Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons – Jim Bishop

No truer words were spoken when talking about autumn in Korea. The trees burst into vibrant crimson and gold before winter takes over and ends the year’s cycle. The first time I saw the fall colors was during our trip to Seoul back in 2012 and several visits later, I still cannot get enough.

There are so many places in and around Seoul where you can stroll around and enjoy the place’s natural beauty. Honest to goodness, you don’t need a fancy camera or photo editing skills to get Instagram-worthy pics. If you’re planning a trip to Korea during the months of November to early December, here are some places you can visit, enjoy the season and feel like you’re in your own Korean drama show.

Olympic Park

This place is huge! The Olympic Park is home to the 1988 Seoul Olympics Arena which is biggest in the country. It took us a couple of hours to explore even on a bike so be sure to wear comfy shoes when you plan to visit. I strongly suggest mapping out the areas that you are most interested in so that you can go to the entrance closest to it. It’s very easy to get lost even with a map at hand so best to familiarize yourself with the different exits. The good news is that you’ll get lost with awesome views all around you.

Nami Island

Made famous by internationally acclaimed Kdrama, Winter Sonata, this crescent moon shaped island has become a top destination. Although the show was filmed during winter, this place is at its most beautiful during autumn.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit Nami Island during different seasons and fall is by far my favorite. Tourists come in droves especially on clear days to lounge around and have a relaxing picnic. I highly suggest renting a bike to explore the island more and get away from the crowd near the entrance of the island where the boats dock.

Everland

The biggest theme park in the country is not only a must for thrill seekers but nature lovers as well. It features year-round festivals celebrating the different seasons and occasions. It is also home to a massive wooden roller coaster, T-Express which my friends pressured me to ride. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart.

Everland’s ambiance and feel changes with the season. During Autumn, the park takes on a rustic feel to it giving you that nostalgia of curling by a fireplace with a hot chocolate drink in hand. Every inch of the gardens are covered with seasonal flowers and the roses in full-bloom are amazing to see.

Kyung Hee University

Kyung Hee University is considered as one of the most beautiful campuses in Seoul. The architecture of the buildings reminded me of those you would expect to see in Europe and not in Korea. The white structures of the Peace Hall and Administrative building backdropped by the colorful autumn leaves makes for captivating pictures.

I didn’t really know what to expect when we visited the campus and to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Even the students who frequent there could not resist to take a picture or two along the way. I probably would not miss a day of classes if I studied in a place as picturesque as this.

Haneul Park

Can you believe that this park used to be buried under 92 million tons of garbage? Haneul Park was a landfill before it was completely rehabilitated. 30,000 butterflies were reintroduced to the location and windmills were used to power the park’s buildings to make it an eco-friendly destination for everyone. Haneul Park is especially captivating during the Eulalia festival where visitors can enjoy the views of the city together with the thousands of silver grass that cover the vast area.

When I together with my mom and friend, Joel visited last 2016, the festival was over and there were fewer people coming to visit. The grass were no longer silver but the golden color it turned to after it’s peak was lovely to look at. The place was quiet and you can appreciate the views of the city better.

 

I hope you enjoyed my top autumn destination picks as much as I did! The “-ber” months have started and the leaves will soon be turning golden once more. If you haven’t booked that flight to South Korea yet, I suggest you do soon if you’d want to catch the best season of the year. Happy traveling!