What's the Weather like in Seoul in May
Temperature
Like April, May sees a significant increase in temperature. Seoul'saverage monthly temperature increases by six degrees to 17°C. Daytime averagesclimb to 22°C. Nights see a significant warming from the previous month, averaging 11°C. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Seoul in May was 34.4°C.
Rainfall
The chances of precipitation level off in May slightly before the rainy season really starts, averaging 20%. Rainfall totals are also fairly steady throughout the month, averaging a total of 106mm.
Sunshine Hours
The days are 14 hours 34 minutes long in Seoul in May, and increasing slightly going into June. The skies will be mostly cloudy though, with an average 45% chance of overcast skies. There is an average of seven hours of sunshine every day in May.
Humidity
The average humidity in Seoul starts to climb back up in May, averaging 65%. The rising temperatures and rising humidity will make the air very comfortable; the air won't feel dry anymore and it won't be as muggy as it is later in the year.
Wind
Winds decrease significantly in Seoul in May. The month starts off with an average wind speed of 3.9 m/s and ends with an average speed of 3.2 m/s. Winds are still out of the southwest to southeast.
Dress Code
May is a very comfortable month in Seoul as far as dress is concerned. Warm days allow you to wear casual clothing such as short-sleeve shirts, shorts, and skirts. It's acceptable for women to show off their legs, but low-cut shirts aren't common. Nights can still have a bit of a cold bite, so bring a jacket for when the sun goes down. You should also bring an adequate rain jacket for periods of spring showers. Check the Seoul 14-day forecast before your trip for a better idea of what to bring.
Seoul Hotels in May
InterContinental Seoul COEX
The five-star InterContinental Seoul COEX is one of Seoul's highest rated hotels and is located in the metropolitan Gangnam district. The hotel features 654 stylishly decorated rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, plush beds, polished granite bathrooms, and flatscreen TVs. Dining options at the InterContinental include the fusion Asian Live restaurant, The Brasserie, and Sky Lounge with amazing city views. There is also a swanky lobby bar serving outstanding cocktails. Hotel amenities include a gym, indoor & outdoor pool, and spa. The InterContinental is close to many entertainment venues, shopping, restaurants, and the DFS Casino.
Fraser Place Namdaemun
Fraser Place is a modern four-star hotel in the heart of Seoul. This hotel features 252 contemporary rooms decked out with comfortable furniture, light wood floors, and wooden trim throughout. Upgraded rooms feature kitchenettes and living areas. Most rooms have amazing mountain & city views. Guests will also have access to a large fitness center overlooking the city, a sauna, and spa. There is one chic restaurant on the first floor serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the 16th-floor Panorama Bar with spectacular views. Fraser Place is within walking distance to the Myeongong shopping district.
Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong
Budget travelers will have a great stay at the Ibis Ambassador Insadong. This three-star hotel is located next to the historic Jongmyo Shrine. There are 363 rooms available as singles, double twins, family rooms, and triple beds. The comfortable rooms all have modest furnishings, flatscreen TVs, work desks, and WiFi access. The hotel also has a laundry facility. There is one restaurant serving an international buffet for lunch in a bright dining room, and a bar serving cocktails throughout the day. The hotel also features a fitness center, sauna, and rooftop garden with panoramic views.
Gangnam Family Hotel
The Gangnam Family Hotel is a spacious three-star hotel set in a contemporary tower in Seoul's Gangnam district. The apartment-style rooms are all studios with one or two beds, a fully equipped kitchen, sofa, in-room laundry, flatscreen TVs, and WiFi. Large windows and light furniture make the rooms feel larger than they are. Breakfast is available in a cozy dining room for an extra charge. Hotel facilities include a bar, business center, convenience store, female-only sauna, and a Muslim prayer room. The nearest metro station is less than a ten-minute walk from the hotel.
Bars and Restaurants
Sinsadong Garosu-gil Road
Take your pick of any one of the chic restaurants and cafes on Garosu-gil Road in Sinsadong. This edgy street is known for it's tree-lined avenue and urban flair. This is the perfect neighborhood to wander early in the morning, as the low sun lights up the blooming trees. Walk from café to café, sampling pastries and different coffee drinks. Banana Tree is one of the more popular, a trendy coffee shop with a rustic interior and artistic foods. Then there's Skinfood, which combines a skincare store with a café that also has a decent food menu. This is just a small sampling of the interesting cafes you'll find on Garosu-gil Road; you can't go wrong with any of the cafes here.
Tavolo 24
Tavolo 24 is an upscale all-you-can-eat buffet in the J.W. Marriott Dongdaemun Square. There are many different stations in this elegant restaurant, all made with the freshest ingredients. There is an Italian station with homemade pastas and cheeses; many Asian stations featuring Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese creations; a Korean station where the food is cooked right in front of you; plus a smattering of other salads and seafood collections. There are also a la carte menus, kids menus, and a substantial beverage menu. Tavolo 24 is open from 6:30AM until 10PM with small breaks between meal servings.
Jamaejip
Jamaejip is an authentic Korean restaurant in Jong-no, with affordable prices and a casual, cozy atmosphere. Jamaejip specializes in beef sashimi, and with this specialization you will only find a few items on the menu. The beef is marinated in specialty sauces and served raw with an assortment of vegetables, a pear, rice, and topped with a raw egg. There is also raw liver on the menu. Rest assured that this beef is some of the freshest beef you'll find in a restaurant in Seoul. Lines can be long, but the prices can't be beat. Jamaejip is open for lunch and dinner.
Glam Lounge
One of your better late-night options in Yongsan-gu is Glam, a trendy lounge with great food and craft cocktails. Glam is part of a larger complex known as The District, which also features the Prost Bar & Grill. The music sets a great, chill ambience, and you can hang out here with your companions without even ordering a drink. The drinks, however, are excellent and served up by some master bartenders. Glam can get quite crowded at times, so if you'd like to sit for dinner it's recommended to make reservations first. Glam opens at 7PM every day; they close at 3AM Sunday through Wednesday, 4AM on Thursday, and 5AM on Friday & Saturday.
Things to do in Seoul in May
Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival
Cheonggyecheon is one of the best places to see Yeon Deung Hoe, Seoul's lantern festival that celebrates the birthday of Buddha. Cheonggyecheon Stream runs behind Seoul City Hall and is lined with ornate lanterns during the month celebrating Buddha's birthday. The lanterns are brilliantly lit at night; the larger lanterns remain along the sides of the stream while the smaller lanterns are sent to float down the stream. Cheonggyecheon is close to many great restaurants where you can fuel up before and after the lantern lighting.
Seokjeon Daeje
May 11this the anniversary of the death of Confucius, and one of the two days each year when the ceremonial rite of the "laying out of the offerings" is presented. The other time of the year this ceremony takes place is September 28th, Confucius' birthday. This elaborate ceremony takes place at "hyanggyo", or schools of learning, throughout the country. It involves colorful, traditional costume, food & alcohol offerings, and the traditional dance called munmyo ilmu. The dance performance lasts about two hours and is a great cultural experience for tourists who are there to witness it.
Gwanghwamun Square
Gwanghwamun Square is a sprawling public space in central Seoul and could easily take up an entire day of your time. One side of the long plaza contains a large gold statue of King Sejong, and further on the end of the plaza you'll find the old, ornate Gwanghwamun Gate, entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace. There are numerous other monuments, statues, and fountains throughout the plaza. There are also two interesting underground museums below the square. You'll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and small galleries surrounding the square.
Deoksungung Palace
Deoksungung Palace is one of Seoul's more interesting grand palaces, with a history dating back to the 15thcentury. The palace has been undergoing some aggressive restoration efforts lately, in an effort to bring it back to its original grandeur. There are many beautiful buildings to explore, all in the ornate Oriental style. There is one building that looks oddly out of place; this is Seokjojeon Hall, a grand neoclassical building housing the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It used to be the sleeping quarters of King Gojong but now houses an impressive display of Korean art. A separate admission fee is charged for the museum on top of the palace entry fee. The palace is closed on Mondays.
