Autumn Leaves in Korea 2026: Peak Dates and Where to Go

2026 forecast by Weatheri, published by the Korea Tourism Organization. Forecasts move with the weather, so check again in early October.

When do the leaves peak in 2026?

From late October in the north to mid-November in the south. Weatheri's 2026 forecast puts the first colour at Seoraksan on 3 October and peak colour there on 25 October, with Hallasan on Jeju last at 13 November.

The two dates mean different things. First colour is when about 20% of a mountain has turned, counted from the summit down, and peak is when about 80% has. Peak usually follows two to three weeks after first colour: Weatheri says about two weeks, and the Korea Meteorological Administration about 20 days.

This year runs late. September and October are expected to be warmer than normal, so Weatheri forecasts first colour 9.2 days later than normal on average across the mountains it tracks. The colour then moves south at 20 to 25km a day, which is why Seoraksan and the southern tip of the peninsula start about a month apart.

Forecasts differ. K-Weather, the other private forecaster, expects Seoraksan to start around 30 September, a few days before Weatheri's date. Plan around the week rather than the day.

Where can you see autumn leaves in Seoul?

Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, Namsan and the Deoksugung stone-wall walkway, all without leaving the city. Seoul's colour comes later than the mountains: Bukhansan, on the city's northern edge, is forecast to peak on 4 November.

Our pick is the Secret Garden, because it is the one place in Seoul where autumn colour, a palace and a limit on crowds come together. Entry is by guided tour only, with English tours at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November. Each tour takes up to 100 people, 50 booked online and 50 sold on site on the day. The garden ticket is 5,000 won for adults, and the palace ticket of 3,000 won is needed as well. Changdeokgung is closed on Mondays.

Related guideHanbok Rental Near Gyeongbokgung: Free Entry and the RulesHanbok gets you into Seoul's main palaces free if it has a wrap collar and a top with a skirt or trousers. Where to rent, what is included, and Bukchon's 5pm rule.

For a walk rather than a tour, the Namsan Southern Walking Path is a 1.3km avenue of plane trees that Visit Seoul says is at its best from late October to early November. The Deoksugung stone-wall walkway is lined with ginkgo and maple, and Seoul Forest's metasequoia and ginkgo trees turn gold a two-minute walk from Seoul Forest Station, exit 4.

Haneul Park's silver grass is the other autumn sight, and the 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival runs there from 17 to 23 October 2026. The park is a 30-minute walk, or the Mapo 08 village bus, from World Cup Stadium Station, exit 1. Bukhansan itself is free to enter, and bus 1020 runs to the park entrance from Gwanghwamun Station, exit 2.

Which day trip from Seoul is worth it?

Seoraksan in the last week of October. It is forecast to peak on 25 October, a week or more before Seoul itself, which makes it the one trip that gives you full colour while Seoul is only starting to turn.

Getting there is the hard part at peak. Express buses to Sokcho take about 2 hours 30 minutes, with city buses 7 and 7-1 on to the park. The Seoraksan cable car sells tickets only on site on the day, at 16,000 won return for adults, and the operator says most weekends are busy. That combination is why a tour with transport included suits a single day.

Nami Island is the easier trip and turns later. The ITX-Cheongchun train reaches Gapyeong in about 60 minutes from Yongsan, and the ferry wharf is 1.5km from the station. Admission is 19,000 won including the ferry, and the island says the leaves are at their best from late October to mid-November.

Naejangsan, famous for its maples, is the latest of the three, forecast to peak on 11 November. The Korea Tourism Organization advises taking the KTX to Jeongeup at peak season rather than driving, because of the traffic.

Related guideHow to Book the KTX: Tickets, Fares and the 2026 ChangesKTX tickets open at 7am a month before travel. Since 1 September 2026 the KTX and SRT are one network and fares are 10% lower: Seoul to Busan is 54,400 won.

What about the rest of the country?

Gyeongju and Jeju come later still. Bulguksa in Gyeongju is free to enter and has maples planted through its grounds, and Gyeongju's city government points to the roughly 2km road of ginkgo trees in front of Tongiljeon, which turns yellow from late October to early November.

On Jeju, Hallasan is forecast to peak on 13 November, the last of the major mountains. The upper sections of the two summit trails need a reservation, and bookings for the following month open at 9am on the first working day of each month. A car-free Jeju trip needs its base chosen with the bus routes in mind.

Related guideJeju Without a Car: What the Island Still Gives YouJeju is a ring and its sights sit around the edge, so going car-free is not a smaller version of the same trip. It is a different one. Here is what it contains.

What should you plan around?

Temperature and trail closures. Seoul averages a high of 20.2°C and a low of 10.6°C in October, falling to 11.9°C and 3.5°C in November, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration's 1991 to 2020 normals. Pack a warm layer for any day in the mountains.

Mountain trails start closing for the forest fire season from mid-November. In 2025, national parks closed 146 trail sections from 15 November to 15 December, and the 2026 dates have not been announced yet. At Seoraksan in 2025 the high trails closed while lower spots such as Biseondae and Ulsanbawi stayed open, so the closures matter most for a summit hike planned for the second half of November.

Day trips and the city itself are covered in the Seoul travel guide, and the South Korea travel guide covers getting between regions.