When planning a trip to Seoul, prepare yourself for a city that bridges its chaotic parts with its most serene areas in a seamless fashion. Seoul’s buzzing atmosphere will thrill you with crowds of locals, whizzing public transportation and a bold kaleidoscope of cuisine that sizzle everywhere you walk. Busy people move in thatched patterns and tall buildings root themselves in the foundation of it all, watchful over a city constantly in flux.
Turn a corner and you’re in a Buddhist garden, celebrating silence and contemplating your destiny over a glassy reflection pool. This kind of extreme mirrors the severity of Seoul’s bold seasons. When visiting Seoul, you’ll see that everything here is to the max. If it’s hot, it’s scorching, if it’s quiet, it’s completely still, and if it’s busy, it’s jam packed. From the smell of searing meat on skinny wooden sticks, to the refined elegance of silk robes, and the militancy of national pride, Seoul’s heart beats louder and louder as the day goes on, and well into the night. Book a flight to Seoul to get caught in the unforgettable rhythm that secures this city’s whirling pace.
Seoul, South Korea climate
Seoul’s four seasons are extreme to say the least. Winter kicks off the year in a blustery, long freeze that coats the city in ice and snow. The air is dry, and temperatures are unforgiving, so if you book flights to Seoul during the cold spell between December and February, be sure to pack layers – and lots of them. Spring warms up a bit, happily welcoming the sun and leaving behind the frigid marathon. Summer sun scorches the sidewalks (and skin, so bring SPF!) and temperatures can rise up over 100 degrees F. Fall boasts bright fall foliage and more tolerable temperatures, and has long been known as the prettiest time to travel to Seoul.
Best Time to Fly to Seoul, South Korea
The shoulder seasons are the best times to book flights to Seoul, since the extreme temperatures of summer and winter die down, and leave the land in lush colors and pleasant, sunny days. Bearable temperatures make it easy to explore the city without battling snow, or sweating in the sun.
Peak Season:
In terms of weather, the best time to book a flight to Seoul is undoubtedly fall. The scorching summer heat simmers in September, and all through November the sunny days become cooler and much more pleasant. Fall shades of red, yellow, and orange flood the trees, and welcome visitors to enjoy the brilliance of fall. The other shoulder season, spring, is also beautiful, as the ground thaws from the snowy winter months and gives way to beautiful blossoms.
Off-peak Season:
Fewer travelers book flights to Seoul in the winter, when the weather is dry and cold. Between the months of December and February, temperatures stay pretty closely around freezing, but the under-floor heating (called ondol) keeps things toasty in most hotels. Snowy roofs and pretty architecture accented in white make memorable photo opportunities (as well as great conditions for skiing and snowboarding). If you can stand the cold, then take advantage of winter here, when it’s much easier to find cheap flights to Seoul.
Getting around Seoul, South Korea
Taxis are pretty much the way to go when you travel to Seoul, even though some drivers seem to be roller coaster operators. Regular taxis are easy for short trips around the city, especially because they are cheaper than the bus, and if you’re traveling with a few other people, it makes sense. Deluxe taxis (mobeom) are black with a yellow stripe. Very few drivers speak English, but there are easy-to-use interpretations services that help you connect with them. The system works by speaking to an interpreter through a phone in English, who then talks to the driver in Korean.
Subways are fast and cheap as well, as are buses. Most of them run from very early in the morning to midnight, and some even later. Route maps are available in English, although drivers mostly speak Korean.
Seoul, South Korea Travel Information
Bosingak: This part of town on Jongno (Bell Street) is famous because it was the city’s main hub during the Joseon period. Here, a modern version of the city bell is rung every New Year, fulfilling the same tradition since 1468. If you were to travel to Seoul back then, you’d hear the bell often during the day. It used to ring 28 times at night to signal the city-wide curfew, and 33 times in the day (starting at 4 a.m.) to represent the 33 heavens of Buddhism. Fortunately, it now just rings once a year, and people all over the city can sleep a little longer.
Children’s Grand Park: If you’re visiting Seoul with the kids, then there’s no better place to take them than the Children’s Grand Park. Grab a free map at the entrance, and stroll all along the beautiful paths lined with flower beds and fountains. As you enter the zoo part of the park, you and your kids will be able to get close to lions, tigers, elephants and bears. A glass house with a botanical garden inside is filled with bold colors, rare breeds, and delicate flowers that make perfect photos. On one end, cacti reach almost to the ceiling, and throughout the rest, a tropical jungle and bonsai trees give way to the small folk museum upstairs.
Pucca Funny Love: Within minutes of stepping off your Seoul flight, you’ll see her. She’s been called the “biggest success story in the Korean character industry.” Donned in a red dress and spiked black pig tails, the young cartoon character, 10-year-old Pucca Funny Love, seems to be plastered all over the country, selling fast food, boosting promotions on billboards, and finding a home on bumper stickers. Books, DVDs, and episodes of her “funny love story” with 12-year old cartoon ninja, Garu, seem to sell like hotcakes. She’s even making her way into fashion by bridging with United Colors of Benetton to make a line for tweens. Her fame is said to be mounting like that of Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse, and with her foot in the door all over Asia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, she is destined for fame.
National Museum of Korea: History tells the tale of a place, so when you travel to Seoul, make sure that you spend some quality time in the National Museum of Korea. The modern building, splashed everywhere with gleaming marble, uses natural light to show off some of Korea’s most treasured ancient artifacts. It took almost eight years to construct, but the building stands as a beautiful tribute to the country’s foundation. Art from Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia are displayed within context of each other, so you can absorb the magnitude of how art exists within the continent. The reflecting pool at its entrance, the 800-seat Yong Dragon theater, and the incredible Buddhist pagodas are all part of the glamorous serenity that you experience here.
