What's the Weather like in Seoul in October
Temperature
October in Seoul is very mild as far as temperatures are concerned. The average monthly temperature is 13°C, with daytime averages of 18°C and nighttime averages of 7°C.
Rainfall
The chances of rain in Seoul in October significantly decline to an average of 20%. Rainfall totals average only 52mm, a sharp fall from September.
Sunshine Hours
The length of the days continues to decrease in Seoul in October, with 10 hours 40 minutes of daylight by the end of the month. The skies are mostly clear though, with only a 30% chance of mostly cloudy or overcast skies. The clearer skies will yield an average of seven hours of sunshine every day.
Humidity
The average relative humidity in Seoul drops below 70% in October, to an average of 67%. With dropping temperatures, the air will be very comfortable and may even seem dry to some people.
Wind
Average wind speeds slowly climb throughout October. They are 3.3 m/s in the beginning of October and reach 3.8 m/s by the end of the month. Winds are mostly from the northwest to northeast with smaller periods of southerly winds.
Dress Code
Be prepared for chilly nights when you're packing for a visit to Seoul in October. The days may still be warm enough for short-sleeve shirts and shorts, but it will get chilly as soon as the sun goes down, so pants may be a better option. You will also want a light sweater for nights. There is still a chance of rain in October, so a light rain jacket should be in your pack as well. When packing your footwear, remember that you may have to remove shoes when entering temples and some restaurants. Check the Seoul extended forecast before your trip for a better idea of what the weather will be like.
Seoul Hotels in October
The Plaza Seoul, Autograph Collection
The Plaza is one of Seoul's fancier five-star hotels and is located in central Seoul. This upscale property boasts 401 rooms, including nine suites. The spacious rooms all feature contemporary décor, large windows with city & mountain views, minifridges, and flatscreen TVs. The suites all have separate living areas. Dining facilities include five restaurants, such as Japanese fine dining, a Mediterranean buffet, Italian, and a deli. The hotel also features a day spa and substantial fitness center with an indoor pool. The Plaza is just a four-minute walk to the nearest metro station.
Grand Ambassador Seoul
The Grand Ambassador Seoul is another five-star hotel in a busy, entertaining neighborhood. This hotel features 413 rooms with bright, comfortable furnishings, flatscreen TVs, and Jacuzzi tubs. Traditional Ondal rooms are also available, with heated floors and futons. Suites feature separate living rooms. You'll be able to enjoy the hotel's six restaurants for lunch and dinner, featuring an international buffet, Korean food, Chinese, and Japanese. Breakfast is available for a small fee. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center, day spa, and indoor pool. Dongdaemun market is less than 1km away.
Ramada Hotel Seoul Namdaemun
The stylish Ramada Namdaemun is a wonderfully affordable hotel in a great location between Seosomun Park and historic Namdaemun Gate. This four-star hotel features a number of tastefully decorated rooms to accommodate different desires and budgets. All rooms feature modern wooden furnishings, wood floors, and flatsreen TVs. Suites have Jacuzzi tubs, separate living rooms, washing machines, and kitchenettes. The Ramada offers a casual restaurant with patio seating and a burger bar. Other amenities include a fitness center, meeting rooms, and business center. The nearest metro station is less than a ten-minute walk from the hotel.
Aventree Hotel Jongno
For more modest accommodations, check out the four-star Aventree Hotel. This affordable hotel offers numerous rooms with one, two, or three beds, plus designer rooms with Asian flair. Despite the minimal furnishings, each room has a flatscreen TV and minifridge. 65thAvenue restaurant offers a breakfast buffet, lunch buffet, and a la carte dinner menu featuring international cuisine. Aventree Hotel also offers to its guests a fitness center, meeting room, and tea café. Aventree Hotel is located in the Jongno district and is just over five minutes from the nearest metro station.
Bars and Restaurants
Grand Kitchen
Grand Kitchenis an upscale all-you-can-eat buffet in the InterContinental in Gangnam. The food is all of international origins, made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. There are live cooking stations where you can request your food prepared a certain way and watch the chef create it for you right in front of your eyes. You'll find large king crab legs, fresh pastas, sushi, lamb, enormous salads, and a sizeable dessert assortment at this buffet. The dining room is open and airy, with high ceilings and a wall of windows. Private rooms are also available. The Grand Kitchen is open every day from 6AM until 10PM.
Myeongdong Dakhanmari Main
Seoul has plenty of "original chicken restaurants" to choose from, one of which is the Myeongdong Dakhanmari. You'll find excellent service and reasonable prices at this modest restaurant. It can be difficult to find but is worth the search, as it has a very local feel and delicious food. Part of the fun of Seoul's chicken restaurants is cooking your own soup, adding vegetables and noodles as you desire and tasting it along the way. They also serve fried chicken, porridge, and have a good selection of beer to go along with your meal. Myeongdong Dakhanmari Main is open for lunch and dinner.
Tosokchong Samgyetang
One of Seoul's more upscale chicken restaurants is Tosokchong Samgyetang, located in Jongno-gu. This restaurant has more of a tourist feel than some of the more local chicken restaurants, but this may be what you're looking for. It's not just for tourists though; the restaurant was a favorite of former Korean president Roh Moo-hyun. They are commonly noted as having the best ginseng chicken soup in Seoul. The soups explode with flavorful ingredients like garlic, ginger, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds, and of course ginseng. They also serve rotisserie chicken and green onion pancakes, among other items. The queue can be quite long during lunch, but everyone who has waited in it is glad they did. They are open daily from 10AM until 10PM.
Brew 3.14
Seoul does pizza and beer right, and you'll find an example of this at Brew 3.14, in Ikseon-dong. This late-night pub has a fun atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious pizza, and a great selection of craft beers. Their thin-crust pizzas include classics like pepperoni, and specialties like pineapple-chicken pizza. Other menu offerings include fried chicken with a variety of sauces, calzones, and fries. The beer selection has something for everyone, from pilsners to pale ales to vanilla stouts. Sample flights are also available. Brew 3.14 is open Monday through Saturday at 5PM with advertised closing hours of 1AM, but this is often flexible depending on the crowd.
Things to do in Seoul in October
Explore Insadong
Insadongis a wonderful experience for visitors to Seoul. The main street is nearly 1km long and is known for its ability to magically make an entire day go by. Almost 40% of all crafts sold in Seoul, most of which are beautiful ceramics, are sold on the Insadong streets. They also sell other fabrics and souvenirs. Most people who come to Insadong are also prepared to eat their way through it, as the neighborhood has everything from cheap traditional street food to more upscale restaurants. Insadong also has a number of art galleries featuring everything from pottery to paintings to photography. There is something for everyone.
Namdaemun Gate
Namdaemun Gate is one of Seoul's eight historic city gates, and was the one that greeted kings and princes back when Seoul was a walled city. The 14th-century pagoda was at one time Seoul's oldest wooden structure, but an arsonist burned it in 2008. It's been rebuilt to its original appearance and is now one of Seoul's most popular historic sites (its official designation has been Korea's National Treasure No. 1 for decades). Namdaemun Gate is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9AM to 6PM and entrance is free. Namdaemun Gate is near Seoul Plaza and Seoul Station.
Seoul Street Art Festival
The Seoul Street Art Festival is Korea's largest art festival and has been going strong for over fifteen years. The festival takes place in the first week of October every year, and lasts for four days. It is spread out throughout downtown Seoul. You can watch street performances for free at locations including Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggyecheonro. Performers consist of musicians, theater, dance, and puppeteers, to name a few. Professionals as well as amateurs are invited to participate every year. Closing ceremonies include games for kids and fireworks at Seoul Plaza.
Myeongdong Market
Like its nearby neighbor Namdaemun Gate, Namdaemun Market is one of the oldest attractions in Seoul. The market has roots going back over 600 years. At this market you'll find souvenirs, artisan crafts, and numerous food stalls serving authentic Korean street food. The efficiency of the food vendors is absolutely amazing considering how many people they serve every day. Near Namdaemun Market you can find a more contemporary shopping experience. Myeongdong Market offers modern Korean retailers and international brands including Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Louis Vitton. The market is bustling with locals and tourists all hours of the day.
