South Korea: When to Go

Korea has four distinct seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer in the middle of the year, and a very cold winter from November to March. Jeju-do off the south coast is the warmest and wettest place in the country.

If you possibly can, time your visit to South Korea for autumn (September to November). It's sunny, the skies are blue, and Korea's spectacular autumn foliage is a real draw. Winter is cold but dry, and a good time to visit if you like skiing, snow-draped temples, a dearth of tourists and crisp (ie below freezing) weather. Spring (April to May) can be beautiful, but it's also the most popular time with Japanese tourists and you'll have trouble getting mid to top-end accommodation. Summer is hot, muggy, crowded, wet, typhoon-prone and expensive.

Weather

South Korea has the dubious distinction of having the coldest temperatures at its latitude so unless you enjoy multi-layer clothing, stick to the months from May to September. On the up side, Korean winters tend to have an abundance of blue skies. Rain is moderate to quite heavy in July and when mixed with high 20°C (78-85°F) days can make things a bit sticky. Whether you enjoy the steamy summer or the crisp winter will depend on your temperament.