What's the Weather like in Seoul in March
Temperature
Seoul finally warms up significantly in March, with an average monthly temperature of 4°C. This is six degrees warmer than the February average. March daytime highs average 9°C. Nights are still below freezing, averaging -2°C. The warmest temperature ever recorded in March was 23.8°C.
Rainfall
Rainfall totals slowly increase in March. The average rainfall amount is 47mm, with an average chance of rain of 20%. Snowfall is very rare in Seoul in March.
Sunshine Hours
There are 12 hours 34 minutes of daylight in Seoul in March, and continuing to increase. More clouds start to move in during March, and by the end of the month you'll only have a 55% average chance of clear or partly cloudy skies. The longer days will still give you an average of six hours of sunshine every day.
Humidity
The average relative humidity in Seoul in March is slightly less than February, averaging 63%. Most people would consider the air to feel quite dry.
Wind
Winds decline slightly throughout March. The average wind speed is 4.2 m/s in the beginning of the month and 3.9 m/s at the end of March. Winds are mostly out of the southwest to northwest by the end of the month.
Dress Code
There is a large temperature spread between daytime highs and nighttime lows in Seoul in March. Be prepared for plunging temperatures once the sun goes down. You may be comfortable in pants and a light sweater during the day, but you'll want to put on more layers at night. Also, know that local customs ask that you take off your shoes in certain establishments, so you may want to bring footwear that is easy to remove. The Seoul 14-day forecast is a great resource to check before your trip.
Seoul Hotels in March
Lotte City Hotel Guro
The four-star Lotte City Hotel in Guro-gu is a polished modern hotel high-rise in the Guro Digital Complex. There are 283 rooms in the Lotte City Hotel, spread out over 20 floors with outstanding views of the city. Rooms feature contemporary wooden furnishings, premium bedding, flatscreen TVs, and WiFi. Suites with living rooms are also available. The trendy C'café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style in a modern dining room with garden views. The Terrace Bar is open seasonally and serves delicious Korean barbecue and cocktails. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center, business center, and laundry.
Hotel Manu Seoul
Also just called "Seoulista", Hotel Manu Seoul is a chic, modern hotel in Gangnam. Simple rooms are available from singles up to triples, with larger family rooms also available. All rooms feature minifridges, smart TVs, and WiFi. Hotel Manu also has a casual eatery serving pizza, chicken, burgers, and over 20 craft beers on tap. Breakfast is available for a little extra. Hotel Manu also has a fitness center and day spa offering massages and other treatments. Hotel Manu Seoul is just a few minutes from Seoul Station.
Ibis Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong
Ibis Ambassador Myeongdong is a cozy three-star accommodation in the Myeongdong shopping district. The hotel features 280 slick rooms with modern, comfortable furnishings, excellent views, flatscreen TVs, WiFi, and in-room safes. Suites with futons and heated floors are also available. Ibis Ambassador also has an international buffet called La Table where you can find lunch and dinner. Le Bar serves cocktails throughout the day. Other hotel amenities include a gym, business center, and laundry. The nearest metro station is just a few minutes away.
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel
The Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel is a funky option in the middle of Seoul. The brightly colored building easily stands out amongst surrounding buildings, and the vibrant interior will captivate you from the moment you step inside. This four-star accommodation features 133 rooms of all different sizes, with decorated walls, simple furnishings, flatscreen TVs, and bright bathrooms. Imperial Palace is home to Hibarin Restaurant, a swanky Asian restaurant open from breakfast through dinner, and the Godiva chocolate café. A nightclub is open on the weekends. Imperial Palace is just minutes from the nearest metro station.
Bars and Restaurants
Line Friends Café
Line Friendsis a very popular department store chain worldwide, and their flagship store is located in Yongsan. There is another popular location in Gangnam, among many other locations in Seoul. While you'll mostly likely come here for the shopping, you should also be sure to stop in the café before or after shopping. They offer a decent menu with some great burgers, and also serve up sweet desserts, tea, and coffee. Line Friends is open daily from 10AM to 11PM.
Ryunique
Ryunique is an outstanding, cozy fusion restaurant in Gangnam with an eclectic menu presentation. It was recently awarded one of the top 50 restaurants in both Asia and the world. The cuisine is mostly Korean with Japanese and French influences. Every dish is a work of art and you may feel guilty eating it with the amount of work that appears to go into each plate. A number of set menus are available, also served with wine pairings. Ryunique is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon until 2PM and then from 6PM to 8PM. Reservations are recommended.
Gusto Taco
For something completely different in Seoul, try the Mexican Gusto Taco restaurant. Both the owner and the staff are praised throughout reviews for their hospitality. Gusto Taco makes their own tortillas and sauces in-house, and uses only fresh meat in their menu items. Taco fillings include pulled pork, grilled chicken, steak, vegetarian, and tofu. Other menu items include nachos, quesadillas, burritos, and salads. Alcoholic beverages, including some killer margaritas, are also served here. Gusto Taco is located in Mapo-gu and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30AM until 10PM and Sunday from 11:30AM until 9PM.
Yang Good
Yang Good is a critically acclaimed Halal restaurant in Gangnam serving Korean BBQ lamb. The dining room is very cozy and offers your typical Korean BBQ experience where you grill your own food at your table. If you're unsure about grilling your own food or you forget that it's cooking the helpful staff will take care of you. Various cuts of Australian lamb are on the menu, including skewers, shoulder, and ribs. You'll also find chicken, kimchi, rice, soups, and stews on the menu. Yang Good is open Monday through Saturday from 4PM to midnight. Reservations are recommended.
Things to do in Seoul in March
Lotte World Amusement Park
Seoul is home to the largest indoor theme park in the world, Lotte World. It's much more than an amusement park, with a luxury hotel, shopping, museum, and movie theaters. It is made up of its record-breaking indoor park and an outdoor park. The indoor park has a large artificial lake surrounded by numerous rides to make you feel part of an adventure, be it chasing dinosaurs, raiding with Vikings, or exploring the jungle on a water ride. The outdoor park features some large themed rollercoasters. Lotte World is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30AM until 10PM and Saturday & Sunday from 9:30AM until 11PM.
Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokung Palace is one of Seoul's five grand palaces and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 14th-century palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens. This palace is different than the others in Seoul in that it is a part of the natural landscape, versus taking over the landscape. You'll be able to see the elegant rooms in which Korean royalty lived over the past centuries, and you'll definitely want to sign up for a free tour of the Secret Garden, one of the main attractions of Changdeokung. Some of the tours must be done with a guide. Changdeokung is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9AM until 6PM.
Ilsan Lake Park
Late March and early April is a beautiful time to visit Ilsan Lake Park, as seasons change from winter to spring. This is one of the largest man-made parks in all of Asia and is located in Goyang. Ilsan Lake Park features a large, clean freshwater lake with islands, bike paths, walking paths, fountains, children's playgrounds, and interpretive displays. The park is one of the main horticultural centers of Seoul and contains over 200,000 trees and 100 species of flowers in numerous demonstration gardens throughout the park. Ilsan Lake Park closes at 8PM in March.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Villageis one of the most beautiful villages in South Korea. The picture-perfect buildings are as old as they look, all from the Joseon dynasty. Many of the buildings are private residences, but a number of them serve as cultural centers, restaurants, and teahouses. The quaint folk village is a fascinating place to explore and see how South Korea looked hundreds of years ago. Seoul has recently imposed tourism rules on Bukchon Hanok Village in order to limit the effects of a massive increase in tourists that the town can't handle. Visiting hours are from 9AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday.
