What to pack for Seoul in October

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

UV index of 5.2 burns skin fast even on cool days.

Glare off Han River and reflected light off glass buildings strains eyes.

October humidity at 74% keeps mosquitoes active into the month.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Urban terrain with nearby national parks means minor injuries happen far from pharmacies.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Daylight lasts only 11 hours, so devices drain faster in evening.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast on routes to Seoul from nearby countries.

Urban exploration means walking 15 km daily through neighborhoods.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water here is safe to drink straight from the fountain.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International airport traffic and crowded subway stations make bags easy to lose.

Laundry happens weekly in small rooms, so packing cubes save space.

Seven rain days soak clothes, forcing mid-trip washing.

Subway noise runs 24 hours and construction is constant.

Eleven hours of daylight means long exposure to direct sun.

Tap water is safe but shared surfaces in transit hubs aren't.

Insect bites swell in humidity and sunburn makes them worse.

Charging ports at guesthouses are few and far between in Seoul.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International destination requires documents checked often at borders and hotels.

Hostel lockers and shared luggage storage need your own locks.

Bathroom space in budget hotels is tight and wet.

Red-eye flights to Seoul mean sleeping upright on the plane.