Before You Go Korea

Checked Sept 25, 2026 The silver grass path on top of Haneul Park. Photo: Korea.net / KOCIS, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival (서울억새축제) runs Oct 17 to 23, 2026 on top of Haneul Park (하늘공원) in western Seoul. It's free, there are no tickets, and it's open 10:00 to 21:00 , two hours later than the park normally closes in October. Go up around 4:30 pm , watch the sun set over the grass, and stay for the lights. It's been a while since I last went, but back then Haneul Park was one of the best date spots in Seoul. This guide is the practical part: the times, the 425 stairs, and the one detail about getting back down that most guides skip. Dates Sat Oct 17 – Fri Oct 23, 2026 Hours 10:00 – 21:00 KST Cost Free, no tickets Subway Line 6, World Cup Stadium Station (월드컵경기장역) Best time Start up at 4:30 pm · sunset about 5:48 Bring A windproof jacket and a phone light Jump to: When to go · Getting up the hill...

Checked Sept 24, 2026 Uhwajeong pavilion at Naejangsan, the classic autumn shot. Photo: Tung Thanh Dang / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped Two forecasts for Korea's 2026 autumn colours are out, and they don't agree. The Korea Forest Service puts Seoraksan's peak on Oct 20 and Naejangsan's on Nov 4 . The forecast most Korean media repeated in early September says Oct 25 and Nov 11 . Neither is wrong. They measure "peak" differently, and that one detail decides which weekend you should book. I should say this up front: I really don't like crowds. So I have never seen Seoraksan on its true peak weekend. I always go a little after it, and that habit is why I started reading these forecasts closely. Seoraksan Peak Oct 20 – Oct 25, 2026 Naejangsan Peak Nov 4 – Nov 11, 2026 First colour Seoraksan around Oct 3 (forecast) Official data KMA reports first colour only, not peak Busiest Seoraksan Oct 24–25 weekend Best check Search ...

Checked Sept 24, 2026 This year's Seoul Light Hangang festival runs from Oct 2 to Oct 11, 2026 , every night from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. , on Nodeul Island (노들섬) in the middle of the Han River. Entry is free and you don't need a ticket for the island. The only thing you book is the 7:30 p.m. concert. Take the subway: Line 9 Nodeul Station, then a 700 m walk across Hangang Bridge. The festival moves to a different spot on the river every year, so last year's directions will send you to the wrong place. Here is the 2026 version, with the details the Korean announcements don't spell out in English. Dates Fri Oct 2 – Sun Oct 11, 2026 Hours 18:30 – 22:30 every night Where Nodeul Island (노들섬), Hangang Bridge Cost Free Book Only the 19:30 concert (300 standing) Subway Line 9 Nodeul Stn exit 2, ~700 m walk Busiest Oct 9 (Hangul Day), 10, 11 Jump to: What it is · Dates and hours · Booking · Which night · Getting there · FAQ What is the Seoul...

Checked Sept 24, 2026 You only need a reservation to reach the top of Hallasan, the Baengnokdam crater. Book it for free on the park's own site, visithalla.jeju.go.kr . It has an English page and lets foreigners sign in with just an email address. Dates open at 9:00 a.m. Korea time on the 1st of the month before your hike, and one booking covers up to 4 people. The rest of this guide covers the details the English page skips: which of the two summit trails to pick, the earlier winter cut-off times, and how to get to the trailhead without a car. Cost Free (parking is extra) Book at visithalla.jeju.go.kr Dates open 1st of the previous month, 09:00 KST Group size Up to 4 per booking Sign-in Email code (no Korean phone needed) Bring QR code + passport Summit trails Seongpanak 9.6 km · Gwaneumsa 8.7 km Oct–Mar cut-off 11:30 checkpoint · 13:30 leave summit Jump to: Do you need a reservation? · How to book · When dates open · Which trail · Cut-off ...