Seoul Winter Trip Prep: Weather, Clothes and a Plan

Short answer: December-February is below freezing, so dress for it

In Seoul, April-May and September-November are the best months for walking, while December-February is cold and often below freezing. For a winter trip, sort out three things first: warm clothes, a subway-based route and whether your dates overlap Lunar New Year.

Temperatures here are official weather normals. Check official information for winter festival and event dates, and check the weather forecast before you go.

• Weather: average lows are below freezing in all three months, December to February
• Clothing: a warm coat plus gloves, a hat and a scarf
• Lunar New Year: many shops close
• Palace closing days: Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays, Changdeokgung on Mondays

• Full Seoul travel guide →

December-February weather side by side

These figures are Korea Meteorological Administration normals for 1991–2020 at Seoul station. Each line shows average high / average low / monthly rainfall. They are long-term averages, so check the forecast just before you go.

In all three months the average high is about 2-5°C and the average low is below freezing. Of these three months, January is the coldest, with an average low of about -6°C. January is also the driest month of the year (about 17 mm).

• December: high about 4°C / low about -3°C / about 23 mm
• January: high about 2°C / low about -6°C / about 17 mm
• February: high about 5°C / low about -3°C / about 28 mm

What to wear and pack

December-February is cold and often below freezing. With average lows below freezing in all three months, bring a warm coat plus gloves, a hat and a scarf if you will spend long mornings or evenings walking outside.

Highs and lows differ within the same day (in January, about 2°C and about -6°C on average). You will move between the subway and indoor places, so easy-to-remove layers work better than one heavy outfit.

• A warm coat
• Several easy-to-remove layers
• Gloves, a hat and a scarf
• Comfortable shoes for long walks
• A T-money card (buy and top up at convenience stores)

What to know before a winter trip

Many shops close over Lunar New Year. Check a calendar first to see whether your winter dates overlap the holiday.

Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays. The Changdeokgung Secret Garden can only be visited on timed guided tours. In Bukchon Hanok Village's red zone, tourist visits are allowed only from 10:00 to 17:00; check the official notice.

The Banpo Bridge fountain runs from April to October, so you won't see it from December to February. On cold days, hearty soups such as gukbap and seolleongtang are a good choice; many places are open 24 hours, at about 10,000-15,000 won a bowl.

• Lunar New Year: many shops close
• Gyeongbokgung closed Tuesdays, Changdeokgung closed Mondays
• Secret Garden: timed guided tours only
• Bukchon red zone: 10:00-17:00, check the official notice
• Banpo Bridge fountain: runs April to October
• Gukbap and seolleongtang: about 10,000-15,000 won

A 3-day winter plan

Plan on 3 to 5 days in Seoul. For a short winter trip, use days 1 to 3 of a 4-day itinerary. Palaces, hanok lanes and Namsan are outdoor walks, so they sit in the morning and afternoon, with markets and old alleys in the evening.

Make sure Day 1 isn't a Tuesday and Day 2 isn't a Monday. Day 4's chicken and beer at a Han River park is outdoors and may be hard going on a cold day. For a mostly indoor day, such as the Lotte World Tower observatory and COEX Starfield Library, see our separate rainy-day article.

• Day 1: Gyeongbokgung and the guard ceremony in the morning, Bukchon and Samcheong-dong in the afternoon, then Insadong and a pancake dinner at Gwangjang Market
• Day 2: Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour, Myeongdong shopping and N Seoul Tower in the afternoon, then drinks in Euljiro's old alleys
• Day 3: Seongsu-dong cafes and pop-ups, a walk in Seoul Forest, then street music and a night walk in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong

Getting there and getting around

From Incheon Airport, the AREX Express Train runs to Seoul Station without intermediate stops in about 40-50 min for about 10,000 won (check the AREX official site). The AREX All-Stop Train stops at Hongik University, Gongdeok and other hubs and takes about 60 min for about 4,000-5,000 won. The Airport Limousine Bus takes about 60-90 min, with fares varying by route, and hits traffic at rush hour. From Gimpo Airport, the subway reaches the city in about 20-40 min for about 1,500-2,000 won.

In the city, the subway reaches nearly every sight, which helps you cut time outside on cold days. With a T-money card, transfer discounts apply automatically. City buses are useful for Bukchon and Namsan; tap your card when boarding and exiting to get transfer discounts. There are also 1/2/3/5/7-day Climate Card short-term passes for unlimited Seoul subway and bus rides; check Seoul's official site for prices and coverage.

Subway service ends around midnight, and taxis are hard to hail late at night, so install a ride-hailing app in advance rather than waiting outside on a cold night. Entry rules depend on your nationality; check official information before you travel.

• Full Seoul travel guide →
• A rainy day in Seoul: indoor plan →
• Seoul's two airports: Incheon vs Gimpo →

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