South Korea, Asia

Seoul in December

Holiday lights, skating rinks, and steaming pojangmacha tents. Cold-weather gear turns December Seoul from an ordeal into a pleasure.

Quiet valueCold, highs near 38F (3C)

Geunjeongjeon throne hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul — SeoulPhoto: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Seoul. Holiday lights, skating rinks, and steaming pojangmacha tents. Cold-weather gear turns December Seoul from an ordeal into a pleasure.

Weather: Cold, highs near 38F (3C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What December is like in Seoul

December is cold, with highs near 38F (3C), but Seoul feels festive. Holiday lights go up, skating rinks open, and steaming pojangmacha tents serve food on the street. Crowds and prices are low. Nothing in the city closes for winter, so good gear is all you need.

This month suits couples, food lovers, and families who enjoy winter fun. With a warm coat and good boots, December Seoul is a pleasure rather than an ordeal, and hotels are good value. If you want mild weather for walking and hiking, wait for April, May, September, or October.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Seoul this month.

Holiday lights

Streets and shopping areas light up for the season, making evening walks cheerful despite the cold.

Skating rinks

Seasonal outdoor rinks open around the city, a fun break for kids between palaces and museums.

Pojangmacha tents

Warm tented street stalls serve snacks and drinks at night, one of the best winter food experiences.

What to pack for December

A heavy winter coat and warm boots
Thermal layers
Hat, gloves, and a scarf
Hand warmers for long evenings outside

Our timing tip

Plan outdoor sights for the sunny middle of the day in December, and save markets, lights, and food tents for the evening.

Book Seoul for December.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Seoul
Opens a hotel search for Seoul in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Seoul
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Seoul
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Seoul for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Seoul

Full guide

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The grandest of the five palaces. Catch the changing of the guard, and note most palaces close one day a week (Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays).

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Changdeokgung's Secret Garden

The UNESCO-listed rear garden is by guided entry with capped numbers; book ahead, especially for fall color.

Tickets and tours →

Bukchon Hanok Village

Traditional homes on a hillside between the palaces. It is a residential neighborhood: go early, keep voices down, and the photos come easy.

Tickets and tours →

Gwangjang Market

Bindaetteok pancakes, knife-cut noodles, and the famous fabric hall upstairs. Lunch here beats any food tour.

Tickets and tours →

N Seoul Tower and the Namsan walk

Ride the cable car up, walk down through the park at dusk as the city lights come on.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

DMZ tour

The border with North Korea, about an hour out, visited on regulated tours that book out ahead. Sobering, strange, and singular.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

See the palaces at 9am opening or in the last two hours; midday belongs to tour groups, and Bukchon's lanes are quietest before breakfast.
For cherry blossoms, walk Yeouido at sunrise or choose quieter stretches along the Han River tributaries over the festival core.
Never plan intercity travel during Seollal or Chuseok without tickets booked the moment they release; those are the country's two travel crushes.
Book the Secret Garden, DMZ tours, and popular Korean barbecue houses days to weeks ahead in spring and fall.

Know before you go

Seollal and Chuseok (dates shift yearly on the lunar calendar) close many small restaurants and shops for two to four days while department stores shorten hours; major palaces and museums typically stay open with holiday programming.
Most royal palaces close one day a week (Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays, most others on Mondays); pair your palace days accordingly.
The jangma monsoon (roughly late June through July) cancels outdoor plans without notice; Seoul's answer is an unmatched indoor bench of museums, malls, and saunas.
DMZ tours run on government schedules and can suspend without warning when border conditions change; book refundable and early in your stay so a canceled day can slide.

Seoul in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Seoul?

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Seoul. Holiday lights, skating rinks, and steaming pojangmacha tents. Cold-weather gear turns December Seoul from an ordeal into a pleasure.

What is the weather like in Seoul in December?

Cold, highs near 38F (3C).

Is Seoul crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Seoul; most sights can be done without long waits.