Seasonal guide

Busan Autumn Leaves 2026 — 6 Best Fall Foliage Spots, Peak Dates & How to Get There by Subway

Late October to mid-November. From Beomeosa Temple to the ginkgo trees of Chungnyeolsa — subway routes and quiet times

By Busan.net editors · Published Oct 29, 2026 · 한국어로 보기

Busan's autumn colours usually start in the mountains in late October and peak in mid-November. This guide covers six free spots — Beomeosa Temple, the Geumjeong Fortress north-gate trail, Seongjigok Reservoir in Children's Grand Park, the UN Memorial Cemetery, Chungnyeolsa Shrine and APEC Naru Park — with opening hours, subway routes, parking tips, half-day routes and what to eat nearby.

Stone temple steps and tiled roofs under red and yellow autumn leaves — Illustrative image — autumn leaves at a Busan mountain temple. Not an actual photo of Beomeosa.

At a glance

When	Usually late October to mid-November. Mountains (Beomeosa, Geumjeong) turn first; city parks and ginkgo streets follow a little later.
Where	Temple colours at Beomeosa, an easy forest walk at Seongjigok Reservoir, a quiet stroll at the UN Memorial Cemetery, golden ginkgo at Chungnyeolsa, a riverside walk at APEC Naru Park.
Cost	All six spots are free to enter. Parking varies.
Tip	On weekends, arrive before 10 a.m. for easier parking and photos. Sunset is around 5:30 p.m., so leave mountain trails by about 4 p.m.

When do Busan's autumn leaves peak in 2026?

This year's forecasts put the first colours in southern mountains in late October and the peak around mid-November (Weather i forecast, as reported by Geumgang Ilbo). Busan, on the coast, usually runs a little late, so plan for the middle of November.

Late Oct – early Nov — mountain spots such as Beomeosa and Geumjeongsan start to turn
Mid-November — mountains and city parks both look good; busiest time
Late November — ginkgo streets turn gold; fallen leaves cover the mountain paths

Timing shifts by about a week depending on temperatures. Check recent photos or each site's official social media the day before. Saturday, November 7 is the Busan Fireworks Festival at Gwangalli: roads around Suyeong-gu and Nam-gu jam from the afternoon, so on that day visit the Geumjeong/Dongnae spots in the morning and move early.

6 autumn leaf spots — getting there, hours, parking

Autumn leavesSubway stationLocations are approximate

1. Beomeosa Temple — Temple maples · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · free · Google Maps · Kakao Map
2. Geumjeong Fortress North Gate — 40–50 min walk from Beomeosa · Google Maps · Kakao Map
3. Children's Grand Park (Seongjigok Reservoir) — Flat loop · always open · free · Google Maps · Kakao Map
4. UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea — Oct–Apr 9 a.m.–5 p.m. · free · Google Maps · Kakao Map
5. Chungnyeolsa Shrine — Ginkgo trees · 9 a.m.–8 p.m. · free · Google Maps · Kakao Map
6. APEC Naru Park — Suyeong River walk · always open · free · Google Maps · Kakao Map
Beomeosa Station — Line 1 · change to bus 90 · Google Maps · Kakao Map
Chungnyeolsa Station — Line 4 · 5 min to the shrine · Google Maps · Kakao Map
Daeyeon Station — Line 2 · towards the UN cemetery · Google Maps · Kakao Map

1. Beomeosa Temple (Geumjeong-gu)

A 1,000-year-old temple on Geumjeongsan. The stone path from the gate up to the main hall is lined with maples — Busan's classic "temple in autumn" view. Address: 250 Beomeosa-ro. Open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., free entry, paid parking.

Getting there: Metro Line 1 to Beomeosa Station, then bus 90 to the temple entrance. The temple car park fills quickly on autumn weekends, so public transport is easier.

Temple stone steps and a tiled gate framed by autumn leaves — Illustrative image — a temple path lined with autumn leaves, like the walk up to Beomeosa's gate. Not an actual photo of Beomeosa.

2. Geumjeong Fortress north-gate trail (Geumjeong-gu)

A trail continuing from Beomeosa up to the North Gate of Geumjeongsanseong fortress — about 1.5–2 km, 40–50 minutes one way, with a stream, leaves and old fortress walls. Sneakers are fine to the gate; beyond it towards Godangbong peak there are rocks and metal stairs, so wear hiking shoes. Many people finish with makgeolli (rice wine) and food in Sanseong village.

An autumn mountain trail and stream along an old stone fortress wall — Illustrative image — a trail where fortress walls, a stream and autumn leaves meet. Not an actual photo of Geumjeong Fortress.

3. Seongjigok Reservoir, Children's Grand Park (Busanjin-gu)

A city forest near Seomyeon. The flat path around an old reservoir is easy with children and strollers, with maples mixed into cypress woods. Address: 295 Saessak-ro. Always open, free entry, paid parking.

A lakeside boardwalk reflecting autumn leaves and cypress forest — Illustrative image — a reservoir boardwalk reflecting autumn leaves. Not an actual photo of Children's Grand Park.

4. UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea (Nam-gu)

The world's only UN military cemetery. Its lawns and trees turn quietly in autumn. Walk calmly — this is a cemetery — and don't stand on graves or film loudly. Address: 93 UN pyeonghwa-ro. October–April: 9 a.m.–5 p.m., open every day, free. A walk from Metro Line 2 Daeyeon Station.

A wide lawn and straight path surrounded by autumn trees — Illustrative image — a calm memorial park in autumn. Not an actual photo of the UN Memorial Cemetery.

5. Chungnyeolsa Shrine (Dongnae-gu)

A shrine for those who died defending Busan in the 1592 Japanese invasion. Its tidy gardens and golden ginkgo trees are best in mid-to-late November. About 5 minutes on foot from Metro Line 4 Chungnyeolsa Station. Address: 347 Chungnyeol-daero. October–March: 9 a.m.–8 p.m., open every day, free, parking available.

A traditional shrine courtyard covered in yellow ginkgo leaves — Illustrative image — a shrine courtyard covered in yellow ginkgo leaves. Not an actual photo of Chungnyeolsa.

6. APEC Naru Park (Centum, Haeundae-gu)

A long park along the Suyeong River. Trees along the path turn colour with city towers across the water — nice for an evening stroll. Address: 85 Suyeonggangbyeon-daero. Always open, free. Close to Centum City and BEXCO, so it pairs well with Busan exhibitions.

A riverside path lined with autumn trees and city towers at dusk — Illustrative image — a riverside walk with autumn trees and city views at dusk. Not an actual photo of APEC Naru Park.

Half-day routes

Temple colours (Geumjeong & Dongnae): 9 a.m. Beomeosa Station → bus 90 to Beomeosa → north-gate trail and back (about 1 hr 30 min) → down by lunchtime and on to Dongnae → Chungnyeolsa ginkgo trees → Dongnae pajeon (green-onion pancake) nearby. Metro Lines 1 and 4 only.

Easy city walk (with kids): Seongjigok Reservoir loop → Seomyeon for dwaeji-gukbap (pork and rice soup). Mostly flat — good with small children or older parents.

Sunset date (Nam-gu & Centum): UN Memorial Cemetery in the afternoon (closes 5 p.m.) → APEC Naru Park riverside walk → an exhibition at Centum or the Gwangalli night view.

Other things on this weekend: Busan this weekend.

Parking, crowds and tips

Parking: Beomeosa and Children's Grand Park fill up around 11 a.m. on autumn weekends. Arrive before 10 a.m. by car, or take the subway and bus.
Best light for photos: 9–10 a.m. and 3–4 p.m. Midday sun washes out the colours.
Fire safety: Autumn is wildfire season. No smoking, fires or cooking on the mountain; follow any trail-closure notices.
Etiquette: Beomeosa and Chungnyeolsa are active places of worship and memorial, and the UN cemetery is a graveyard. Keep quiet and check before using drones or tripods.
What to wear: November days in Busan are mild, but mountains and riversides get chilly after sunset. Bring a light jacket.
Rainy days: Wet leaves are slippery. Choose flat Chungnyeolsa or APEC Naru Park, or go to an indoor exhibition.

What to eat after the leaves

After Geumjeongsan, try Sanseong makgeolli and Dongnae pajeon; back in the city, a bowl of dwaeji-gukbap. After a chilly river walk, a hot fish-cake skewer (eomuk) is perfect. Busan's local dishes are explained in What to eat in Busan and our Busan food articles.

FAQ

When is the peak of autumn leaves in Busan in 2026?

Colours usually start in late October and look best in mid-November. This year's forecast also puts the first leaves in southern mountains in late October and the peak around mid-November. Ginkgo streets in the city are best in mid-to-late November.

Where are the best places to see autumn leaves in Busan?

Beomeosa Temple for temple colours, Seongjigok Reservoir for an easy forest walk, the UN Memorial Cemetery for a quiet stroll, Chungnyeolsa for ginkgo trees and APEC Naru Park for a riverside walk. All six spots in this guide are free.

Which autumn leaf spots can I reach by subway?

Chungnyeolsa (Line 4 Chungnyeolsa Station, about 5 minutes on foot), the UN Memorial Cemetery (walk from Line 2 Daeyeon Station) and APEC Naru Park (Centum area). For Beomeosa, take Line 1 to Beomeosa Station and change to bus 90.