Vibrant autumn foliage with red and golden leaves in Seoul palace garden

seasonal

Autumn Foliage Seoul: Colors of the City

Chase peak autumn colors across Seoul — from palace gardens cloaked in crimson to a ginkgo-lined Olympic Park and Namsan's golden panorama. Best in late October to mid November.

5 stops6-7 hourssubway + walking

Last updated: Mar 6, 2026

Stops

5 stops

Duration

6-7 hours

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Late October - Mid November

Transit Cost

~5,600 KRW

Getting to the Start

How to reach Deoksugung Palace from popular areas

From Seoul Station

Take Line 1 from Seoul Station to City Hall (1 stop). Exit 2, walk 5 min to Deoksugung Stonewall Road.

From Myeongdong

Take Line 2 from Euljiro 1-ga to City Hall (1 stop). Exit 2, walk 5 min to Deoksugung.

Estimated Total Cost

Admissions25,000 KRW

Transit5,600 KRW

Total30,600 KRW(~$23 USD)

Best Start Time

9:00 AM

Estimated 6-7 hours to complete all 5 stops

Before You Go

Visit on a weekday morning for the best photos without crowds — palace gardens get packed on autumn weekends
Book Changdeokgung Secret Garden guided tour in advance at ticket office or online — only 100 visitors per time slot
Seoul Forest's deer park is free but the deer are most active in early morning and late afternoon
Peak foliage dates shift yearly — check visitkorea.or.kr for real-time leaf color forecasts
Olympic Park's ginkgo path peaks about 1 week later than maple spots — plan accordingly if you want both

Route Overview

5 Stops

Route Stops

Start

Deoksugung Palace

palace · Jung-gu

The Deoksugung Stonewall Road is Seoul's most iconic autumn path — a 900m stone wall corridor lined with towering ginkgo and maple trees turning gold and crimson in late October. The palace itself costs just 1,000 KRW to enter and the Western-style Seokjojeon hall makes a stunning backdrop against fall colors.

09:00-21:00 (last entry 20:00, closed Mon)1,000 KRW (free with hanbok, free last Wed of month)

Visit website

subway12 min1,400 KRW

Walk 200m (3 min)

Line 3: City Hall → Anguk (2 stops, 5 min)

Walk 300m (5 min)

Changdeokgung Palace

palace · Jongno-gu

The UNESCO-listed Secret Garden (Huwon) is Seoul's most spectacular autumn destination. The 78-acre rear garden has 300-year-old maple trees reflected in Buyongji pond — an image that defines Korean autumn. Guided tours only (90 min), limited to 100 people per slot. Book the earliest morning tour for the softest light.

Feb-May & Sep-Oct: 09:00-18:00, Jun-Aug: 09:00-18:30, Nov-Jan: 09:00-17:30 (Closed Mon)₩3,000 / Secret Garden ₩5,000 (guided tour only)

subway25 min1,400 KRW

Walk 300m (5 min)

Line 3: Anguk → Apgujeong (5 stops, 10 min)

Bundang Line: Apgujeong → Seoul Forest (2 stops, 5 min)

Walk 350m (5 min)

Seoul Forest

park · Seongdong-gu

A 350,000 sqm urban park with a metasequoia path that turns deep orange in autumn. The deer park lets you feed sika deer for free, and the ecological forest section has a suspension bridge with canopy-level views of fall colors. Completely free and less crowded than palaces.

Open 24hFree

subway30 min1,400 KRW

Walk 350m (5 min)

Bundang Line: Seoul Forest → Wangsimni (1 stops, 3 min)

Line 5: Wangsimni → Olympic Park (9 stops, 18 min)

Walk 300m (5 min)

Olympic Park

park · Songpa-gu

Over 9,000 ginkgo trees line the paths of this massive park, creating golden tunnels in early November. The SOMA outdoor sculpture museum adds artistic backdrops to autumn photos. The Mongchon Fortress ruins inside the park give elevated views over the ginkgo canopy — one of the best panoramic autumn spots in Seoul.

05:00-22:00Free

Visit website

subway30 min1,400 KRW

Walk 300m (5 min)

Line 5: Olympic Park → Chungmuro (10 stops, 20 min)

Walk 300m (5 min)

Bus : → ( stops, 6 min)

End

Namsan Park

park · Yongsan-gu

The 360-degree panorama from N Seoul Tower is Seoul's ultimate autumn vista — the entire city spread below in a tapestry of red, gold, and green. Take the cable car up through the canopy or walk the Namsan Circular Trail (40 min) for an immersive forest experience. The tower observation deck stays open until 11 PM.

Park: 24h / N Seoul Tower: 10:30-22:00 (weekdays), 10:00-23:00 (weekends)Park free / Tower ₩21,000

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