brown bare trees under blue sky during daytime

Seoul

Seoul pairs Joseon palaces and hanok lanes with river parks and markets, and it has a subway network that is one of the busiest and largest in the world.

Find a room in Seoul Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Seoul

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Seoul is South Korea's capital and largest city, in the northwest of the country. The Han River divides it into northern and southern halves, and the city sits among hills and mountains, with Bukhansan on its northern edge. Seoul proper had about 9.6 million residents in 2024. The Joseon dynasty built five grand palaces here, mostly in the Jongno and Jung districts, and Gyeongbokgung is the main one.

Beyond the palaces, walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, an old residential district of traditional hanok houses, or follow Cheonggyecheon, a downtown stream that runs west to east to the Han River. Shop at Dongdaemun Market, the largest wholesale and retail market in South Korea, or Namdaemun Market, the oldest continuously running market in Seoul. Namsan Park offers hiking and skyline views, and Bukhansan gives hiking close to the city center. Summers are hot and humid, with the East Asian monsoon from June to July, and winter temperatures can drop below −10 °C.

Seoul in five

Take the AREX from IncheonThe express train reaches Seoul Station in about 45 minutes. The all-stop train is cheaper and takes about an hour.
Tap T-money everywhereIt works on the subway, buses and taxis, and transfers between subway and bus are discounted. Top up at a convenience store.
Wear hanbok for free palace entryRoyal palaces waive the entry fee for visitors in hanbok, and rental shops line the streets by the gates. Each palace has a weekly closing day, so check before you go.
Book the Secret GardenChangdeokgung's rear garden is visited in timed groups with a limited number of places. Reserve online before your trip.
Pick a base by subway lineMyeongdong suits a first trip, Hongdae the airport train and late nights, Jongno the palaces.Where to stay in Seoul

Things to do in Seoul

See all attractions in Seoul

Historic site · SeoulHeunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun)Visit after sundown to see the gate lit up.

Museum · SeoulMokin MuseumWeekdays tend to be quieter.

Sight · SeoulDongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)Check the program schedule for current exhibitions and events.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SeoulPut the places you like in Seoul on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Incheon (ICN), about 45 min to Seoul Station by AREX express
Transit card: T-money, sold at convenience stores
Best base: Myeongdong or Jongno for a first trip
Emergency: 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance
Late trains: Subway until around midnight

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh2°Low-5°Freezing, dry
FebruaryClear5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low-3°Cold, clear
MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low2°Thaw, dusty days
AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Cherry blossom
MayClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Warm, clear
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Humid, rain starts
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Monsoon
AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, humid
SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Clearing, Chuseok
OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Autumn color
NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Crisp, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh3°Low-4°Cold, lights

Average daily high and low in Seoul, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Apr Lotus Lantern Festival · May Lotus Lantern Festival · Jun Seoul Queer Culture Festival

Right now in Seoul

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 36%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 35%

Seoul

05:41 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today16°6°35%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 35%.
Wed17°8°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu16°10°53%Thursday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 53%.
Fri12°3°8%Friday: Clear. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sat6°-2°0%Saturday: Clear. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun8°1°4%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
Mon10°0°2%Monday: Clear. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 01:25 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,333 KRW

Amount

Converted to

KRW · South Korean Won

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Seoul

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Goyang Stadium · concertBruno Mars The Romantic TourMay 21 – 30, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Every year

Apr–MayLotus Lantern FestivalSeoul
JunSeoul Queer Culture FestivalSeoul
Jul–AugPentaport Rock FestivalIncheon, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Seoul

Hotels in Myeongdong or HongdaeCheck the line to IncheonCheck availability

DMZ and palace toursThe DMZ is visited with a tour onlyCompare day trips

eSIM for SeoulSubway apps and AREX on landingRead the guide

Insurance for SeoulTheft and medical cover in a big cityRead the guide

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Rules for Seoul, checked

Many nationalities enter South Korea without a visa, but some visa-exempt travelers must first apply for a K-ETA. Check entry rules on the official Visit Korea site before you book.Source
Dial 112 for police and 119 for fire or an ambulance anywhere in South Korea.
Declare meat, dairy and plant products on arrival; check the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency list before packing food.
Some common medicines are not allowed in South Korea; check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety list before you pack any prescription medicine.

All Seoul guides

Illuminated figures and large letters spelling SEOUL at the Seoul Lantern Festival at night

Where to stayWhere to stay in Seoul: six areas compared, with the Incheon airport routesChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Seoul

All of South Korea

Cities, KTX routes and entry rules

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Silla tombs, about 2 hours by KTX

Read the guide Jeju travel guide

Fly from Gimpo to the volcanic island

Read the guide K-ETA explained

Who needs it and where to apply

Read the guide

Seoul FAQ

How many days do you need in Seoul?

Three to four days cover the palaces, a market evening, a hanok district and one day trip. Two days works for a stopover, and a fifth day adds Suwon or the DMZ.

Where should I stay in Seoul?

Myeongdong for a first trip, Hongdae for nightlife and the direct airport train, Jongno for the palaces, Gangnam for business. The subway makes every base workable.

How do I get from Incheon Airport to central Seoul?

By AREX: the express reaches Seoul Station in about 45 minutes, and the all-stop train takes about an hour and costs less. Airport buses reach other districts.

Is Seoul safe for travelers?

Yes, it is generally safe, including late at night, with the usual city care for phones and bags in crowded markets. Keep ID with you and use the subway until it closes around midnight.

When is the best time to visit Seoul?

April and May for blossom, and September and October for clear autumn days. Summer is hot, humid and rainy, and winters are cold and dry.