaviest monsoon rains
Aug	30° / 22°C	275mm	Medium	$$Mid	Okay	Hot and humid
Sep	26° / 17°C	130mm	Medium	$$Mid	Great	Chuseok (harvest festival)
Oct	20° / 10°C	45mm	High	$$$Peak	Great	Peak autumn foliage
Nov	12° / 3°C	45mm	Medium	$$Mid	Good	—
Dec	4° / -4°C	20mm	Low	$Low	Okay	Ski season; Christmas lights

Month-by-month deep dives

South Korea in January

South Korea in February

South Korea in March

South Korea in April

South Korea in May

South Korea in June

South Korea in July

South Korea in August

South Korea in September

South Korea in October

South Korea in November

South Korea in December

Featured in our research

South Korea ranks #19 in The Luxury-per-Dollar Index 2026

Seoul, South Korea — Asia. Four Seasons and Josun Palace from $480; Korean service precision.

Read the full ranking →

Festivals & events

Cherry Blossom Festival

Apr

Jinhae’s festival draws millions to see 360,000 cherry trees in bloom.

Chuseok

Sep–Oct

Korean harvest thanksgiving with ancestral rites and family reunions.

Boryeong Mud Festival

Jul

Unique festival on the west coast with mud baths, slides, and wrestling.

Book your South Korea trip for March–May, September–November

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