What To Do On a Rainy Day in Seoul: 50+ Things To Do

Many people exploring Seoul picture gorgeous sights such as Korean palaces, beautiful hiking trails, street food, shopping in the hotspots, and gorgeous views from stunning rooftop bars. But none of these things are quite as much fun to do when it’s raining.

Though Seoul doesn’t experience a huge amount of rain (except during monsoon season), it can really spoil an outdoor experience – whether that’s by cluttering your Instagram snaps with umbrellas and cloudy skies, ruining your shoes, or generally making you feel gloomy.

There are plenty of opportunities to have fun indoors in Seoul, so when you wake up to grey skies, it’s time to explore one of the many great things to do on a rainy day in Seoul.

If you’re looking for something specifically to do with children, check out this list of awesome things to do with kids in Seoul.

This is a great list of things to do when it rains in Seoul, but it’s also a great list if we’re experiencing a high dust day as well:

• Does it Rain a Lot in Seoul?
  • What is the rainiest month in Seoul?
• What to do on Rainy Days in Seoul
  • Take a Class
    • Cooking Classes
    • K-Pop Dance Classes
    • Korean Mementos and Culture Classes
  • Sing in a Noraebang
  • Visit a Museum
    • National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관)
    • K Museum of Contemporary Art (K현대미술관)
    • Leeum Samsung Museum (리움미술관)
    • War Memorial Museum (전쟁기념관)
    • National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관)
    • Seoul’s Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art (MMCA) (국립현대미술관 서울관)
    • National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관)
    • The War and Women’s Human Rights Museum (전쟁과여성인권박물관)
    • Amore Pacific Art Museum (아모레퍼시픽미술관)
    • Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관)
  • Go Shopping & Hang Out In Malls
  • Visit an Aquarium
    • COEX Aquarium (코엑스 아쿠아리움)
    • Lotte World Mall Aquarium (롯데월드몰)
    • Lotte World Amusement Park (롯데월드)
  • Go Cafe Hopping
  • Head to an Escape Room
  • Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)
  • See A Performance
  • Go to the Cinema
  • Color Pool Museum (컬러풀뮤지엄)
  • Relax in a Jjimjilbang

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Does it Rain a Lot in Seoul?

Whilst Korea isn’t known to experience a huge amount of rain compared to some places in Europe, it experiences an average amount when compared to the majority of the US. That said, if you happen to visit Korea in the summer when the monsoon rains can be at their worst, it can feel like Korea is very wet and never dry at all.

The majority of the annual rain falls between late June and mid-September in Korea, but there can also be rain in spring in Korea that can make cherry blossom season shorter if the storms hit at just the right time.

What is the rainiest month in Seoul?

The rainiest months of the year in Seoul are July and August. Just in time for all of our summer vacations unfortunately.

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What to do on Rainy Days in Seoul

If you’re in Seoul on a rainy day, be sure to make the most of it by spending time at one of the great indoor spots in Korea, whether you’re looking for a great museum to discover, or something more relaxed like browsing the shops or drinking delicious coffee, there’s plenty to do on rainy days in Seoul.

Take a Class

There are some fantastic experiences you can have all indoors and yet still cultural and/or educational. From artistic experiences to cooking classes, there are plenty to choose from if you know where to look.

Cooking Classes

I made a whole list of cooking classes in Seoul a bit back when I kept getting asked where to learn to make kimchi among other things. You can take a cooking class to make bibimbap, samgyetang, bulgogi, and more!

K-Pop Dance Classes

Sometimes on rainy days, we feel the urge to sit more than move, but if you’re the opposite, join a K-pop dance class and get your groove on. Check out this dance studio in Sinchon or this dance studio in Hongdae, or on the other side this dance studio in Gangnam.

Korean Mementos and Culture Classes

There are some great experiences that you can take and end up with some fun Korean souvenirs by the end.

• Handmade Stamp Engraving: In this class you can create your own dojang or seal. Design and then carve your name or something else into your very own seal. Check here for a dojang carving class in Insadong.
• Korean Calligraphy Class: Learn about Hangul in this fun art class where you can create your own decorative painting. Sign up for a seat in this Korean calligraphy class here.
• Korean Alphabet Jewelry Making: Another fun class involving Korean Hangul, or the alphabet, entails making a piece of jewelry. Check here to join a Korean alphabet jewelry experience.
• Korean Folk Painting Class: Korean folktales are fascinating and in this painting class, you can learn about folktales and create your own folk painting to take home.

Sing in a Noraebang

The Korean karaoke room is the perfect place to wait out a good bout of rain. Grab some friends, head into your own private room and sing your hearts out.

The easiest way to find a noraebang near you, is to get out Kakao Maps or Naver Maps and search “노래방” or “노래연습장”. This will bring up the options in the area that you’re staying in. 

Here are a couple popular noraebangs in Hongdae though if you want a jumpstart on finding an establishment. 

Su Noraebang (수노래연습장 홍대): If you are traveling and are only going to have one Korean karake experience, go here. This is a favorite among locals and tourists. They have an extensive song collection that is updated regularly.

• Address: 37 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 와우산로21길 37)
• Hours: 24 hours a day every day

Awesome Coin Noraebang (어썸코인노래연습장): If you just want a quick and easy experience. Blast a few ballads or Kpop songs to get in the mood, go here. It’s budget friendly and fun.

• Address: 4 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 와우산로21길 4)
• Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 12:00pm ~ 12:00am; Friday & Saturday: 12:00pm ~ 1:00am

Visit a Museum

There are some absolutely amazing museums in Seoul and on top of that, a lot of them are completely free making them very budget-friendly for a day spent indoors. Get ready to dive into history, arts, and culture.

National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관)

Housed on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea has an amazing collection and it’s all free. You can learn about Korea through the seasons and the unique foods that you should eat in Korea for each traditional holiday and more. They have a great collection.

• Address: 37 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 삼청로 37)
• Admission: FREE
• Hours: March – October: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm; November – February: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm

K Museum of Contemporary Art (K현대미술관)

If you’re down in the Gangnam area, head to the K Museum of Contemporary Art which hosts some amazing and super fun exhibitions that rotate consistently. They have a lot of colorful and very Instagrammable exhibitions. This is just one of the great art museums in Seoul.

• Address: 807 Seolleung-ro, Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 선릉로 807)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 7:00pm
• Website: https://www.kmcaseoul.org/

Leeum Samsung Museum (리움미술관)

A beautiful museum in the Hannam-dong district of Seoul, there are two areas: Museum 1 and Museum 2. The first one houses traditional Korean art and the second is dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

• Address: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울시 용산구 이태원로 55길 60-16)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:30am ~ 6:00pm
• Website: https://leeumhoam.org/

War Memorial Museum (전쟁기념관)

Located in Yongsan-gu, The War Memorial Museum is a great spot if you’re interested in history and international relations. It is home to a variety of exhibits and materials related to the Korean War and stands today to educate Koreans on their history and foreigners interested in learning more about North-South relations.

Home to around 33,000 artifacts and with 10,000 on display at both indoor and outdoor exhibitions, you can spend most of your time at the six indoor exhibition halls marveling at the various war memorial displays.

• Address: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 이태원로 29)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 09:30-18:00 * Last admission 1 hr before closing.
• Admission: Free

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관)

Just across the street from Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History provides a unique perspective on Korea’s journey from the late 19th century to the present day and there are some fantastic interactive installations to enjoy. The Interactive Gallery is huge and has so many stations on the floor to check out and enjoy.

• Address: 198 Sejongdae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 세종대로 198)
• Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
• Admission: FREE
• Website: https://www.much.go.kr

Seoul’s Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art (MMCA) (국립현대미술관 서울관)

Right in Samcheong-dong near tourist-friendly Insadong, the MMCA is one of the representative art museums in Seoul and hosts fantastic exhibitions. This beautifully designed museum is one of the easiest to add into a tourist itinerary because it’s right downtown. Check it out if you haven’t lately.

• Address: 165 Sogyeok-dong Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 소격동 165)
• Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm; Friday – Saturday: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm
• Website: http://www.mmca.go.kr/

National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관)

If you’re a huge fan of history, one of the best museums in Seoul is The National Museum of Korea. Here you can view over 420,000 national and international artifacts, dating from ancient times to the modern era. It could take you days to see it all.

• Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137)
• Hours: Every Day: 10:00-18:00 (Closed on public holidays and the first Monday of every April and November)
• Admission: Free

The War and Women’s Human Rights Museum (전쟁과여성인권박물관)

The War and Women’s Human Rights Museum isn’t for the faint-hearted. Spread across three floors, it explores the lives of the “comfort women” – women who, from a very young age, were held captive as sex slaves by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea.

This museum is a must-see for those interested in Korea’s history and is a thought-provoking experience that pays a beautiful tribute to the many young Korean women who suffered at the hands of Japanese soldiers.

• Address: 20 World cup buk-ro 11-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 마포구 월드컵북로 11길 20)
• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 13:00 – 18:00 (only open from 15:00 on Wednesdays, closed on Mondays and Sundays)
• Admission: Tickets can be purchased for W3,000 on the door, alternatively, they’re W5,000 per person for a guided tour.

Amore Pacific Art Museum (아모레퍼시픽미술관)

If you’re an art lover, then the Amore Pacific Art Museum is a great place to visit on a rainy day. Just outside of the Sinyongsan Subway Station, this contemporary art museum hosts exhibitions that are often related to cosmetics, beauty, and fashion.

After seeing an exhibition, the Amore Pacific building is also home to an OSULLOC Cafe and downstairs there are a variety of restaurants for a great meal. You can do it all inside without getting wet.

• Address: 100 Hangangdae-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 한강대로 100)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
• Website: https://apma.amorepacific.com/

Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관)

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art has a fantastic collection of traditional artwork and craftworks. There are seven buildings that house najeonchilgi, or mother of pearl lacquerware, embroidery, and more of Korea’s beautiful folk art and craft. It’s a must visit.

• Address: 4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울시 종로구 율곡로 3길 4)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
• Website: https://craftmuseum.seoul.go.kr/

Go Shopping & Hang Out In Malls

Seoul is a fantastic spot for those who love shopping, and whilst many great spots to go shopping require you to be outdoors (such as Hongdae and Myeongdong), there are plenty of department stores (백화점) and shopping malls all across the city where you can spend hours at a time browsing a selection of different shops, seeing movies, playing in arcades, and more.

Visit an Aquarium

There are great aquariums across Korea, but there are some right in Seoul, too. If you’re looking for a great day out indoors, why not visit one of the city’s top aquariums?

COEX Aquarium (코엑스 아쿠아리움)

Starfield COEX Mall is home to the famous COEX aquarium, arguably the best in the city. At this aquarium, you can simply sit and sip on a coffee whilst the gorgeous rays swim by, feed the koi, and walk through the long tunnel under the sea life.

• Address: 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513)
• Hours: Every Day: 10:00am – 8:00pm
• Tickets: Get your tickets online via Klook before you go to get a discount on entrance.

Lotte World Mall Aquarium (롯데월드몰)

Lotte World Aquarium is another popular spot for marine life lovers and boasts the nation’s largest main tank and the nation’s longest underwater tunnel at 85 meters. It’s a great option if you’re in the Jamsil district of Seoul.

• Address: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 300 롯데월드 몰 B1)
• Hours: Every Day: 10:00am – 8:00pm
• Tickets: Get your tickets online via Trazy before you go to get a discount on entrance.

Lotte World Amusement Park (롯데월드)

While you might think amusement parks are just a sunny day activity, you’d be wrong when it comes to Lotte World because it is the world’s largest indoor amusement park. Yes, there are some rides outside, but the majority are inside.

Spend the day watching performances, taking rides on carousels, seeing parades, and eating it up. It’s a great adventure.

• Address: 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울 송파구 올림픽로 240)
• Hours: 9:30am ~ 10:00pm
• Days: Lotte World is open 365 days a year making it especially popular on the holidays when other things are closed.
• Admission: Adults: W62,000; Youth: W54,000; Child: W47,000; Baby: W15,000; After 4:00pm: Adults: W50,000; Youth: W43,000; Child: W36,000; Baby: W15,000
• How to get discounted tickets for Lotte World: Don’t buy tickets at the door if you can help it! You will absolutely get better deals online. 
  • Klook: Lotte World 1 day Pass. With Klook’s option, you can also add the Lotte World Aquarium, the Fast Track Magic Pass 1, Fast Track Magic Pass 3, Fast Track Magic Pass 5. They also
  • Trazy:Lotte World Ticket (+ Premium Magic Pass optional). They also offer a Lotte World 1 Day Pass and Lotte World Aquarium Combo Discount Ticket. Klook also has the Songpa L Pass which would get you into Lotte World Adventure, Lotte World Aquarium, and Seoul Sky at a great discount.

Go Cafe Hopping

If it isn’t raining too heavily, but you still don’t want to be out in the poor weather for too long, one great way to spend your time in Seoul is by going cafe hopping. 

With such a great range of cafes to choose from, there’s simply no way you’d be able to visit all of the best during your trip. Instead, you can cram as many into one rainy day as possible by picking an area popular for its great cafes and slowly making your way from one to the next. 

Popular areas for cafe hopping include the trendy areas of Yeonnnam-Dong (연남동), Ikseon-dong (익선동), Seongsu-dong (성수동), and Hongdae (홍대). Find the fun Sanrio cafes, the funny Poop Cafe, or relax in Tea Therapy. Options abound.

Head to an Escape Room

Escape rooms (방탈출) have gotten popular in recent years in Korea. You can find various brands with a number of locations. Check out Breakout Seoul or Room Excape.

Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)

Seoul Botanic Park is a lovely relaxing spot to explore if you love plants. With stretching outdoor gardens to explore when the weather is good, there’s also a gorgeous indoor Botanic Garden to explore if it’s raining.

• Address: 161 Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울 강서구 마곡동로 161)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00 – 18:00

See a Performance

There are some fantastic performances to see in Seoul and even if you can’t speak Korean, not to worry, because they are non-verbal and fun. The most popular shows for foreigners and tourists to see are:

• PAINTERS: This non-verbal show is so fun to watch and if you have kids they will love it. The performers dance, create artistic wonders and tell a story along the way. It’s really fantastic.
• NANTA: One of the most popular shows, you’ll see acrobatics, percussion with kitchen utensils, and fun.
• Gugak Show: If you want something more traditional, check out the Gugak Performance put on every Saturday at the National Gugak Center.
• SBS MTV The Show: Secure a seat at a studio in SBS Prism Tower to see “The Show” broadcasted live. It’s a 90-minute show with various K-pop stars performing on stage.

Go to the Cinema

If all else fails and you just want to relax when the weather isn’t too great, how about a trip to the cinema? Seoul is home to a huge number of cinemas, with Megabox, CGV, and Lotte Cinema being the most popular chains. Even if you don’t speak Korean, there’s always a small selection of films in English to enjoy.

Color Pool Museum (컬러풀뮤지엄)

Not really a museum, but super colorful, Color Pool Museum is a fun photo-op spot with various rooms filled with play balls, bouncy spots, and other fun colorful things to jump on, slide on, and play with.

• Address: 6th floor, Annyeong Insadong Building, 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 인사동길 49 안녕인사동 6층)
• Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm

Relax in a Jjimjilbang

The Korean bath house and sauna is the perfect place to spend a wet and rainy day. Warm up, relax, get a scrub or massage, and just enjoy the day. Your body will thank you.

Aquafield (아쿠아필드): Aquafield is wonderful from an aesthetic appeal down to what they offer. Its a more modern and luxurious sauna and spa. Aquafield has multiple locations, but they’re all upscale. We’ve been to one and definitely recommend the brand.

• Booking: You can get discounted entrance tickets on Klook or on kkday.

Dongdaemun SPAREX: A good option if you’re staying in the Dongdaemun area as it’s right across the street from the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, SPAREX is fun because they have super traditional vibes inside.

• Address: 247 Jangchungdan, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울시 중구 장충단 247)
• Hours: 24 hours a day, every day

Traditional Oriental Forest Land (숲속한방랜드): This popular bath house sits at the foot of Ansan Mountain in Seoul near the beautiful Bongwonsa Temple and is a traditional space with hot baths, saunas, and scrubs.

• Address: 75-7 Bongwonsa-gil, Bongwon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (서울시 서대문구 봉원동 봉원사길 75-7)
• Hours: Every day: 6:30am ~ 10:00pm

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There’s a whole variety of different things to see and do on a rainy day in Seoul, no matter whether you’re just visiting for a short trip, or if you’re simply looking for something to do on a weekend with terrible weather!

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