Seoul-Area Fall Foliage Spots

Seoul City Center & Vicinity Autumn Foliage Spots — Autumn Outings by Region

This page lists autumn foliage spots in Seoul and the metropolitan area, organized by region. It's for those who want to choose their destination first, with details on location, features, reservation requirements, and suitable ways to visit for each spot. For day trip itineraries and departure times, refer to Seoul Vicinity Autumn Foliage Day Trip Courses. For national peak times and famous mountains, see Autumn Foliage Spots.

2026 Seoul & Metropolitan Area Autumn Foliage Season

The Korea Forest Service's "2026 Korean Peninsula Autumn Foliage Peak Prediction Map" (published September 22) anticipates the national peak in late October, with specific peaks predicted for ginkgo trees on October 30, and maple and oak trees on October 31. Seoul city center and Gyeonggi plains will be at their best following these species-specific trends, from late October to early November. Mountainous areas in northern and eastern Gyeonggi, with higher altitudes, will see colors a bit earlier. A September 10, 2026 report indicated the peak for Bukhansan around November 4.

Seoul City Center — Autumn Foliage by Subway

Palaces have regular closing days (e.g., Mondays for most, Tuesdays for Gyeongbokgung), so check the day before visiting.

Eastern Gyeonggi — Arboretums·Temples·Riversides

• Hwadam Botanic Garden (Gonjiam, Gwangju, Gyeonggi): An arboretum with many maple varieties and a monorail for easy movement. Operates on a full reservation system, and reservations for the autumn peak season fill up quickly. Check the official website for ticket and monorail reservation schedules.
• Namhansanseong (Gwangju, Gyeonggi): Autumn foliage walk along the UNESCO World Heritage fortress wall. See both the temporary palace and the fortress.
• Yongmunsa Temple, Yangpyeong: A temple famous for its natural monument ginkgo tree. The area is most yellow around the ginkgo peak (predicted October 30). Also refer to Yangpyeong travel information.
• Dumulmeori, Yangpyeong: Riverside where the North and South Han Rivers meet. See morning mist and autumn foliage together.
• Gangcheonseom Island, Yeoju: A riverside island park with a ginkgo tree-lined path and a large lawn.

Northern Gyeonggi — Mountain Arboretums and Valleys

• National Arboretum (Pocheon): A place to walk through well-preserved forests, managing visitor numbers through a reservation system. Check the National Arboretum website for closing days and reservation methods.
• The Garden of Morning Calm (Gapyeong): A private arboretum with many themed gardens, where you can see autumn foliage and chrysanthemum gardens together in autumn.
• Baegun Valley, Pocheon: Known as a summer valley, but also great as an autumn valley foliage drive route.

Re-selecting by Purpose

Pre-Visit Checklist

• Reservations: For Changdeokgung Huwon, Hwadam Botanic Garden, and National Arboretum, check reservation requirements first.
• Closing Days: Palaces and arboretums have regular closing days.
• Time: On autumn foliage weekends, roads outside the metropolitan area get congested from late morning. Early departure is the most reliable solution.
• Photos: For backlight and composition tips, refer to the 2026 Smartphone Autumn Foliage Photo Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When is Seoul's autumn foliage most beautiful? A. Based on the 2026 Korea Forest Service's species-specific predictions (ginkgo on October 30, maple trees on October 31), it's from late October to early November.

Q. I want to combine several spots into a day trip. A. Time-based itineraries are organized in Seoul Vicinity Autumn Foliage Day Trip Courses.

Sources

• Korea Forest Service 2026 Autumn Foliage Peak Prediction Map Report: https://www.youngnong.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=70540
• 2026 Autumn Foliage Forecast Report (News Travel): https://www.newstravel.co.kr/news/article.html?no=27534
• Palace Viewing Information (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, National Heritage Administration): https://royal.khs.go.kr
• National Arboretum: https://kna.forest.go.kr
• Hwadam Botanic Garden: https://www.hwadamsup.com

Last checked: 2026-09-29