We’re finally approaching fall, the season that feels like a deep sigh of relief after months of sticky summer humidity. The air turns lighter, crisp, and refreshing, and suddenly breathing feels easier again. Soon, the days will shorten and winter will quietly creep in, but before that, Korea transforms into a living masterpiece, with its cities and countryside surrounded in fiery reds, golden yellows, and soft oranges.
Spring in Korea may be famous for its cherry blossoms, but they bloom so briefly that we hardly have time to take them in. Fall, on the other hand, lingers. It gives us time to wander slowly, to sit on park benches and listen to the rustling of leaves, to walk through ancient palaces and forest trails without rushing. It is a season that asks us to notice, to savor, and to enjoy beauty at a slower pace.
But as much as we welcome the cooler breeze, our skin is often less enthusiastic about the transition. Lower temperatures and reduced humidity make lightweight summer products feel suddenly insufficient. Skin starts craving something richer and more protective.
In summer, we keep things simple: a toner, a lightweight moisturizer, and SPF are often enough. High humidity keeps skin feeling plump, and heavy products only weigh it down. Fall, however, is different. The crisp air may leave skin tight and dry, calling for a more nourishing routine.
For example, switching our Hyaluronic Toner to our Probiotics Barrier Essence helps lock in hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. Instead of a fast-absorbing moisturizer like the 5% Niacinamide Gel Cream, a richer cream like the Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream can be a better protection against seasonal dryness. At the same time, a gentle and regular exfoliation doesn’t allow dead skin cells to settle in.
Furthermore, hand creams and body oils start to be handy, as we want to pay the same amount of attention to our body care. Reapplying our Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream a few times a day will help you keep your hands protected and soft, despite the colder weather.
And just as our skincare evolves with the season, so do the ways we spend our days. Fall in Korea is brimming with experiences: afternoons spent strolling through fiery foliage, weekend escapes into the mountains, cozy evenings in cafés, and festivals that celebrate culture and harvest. It is, without a doubt, the most generous season for those who love to explore.
A walk through history: Changdeokgung Palace
One of the most magical places to experience Fall in Seoul must be the Changdeokgung Palace. Built during the Joseon Dynasty and recognized by UNESCO, it is considered the most well-preserved of Seoul’s five royal palaces.
What makes it especially captivating compared to the other palaces, even more so during autumn, is the Huwon, or Secret Garden, well hidden behind the palace’s walls and accessible only via guided tours. Tickets cost around 8,000 won and include both the garden and the palace.
Easily reached from Anguk Station on Line 3, the palace is just a short walk from Gyeongbokgung as well. Tours run March through November at 10:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm, lasting about 90 minutes. Only 100 tickets are available per slot, with half released online. Booking early is essential, as they sell out fast.
A city escape: Seoul Forest
For a different kind of Fall day, Seoul Forest offers the perfect balance between city life and nature. Often compared to New York’s Central Park, it’s a vast green escape filled with cycling paths, tree-lined walkways, and quiet corners where you can slow down and simply breathe. Admission is free, and with convenient subway access via Seoul Forest Station (Suin–Bundang Line) or Ttukseom Station (Line 2), it’s one of the easiest places in the city to enjoy the season.
What many visitors don’t realize is that the park also hides a deer enclosure, tucked away closer to the river rather than the central grounds. Here, deer roam in the open, offering a surprisingly peaceful encounter with wildlife in the middle of Seoul. For animal lovers, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the city’s constant buzz.
And my favorite spot of all? The Seongsu Suspension Bridge, located at the far end of the park. It’s one of the best places to catch the sunset, especially in Fall, when the fading light meets the brilliant reds and golds of the trees below.
A day trip: Nami Island
Sometimes, Fall demands a little more than just a walk in the city: it calls for a true escape. Just a few hours from Seoul lies Nami Island, one of Korea’s most iconic fall destinations. Small enough to explore in a single day, the island completely transforms during this season, becoming a heaven of bright and warm colors.
Getting to Nami Island is simple. Shuttle buses depart from Insadong and Namdaemun all the time and they are typically arranged by travel agencies. However, if you prefer a quicker way, there is also a high-speed train from either Cheongnyangni or Yongsan Station that reaches Gapyeong Station in about an hour. From there, a short taxi or bus ride will take you to the ferry terminal.
The island itself is only accessible by ferry, which runs every 30 minutes in the early morning and evening and every 10–20 minutes between 9am and 6pm. For the more adventurous, a zip line crossing is available for around 50,000 won.
An adventure far from the city: Mount Seorak
Speaking of adventurous, Mount Seorak is the crown jewel of Korea’s Fall landscapes. Located a few hours outside of Seoul and close to Yangyang and Sokcho, Seoraksan turns into a canvas of fiery colors in October.
Trails range from gentle walks to more challenging hikes, but whichever you choose, the scenery is breathtaking. And after the hike, a short trip to Naksansa Temple rewards you with a completely different perspective: perched on a cliff overlooking the East Sea, the temple is calm, serene, and surrounded by the sound of waves. It’s a perfect place to pause, reflect, and appreciate the fleeting beauty of the season.
To reach the park, take an express bus from Seoul to Sokcho, then a local bus (No. 7 or 7-1) to the park entrance. Seoraksan National Park is open daily from 6am to 8pm. A cable car (15,000 won) also operates from 8:30am to 5:30pm. You may check the following website for more information: https://www.sorakcablecar.co.kr/, but be aware that the site has to be translated.
An autumnal playground: Hwadam Forest
One place not to be missed during the Fall season is Hwadam Botanic Garden & Forest (화담숲). Spanning 165,000 square meters, this serene destination offers 17 unique garden exhibitions, each with its own concept. In peak Fall, the garden transforms into a vibrant and colorful eco-trail, best enjoyed by walking or via their charming monorail, which offers three scenic routes of varying durations.
Located in Gwangju City (광주시) just south of Seoul, Hwadam Forest is accessible by public transport but does require an early start. Take the 500-1 bus from Jamsil (잠실광역환승센터(지하)) for around 1.5 hours, then transfer to the Gwangju 9 (광주9) local bus at 농협. 곤지암연세의원 for a short 15-minute ride. From there, it's a 15–20 minute walk to the entrance. Alternatively, it takes about 1.5 hours by rental car, depending on your departure point (free parking is available on site).
Due to its popularity from late October to early November, when the leaves have fully transformed, Hwadam Forest uses a reservation system to manage capacity. Tickets often sell out quickly, so plan ahead! Reservations typically open between mid-late September (last year, it was September 23rd). You can reserve tickets at www.hwadamsup.com, which also offers an English-language option.
There are two types of tickets: General Admission (must-book in advance) and Monorail (can be purchased onsite at kiosks). During peak season, there’s a limit of six tickets per person.
Cozy Indoors: Cooking and Crafts
Finally, not every Fall day calls for outdoor adventures. Some are best spent indoors, especially around Chuseok, Korea’s harvest festival. This is the season for warm gatherings, shared meals, and handmade traditions. Cooking classes are a wonderful way to take part in this. Learning how to prepare dishes like japchae or kimchi pancakes adds a memorable layer to your trip, and these are meals you can recreate at home long after your travels are over.
Another uniquely Korean experience is making tteok, or rice cakes. These come in many shapes, colors, and flavors, each with symbolic meaning. The process requires patience, but it’s deeply rewarding, blending food, culture, and craft into one. And if you’re lucky, you’ll leave with your own handmade treats to share.
Fall in Korea: what are the activities you should look forward to
We’re finally approaching fall, the season that feels like a deep sigh of relief after months of sticky summer humidity. The air turns lighter, crisp, and refreshing, and suddenly breathing feels easier again. Soon, the days will shorten and winter will quietly creep in, but before that, Korea transforms into a living masterpiece, with its cities and countryside surrounded in fiery reds, golden yellows, and soft oranges.
Spring in Korea may be famous for its cherry blossoms, but they bloom so briefly that we hardly have time to take them in. Fall, on the other hand, lingers. It gives us time to wander slowly, to sit on park benches and listen to the rustling of leaves, to walk through ancient palaces and forest trails without rushing. It is a season that asks us to notice, to savor, and to enjoy beauty at a slower pace.
But as much as we welcome the cooler breeze, our skin is often less enthusiastic about the transition. Lower temperatures and reduced humidity make lightweight summer products feel suddenly insufficient. Skin starts craving something richer and more protective.
In summer, we keep things simple: a toner, a lightweight moisturizer, and SPF are often enough. High humidity keeps skin feeling plump, and heavy products only weigh it down. Fall, however, is different. The crisp air may leave skin tight and dry, calling for a more nourishing routine.
For example, switching our Hyaluronic Toner to our Probiotics Barrier Essence helps lock in hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. Instead of a fast-absorbing moisturizer like the 5% Niacinamide Gel Cream, a richer cream like the Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream can be a better protection against seasonal dryness. At the same time, a gentle and regular exfoliation doesn’t allow dead skin cells to settle in.
Furthermore, hand creams and body oils start to be handy, as we want to pay the same amount of attention to our body care. Reapplying our Nourishing Calming Hand & Nail Cream a few times a day will help you keep your hands protected and soft, despite the colder weather.
And just as our skincare evolves with the season, so do the ways we spend our days. Fall in Korea is brimming with experiences: afternoons spent strolling through fiery foliage, weekend escapes into the mountains, cozy evenings in cafés, and festivals that celebrate culture and harvest. It is, without a doubt, the most generous season for those who love to explore.
A walk through history: Changdeokgung Palace
One of the most magical places to experience Fall in Seoul must be the Changdeokgung Palace. Built during the Joseon Dynasty and recognized by UNESCO, it is considered the most well-preserved of Seoul’s five royal palaces.
What makes it especially captivating compared to the other palaces, even more so during autumn, is the Huwon, or Secret Garden, well hidden behind the palace’s walls and accessible only via guided tours. Tickets cost around 8,000 won and include both the garden and the palace.
Easily reached from Anguk Station on Line 3, the palace is just a short walk from Gyeongbokgung as well. Tours run March through November at 10:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm, lasting about 90 minutes. Only 100 tickets are available per slot, with half released online. Booking early is essential, as they sell out fast.
A city escape: Seoul Forest
For a different kind of Fall day, Seoul Forest offers the perfect balance between city life and nature. Often compared to New York’s Central Park, it’s a vast green escape filled with cycling paths, tree-lined walkways, and quiet corners where you can slow down and simply breathe. Admission is free, and with convenient subway access via Seoul Forest Station (Suin–Bundang Line) or Ttukseom Station (Line 2), it’s one of the easiest places in the city to enjoy the season.
What many visitors don’t realize is that the park also hides a deer enclosure, tucked away closer to the river rather than the central grounds. Here, deer roam in the open, offering a surprisingly peaceful encounter with wildlife in the middle of Seoul. For animal lovers, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the city’s constant buzz.
And my favorite spot of all? The Seongsu Suspension Bridge, located at the far end of the park. It’s one of the best places to catch the sunset, especially in Fall, when the fading light meets the brilliant reds and golds of the trees below.
A day trip: Nami Island
Sometimes, Fall demands a little more than just a walk in the city: it calls for a true escape. Just a few hours from Seoul lies Nami Island, one of Korea’s most iconic fall destinations. Small enough to explore in a single day, the island completely transforms during this season, becoming a heaven of bright and warm colors.
Getting to Nami Island is simple. Shuttle buses depart from Insadong and Namdaemun all the time and they are typically arranged by travel agencies. However, if you prefer a quicker way, there is also a high-speed train from either Cheongnyangni or Yongsan Station that reaches Gapyeong Station in about an hour. From there, a short taxi or bus ride will take you to the ferry terminal.
The island itself is only accessible by ferry, which runs every 30 minutes in the early morning and evening and every 10–20 minutes between 9am and 6pm. For the more adventurous, a zip line crossing is available for around 50,000 won.
An adventure far from the city: Mount Seorak
Speaking of adventurous, Mount Seorak is the crown jewel of Korea’s Fall landscapes. Located a few hours outside of Seoul and close to Yangyang and Sokcho, Seoraksan turns into a canvas of fiery colors in October.
Trails range from gentle walks to more challenging hikes, but whichever you choose, the scenery is breathtaking. And after the hike, a short trip to Naksansa Temple rewards you with a completely different perspective: perched on a cliff overlooking the East Sea, the temple is calm, serene, and surrounded by the sound of waves. It’s a perfect place to pause, reflect, and appreciate the fleeting beauty of the season.
To reach the park, take an express bus from Seoul to Sokcho, then a local bus (No. 7 or 7-1) to the park entrance. Seoraksan National Park is open daily from 6am to 8pm. A cable car (15,000 won) also operates from 8:30am to 5:30pm. You may check the following website for more information: https://www.sorakcablecar.co.kr/, but be aware that the site has to be translated.
An autumnal playground: Hwadam Forest
One place not to be missed during the Fall season is Hwadam Botanic Garden & Forest (화담숲). Spanning 165,000 square meters, this serene destination offers 17 unique garden exhibitions, each with its own concept. In peak Fall, the garden transforms into a vibrant and colorful eco-trail, best enjoyed by walking or via their charming monorail, which offers three scenic routes of varying durations.
Located in Gwangju City (광주시) just south of Seoul, Hwadam Forest is accessible by public transport but does require an early start. Take the 500-1 bus from Jamsil (잠실광역환승센터(지하)) for around 1.5 hours, then transfer to the Gwangju 9 (광주9) local bus at 농협. 곤지암연세의원 for a short 15-minute ride. From there, it's a 15–20 minute walk to the entrance. Alternatively, it takes about 1.5 hours by rental car, depending on your departure point (free parking is available on site).
Due to its popularity from late October to early November, when the leaves have fully transformed, Hwadam Forest uses a reservation system to manage capacity. Tickets often sell out quickly, so plan ahead! Reservations typically open between mid-late September (last year, it was September 23rd). You can reserve tickets at www.hwadamsup.com, which also offers an English-language option.
There are two types of tickets: General Admission (must-book in advance) and Monorail (can be purchased onsite at kiosks). During peak season, there’s a limit of six tickets per person.
Cozy Indoors: Cooking and Crafts
Finally, not every Fall day calls for outdoor adventures. Some are best spent indoors, especially around Chuseok, Korea’s harvest festival. This is the season for warm gatherings, shared meals, and handmade traditions. Cooking classes are a wonderful way to take part in this. Learning how to prepare dishes like japchae or kimchi pancakes adds a memorable layer to your trip, and these are meals you can recreate at home long after your travels are over.
Another uniquely Korean experience is making tteok, or rice cakes. These come in many shapes, colors, and flavors, each with symbolic meaning. The process requires patience, but it’s deeply rewarding, blending food, culture, and craft into one. And if you’re lucky, you’ll leave with your own handmade treats to share.