Seoul in winter: weather, what to pack, ski trips and festivals
TUREFF• •0
Seoul in winter is cold, dry and bright. It is also cheaper and less crowded than spring or autumn, the food is at its best, and there is skiing within a couple of hours. Here is what to expect and how to prepare.
How cold is it?
Winter runs roughly from December to February, with January the coldest month. Daytime temperatures are often around or a little below freezing, and nights are colder. A few times each winter a cold wave from Siberia pushes temperatures well below minus ten, and the wind along the Han River makes it feel worse. Skies are usually clear and the air is very dry; snow falls but rarely lies deep in the city.
Check the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast, or the weather in Naver Map, before each day out. Korean forecasts also show a "feels like" temperature, which is the number to dress for.
What to pack
- A long padded coat. Koreans wear knee-length puffer coats for a reason. If you do not have one, they are sold everywhere in Seoul.
- Layers: thermal base layers (Uniqlo-style heat tech is widely sold), a jumper, then the coat. Indoors is heated well, so you will be peeling layers off in cafés and on the subway.
- Hat, gloves and a scarf or neck warmer. Touchscreen gloves help with map apps.
- Moisturiser and lip balm: the air is dry. Korean pharmacies and Olive Young stores sell plenty.
- Hand warmers (핫팩, "hot pack") from any convenience store.
- Shoes with grip for icy pavements and hill streets.
Skiing near Seoul
Several resorts are close enough for a day trip, and many run shuttle buses from Seoul in season:
- Konjiam Resort and Jisan Forest Resort in Gyeonggi Province, near the city
- Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province
- Yongpyong, High1 and Phoenix Pyeongchang further east in Gangwon, better for a night or two. Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Ski seasons usually run from around December to early March, depending on snow and temperature. Tour companies sell packages with transport, lift pass and rental, which is the easiest option if you do not drive.
Winter festivals
- Seoul Winter Festa links light shows and events at Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza and other downtown sites. The 2025 edition ran from mid-December to early January.
- The Seoul Plaza ice rink in front of City Hall usually opens from December to February, with cheap admission and skate hire.
- Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Gangwon Province is a famous ice fishing festival on a frozen river, usually in January. You fish through holes in the ice, and the catch can be grilled on site.
Dates are set each year and depend on the ice, so check official announcements before you go.
Indoor places for the coldest days
- The big underground shopping arcades and connected malls, such as COEX in Gangnam
- Museums: the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- Jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), with hot baths, saunas and heated floors to sleep on
- Covered markets such as Gwangjang Market
Winter food
- Street snacks: hotteok (sweet filled pancakes), bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries with red bean), roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts, and fish cake skewers with hot broth.
- Stews and soups: kimchi jjigae, sundubu, seolleongtang and gamjatang.
- Tteokguk, rice cake soup, eaten at Lunar New Year.
Been to Seoul in winter? Tell us what you wish you had packed, or ask about your own trip, in the comments.