Winter
Dec → Feb2 to 5°
nights -7 to -5°
- 4 rainy days · 23 mm
When is the best time to visit Seoul?
- Jan2°not recommended
- Feb5°not recommended
- Mar11°fair
- Apr18°recommended
- May23°recommended
- Jun27°fair
- Jul29°not recommended
- Aug29°fair
- Sep25°recommended
- Oct19°recommended
- Nov11°fair
- Dec3°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Seoul, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2° | -7° | 18 mm | 3 d | |
| February | 5° | -5° | 26 mm | 5 d | |
| March | 11° | 0° | 40 mm | 6 d | |
| April | 18° | 6° | 64 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 12° | 106 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 17° | 121 mm | 10 d | |
| July | 29° | 22° | 310 mm | 18 d | |
| August | 29° | 22° | 260 mm | 16 d | |
| September | 25° | 17° | 131 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 9° | 76 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| November | 11° | 2° | 59 mm | 7 d | |
| December | 3° | -5° | 26 mm | 5 d |
The four seasons in Seoul, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Gyeongbokgung) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 23°
nights 0 to 12°
- 7 rainy days · 70 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 29°
nights 17 to 22°
- 15 rainy days · 230 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 25°
nights 2 to 17°
- 7 rainy days · 89 mm
Book early for April to May and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Seoul, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h45 of daylight, in December 9h35, a difference of 5h10.
9h50Jan
10h45Feb
11h51Mar
13h07Apr
14h11May
14h45Jun
14h31Jul
13h36Aug
12h22Sep
11h09Oct
10h05Nov
9h35Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Gyeongbokgung" (37.58°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Seoul, month by month
EventsYeouido cherry blossomsAprilYeon Deung Hoe, the Lotus Lantern FestivalMayChuseokSeptember to OctoberInternational Fireworks FestivalOctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: March, April, May, June, September, October, November
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Seoul, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- AprilYeouido cherry blossoms
Yunjungno avenue, behind the National Assembly, is covered in blossom for about ten days, in early April.
- MayYeon Deung Hoe, the Lotus Lantern Festival
Thousands of paper lanterns parade in the evening through Jongno to Jogyesa temple, ahead of Buddha's Birthday.
- September to OctoberChuseok
Families return to their home villages to honour their ancestors, the roads jam and some of Seoul's shops stay closed.
- OctoberInternational Fireworks Festival big crowds
Several countries launch their fireworks over the Han River from Yeouido, on a Saturday in October, with the riverbanks completely packed.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended2°-7° at night
- 18 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended5°-5° at night
- 26 mm · 5 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair11°0° at night
- 40 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended18°6° at night
- 64 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended23°12° at night
- 106 mm · 8 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair27°17° at night
- 121 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended29°22° at night
- 310 mm · 18 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair29°22° at night
- 260 mm · 16 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended25°17° at night
- 131 mm · 9 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended19°9° at night
- 76 mm · 6 d
High season, book early
November
Fair11°2° at night
- 59 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended3°-5° at night
- 26 mm · 5 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Hardly any rain (18 mm over 3 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 5 °C at the warmest of the day, -5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 5 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Rain stays light: 40 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 6 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 64 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (106 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (121 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. A very wet month, 310 mm of rain over 18 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 260 mm over 16 days. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (131 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 76 mm over 6 days. High season: book early.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 59 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 5 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Seoul?
April to May and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 25 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Gyeongbokgung).
Which month should you avoid in Seoul?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 310 mm over 18 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Gyeongbokgung).
What is the hottest month in Seoul?
July, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Gyeongbokgung).
What is the coldest month in Seoul?
January, with 2 °C at best during the day and -7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Gyeongbokgung).
What is the driest month in Seoul?
January: 18 mm over 3 days of rain, against 310 mm in July, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Seoul?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in April: 18 °C in the afternoon, 6 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Seoul guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit South Korea: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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