Sit, Sip and See: Deoksugung Palace in autumn colors

Autumn is the season when the trees in Seoul turn to yellow, orange and red before the leaves fall. 

If you want to enjoy the fall colors from the ground, you can just walk around the palace gardens and the surrounding hills and mountains. 

However, if you want to enjoy the colors from above, one spot that would certainly give you a spectacular view of autumn is from the Jeongdong Observatory.

From here, on the 13th floor of City Hall's Seosomun Building, you can look down on Deoksugung Palace while having an iced cafe mocha.

Enjoy a spectacular view of the palace while sipping an ice cafe mocha.

Yes, there's a café at the Yeongdong Observatory where you can sit, sip and see.

The view is breathtaking and probably the best view of any palace in Seoul, being bathed in beautiful fall colors.

The best time to go up there is when the trees are in their best fall colors, and during noontime when the sun is at its brightest and is bathing the palace and its gardens with a colorful glow.

The Jeongdong Observatory is on the building left of Deoksugung Palace. Just take the cobblestone street along the left side of the palace walls, and go inside the first government building you see on your left. Once inside, enter through the right turnstile. There's an elevator going up to the 13th floor.

I hope you'll find the Jeongdong Observatory when you're in Seoul and enjoy the fantastic autumn views, like I did! 

By Alfonso Delgado

Korea.net Honorary Reporter

Photos: Alfonso Delgado