Country guide
South Korea
Seoul's palaces and night markets, temple stays, Busan's beaches and cherry-blossom springs, all on fast trains.
Currency
KRW
Language
Korean
English
Limited
Payment
Cards everywhere
Power
Type C / F
230 V, 60 Hz
Dialing
+82
Destinations
Busan
Korea's seaside second city, where beaches, fish markets and mountain temples share one subway map.
✓ best Apr-May, Oct-NovGyeongju
A thousand-year royal capital where the kings' burial mounds sit in the middle of town.
✓ best Mar-May, NovJeju Island
A volcanic holiday island where you can climb Korea's highest mountain in the morning and eat what the haenyeo divers brought up that afternoon.
✓ best Mar-May, Oct-NovSeoul
Joseon palaces and mountain temples inside a megacity that eats, shops and stays up later than almost anywhere, all of it a subway ride apart.
✓ best Apr-May, Oct-NovThe sweet-spot windows
Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.
| Where | When | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busan | Apr-May, Oct | Spring blossoms or autumn color + mild coastal weather | Jul-Aug = monsoon rain + domestic beach crowds |
| Seoul | May, Oct | May: warm, sunny, cherry crowds gone. Oct: peak foliage | Apr = yellow dust from China. Jul-Aug monsoon |
Climate zones, month by month
South Korea has 4 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.
Busan →
✓ Best Apr-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jul-Aug, Jan
Conditions Jan Cold but milder · Feb Cold & dry · Mar Spring starts · Apr Cherry blossom! · May Warm & pleasant · Jun Early monsoon · Jul Monsoon peak · Aug Hot + typhoons · Sep Warm & clearing · Oct Autumn foliage · Nov Cool & dry · Dec Cold winter
Watch for Jul-Oct typhoons risk · Jul-Aug monsoon flooding risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Gyeongju →
✓ Best Mar-May, Nov · ✗ Avoid Jan
Watch for Jul-Oct typhoons risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Jeju Island →
✓ Best Mar-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Aug
Watch for Jul-Oct typhoons risk · Aug monsoon flooding risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Seoul →
✓ Best Apr-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jul-Aug, Dec-Feb
Conditions Jan Freezing cold · Feb Cold & dry · Mar Spring starts · Apr Cherry blossom! · May Warm & sunny · Jun Hot & humid · Jul Monsoon · Aug Heavy rain · Sep Clearing up · Oct Autumn foliage · Nov Cool & dry · Dec Cold & snowy
Watch for Jul-Oct typhoons risk · Jul-Aug monsoon flooding risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions