The best places to see cherry blossoms in South Korea
South Korea is a prime destination to see cherry blossoms and there are a number of opportunities for you to see them throughout the season. If you book your flights anywhere from late-March to early-April, you’ll definitely catch them somewhere in the country. Here are some of the absolute best places to see cherry blossoms in South Korea:
Cherry blossoms in the Northern Cities and Provinces
Cherry blossoms bloom later in the cooler, northern cities and provinces, so this will be your target area if you are booking early-April.
– Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do:
- Yeouido’s Spring Flower Festival: This festival is held in early-April and is the perfect time to see not only cherry blossoms, but azaleas and forsythia as well. At night, the flowers are lit-up with colorful lights and visitors can enjoy a variety of performances.
Changgyeonggung Palace Cherry Blossoms: Visitors can kill two birds with one stone by visiting Changgyeonggung Palace and the gorgeous cherry blossoms they have on-site. Admission is 1,000 won (appx $1) for one palace, or visitors can pay 10,000 won (appx $10) for a month-long pass to the four palaces in Seoul and Jongmyo Shrine.
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Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival: Much like other cherry blossom festivals in Korea, the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is full of beautiful flowers and offers performances, exhibitions, and hands-on cultural activities.
- Seoul Grand Park: The largest park in Korea, Seoul Grand Park is a fantastic place to enjoy the cherry blossoms, visit the zoo, an amusement park, a rose garden, and a children’s zoo. Visitors can easily spend an entire day at the park enjoying all its attractions. If you are traveling with public transportation to Seoul Grand Park, take Subway Line 4 to Seoul Grand Park Station (Seoul Land) – take Exit #2.
Cherry blossoms in the Central Cities and Provinces
Look to visit these areas in late-March / early-April.
– Gyeongsanbuk-Do:
- Historic Gyeongju: This city is one of the top places for tourism in Korea and is also a wonderful site for cherry blossom viewing. Consider exploring the city via bicycle or perhaps joining the 2017 Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon.
- Daegu: Daegu is a hotspot for Medical Tourism. It also has a brand-new Shinsegae shopping complex and plenty of locations to see cherry blossoms. If you come to the city, be sure to check out Palgongsan Mountain’s Cherry Blossom Festival, Suseong Lake, and Yeungnam University for some of the best blossoms in the city.
– Chungcheongbuk-Do:
- Cheongpunghoban Cherry Blossom Festival: Similar to Yeouido, Cheongpunghoban’s Cherry Blossom Festival also has azaleas and forsythia, which will add additional pops of red and yellow among the pink and white cherry blossoms.
Cherry Blossoms in the Southern Cities and Provinces
Cherry blossoms bloom earlier in the southern cities and provinces, so this will be your target area if you are booking late-March. This is the most popular region for cherry blossoms and therefore the busiest.
Gyeongsangnam-Do:
- Hwagae Cherry Blossoms Festival: Boasting a 4km Cherry Blossom road, also known as marriage road, the Hwagae Cherry Blossoms Festival is one of the more romantic destinations on this list. Although the festival is only over a 3-day weekend, there is a lot on-offer to attract visitors, including cultural events and and programs.
- Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival: One of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Korea, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival brings thousands of visitors to this small, coastal town each year. There are several photo hotspots throughout the town, including the iconic rail crossing and the beautiful Yeojwacheon Stream (near Gyeonghwa Rail Station).
Budget Tip
Traveling to a country with a different currency? Avoid ATM transaction fees and pay in local currency with a Wise Visa Card or Revolut Maestro Card. I have been using these cards for several years and have saved a lot of money as a result. I recommend bringing both bank cards with you when you travel.
Jeollanam-Do:
- Seomjin Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival: Like the name implies, this festival is held alongside the Seomjin River. Other than soaking up the beautiful scenery, visitors can see traditional drum performances, witness a paragliding contest, and have their faces painted.
Jeju-Do:
- Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival: Often referred to as the Hawaii of Korea, Jeju is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Korea. If you are looking for a one-stop destination that includes beaches, incredible mountain hiking, and some beautiful flowers, Jeju is the place to go!
Keep in mind that you do not have to attend a cherry blossom festival in order to see some beautiful sights. Many college and university campuses and local parks will also have beautiful blossoms and much smaller crowds. For full details on each festival and further instructions, I recommend you to have a look at the Visit Korea website. If you need more tips for preparing your trip to South Korea, feel free to read my other article.
If you have any questions about the above mentioned information, please let me know in the comment section below. I’m happy to help you. Safe travels!
Author: Daphne
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natalie
😍 so beautiful!