The best things to do, see, and eat in Seoul in September- a popular month to visit- based on my last 8-10 trips!
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Based on my last 8 - 10 trips to South Korea, I find September to be one of the best times in the year to visit Seoul.
It's the beginning of autumn and the weather is cool and pleasant. Seoul weather has distinct seasons, with hot and humid summers and freezing winters. Spring and Autumn both have good weather with cool but sunny days. However, air pollution can be bad in spring. Hence, why I always recommend people visit Korea between September to November!
The month of September is also a perfect time for sightseeing, outdoor activities, exploring the country’s national parks, hiking and visiting traditional festivals for an insight into South Korean culture and history.
Note: if you plan to shop, here's a FREE Dongdaemun voucher from Klook! (It's a Super Pass that gets you exclusive discounts and sometimes free gifts)
Weather
September, being the start of the fall season, brings cooler climes.
The average temperature is between 64 F to 77 F during the day and 54 F to 66 F at night. Days are a little shorter than the previous month of August but there is still plenty of sunshine (and fewer rainy days, thankfully.)
Note: if you want to see the beautiful autumn foliage, you need to visit in October and November, not September.
Chuseok
Chuseok, or Korean Thanksgiving (it's a Mid-Autumn Festival to give thanks for the harvest), falls on the 15th day of the Lunar Year (when the moon is full) which, in 2024, will be from September 16 to 18. (The day changes every year.)
Also known as Hangawi, Chuseok is Korean’s version of Thanksgiving and is one of the country's most important traditional holidays.
During this 3 day holiday, many Koreans travel back to their hometowns to be with their family. They gather to eat traditional Korean food and give thanks to their ancestors through traditional rituals (Charye and Seongmyo).
What to Do
People often say that "Seoul is dead during Chuseok"- it's true that, during the 3 day holiday, some shops and restaurants will be closed. However, over the years, this has become less true as more and more tourists visit during this period. (It coincides with holidays in China and Hong Kong.)
Typically, mornings during Chuseok are quieter but, by afternoon, it's pretty much business as usual.
Most tourist activities and attractions will still be open. (Most restaurants in tourist areas like Myeongdong and Insadong will be open but make sure you have a Plan B/ alternate restaurant that you don't mind dining at on the first 2 days.)
Keep in mind that most department stores will be closed during the Chuseok holiday, and the opening hours may vary depending on location. (For example, Lotte Myeongdong may close on Days 1 and 2, whilst Lotte Gangnam may be open.) In addition, buses in places outside of Seoul may not run as frequently.
You get free admission to the royal palaces of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung, Jongmyo Shrine and Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty during Chuseok! So they are SUPER crowded- personally, I prefer to rent a hanbok (to get free admission) and visit during a regular day instead. (Places such as Namsan Tower are also closed.)
Cultural sites in Seoul, such as Namsangol Hanok Village, that offer special holiday events will also be open. Tourist spots such as Everland, Caribbean Bay and Lotte World offer special discounts for foreigners during the holiday too!
What to Wear
During Chuseok, the Koreans wear their traditional 2-piece colourful silk costume known as hanbok to show respect to their elders.
What to Eat
Songpyeon (rice cake stuffed with sesame seeds, black beans, mung beans, cinnamon, pine nuts, walnut, jujube and honey steamed over a layer of pine needles) and hangwa are traditional Korean meals eaten during Chuseok.
Note: As Koreans travel from round the country to unite, trains, roadways and airports may be crowded with travelers.
Autumn Festivals & Events
Seoul Light & DDP Autumn Festival
Dates: Held on August 31 - September 10, 2023. Dates for 2024 TBC.
Address: 281 Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul
The last Seoul Light DPP Winter was super successful, with a 169% increase compared to 2022. 95.9% of visitors expressed a willingness to revisit the festival!
Hence, for 2024, the Seoul Light DPP will feature new content and a larger light festival to light up the walls of Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Gyeongbokgung At Night
Dates: Last year, it was held on September 1 - October 29. Dates for 2024 TBC.
Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 경복궁)
Admission: 3,000 won (Free entry during Chuseok or if you wear a hanbok! (Click for hanbok rentals- affiliate link.))
The number of tickets sold a day is limited (to 2900 per day in 2023.) You can reserve tickets online or buy 2 tickets on-site at Gwanghwamun Ticket Booth (limited to 200 tickets, first-come, first-served basis, will need to show your passport.)
Evenings can be cool and the palace grounds are sprawling. Walking shoes and a sweater would make your tour more comfortable and enjoyable!
Note: The palace is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Changdeokgung Palace At Night: Moonlight Tours
Dates: Last year, it was held September 7 - October 22 (Thursdays to Sundays). Dates for 2024 TBC.
Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno DIistrict, Seoul
Cost: KRW 30,000
How to Book
Applications for September time slots will open on August 22, 2024 at 2 pm. A maximum of 2 tickets can be purchased per person.
Amongst the places in Seoul, Changdeokgung Palace is the only one listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1997- it is a masterpiece of Korean palace architecture where the buildings are in perfect harmony with the natural setting.
Enjoy the historic atmosphere of this Joseon Dynasty palace at night whilst strolling through it holding a traditional Korean lantern with red and blue shades. You can not only visit the palace's major buildings but also also enjoy performances of traditional Korean art at 2 different locations.
Note: the palaces are busy during the 3 day Chuseok holiday so they won't be tranquil then!
If you want hassle-free visits, complete with an overview of the history, you might want to consider this half/full day tour of the Royal Palaces.
Seoul Fashion Week
Dates: September 3 - 7, 2024
Venues: Dongdaemun, Seongsu-dong and Hannamdong areas
This is the largest fashion show in South Korea, launched to boost the image of local fashion brands globally and to assist them to venture into overseas markets.
Seoul Fashion Week will have participants such as Harvey Nichols (Kuwait), Lane Crawford (UK), Nordstrom (USA), Dover Street Market (Singapore) and many more.
To get K-fashion ready for fashion week, you might want to go shopping with a Korean stylist!
Frieze Seoul
Dates: September 4-7 2024
Address: COEX
This international art fair also organises events in London and New York. It showcases more than 110 of the most important art galleries in Asia and beyond, focusing on contemporary art.
Outside Seoul
Muji Firefly Festival
Dates: August - September 8, 2024
Address: Hanpungnu-ro, Muju- eup, Maju, Jeollabuk-do
This festival, the only one of its kind in Korea, is held in the untouched, beautiful area of Muji. It's a natural environment for fireflies and the marsh snails on which they feed.
The festival highlight starts after 8 pm (i.e. when the fireflies gather and light up the night sky.)
At this festival, you can enjoy many nature walks, nature experience events, cultural performances, water fights, river rafting, music performances and more.
Note: The nearby Muju Wine Cave offers locally brewer mulberry wine.
Hyoseok Cultural Festival
Dates: It was held on September 8-17, 2023. Dates for 2024 will be advised later.
Address: 157, Ihyoseok-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
To celebrate the modern Korean writer, Lee Hyo-seok and his novel, “When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom”, the Hyoseok Culture Festival is held. Note that to get the most out of the poem exhibition etc, you would need to understand Korean, so this won't be my first choice for things to do in September. Still, it is quite a unique activity!
Visitors can enjoy a poem exhibition, literature night, Hyo-seok essay contest and nature workshops such as fingernail colouring using balsam, cooking using buckwheat.
In Bongpyeong (the author’s hometown), travelers can enjoy the beautiful scenery of blooming buckwheat flowers and visit Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village and Memorial Hall.
Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival
Dates: September 22-24, 2024
Address: 326 Olympic-round, Songpa-gu
At this festival, travelers can feel the history and culture of the early Baekje era.
Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea from 18BC - 660AD. Visitors can enjoy the sights and remnants of the Baekje era, such as the Mongchontoseong Fortress, Monchon Taesong (an ancient ruin in Olympic Park) and other sites that bear evidence of its great seafaring progress.
You can wear the traditional clothing of this Baekje period and tour Gyongbok Palace, starting from Jamsil station to Mongchontoseong station near Olympic Park.
Note: Travelers may want to visit nearby Lotte World Tower (a massive 123-floor skyscraper housing a 5-star hotel and an observation deck with a panoramic view of the entire Seoul City). The Sky Bridge Tour allows visitors to walk on top of Seoul Sky Observatory which has a bridge connecting Lotte World Tower’s two structures at the peak.
There are several family-friendly attractions nearby, such as Lotte World Amusement Park and Olympic Park.
Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
Dates: It was held on September 23 - November 11, 2023. Dates for 2024 TBC.
Address: 825 Jeongjo-ruk Palmdale-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
This annual Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival held at Hwaseong Fortress is a must-visit event.
The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was built between 1974 and 1976 by King Jeongjo for defence and to house the remains of his father, Crown Prince Jangheon.
A highlight of the festival is the reenactment of the Royal Parade of King Jengjo. Other activities include traditional Korean music and martial arts performances, a traditional costume festival, Hwaseong Food Cultural Festival and many more.
The best time to visit the fortress is autumn or spring when the cooler climate makes walking along the walls much more pleasant and enjoyable.
Note: Nearby tourist attractions include the Korean Folk Village, Seoul Land, and Everland Resort so you might want to visit them on the same day.
This tour from Seoul combines the fortress with seasonal sights (e.g. cherry blossoms in April etc)
Andong Mask Dance Festival
Dates: September 27 - October 6, 2024
Address: Old Andong Station, Downtown Taichung Park
Admission: Free
The Andong Mask Dance Festival, launched in 1977, started as a 2-day event. Due to its popularity, it grew into an event lasting 10 days.
It is held in the UNESCO World Heritage designated Andong Village. Besides well-known Korean mask dancers, it also attracts mask dancers from all over the world. There are also pantomime shows, marionette performances and a whole range of food stalls.
Note: As visitors flock to the festival, demand for accommodation is high. (Don't expect to find international 5 star hotels outside of Seoul.) You might want to book hotels early.
Nearby attractions include:
- Andong Hahoe Folk Village: has well-preserved clan based folk villages from the Joseon Dynasty. It's included in this Andong tour from Seoul. (Queen Elizabeth II visited!) Founded in the 14th-15th centuries, it is a considered one of the most representative historic clan villages in Korea and a UNESCO site. The distinctive aristocatic Confucian culture of early Joseon (1392-1910) is reflected in its layout and location between mountains, a river and open fields.
- Mask museum
- Woryeonggyo Bridge (The Shadow of the Moon): a 387-meter-long wooden bridge that crosses the Nakdong River
- Mammoth cafe at 34 Munhwagwangjanf-gi: famous for its creamy cheese bread
- Andong Jimdak Street and old market: known for its mouthwatering jimdak, the signature dish of Andong. The chicken dish is made with chewy vermicelli and vegetables and sweet soya sauce.
- Andong Soju Museum: offers insights into the history of Andong soju. (A wheat- distilled liquor originating from the Shilla Dynasty, one of The Three Kingdoms). You can even enjoy a Soju Distillery Experience! (new activity with no reviews at the time of writing.)
Unique Indoor Things To Do
South Korea is well known for anything and everything connected with beauty. If you watch k-dramas, you'll see that both men and women use facial mask sheets often! Getting a facial and/ or body massage (click for reviews) is one of my favorite things to do in Korea, and a great way to relax after all the sightseeting.
I also ALWAYS get my hair done in Seoul (so much cheaper than in Singapore!)
Alternatively, why not try some traditional Korean crafts? This Mother of Pearl Craft Making Class gives you an opportunity to relax your tired feet as well as make your own traditional Korean artwork. (Click for review.)
It's located just beside Bukchon Hanok Village, a beautiful neighborhood lined with rows of traditional Korean houses.
At the Museum Kimchikan in Insadong, kimchi visitors can learn and taste samples of different varieties of kimchi. You can even taking a Kimchi making class in Bukchon-dong! (Click through for my review of my "Professional Kimchi Class.")
Alternatively, why not take a food tour of Seoul to learn more about Korean cuisine? (Click through for a list of the 9 best ones.)
Outdoor Activities
Hiking
Now that the summer heat is over, it is a great time to go hiking!
One of the best spots is Bukhansan National Park, which comes alive during fall with vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. Hiking is a popular Korean activity which allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. You can easily rent hiking gear too.
Note: Night hiking is not permitted in South Korea's National Parks. (If you're looking for evening activities, you might want to consider this guided night walk with a local historian instead!)
Hiking Hours Restrictions: You can start your hike after 4 am throughout the year, but not after 4pm (Dec to Feb)/ 5 pm (March to Nov.) (Note that it's OK for your hike to finish after ⅘pm.) In addition, if you want to hike in the wee hours, you will need to take a taxi or drive as public transport only starts from 530/545 am.
There are also tours of Bukhansan and other national Parks. However, note that this is a new activity so, at the time of writing, there were no reviews of it.
Markets
There is a popular saying that “Seoul operates around the clock”. It definitely has a great night life!
Seoul is famous for its street markets which offer everything from Korean street food to clothes, accessories, shoes and bags. (Different markets sell different things FYI.)
Namdaemun Night Market
Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-Gil, Jung-gu
This is Seoul's oldest market and a HUGE one. You can find ANYTHING there. I used to get my wholesale jewellery from here (back in the days when I sold Korean beauty products and jewelry online.)
Gwangjang Market
Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu
This market has even appeared in a Netflix documentary. There has been some negative controversy around the market in the last few months, but you can still find good food there. (It's famous for Mung Bean pancakes, Binttaettok, and Knife Cut Noodles, Kalguksu.)
Besides Korean street food, the market is known for selling hanbok and fabrics.
Note: this Gwangjang Market Tour is quite fun as it gamifies the experience- you get a stamp for every food on the list that you try!
Myeongdong Night Market
This night market is close to Lotte Hotel Seoul, Shinsegae and Seoul City Hall. It gets very crowded. (Myeongdong is one of the most popular spots with tourists.)
In addition to the food stalls, there are many restaurants to choose from. Personally, I find the street food at Myeongdong not very good so I prefer to eat at the eateris such as Myeongdong Kyoja.
Note: Myeongdong is tourist central 101 so you will NOT need to take a tour of the area.
Bamdokkaebi Night Market
This night market started with one location in Yeouido but with its popularity, it has expanded to other areas, such as Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Mokdong Stadium and Cheonggyecheon Plaza.
There is a different atmosphere and different experiences at each location. Besides food trucks, you can also find handicraft items.
Food Tour
There are so many food tours in Seoul but one of my favorites is this Euljiro Night Food Tour where you get to try grilled pork belly and local Korean snacks. (On the way, you'll see a street that was featured in a BTS MTV.)
Hangang Parks
The Han River, running thousands of miles through Seoul, has 12 public parks along it. They have breathtaking views and are connected:
- Yeouido Hangang Park: 330 Yeouido-ro, Yeoungdeungpo-gu
Yeouido Hangang Park is one of the top 3 most popular parks in Hangang, with a panoramic view of the city. The night market, Bamdokkaebi is nearby.
- Banpo Hangang Park: 40 Sinbanporo-Gil, Seocho-gu
Banpo Hangang Park is also a very popular hangout spot in Seoul during the summer months, with a good view of the Seoul N. Tower and the Seville floating Island. This park is also famous for the Rainbow Bridge Moonlight Fountain which only runs from April to October.
- Ttukseom Hangang Park: 139 Gangbyunbukro, Gwangin-gu
Ttukseom Hangang Park, right by the Seongsu area and Seoul Forest (one of my FAVORITE places in Seoul), is also another great place to enjoy a picnic or ride a bike. It has a splendid view of the Lotte Tower and Olympic Stadium.
- Inchon Hangang Park: 62 Ichon-ro, 72-Gil, Yongsan-gu
This park is much quieter compared to the other parks along the Han River. However, there are plenty of art displays, hidden scenic spots and a view of the floating island, Nodeulseom.
Things to do at the Hangang Parks
- have a picnic (you can rent mats, tables and chairs etc)
- eat Hangang Ramen!
- cycling (bike rental is available)
- kayak or Stand Up Paddle!
- Take a cruise along the Han River. You can follow it with a short walk or even a picnic by Hangang river.
Note: Do bring cash to pay for the rental of tables, chairs, mats and bikes. You need to pay a deposit which will be refunded after the return of your rental items.)
What to Bring
- T shirts: a mix of long and short sleeved
- Note: If visiting temples or religious sites, the attire should be modest.
- Skirts or trousers
- In Korea, it's acceptable to wear very short skirts, but any hint of cleavage may get you weird looks
- One or two dressy tops or dresses (for if you go somewhere more formal)
- Walking shoes
- I've broken 2 pairs of shoes in Korea already! (You walk a lot.)
- Bringing an extra pair if you have large feet is a good idea. (It's almost impossible to find women's shoes in large sizes in Korea. (You can try ABC Mart in Myeongdong if desperate.))
- Sunglasses, hat and SUNBLOCK
- The UV index is high during daylight hours. Korean sunblock is very good so you could just bring something travel-sized and stock up there.
- Any prescription medicine you may need: remember to check Korea's laws as they do not always accept prescription notes from doctors.
- Travel documents: passport, air ticket, itineraries, hotel reservations, visa and insurance papers, international driving license (if you plan to drive) etc
- Credit cards
- Note that some street stalls only take cash.
- Mobile phone, chargers, and travel adapters
- eSIM or physical 4G SIM card
- The previous link (above) is for a physical SIM card that can be picked up from the airport. If you get a SIM card for more than 3 days, you get a free T money card via the link above (offer valid at the time of writing.)
Any questions about visiting Seoul in September? Let me know in the comments!
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