In mid-November, the season is getting colder. Recently, the maple front has been speeding up in the chilly weather. The trees are busier preparing for winter. Thanks to this, there are so many wonderful maple attractions in Seoul that have been painted beautifully at the end of autumn. You can see people are enjoying the deepening autumn season by walking on the roads changed into autumn clothes and capturing autumn scenery with photographs. Shopping is good, but I would like to introduce you to the maple attractions in Seoul as it is the time for the fall foliage to bloom ! The attractions are all close to downtown Seoul, so you can enjoy the fall leaves without going far, leading to a flurry of holiday activity.
1. A palace with the most beautiful foliage “Changdeok Palace & Huwon”
Changdeokgung Palace is the second palace built after Gyeongbuk Palace in 1405. It is the best preserved palace among the five royal palaces that remain the main palace of many kings of the Joseon Dynasty. It is one of the venues visited by the first ladies of the G-20 summit in Seoul during the G-20 summit in November 2010 which is an important historic landmarks representing the beauty of Korea. The Secret Garden “Huwon” is a garden of natural beauty which is near Changdeokgung Palace. The design of the garden flows naturally with the surrounding nature. The landscaping is kept as small as possible without touching a person’s hand. Numbers of trees you see here today are more than 300 years old. Both are good examples of gardening in the Joseon Dynasty.
It is a highly accessible maple attraction in downtown Seoul.Whenever people visit Changdeokgung Palace patronage during the fall, it’s a good point that you don’t have to go far to see the fall foliage. In particular, the forest surrounding the viewing area shows the peak of autumn foliage. Yellow, purple, pink, purple, purple, lotus, green and orange-colored trees seem to be roaring with each other.
Closed:
Mondays
Operating Hours:
[Palace Tour]
Feb-May, Sep-Oct 09:00-18:00
Jun-Aug 09:00-18:30
Nov-Jan 09:00-17:30
* Last admission: 1 hour before closing
[Huwon Tour (Guided Tour only)]
Mar-May, Sept-Oct 10:00-17:30
June-Aug 10:00-18:00
Feb, Nov 10:00-17:00
Dec-Jan 10:00-16:30
* Last tour: 1hr 30min before closing
Parking Facilities:
Use paid parking lot available nearby
Admission Fees:
[Changdeokgung Palace]
Adults (ages 25-64): 3,000 won / Group (over 10 people): 2,400 won
Students (ages 24 and under): Free (* Except for foreign visitors)
* Free admission to Changdeokgung Palace: Refer to the homepage for free admission information.
2. Seoul Forest
The Seoul Forest, which opened in 2005 between Jungnangcheon Stream and the Han River, is one of the most loved parks by citizens. It consists of four sections: Culture and Art Park, Education Experience Park, Ecological Forest Park and Riverside Park along the Han River. Seoul Forest Park is the first park established and managed by a civic group as a public-private joint venture. The ginkgo tree maple path of Seoul Forest is small in size, but its orderly appearance and yellow maple leaves are really beautiful. When you’re here, you’ll feel like walking with someone like a scene from a movie.
The park is a popular place for family outing and couples to go on dates, boasting beautiful natural scenery. In particular, the fall foliage tunnel here is a good place to feel the autumn scenery. You can see people walk through the thickly-drenched street trees . I recommend you to enjoy the autumnal flavor in Seoul Forest. Take some pictures of the ecstasy of the last-minute maple play, children must be excited with fallen leaves in their hands. Hope you enjoy the last autumn season before it’s too late!
Have you seen some pink muhly in Seoul ?
It is kind of a grass which is native to the warm plains of the central United States. In Korea, it usually turns pink and purple from mid-September and stays pink until November. Pink, the color that represents tenderness, euphoria and cuteness, brings warmth as well as calms your emotions.
Operating Hours:
Visitor Center (10:00~18:00)
Insect Garden (10:00~17:00, Closed on Mondays)
Subway:
Bundang Line_ From Seoul Forest Station Exit No.3
5minutes walking
Line No.2_ From Ttukseom Station Exit No.8
15 minutes walking
Admission Fees:
free
3. Olympic Park 
The Olympic Park is an impressive leisure facility where Baekje relics share modern and state-of-the-art sports stadiums, eco-friendly forests and spacious lawns and spaces. The park, a legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has not only accommodated the country’s largest sports stadium but also become a place for Seoulites to relax. The Culture and Art Park is a place where visitors can enjoy various cultural experiences and performances. The park also includes the Olympic Museum, the Seoul Olympic Museum of Art and a music fountain.
Humans and nature coexist comfortably within the eco-park where spotted ducks, white turtles, cuckoos, pheasants, squirrels, squirrels and frog families live. Recent efforts to revive the local ecosystem have led to the emergence of woodpeckers and raccoons, both of which are rarely seen in the city. You can not only enjoy the beauty of Maple leaves but also some lovely animals here!
Address : 424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Closed : N/A (Open all year round)
Parking Facilities:
Available
[Bicycle Rentals]:
– March-June, September-November: 10:00-18:00
– July-August: 18:00-19:00
– Rental availability depends on weather conditions.
Admission Fees:
free
4. Yangjae stream
Yangjaecheon Stream is where you can walk around for leisure time. The beautiful walkway is filled with nature and wildlife with 300 different kinds of animals and plants. It is very popular with visitors and has been a good destination for all four seasons. It is especially popular among couples visiting there for romantic dates in the Autumn. Moreover, it is close to Dogok-dong, so you can take a walk around Yangjae Stream and enjoy meals or tea time at a nearby cafe. You can also come here to see the beautiful scenery of the city’s night sky. As the serene stream of Yangjae Stream reflects the city lights of Gangnam, you will see why it is considered one of Seoul’s best night views in the season of falling leaves.
Address: Apgujeong-ro South 35-gil, Seongreung-ro West 14-gil
Direction: Line 3 Dogok Station and Hagyeoul Station Bundang Line Gaepo-dong Station and Daemosan Station
Closed : N/A (Open all year round)
5. Deoksugung Palace
Deoksugung Palace is one of the five remaining palaces in Seoul. Built mostly in the late 20th century, Deoksugung is the smallest palace in Seoul. The name Deoksugung Palace means “the crossroads between Deok and Jangsu”. It is located on the corner of the busiest downtown street in Seoul, and is famous for its elegant stonewall road. It is also the only palace sitting side by side with a series of Western-style buildings, adding to the uniqueness of the surrounding scenery.
Deoksugung Stone Wall Road, also known as Jeongdong-gil, is a favorite place for romantic walkers. In autumn, yellow ginkgo leaves add to the romantic atmosphere. There are numerous cultural sites that make the trip more valuable.
Address:
Sejong-daero 99, Jung-gu, Seoul 04519
Opening Hours
9:00AM ~ 9:00PM (Last Admission 8:00PM)
Closed
Every Monday
General Admission:
Adult(age 19~64): ￦ 1,000
Group(10 persons or more): ￦800
Youth(age 7~18): ￦ 500
Group(10 persons or more): ￦ 400
