Around the middle of March to the beginning of April, cherry blossoms bloom in South Korea. I have experienced the cherry blossoms every year for five years. Let me share all of the beautiful places I have experienced cherry blossoms in Korea, and hopefully, this will help you decide where to go!
Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae
Jinhae is the cherry blossom capital of Korea. During the Japanese occupation, thousands of cherry blossoms were planted here. These days the area is home to hundreds of thousands of cherry blossoms. Coupled with the serene seaside location and quiet countryside, Jinhae is the premium destination for cherry blossoms. Located on the south side of the country, it’s a little hard to get to from Seoul but it’s a quick trip from Busan.
Yeojwacheon Stream
If you look up Jinhae, one of the top images will be this bridge. The Korean drama Romance was shot here, which increased this spot’s popularity. Because it’s well known be aware that it gets crowded rather quickly. We decided to visit late at night around, 11 pm. Even though it was so late, there were still people there, but we were able to get pictures without people in them, which was impossible in the day.
Korea is incredibly safe at night and we saw people of all ages taking a stroll. It’s a long stream so you won’t miss out on any picturesque shots. As this is one of, if not the most famous spot in Korea for cherry blossoms I recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the night to avoid crowds.
Gyeonghwa Station Cherry Blossom Road
This is another very popular spot in Jinhae where you can take beautiful pictures on the old train tracks. As you walk down the tracks there are bunches of cherry blossoms on each side. As before it is a popular spot and it gets crowded fast. We decided to visit early in the morning around 8 am and there were already large crowds.
There are food vendors, artists, music, and of course many people taking pictures. I recommend this spot during the daytime because the lighting is not as good at night and it can be harder to make pressures look good compared to the stream.
Geoje
While visiting Jinhae, we decided to stay on the island of Geoje because Jinhae is so popular at this time it is hard to find a place to stay. It is a little out of the way, about 45 minutes south, but we discovered many beautiful and isolated spots for pictures in Geoje. It is a beautiful island area with many small areas.
Yulcheondumo-ro bus stop
Near our Airbnb, we found a bus stop that had a huge cherry blossom tree draping over it. It felt like a drama moment where the female character is reflecting on her journey and the start of the new season. It is a fun hidden spot that won’t have a line.
As always, be a respectful and responsible tourist. Geoje isn’t used to cherry blossom tourism, so always respect locals and private property if you’re looking to visit.
Cherry Blossoms in Gwangju
Jungwoe Park
This is a central park in the city of Gwangju in the south of Korea. It is the perfect place to have a picnic and enjoy the scenery of the cherry blossoms. This park has a small theme park which has a viking ship, sky bike, and merry-go-round. The sky bike is very popular because you can ride in the trees high up with the cherry blossoms.
It’s a great way to spend the whole day with your friends in one area and enjoy riding small rides. The crowd levels are not bad depending on the time of day. I went in the afternoon and it was very manageable.
My friends told me we were doing “viking”, but because there is no “v” in Korean, I heard “biking”. I absolutely hate heights and thrill rides, so imagine my horror when we got in line for the viking ship! I’m sure the view was great, but I prefer to enjoy the blossoms from the ground.
Mudeungsan
This is Gwangju’s most popular hiking spot. If you want to experience cherry blossoms in a different way, hiking is a great option. The mountains are usually a bit chilly, so check the forecast. Here the flowers bloom later, so I recommend visiting towards the end of cherry blossom season.
We hiked up Jeungmorijae (중머리재) Trail which is moderate for hikers with small obstacles. It is rocky and a bit uphill. It’s definitely a beautiful way to experience the cherry blossom season.
Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
Yeouido Hangang River Park
My friends from Seoul took me to this spot when I said I wanted to see cherry blossoms. Little did I know that they would take me to Yeouido. Hangang is the main park in Seoul that essentially covers the entire length of the river. This section in Yeouido is one of the largest parts. There are endless spots to sit near the river, stroll on walkways and down the main road.
If you have some time, see if you can find a spot to have “chimek”. Chicken, beer, and cherry blossoms are a perfect trio. I would recommend visiting in the morning. I went in the middle of the day and it was quite difficult to find a spot in the park without walking far since this is one of Seoul’s most popular parks.
The cherry blossoms at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul are like a springtime dream. The trees line the river and walkways, and it’s just pure magic. There’s a good chance of street food vendors or live music to make the day even better.
Lotte World
The weekend I went to Lotte World for the first time overlapped with the peak of blossoms. This was my first time and hopefully last time viewing the cherry blossoms while riding the gyro swing.
Seeing the pink blossoms was the last thing I was thinking about as I was flying over the river. If you like thrill and cherry blossoms, visiting Lotte World is a great time. Don’t worry, there are some calmer rides and great spots to see the blossoms if you’re like me.
Cherry Blossoms in Daejeon and Cheongju
Daejeon is essentially the physical center of Korea, about equally distant from every major city. Cheongju is the city just north, and together with Sejong (the administrative capital of Korea) they form a trio of cities in the center of the country. They are not specifically known for cherry blossoms, but have some great locations and are convenient for anyone living outside of the major cities looking for cherry blossoms.
Kaist
Kaist is Korea’s largest science and technology university. The original campus was in Seoul but later relocated to Daejeon. Kaist is one of the main spots in Daejeon to visit cherry blossoms. You can take pictures on the pathways or take a short walk up the hill where you can find a picture-perfect spot to have a picnic with your friends. The cherry blossoms just float in the air and it’s rather quiet as there are no cars. I’ve visited here twice for two different years and I was never disappointed.
The Daejeon area in general has several places that are great for cherry blossoms. The river that connects with the campus has lovely parks with cherry blossoms lining both sides. If you feel like the campus is too crowded, the river is a great option. There are walkways and bike paths down below, I recommend taking it into Yuseong neighborhood where there are plenty of restaurants and cafes, and the view on the way is beautiful.
Cheongnamdae
When I asked my local friends for the best place to see cherry blossoms in Cheongju they recommended Cheongnamdae. This is the president’s summer home, located on a reservoir right between Daejeon and Cheongju. I have visited the Blue House (formerly the president’s home) I could see a lot of similarities. Cheongju is not known for cherry blossoms, but honestly, this is one of my favorite spots to see cherry blossoms in Korea.
My friends decided to take me here as it is not too crowded and is a beautiful spot next to a reservoir and mountains. There is an observatory tower where you can see trees from a distance and just hear the silence in the air.
Final Thoughts
These are my recommendations based on research, friends, or random finds. Don’t worry too much, everywhere in Korea is beautiful in cherry blossom season. There are thousands of trees in big cities and small towns. Hopefully, this helped you find beautiful cherry blossoms in Korea. Happy hunting 🙂