Top 10 places to visit in Seoul during winter

Winter in Seoul is usually very cold, dry, and windy. On average, the temperature can be between 10°C and -10°C, and can drop as low as -15°C. It typically lasts from December to February, and sometimes it may last until mid-March. The weather starts getting cold in December and is the coldest by February. So, if you struggle with a cold, then you should consider visiting Seoul in December or early January.

Despite the cold, there is no reason to cancel your planned trip to Seoul, or feel despair for a lack of things to do. Why? The winter season in Seoul is loaded with many fun-filled and highly entertaining activities that take advantage of the cold and snow, facilities that provide escape from the chills, cultural experiences to immerse in, and tons of events and festivals to enjoy. Plus, with the winter season, there is a magic in the air that gives a breathtaking view and illuminates the natural environment. but please endeavour to dress warmly to avoid catching a cold.

With that said, here are the top places to visit in Seoul during winter to fully enjoy all the pleasures of the season.

Top 10 places to visit in Seoul during winter

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
2. KyungIn Art Gallery Dawon
3. Olympic Park Skating Rink
4. European Christmas Market
5. Bukhansan National Park
6. Lotte World
7. Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink
8. Jjimjilbangs (Dragon Hill Spa
9. Insadong Cultural Street
10. Gwangjang Market

Ready? Let’s dig in.

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Photo Credit: Korea

Location: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Telephone: +82 (0)2-3700-3900

Website: www.royalpalace.go.kr

Opening hours: Wednesday- Monday (9:00 am – 6:00 pm). Closed on Tuesdays.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most elegant and lovely places to visit in the winter, as its charm lights up with its historic architecture covered with white snow. From the magnificent scenery to the traditional structures, light fun shows that takes place at night during winter, and the chance to take nice pictures, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the best places to go to enjoy the lovely winter season.

To enjoy the historical details, you can either explore this gorgeous site on your own or join a free guided tour available in four languages (Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese). Gyeongbokgung Palace gives you the opportunity to get a glimpse of how the Joseon dynasty was. So, dive in by wearing the traditional Hanbok and taking lots of shots in front of the beautiful palace, go through the Heungnyemun Gate guarded by the sumunjang and their cool hats, check out Gyeonghoeru, Hyangwonjeong, and Geunjeongjeon within the compound and appreciate the beautiful environment and intricate details put into this historic site. All these elements of the Gyeongbokgung Palace are illuminated by the winter snow like a page out of a fantasy book.

2. KyungIn Art Gallery Dawon

Photo Credit: Seoulistic

Location: Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art Ltd., 11-4, Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Telephone: +82 (0)2-730-6305

Opening hours: Daily (11:00 am to 9:00 pm)

Insadong is one of the lovely areas located in the heart of Seoul, saturated with lovely galleries, restaurants, stores, cafes, tea houses, and a whole lot of other cool establishments to help you enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Korean tradition and modernity combined. The KyungIn Art Gallery Dawon is one of the places in Insadong that contributes to the essence of Korean history, tradition, and tea pleasures.

KyungIn Art Gallery Dawon is a reputable tea house in Insadong that serves up sweet traditional Korean teas such as omija tea and jujube tea. There are other teas with unique flavors to delight in, and one can also enjoy fresh, handmade fruit ice cream while in this lovely gallery. What could make the winter more pleasurable than a hot cup of delicious tea? Aside from the tea, as the name suggests, the gallery features works of art and entertaining performances. There are three exhibition halls where the artworks are placed for visitors to see, and then the outdoor exhibition space for performances. In the winter season, while some would opt for the indoor exhibition as the weather would be cold, others would brace themselves to see the outdoor performances. Thankfully, the nice garden and the hot cup of tea help relieve the pressure of being outside in the cold. Without a doubt, KyungIn Art Gallery Dawon is a place to visit while in Seoul during the winter.

3. Olympic Park Skating Rink

Photo Credit: Trazy

Location: Olympic Park, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Telephone: +82 (0)2-410-1114

Website: www.olympicpark.co.kr

Opening hours: Daily (5:00 am – 11:30 pm)

The Olympic Park Skating Rink opens every winter, usually from January to February, to give people the chance to participate in fun winter sports. The outdoor skating rink has become one of the hot destinations in Seoul during winter, owing to its gorgeous architecture and nice scenery, especially at night when the starry sky adds an aura to the environment and illuminates the place. It could be a romantic spot for a winter date or a place to just enjoy the chills with a little adrenaline rush from skating.

Beginners who are new to skating can participate in the training available, so there’s no pressure to join the professionals, and you can take your time on the rink. Finally, after skating, you can grab a snack nearby and explore other attractions in the Olympic Park. There is absolutely no reason not to add the Olympic Park Skating Rink to your list of must-visit places in Seoul during the winter.

4. European Christmas Market

Photo Credit: Koreabyme

Location: Dongsomun-dong 2-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Telephone: +82-2-2241-6381

If you think Seoul is captivating during other seasons, you need to check it out in winter, especially during the Christmas celebration. Everywhere lights up with different colourful illuminations, awesome decorations, and a delightful scent in the air. One place among many that embodies the Christmas season and adds more loveliness to Seoul in winter is the European Christmas Market.

The European Christmas Market uses food, gifts, auctions, and other cool treats from Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, and other European countries to celebrate the Christmas season. You can enjoy the Christmas carol and other wonderful musical performances, devour Christmas food, get free gifts and coupons for food booths and restaurants, and get to buy a Christmas cookie house that is on auction. You get pulled into a whole new world when you step into the European Christmas Market, as the winter season adds snow and a cold aura to create a dazzling scenery. This awesome winter festival is a great way for Koreans and other foreigners who are not from Europe to get a taste of European Christmas traditions. It also creates an avenue for connecting with different people, having meaningful fun, and creating beautiful memories. So, while in Seoul during the winter, you should definitely stop by the European Christmas Market.

5. Bukhansan National Park

Photo Credit: National-parks

Location: 262 Bogukmun-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Telephone:  +82 2-909-0497

Opening hours: 4:00am – 5:00pm

Going outdoors during the cold winter in Seoul may not be the first thing you want to do, but visiting the Bukhansan National Park is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. Despite the fact that it can get very cold and the hiking trails can be slippery, people visit Bukhansan National Park during the winter season. Some may be taking their time to hike to enjoy being in nature, others may try to build up heat with the exercise, and it won’t be rare to find that some have set up a simple picnic.

During winter, the three mountains (Baekundae, Insubong, and Mangyongdae) look so glorious being covered with layers of snow, and even without the snow, there is a certain atmospheric change that the winter season brings to the place that makes it mesmerising to behold. The trails become more difficult, but still enjoyable. This explains why it remains popular even in the cold. To make the most of this adventure, please be sure to put on more layers of clothes, wear gloves, and those shoes with spikes to confidently go through the elements of winter.

6. Lotte World

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Location: 240, Olympic-ro, Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Telephone: +82 (0)2-1661-2000

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday (9:30 am to 10:00 pm). Closed on Sundays

Have a blast and enjoy pure entertainment during the cold winter months in the fun filled, magical Lotte World. Games, VR experiences, joy rides, ice skating, special performances, a Magic Island, and haunted houses are some of the elements of Lotte World that make it a wonderful place to visit during the winter. The Lotte World is divided into the outdoor and indoor segment; named the Magic Island and Lotte World Adventure respectively. Both get your blood pumping and distract you from the chills of winter. You can go for the ride of your life in both parts of Lotte World and feel on top of the world. Then there are winter festivals and shows to enjoy, as well as winter-themed food to delight.

7. Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

Photo Credit: Flickr

Location: 110 Sejong-daero, Euljiro 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul.

Telephone: +82-2133-2691

Website: seoulskate.or.kr

Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday (10:00 am – 9:30 pm)

Friday, Saturday, Public Holidays: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

During winter, Seoul Plaza transforms into a wonderland with an outdoor ice skating rink that draws people together to have sweet fun. Aside from the fact that the admission fee is relatively cheap, beginners can take advantage of special offers and training sessions to learn how to skate well. But it can get pretty crowded, so you may need to arrive early to get tickets.

This may seem like a cliché activity that comes with winter, but when you skate and feel the cold breeze brushing against your cheeks and your body igniting with the adrenaline rush, you will understand why Seoul Plaza is one of the top spots in Seoul during the winter season.

8. Jjimjilbang (Dragon Hill Spa)

Photo Credit: Mykoreatrip

Location: Dragon Hill Spa, 40-712 Hangangno 3ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Telephone: +82-2-792-0001

Website: http://www.dragonhillspa.com/

Considering the chilly weather that the winter season arrives with in Seoul, a visit to the Jjimjilbang is certainly a place to be, as it provides some of the best ways to get warm. It gives a relaxing opportunity to escape the cold and feel refreshed in the process. Some of the things that make the Jjimjilbang a top place to visit in Seoul during winter include the heated rooms, awesome scrubs and soothing baths, sauna, steaming hot and delicious meals, and cool facilities.

The sauna chambers or heated rooms are a huge contrast to the winter cold, the warm bath and scrub help for blood circulation and exfoliation, the sauna comes with medicinal effects that aid in working on aching bones and joints; and then, after absorbing enough heat, you can chill out at the game rooms, gym facilities, and enjoy other amenities. Although there are many wonderful Jjimjilbang in Seoul, the Dragon Hill Spa is one of the most popular ones. It is a huge establishment with the elements of a Korean Jjimjilbang, as well as other amenities such as a lovely garden, a massive outdoor pool, a movie room, and a cool game room with different games to enjoy.

9. Insadong Cultural Street

Photo Credit: Theculturetrip

Location: Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Insadong Cultural Street is a really nice place to visit in Seoul during the winter, as it promises lots of fun activities, and a highly pleasant day. This popular old street located in Seoul was a centre for antique business, before it became a street for Korean crafts, cultural displays, and souvenirs. Apart from the arts and culture, good food is another thing that makes the Insadong Cultural Street a spectacular place during the winter. You get to enjoy the antiques that tell tales of Korean history, take part in special events and festivals, and then settle down to devour a hot, mouthwatering meal on a cold winter day or night.

10. Gwangjang Market

Photo Credit: Timeout

Location: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 

Telephone: +82 (0)2-2267-0291

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Closed on Sundays.

If there’s one thing anyone would attest to in Seoul, it’s that you can never go wrong with a hot meal during the winter season in the city. This explains why the Gwangjang Market is on the list of the top places to visit in Seoul during the winter. Gwangjang Market is Korea’s largest traditional market, famous for its stomach-pleasing street foods and traditional snacks, as well as its vintage clothes, textiles, and other affordable materials. So, you get to delight in the Korean dishes, buy a variety of different materials at affordable prices, and enjoy the sights of the famous traditional market.

I hope this recommendation on the top places to visit in Seoul during winter will help you enjoy your experience and have lots of fun.