Seoul
Capital of South Korea
Seoul is the capital of South Korea and home to about 9.7 million people. Visitors come to see its mix of historic palaces, large public squares, and tall observation towers.
What to see
The city features several historic royal sites, including Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Jongmyo, all of which are UNESCO sites. You can also visit traditional areas like Bukchon Hanok Village or see landmarks such as Cheong Wa Dae, Namdaemun, and Myeongdong Cathedral. For modern views and shopping, top sites include the Lotte World Tower, Namsan Seoul Tower, 63 Building, and Starfield COEX Mall. Public spaces and museums include Gwanghwamun Square, the War Memorial of Korea, the National Museum of Korea, and the Cheonggyecheon stream. Sports venues such as the Seoul World Cup Stadium and Seoul Olympic Stadium are also in the city.
When to go
Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather. In April and May, temperatures range from 5 °C to 22 °C, with moderate rain. October and November are also mild, with temperatures between 1 °C and 18 °C. Winters are cold, with January and December seeing lows of -9 °C and -6 °C. Summers are hot and wet, particularly July and August, which experience high temperatures of 28 °C and over 300 mm of rain each month.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Seoul Gimpo International Airport, located 18 km from the city center.
Top sights in Seoul
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 28 °C. The wettest is July, with about 405 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 1 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 3 |
| Average low, °C | -9 | -6 | -1 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 9 | 1 | -6 |
| Rainfall, mm | 21 | 24 | 46 | 80 | 100 | 137 | 405 | 322 | 168 | 49 | 48 | 20 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Seoul (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Bongeunsa
- COEX Aquarium
- Dongdaemun
- Gyeonghuigung
- Horim Museum
- Jogyesa
- KBS Hall
- Leeum Museum of Art
- Namsan
- National Assembly Building
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- National Palace Museum of Korea
- Olympic Park, Seoul
- Seodaemun Prison
- Seonjeongneung
- Seoul Arts Center
- Seoul City Hall
- Seoul City Wall
- Seoul Forest
- Seoul Museum of History
- Seoullo 7017
- Tapgol Park
- Unhyeongung