Updated 27 Feb 2024: Come March, South Korea will transform into a beautiful pink paradise — check out the best places to go and things to do during cherry blossom season.

Many think of Japan when it comes to cherry blossom vacations, but it’s not the only country in the region with stunning floral blooms every spring 🌸.

Enter South Korea — the land of K-pop, K-drama, and also cherry blossoms. Blooms last for about 10 days, so you’ll need careful planning and lots of luck to catch the pink hues.

From the best cities to visit to FAQs about cherry blossoms in South Korea, this guide covers everything you need to know!

Pink Cherry Blossom Trees - Sakura Guide

Photo credit: @rawkkim via Unsplash

*Pro-tip: Bookmark this guide for annual updates on the latest forecast in South Korea!

Read also: Ultimate 2024 Cherry Blossom Japan Guide — Everything you need to know

South Korea’s Cherry Blossom 2024 Forecast

Based on historical trends, flowers in South Korea start blooming in late March to April before wilting in early May, depending on the location.

While the official forecast is expected to be released in March, here are some estimated dates based on the 2023 forecast!

South Korea Cherry Blossoms

*Note: Dates shown on the map are tentative flowering dates, not full bloom dates.

South Korean Cities with the Best Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms start blooming around 24 March on Jeju Island — the southernmost part of South Korea. If you’re planning to hit a few cities, start from the south and plan your route northward according to the bloom patterns.

Jeju Island

Cherry Blossom Street in Jeju - Sakura Guide

Cherry blossoms in Jeju Island. Photo credit: Jeju Tourism Organization

Read also: 4-Day Jeju Itinerary Under S$500 — Road Trip Adventure Around South Korea’s Island Paradise

Cherry blossom and forsythia in Jeju Island Seogwipo - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossom and Forsythia in Jeju Island’s Seogwipo. Photo credit: Jeju Tourism Organization

Jeju Island is home to a native species of cherry blossom known as the Jeju Flowering Cherry (previously known as King Cherry). With slightly bigger petals than the ubiquitous Yoshino cherry species found in Japan, the Jeju Flowering Cherry was once misidentified as just another Yoshino until the late eighties.

Today, many visitors flock to Jeju Island during the months of spring to witness the blooming of the rarer Jeju native.

Featured - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong peak.

While chasing cherry blossoms, don’t forget to check some unique experiences off your bucket list too — like catching epic sunrises and dolphin spotting!

Best Viewing Spots: Downtown area of Seogwipo, Mt. Hallasan, Jeonnong-ro, Hallim Park, Noksan-ro, Jeonnong-ro cherry blossom street

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Getting Around: There are three public bus systems in Jeju Island, and they are all as inconvenient as they are confusing. So unless you have a lot of time in Jeju Island, we’ll recommend you forgo cost-savings and just charter a private car or rent one to save both time and planning.

Busan

People at Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival - Sakura Guide

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, Busan. Photo credit: Klook

Read also: 4D3N Busan Itinerary — Why You Need To Spend More Than A Day Trip In Korea’s Charming Coastal City

Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, South Korea - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, South Korea. Photo credit: Naver

Girl at Samnak Ecological Park - Sakura Guide

Samnak Ecological Park. Photo credit: Busan Metropolitan City

The biggest cherry blossom festival in the country would be the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival near Busan. And if you’re travelling around Busan or the southern area of South Korea, there’s also Gyeongju, the old capital of Silla, where you can feast your eyes on cherry blossoms galore.

South Korea is a pretty homogenous country and everywhere seems to be the same after a while, but Busan offers different views as a coastal city. If you’ve had enough of Seoul-searching, hop onto that train to Busan to experience a South Korea unlike any other.

Best Viewing Spots: Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, Dalmaji-gil Road, Macdo Ecological Park, Samnak Ecological Park, Oncheon-cheon, Yeonji Park, Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Road, Gyeonghwa Station (in Jinhae), Yeojwacheon Stream (in Jinhae), Bomun Complex (in Gyeongju)

Girl in Hanbok at Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village - Sakura Guide

Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village.

Getting Around: The Busan Metro system is perhaps the easiest way to get around the city. Ease your navigation around Busan by downloading the handy Busan metro app (Android) or Subway Korea app (iOS) for directions. Busan is also a perfect base for a road trip, with underrated cities like Gyeongju and Daegu less than 3 hours away by car.

*Pro-tip: You can book your car online and pick it up from Gimhae International Airport or your preferred location! But if you want to skip all the fuss, hop on these tours instead.

Tours for cherry blossom season:
Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Day/Night Tour (~S$59)
Jinhae Cherry Blossom Tour from Busan (currently unavailable)
King Cherry Blossom Tour from Busan (From ~S$82)
Gyeongju Cherry Blossom One Day Tour from Busan (~S$69)
Daegu E-WORLD Land & Spring Cherry Blossom Day Tour (currently unavailable)

Read also: 7 Hidden Gems You Can Find Less Than 3hrs From Busan

Seoul

Lotte World at Seokchon Lake - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Seokchon Lake Park in Seoul. Photo credit: Korea Tourism Organization

Kyunghee University Seoul in Spring - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Kyung Hee University Seoul in Spring. Photo credit: Pinterest

Come spring, Seoul is dotted pink with cherry trees blooming across the city — perfect for showing off on the ‘gram. For cherry blossom viewing away from the crowds, head to Kyung Hee University, which offers impressive neo-classical architecture as a backdrop.

Besides admiring flowers, don’t forget to check out other attractions in Seoul too like Lotte World, Seoul City Wall and of course, shopping along the bustling streets of Myeong-dong and Hongdae.

Best Viewing Spots: Yeouido Park, Kyung Hee University, Seoul Forest, Seoul Grand ParkSeokchon Lake Park

People Riding on Gapyeong Rail Bike - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Gapyeong Rail Bike. Photo credit: Klook

But if you think you’re done exploring Seoul, hop on a trip to Nami Island — famous for attractions like the Garden of Morning Calm and Petite France. Opt for the Gapyeong Rail Bike Experience and recreate your own romantic K-drama scene amongst pink flowers.

Festivals: Yeouido Spring Flower Festival, Taean Tulip/Magnolia Flower Festival, Jinhae Gunhangje Festival

Getting Around: The city of Seoul is accessible via the Seoul Metro, and we recommend getting the Discover Seoul Pass — which offers discounts to over 100 tourist attractions and also acts as a transportation card.

Tours for cherry blossom season:
Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival Day Tour from Seoul (~S$69)
Chasing Cherry Blossom & Spring Flowers Day Tour from Seoul (~S$70)
Cherry Blossom Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Tour from Seoul (From ~S$65)
Seoul City Tour with Cherry Blossom (currently unavailable)
Cherry Blossom Korean Folk Village Tour (~S$102)
Eden Cherry Blossom Festival & Nami Island & Gangchon Rail Bike Day Tour (From ~S$97)

Read also: 7-Day First Timer’s South Korea Itinerary Under S$1k incl. Day Trips Out of Seoul

Getting Around Seoul (Transport Essentials)

Discover Seoul Pass - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Discover Seoul Pass.

Within Seoul: Public transportation within Seoul is pretty straightforward using just the T-Money card for subways and buses. Alternatively, get the Discover Seoul Pass that gives you free admission to more than 100 of Seoul’s hottest attractions for a period of 24, 48 or 72 hours, which also doubles up as a rechargeable T-Money card.

Korail card in train of South korea - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Explore South Korea beyond Seoul with the Korail Pass!

Intercity Travels: For longer distances, the Korail Pass is a more value-for-money option. This comes with options for three and five consecutive days as well as flexi two and four days. The latter would be perfect for chasing cherry blossoms across multiple cities in South Korea!

Navigation Maps: Google Maps doesn’t work well in South Korea. Download Naver Map (iOS / Android) on your smartphone instead to navigate around South Korea.

Score Cheap Flights from Singapore to South Korea

Airplane Wing - Sakura Guide

From Singapore, there are direct flights to various popular cities in South Korea like Seoul, Busan, and even Jeju! It’ll be peak season, so try and settle those big-ticket items like flights and accommodation early to keep costs low.

If you want more flexibility, many airlines also allow you to change your travel dates for a small fee. Of course, the earlier you decide the better it is as the dates you might want to change might be full or have a surcharge!

South Korea Must-Eats in Spring

1) Fresh King Crab 

King crab korea - Sakura Guide

Enjoy a king crab meal at Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul.

Early spring (around March) is the best time to splurge on King Crabs in South Korea, as they are at their largest and freshest. While they are available almost all year round at Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, the crabs caught off-season are less fleshy.

2) Jjukkumi (쭈꾸미) — Webfoot Octopus

Jjukkumi dish of korea - Sakura Guide

Jjukkumi dish. Photo credit: Timeout

These baby-like octopi aren’t exactly juvenile but are another breed of octopus with shorter tentacles. Jjukkumi can be enjoyed grilled, stir-fried, blanched or cooked in a hotpot. The best time to eat jjukkumi is between March and May as that’s the spawning season!

3) Korean Strawberries

Korean Strawberries in market - Sakura Guide

Korean strawberries in a South Korea local market. Photo credit: Sunyshore

Korea boasts one of the sweetest and juiciest strawberries in the world, and you’re in for a treat to the best harvests when you visit in spring. The strawberry season lasts from late winter to early summer (Jan to May), and during those months, many strawberry farms allow visitors to pick their own strawberries at a fee.

Read also: Seoul Food Guide — 15 Korean Food and the Best Places to Try It

Frequently Asked Questions about Cherry Blossoms in South Korea

1) What do locals usually do during the Cherry Blossom season?

Cherry Blossom flowers in South korea - Sakura Guide

Similar to Japan’s Hanami, South Koreans also enjoy “벚꽃 놀이 (beot-ggot nori or flower viewing)” during springtime. This comes hand-in-hand with another activity — springtime picnic!

Public parks and gardens in South Korea will be busier than usual during springtime, whether or not cherry blossom trees are in sight. To South Koreans, springtime picnics are simply get-together time enjoyed with family and friends. Mothers would dress their kids up and even prepare extravagant lunch boxes.

Food box - Sakura Guide

South Korean children’s lunch box. Photo credit: @gnldi1101 via Instagram

Other typical food items Koreans would prepare in their picnic baskets include gimbap, dosirak (Korean lunchbox), gyeran-mari (omelette roll), and even makgeolli rice wine and red wine!

2) What’s a Cherry Blossom festival like in South Korea?

Jinhae Cherry Blossom festival busan - Sakura Guide

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (진해군항제).

Cherry blossom festivals in South Korea last from a week to a month and are often hyped up with makeshift markets, street performers and even staged concerts. South Koreans even have a term “봄을 타다 (bom-eul ta da)”, which loosely translates to “ride the spring”, to represent a specific change of mood as spring arrives.

The fanciest cherry blossom festival of all is none other than the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival in Busan. There’s a slow-speed sightseeing “cherry blossom shuttle train” that only operates during the period of the festival, and visitors can also expect fireworks displays on certain nights.

3) What should travellers be prepared for during this season? 

Cherry Blossom Season - South Korea Cherry Blossom

Photo credit: @clarissaacindy via Instagram

In South Korea, there’s a term “봄비 (bom bi)” that translates to “spring rain”. Though temperatures are generally climbing higher, light rain is expected to be quite frequent during springtime so pack warm and waterproof outerwear. There’s no need to bring along heat packs and umbrellas as those are sold at most convenience stores in South Korea.

Friends in Hanbok - South Korea Cherry Blossom

That said, the first rainfall marks the end of the freezing winter and it’s also a signal that flowering trees will start blooming. So that means it’s time to rent a hanbok (Korean traditional costume) and be one with the spring scene of South Korea.

Know of any other great cherry blossom spots in Korea? Let us know in the comments below! 


This article was brought to you by Klook.

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8 COMMENTS

    • Hi Reena, I’m afraid it will be too late to view cherry blossoms in May, as most will be in full bloom from late March to early April.

    • Hi YS, chances of spotting cherry blossoms in May are quite low as they are currently in full bloom now in Seoul. You might get to see azaleas though! Enjoy Seoul! 🙂

  1. Hi. I am planning a cherry blossom trip to Korea next year 2024. Should I wait till exact blossom date to buy tickets and book accommodations?

    • Hey Dona! This is really a tough question to answer. Generally the closer it is and the more confirmed the forecast, the more expensive the tickets and accommodation will be.
      If you’re happy to take a chance, it’ll be much more affordable to estimate ahead of time.

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