A rainy day in Seoul doesn’t have to derail your travel plans. In fact, if you’re a curious, detail-loving traveler who enjoys history, design, books, and good tea, a rainy forecast can be the perfect excuse to dig into some of the city’s best indoor experiences.

From world-class museums to tucked-away breweries, here are eight thoughtful, low-key things to do in Seoul when the weather turns. And as we found in springtime, it really can turn very quickly.

1. Discover Starfield Library at COEX Mall

📍 Location: Gangnam-gu
📚Best for: Design lovers, library lovers, shoppers

You’ve definately seen Starfield Library before with its towering shelves of books and attached cafe, it has become a social media darling. We do love to visit libraries in cities around the world (we are nerdy after all). Starfield is located in the middle of COEX Mall, one of Asia’s largest shopping complexes which has an aquarium, a movie theatre, and enough cafes and food (including vegetarian fare) to keep you busy for hours — all without stepping outside. Just be aware, this library gets SUPER busy, it took a bit of waiting for me to get the above shot.

2. Spend a quiet hour (or three) in a Seoul café

📍 Location: Throughout the city, especially Anguk, Ikseon-dong, and Seongsu
☕ Best for: Coffee fans, architecture nerds, people who just enjoy slow travel

Seoul’s café culture isn’t just about the coffee or tea—it’s also about atmosphere and slowing down. On a rainy day, places like Café Onion (especially the Anguk location, set in a renovated hanok) or Hergé cafe in the uber-fashionable Dosan park (try the coconut/grape cake) will keep you dry and caffeinated.

3. Try local craft beer in Euljiro

📍 Location: Euljiro area
🍺 Best for: Beer fans, urban explorers

We love to seek our local craft beers when we travel and Euljiro did not dissapoint. Known for its mix of old industrial shops and new creative spaces, Euljiro is home to some of Seoul’s best craft breweries. On a rainy afternoon or evening, hop between places like Euljiro Brewing, Magpie Brewing, Artmonster, and Ranch Brewing Company. All are within a few blocks of each other. Magpie was one of my favourites. See our post about the Seoul Beer Trail for locations and a Google map.

4. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (even in the rain)

📍 Location: Jongno-gu
☔ Best for: History buffs, photographers, architecture enthusiasts

Rain gives Gyeongbokgung Palace a quieter, more atmospheric quality. The crowds thin out, and the reflections in the courtyards and stone walkways offer a different perspective on Seoul’s most iconic historic site. Bring an umbrella and wear water prooof shoes as puddles do form. But there are lots of covered spaces to wander within and admire the architecture.

Travel note: The guard changing ceremony happens at 10:00 and 14:00 except on Tuesdays when the palace is closed. Also know that the guard changing ceremony may be canceld of the weather gets really bad. Even if ceremony doesn’t go ahead, guards will still be present at the palace gates for your photo ops.

5. Experience contemporary Korean art at MMCA

📍 Location: Right next to Gyeongbokgung Palace
🎨Best for: Modern art fans and those looking for a contrast to traditional sites

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is right next to Gyeongbokgung, making it a smart pairing. The exhibits range from installations to video art to large-scale sculpture, often with a strong Korean perspective. The museum is well-designed for slow browsing, and signage is usually available in English. It’s also one of the better spots to see what contemporary Korean artists are doing right now, beyond the pop-culture export version.

Bonus gallery: If you’re looking for a more intimate and unique contemporary art experience, we can recommend Arario Museum in Space. This museum blends a striking, dark exterior and exposed brick interiors with maze-like flow and narrow staircases.

6. Spend a few hours at the National Museum of Korea

📍 Location: Yongsan-gu
🏛️ Best for: Those interested in Korean history

This large, thoughtfully curated museum offers a deep dive into Korean culture, from prehistoric artifacts to Buddhist art. It’s free to enter and rarely overcrowded. On the day we visited there were large groups of school children, but that is to be expected from a free history museum. You could easily spend two or three hours here—more if you’re the type who likes to read every plaque. The museum sits in a park-like setting with a lake, should you get a break in the clouds it is worth a wander

7. Explore Korean convenience store culture

📍 Location: Literally everywhere
🛒 Best for: Adventurous eaters, late-night wandering, people-watching

It might sound odd to suggest a convenience store as a rainy day activity — but hear me out. Korean GS25 and CU stores are small cultural experiences in themselves.

We happened to stay in Insadong where the local convience store had not one but FOUR food service robots (ice cream, pizza, coffee and cotton candy). It really felt like we had stepped into the future. You can pick up a microwavable meal to eat at the in-store, try seasonal drinks or interesting ice cream flavours. If you’re staying nearby, it’s a cozy way to have a quiet, local night in. Some stores even have seating near big windows, great for people watching.

Vege friendly? We had trouble finding any vegetarian pot noodles, but we did find plenty of fruit, fresh cut veggies and snacks to take on our DMZ trip.

8. Book a last-minute adventure

🚌 Best for: Spontaneous travelers or those with a flexible day

Rainy weather is a good excuse to try something you hadn’t planned. DMZ day trip – Yes, it can be done in the rain, and you’ll learn a ton. Sites like Klook often have last-minute bookings that are easy to arrange even a few hours in advance. Read about our experiences at the DMZ.

Final thoughts

Rainy weather in Seoul doesn’t have to mean missing out. In fact, it can give you an excuse to explore parts of the city that are easy to overlook in perfect sunshine—quiet museums, bookstores, local cafés, and everyday spots that reveal the rhythms of daily life. Yes, we would all love to have perfectly warm and sunny days when we travel, but with a little planning (and some back up planning) you can always find that silver lining.

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