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Best time to visit Seoul

The best time to visit Seoul is April and October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Seoul, Seoul, South Korea

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January2.3 °C / 36 °F-7 °C / 19 °F16 mm / 0.6 inneither best nor good
February5.3 °C / 42 °F-4.6 °C / 24 °F23 mm / 0.9 inneither best nor good
March11.6 °C / 53 °F0.7 °C / 33 °F43 mm / 1.7 ingood month
April17.8 °C / 64 °F6.6 °C / 44 °F71 mm / 2.8 inbest month, for Cherry blossom season. The weather alone makes it good.
May23.3 °C / 74 °F12.5 °C / 55 °F97 mm / 3.8 ingood month
June27.4 °C / 81 °F18.3 °C / 65 °F116 mm / 4.6 inneither best nor good
July29 °C / 84 °F22.6 °C / 73 °F326 mm / 12.9 inneither best nor good
August29.9 °C / 86 °F23.1 °C / 74 °F241 mm / 9.5 inneither best nor good
September26.2 °C / 79 °F17.4 °C / 63 °F129 mm / 5.1 ingood month
October20.2 °C / 68 °F9.8 °C / 50 °F61 mm / 2.4 inbest month
November12.3 °C / 54 °F2.4 °C / 36 °F47 mm / 1.8 ingood month
December3.8 °C / 39 °F-5 °C / 23 °F24 mm / 1 inneither best nor good
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
April, October
Good
March, May, September, November

April (boosted by cherry blossoms) and the cooler, drier September-October stretch are the best times to explore, while the Jangma monsoon brings extreme heat, humidity and rain from June to August and winter (December-February) is bitterly cold.

Why these months

  • March · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 78%, relative humidity 63%.

    Against: feels like (high) 8.2 °C / 47 °F, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, average daily high 11.6 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 0.7 °C / 33 °F.

    Also on: Seoul Marathon.

    Watch out for: Yellow dust storms.

  • April · best

    Good weather, made best by Cherry blossom season.

    In its favour: feels like (high) 15.7 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 63%, average daily low 6.6 °C / 44 °F.

    Against: days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wet days 7.5 days, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in.

    Watch out for: Yellow dust storms.

  • May · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 23.1 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.3 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F.

    Against: precipitation 97 mm / 3.8 in, days with heavy rain 3 days, wet days 7.7 days, relative humidity 68%.

  • September · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, average daily high 26.2 °C / 79 °F, average daily low 17.4 °C / 63 °F.

    Against: precipitation 129 mm / 5.1 in, days with heavy rain 3.7 days, relative humidity 77%, feels like (high) 28 °C / 82 °F, wet days 8.1 days.

    Also on: Chuseok.

    Watch out for: Chuseok closures.

  • October · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 19.3 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, average daily low 9.8 °C / 50 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 74%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, wet days 6.1 days, precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in.

    Also on: Chuseok.

    Watch out for: Chuseok closures.

  • November · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 76%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 6.7 days, relative humidity 70%.

    Against: feels like (high) 9.3 °C / 49 °F, precipitation 47 mm / 1.8 in, sunshine per day 7.7 h, average daily high 12.3 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 2.4 °C / 36 °F.

    Also on: Seoul Lantern Festival.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
October
Good
March–May, September, November

October is the standout month for hiking, cool and comparatively dry, with March-May and September also good; deep winter is too cold and the June-August monsoon brings heat, humidity and heavy rain that make trails unpleasant.

Why these months

  • March · good

    In its favour: average daily high 11.6 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 12 h, feels like (high) 8.2 °C / 47 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.

    Against: average daily low 0.7 °C / 33 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, wet days 6.5 days.

    Also on: Seoul Marathon.

    Watch out for: Yellow dust storms.

  • April · good

    In its favour: average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, feels like (high) 15.7 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 6.6 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 13.2 h, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wet days 7.5 days, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in.

    Also on: Cherry blossom season.

    Watch out for: Yellow dust storms.

  • May · good

    In its favour: average daily high 23.3 °C / 74 °F, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 3 days, precipitation 97 mm / 3.8 in, feels like (high) 23.1 °C / 74 °F, wet days 7.7 days, relative humidity 68%.

  • September · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph.

    Against: feels like (high) 28 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 129 mm / 5.1 in, days with heavy rain 3.7 days, wet days 8.1 days, relative humidity 77%, average daily high 26.2 °C / 79 °F, average daily low 17.4 °C / 63 °F.

    Also on: Chuseok.

    Watch out for: Chuseok closures.

  • October · best

    In its favour: average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, feels like (high) 19.3 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 9.8 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in, wet days 6.1 days, relative humidity 74%.

    Also on: Chuseok.

    Watch out for: Chuseok closures.

  • November · good

    In its favour: average daily high 12.3 °C / 54 °F, wet days 6.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, feels like (high) 9.3 °C / 49 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.

    Against: average daily low 2.4 °C / 36 °F, precipitation 47 mm / 1.8 in, sunshine per day 7.7 h.

    Also on: Seoul Lantern Festival.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is 곤지암스키장, Konjiam Resort, 37 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) -2.2 °C1.1 °C8.2 °C15.7 °C23.1 °C29.5 °C33.3 °C34.7 °C28 °C19.3 °C9.3 °C-0.3 °C
Days with heavy rain 0.2 days0.7 days1.1 days2.6 days3 days3 days8.1 days6.4 days3.7 days1.6 days1.2 days0.6 days
Time rain usually falls 8 pm2 pm2 am1 pm7 pm2 am3 am1 pm3 am12 pm4 am2 pm
Sunshine per day 8 h8.6 h9.4 h9.7 h10 h10.1 h7.8 h8.7 h8.4 h8.7 h7.7 h7.6 h
Relative humidity 63%63%63%63%68%73%82%81%77%74%70%66%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–202533.1 µg/m³28.5 µg/m³33.5 µg/m³32.2 µg/m³30.6 µg/m³28.5 µg/m³25 µg/m³27.8 µg/m³23 µg/m³24.4 µg/m³29.1 µg/m³27.5 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202557.7 µg/m³47.9 µg/m³52.1 µg/m³49.9 µg/m³45.7 µg/m³44.1 µg/m³42.9 µg/m³46.7 µg/m³40.5 µg/m³40.8 µg/m³51.5 µg/m³51.6 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Cherry blossom season Major

    April

  • Seollal (Lunar New Year) celebrations

    January and February, dates vary from year to year

  • Seoul Marathon

    March

  • Chuseok

    September and October, dates vary from year to year

  • Seoul Lantern Festival

    November

Worth knowing before you go

  • Seollal closures

    January and February, dates vary from year to year

  • Yellow dust storms

    March and April

  • Chuseok closures

    September and October, dates vary from year to year

World Heritage sites nearby

UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.

  • Jongmyo

    2 km away

  • Changdeokgung

    2 km away

  • Namhansanseong

    21 km away

Other places in South Korea

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).