South Korea, Asia

Seoul in January

Real winter, thin crowds, and the city glowing at night. Seollal falls in late January some years, closing small businesses for a few days.

Quiet valueCold and dry, highs near 34F (1C)

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

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Seoul. Real winter, thin crowds, and the city glowing at night. Seollal falls in late January some years, closing small businesses for a few days.

Weather: Cold and dry, highs near 34F (1C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What January is like in Seoul

January is real winter in Seoul. Days are cold and dry, with highs near 34F (1C) and nights well below freezing, but skies are often clear and the city glows at night. Crowds are thin and prices are low. In some years Seollal, the Lunar New Year, falls in late January and closes small shops and restaurants for a few days.

This month suits budget travelers, food lovers, and anyone happy to dress for the cold, since nothing in the city shuts for winter. Families can mix palaces with skating and indoor theme parks. If you want mild weather for walking and hiking, come back in April, May, September, or October.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Seoul this month.

Empty palaces in the snow

Gyeongbokgung and the other palaces are quiet in winter, and a dusting of snow on the tiled roofs makes for great photos.

Jjimjilbang season

A Korean bathhouse with hot pools, heated floors, and sleeping halls is the best way to warm up after a cold day out.

Seollal in some years

When the Lunar New Year lands in late January, palaces fill with families in hanbok, though small businesses close and intercity trains sell out.

What to pack for January

A heavy insulated coat and warm boots
Thermal base layers for long days outside
A warm hat, gloves, and scarf
Hand warmers for palace visits and night markets

Our timing tip

Check the year's Seollal dates before you book, and if they fall in your trip, reserve any train travel the moment tickets release.

Book Seoul for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Seoul
Opens a hotel search for Seoul in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
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 January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Seollal (Lunar New Year)

Late January or February, date follows the lunar calendar

Korea's great homecoming. Intercity transport sells out, small businesses close for a few days, and palaces fill with families in hanbok.

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 January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Seoul?

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Seoul. Real winter, thin crowds, and the city glowing at night. Seollal falls in late January some years, closing small businesses for a few days.

What is the weather like in Seoul in January?

Cold and dry, highs near 34F (1C).

Is Seoul crowded in January?

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

What is happening in Seoul in January?

Seollal (Lunar New Year) (late january or february, date follows the lunar calendar).