7 Best Places to Experience the Cherry Blossoms in Seoul, South Korea

The Cherry Blossom season in Korea, although short, is one of the best in the world. With pink and white petals, and many other flowers blooming at the same time, the entire city seems to transform into a beautiful garden. However, for those visiting the area for the first time or for those looking to see the best of the best of the cherry blossoms, finding a spot can be hard. After spending the entire last week exploring different areas in Seoul for cherry blossom viewing, I can proudly share this list of the best places to go!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

What to Know About Korea's Cherry Blossom Season

Like I mentioned above, the Cherry Blossom season in South Korea is incredibly short. Depending on the weather, the peak season will typically be from the end of March to the beginning of April. If you're coming earlier in the season, then areas south of Seoul will be better to visit - think areas like Busan. If you're coming right in the middle of or at the end of the Cherry Blossom season, then Seoul and the surrounding suburbs are better.

Many people tend to visit Seoul just for the Cherry Blossoms, including locals from around the country, so certain areas can get very congested. If you're out exploring places, try to keep an eye on the time and avoid the subway during rush hours - to be 100% honest rush hour during the cherry blossom season is the most packed and crowded I've ever seen the subway.

In order to make the most of your cherry blossom experience, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. I averaged about 13,000 steps each day I went out to see them. I would also recommend bringing a light jacket, water, and sunscreen.

My Favorite Tours in Seoul :
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul
- Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky

The Best Places to Experience the Cherry Blossoms

1. Seokchon Lake
​Located near the wildly popular Lotte World, this is my personal favorite spot to see the cherry blossoms, and the bloom is a little later than others in Seoul. Here you can see the cherry blossoms easily from a boardwalk that surrounds the entire lake, and if you head towards the area that surrounds Lotte World's island, then you can even see adorable little boats going by as well. Even though it was busy, I found there were quite a few benches to sit at the enjoy the petals and I was still able to find some areas that I had to myself. (The closest subway station is Jamsil Station.)

2. Seoul's Forest Park
​This large park is one of the earlier areas to bloom in Seoul, and it's the perfect place to come have a picnic in the park. There's plenty of different areas to explore, and even if you've missed the cherry blossoms there's plenty of other flowers to enjoy in the park - like the many tulip gardens! Inside the park you can also find many rest areas and chairs to kick back and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms. (The closest subway station is the Seoul-Forest Station.)

3. Namsan Park
Namsan Park is another favorite of mine, however it can be a bit overwhelming to explore if you don't know where you're going. I recommend exploring for a bit, then taking the bus up to the tower for some beautiful spring views of Seoul before walking down the mountain. (There are a few subway stations in the area, I recommend the Donguk University Station, Myeong-Dong Station, or Chunmuro Station.)

4. Gwanggyo Reservoir
Another beautiful spot to see the Cherry Blossoms in Korea is at the Gwanggyo Reservoir. Located right across the street from Kyonggi University Suwon Campus, the best way to get there is via Bus, and you'll want to head to the Kyonggi University Suwon Campus Bus Stop. The Reservoir has a beautiful boardwalk lining the lake, and although it can get a bit crowded, the views with the cherry blossoms are absolutely stunning with the lake and mountain backdrop. They also have a few food stands if you're hungry!

5. Yeouido Park
Yeouido, an island located along the Han River, is one of the earliest places to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Seoul - which means it's also one of the earliest places to lose it's petals. As one of the most popular places to go to experience the cherry blossom season in Korea, Yeouido even has it's own Cherry Blossom Season typically in the first few days of April (although it changes depending on the weather). At the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival you can find different foods and tents within the park, making for a full fun day in the park! (The closest subway station is Yeouinaru Station.)

6. Suwon's Emart
It sounds a little silly to be recommending an Emart as one of the best Cherry Blossom viewing areas, but hear me out. Right next to the Emart, you can find a beautiful creek you can walk around, and a beautiful "flower road" - a place where cherry blossoms line the entire street on both sides. Personally, this is my ultimate favorite spot simply because it is the least crowded. There aren't many places to sit, but it's the perfect spot for a walk! (The closest subway stations are Sujigu Office Station and Seongbok Station.)

7. Towol Park
A few blocks down the road you can find Towol Park (토월공원), another perfect spot for a cherry blossom walk. The entire park is lined with cherry blossom trees, and it's a much cozier and secluded park than others in Seoul. They also have places you can sit and have a picnic in the shade! (The closest subway stations are Sujigu Office Station and Seongbok Station.)

See the Cherry Blossoms in action!

Pin these Cherry Blossom spots for later!