When Does Fall Foliage Peak in Seoul in 2026?

Seoul turns in two waves. The mountains go first, from the summits down. The city's streets, palaces and parks follow about a week or two later, because they sit lower and stay warmer.

Here is what the official 2026 numbers say. The Korea Forest Service released its foliage peak forecast map on September 22, 2026. It expects the color to start in the northern mountains of Gangwon in early October and reach its national peak in late October. Peak means about half the leaves have turned. By tree type, it forecasts maples and oaks to peak around October 31, and ginkgo around October 30. Its forecast for Seoraksan, the country's first big peak, was October 20. On October 8, the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum published a 2026 foliage map that puts the peak for the Seoul capital area and Gangwon from late October.

The Korea Meteorological Administration tracks the real thing on 21 mountains. Bukhansan, the mountain on Seoul's northern edge, showed its first color on October 14, 2026. That is one day earlier than the long-term average of October 15, and eight days earlier than 2025. KMA's long-term average peak for Bukhansan is October 28. In mid-October, the color was still on the upper slopes, working its way down.

Put together, plan like this. Bukhansan and the hills look best in the last days of October. Ginkgo streets, palaces and lakeside parks are at their best from about October 30 to the first week of November. Late-turning maples in sheltered palace gardens can hold until mid-November. If you can choose, aim for October 28 to November 10, and keep one flexible day. A warm week or a windy, rainy day can shift things by several days either way.

Timing within the day matters too. Weekday mornings are calm, and soft side light between 8 and 10 a.m. makes yellow ginkgo glow. Weekend afternoons at the famous spots get busy. On a clear day, the late-afternoon light from about 3 p.m. is the warmest for photos. Bring a light padded jacket. Seoul mornings in early November can be close to freezing, and our guide to Korea in November covers the layers.

Palace Color: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung

The palaces are where Seoul's autumn looks most like a painting. Old maples and ginkgo frame tiled roofs, and the walls block the wind, so leaves hang on longer. All three palaces below are closed on Mondays.

Changdeokgung and its Secret Garden (Huwon). The Secret Garden is the most sought-after foliage ticket in Seoul. It is a wooded royal garden behind Changdeokgung, with ponds such as Buyongji and pavilions set among maples. You can only enter on a timed guided tour. Online tickets open six days before your visit at 10 a.m. Korea time on the official Changdeokgung website, and weekend slots in early November go fast. Adults pay about 8,000 won for the palace and the garden together. English tours run several times a day. Get off at Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 3, and walk about five minutes.

Changgyeonggung. Right next door and easy to combine, Changgyeonggung is quieter and has no garden reservation. The pond and the paths around it turn red and gold, and the white glass Grand Greenhouse sits at the back. Admission is about 1,000 won. It works well for the afternoon after a morning Secret Garden tour.

Deoksugung and the Stonewall Road. Deoksugung sits in the middle of the business district, by City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2), Exit 2. Inside, ginkgo trees surround the palace halls. Outside, the stone wall along Deoksugung-gil is one of Seoul's classic autumn walks. Yellow leaves pile against the wall, and the road curves past the old Jeongdong buildings. Palace admission is about 1,000 won, and the Stonewall Road is free at any hour. Go on a weekday lunchtime, or after 6 p.m. when the streetlights come on.

Ginkgo Gold in the Parks: Seoul Forest, Olympic Park and Seokchon Lake

If palaces are about framing, parks are about space. These three are free, open early, and connected to cafe neighborhoods, so a foliage walk turns easily into a full afternoon.

Seoul Forest. From Seoul Forest Station (Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 3, you are in the park in a few minutes. Look for the ginkgo grove and the tree-lined paths near the deer enclosure. Seongsu-dong, with its cafes and pop-up stores, starts just outside the park gates. Walk the park in the morning, then go for coffee in Seongsu while the light is still soft.

Olympic Park. Built for the 1988 Summer Olympics, this park is wide and open. Its most photographed subject is the Lone Tree, a single tree on a grassy slope with nothing but sky around it. Get off at Mongchontoseong Station (Line 8), Exit 1, or Olympic Park Station (Line 5), Exit 3. The earthen walls of Mongchontoseong, a Baekje-era fortress, make a gentle loop with views across the park.

Seokchon Lake. The lake sits at the foot of Lotte World Tower, at Jamsil Station (Lines 2 and 8). A walking path of about 2.5 km circles both halves of the lake. In spring it is a cherry blossom spot. In autumn, the same cherry trees turn red and orange, and the reflection of the tower in the still water is the photo to get. Come early on a weekday for a calm surface.

Two more easy add-ons: the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a linear park on an old railway line near Hongik University Station, Exit 3, with cafes along Yeonnam-dong, and the ginkgo avenue of Yonsei University, ten minutes on foot from Sinchon Station. If you want more photo spots beyond Seoul, see our guide to autumn photoshoot spots in Korea.

Silver Grass and Skyline Views: Haneul Park, Naksan and Namsan

Seoul's autumn is not only leaves. On the hills, silver grass and city views do the work.

Haneul Park. This hilltop park in World Cup Park is covered in silver grass. In October the plumes catch the light and turn silver, then copper. The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival runs from October 17 to October 23, 2026, open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with free entry. The grass stays beautiful after the festival ends, but opening hours return to normal, so check the closing time before you go late. Get off at World Cup Stadium Station (Line 6), walk to the foot of the hill, and climb the wooden stairs. An electric shuttle also runs up from the parking area for a small fee. Seoul city asks visitors to use public transport during the festival.

Naksan Park and the Seoul City Wall. From Hyehwa Station (Line 4), Exit 2, it is a short uphill walk through the Daehangno theater district to Naksan Park. The old city wall runs along the ridge, and the trees beside it turn gold and red. Sunset here, with the lights of downtown Seoul coming on, is one of the best free views in the city. Stop for a drink in one of the small cafes on the way down toward Ihwa-dong.

Namsan. The car-free Namsan North Circular Road (Bukcheuk Sunhwan-ro) is lined with ginkgo and maples. It is an easy, mostly flat walk through the woods, with N Seoul Tower above. From Myeongdong Station (Line 4), Exit 3, walk up toward the Namsan Cable Car and join the road. Avoid the steep stairs if you want to save your legs for the evening.

Mountain Color by Subway: Bukhansan

Bukhansan National Park sits inside the city limits, and it is the reference mountain KMA uses for Seoul's foliage. Its granite peaks rise above the north of the city, and the mixed forest below them turns red, orange and gold from mid-October. You do not have to climb to the top to see it.

The easiest way in is the Bukhansan Dulle-gil, a trail that circles the mountain at low altitude. Section 3, the White Cloud Trail, is about 4.1 km and takes about two hours. It starts in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, near the tomb of independence activist Yi Jun, and ends at the Bukhansan Ecological Forest. Halfway along, a 12-meter observation tower called the Cloud Observation Deck looks over Dobongsan, Suraksan and central Seoul. A taxi from Suyu Station (Line 4) gets you to the start in a few minutes.

If you want a summit, Baegundae is the highest point at 836 m, and the classic route starts from the Bukhansanseong trailhead. Plan for four to five hours round trip, wear real hiking shoes, and start early. The days are short in November. Weekend trails are crowded with local hikers, so a weekday is better. For a full mountain trip, the color on Seoraksan comes earlier, and our Seoraksan foliage guide explains how to time it.