ⓒ SeoulPASS

Spring is one of the best seasons to travel in Korea, with comfortable temperatures and beautiful flowers that make every trip feel extra special. In March and April, a variety of flowers, including cherry blossoms, daffodils, magnolias, and more, begin to bloom across the country. This is also the time when numerous spring festivals are held in cities throughout Korea, celebrating flowers like cherry blossoms, apricot, canola, and others. But as with all seasonal trips, it is important to plan ahead, booking tickets and accommodations in advance. Here are some ideas for you to choose the best place in Korea to enjoy spring to the fullest.

No. 1
Gyeongju

ⓒ Trazy

As a former capital of the Silla dynasty, with its royal tombs, temples, pagodas and other historical artifacts, Gyeongju is a popular destination throughout the year. But it is especially beautiful in spring, when the city is full of pink cherry blossoms and yellow canola flowers. That is why if you plan a trip to Gyeongju during this time, it would be good to come up with a sightseeing course allowing you to enjoy all the flowers.

Bomun Lake (보문호) is known to have a fantastic cherry blossom path around. That is why, during the day, look around Bomun Lake and Expo Park (경주엑스포공원), and then move toward Hwangridan street (황리단길) to enjoy delicious food and pretty cafes. If you walk around the famous Gyeongju royal tombs during this season, you'll experience the vibrant spring vibes, with its peaceful ponds and scenic pine forest paths.

At night you can walk along the cherry blossom trail to Donggung (동궁), famous for its fantastic night view, while passing by the Cheomseongdae Observatory (첨성대), pink-colored at night. Apart from the Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (월지), Woljeonggyo Bridge (월정교) has a wonderful night view too, so don’t forget to check that out too.

No. 2
Geoje Oedo Botania

ⓒ Koreattrack

Oedo Botania (외도 보타니아) is accessible only by ferry, as it is located on an island. It is a marine botanical garden with over 3,000 kinds of flowers and trees. This is why it is considered one of the best spring destinations in Gyeongnam (South Gyeongsang Province).

The place is loved by many people because of its location in the warm south, where you can enjoy flowers and feel spring quite early. Among other beautiful trees and flowers, there are also a lot of camellias in the garden. Camellia flowers are known to bloom in winter but they are in full bloom here in spring, too.

Botania is full of exotic attractions perfect for beautiful pictures, such as Venus Garden (비너스가든) and Stairs to Heaven (천국의 계단). There’s also a café with an ocean view and sculpture park. Because of its exotic plants and attractions, Botania reminds of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea and attracts a lot of people every year. 

No. 3
Taean

ⓒ Kkday

Anmyeondo Island (안면도) in Taean, is considered to be not very cold even in winter due to its marine climate. In spring, the Cheongsan Arboretum (청산수목원) holds a Red Thorns Festival (홍가시나무 축제) every year from April to May. During this festival you can enjoy bright red foliage of Photinia glabra, which reminds red thorns.

You can see old-style houses and Korean-style gardens, climb the observatory, and watch the ocean here. Anmyeondo Island is also famous for its beautiful sunset, so it is a popular place to enjoy the mudflat experience (walking barefoot in the mudflat, shellfish gathering, mud therapy, etc.) and watch the sunset at the same time.

No. 4
Busan

ⓒ ondo.pic

Busan is one of the biggest cities in Korea and it is popular among tourist all year round. Busan is a captivating place because it offers the convenience and comfort of a big city, complemented by breathtaking seaside views and a wide range of traditional tourist attractions at once.

Among the most famous Busan attractions that we recommend to visit are Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을), Gwangalli Beach (광안리해수욕장), and Hwangnyeongsan Mountain (황령산) famous for its night city view. However, if you visit Busan in spring, make sure to enjoy all the city flowers, especially because there are so many places for that around the city.

The most famous locations for cherry blossoms in Busan are Dalmaji-gil Road (달맞이길), Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Street (남천동 벚꽃길), Oncheoncheon Cherry Blossom Festival (온천천 벚꽃축제), Gaegeum Cherry Blossom Road (개금벚꽃길) and more. If you want to enjoy canola flowers, the best locations would be Daejeo Eco Park (대저생태공원), Oryukdo Sunrise Park (오륙도 해맞이공원), Samnak Ecological Park (삼락생태공원). For camellias, there is also Dalmaji-gil Road (동백섬), where camellia flowers are in full bloom both in winter and spring.

Busan is known to be one of the best places to travel in Korea in spring because its average temperature at this time is 15-20°C from March to April, which is a perfect weather for sightseeing and enjoying outdoor activities.

No. 5
Danyang

ⓒ Wellfarehello

Danyang is a much less known destination but it is a place where the scenery is so beautiful that it starts to attract more and more visitors.

Among the locations where you can enjoy Danyang scenery is the famous Mancheonha Skywalk (만천하 스카이워크). You can ride the zip line down from the skywalk and walk down the Jando-gil (단양강 잔도), a 1.12 km long trekking road along Namhan River (남한강). In April, you can enjoy the cherry blossom trail along the Namhan River, and in May, there is Sobaeksan Azalea Festival (소백산철쭉제) held every year. That's why many people visit this place specifically in the spring season.

If you are not afraid of somewhat extreme activities, Cafe Mountain, also known as Cafe Sann, is one of the most famous paragliding destinations in South Korea. Trying paragliding can offer an unforgettable experience, allowing you to see the beautiful scenery of Danyang at a glance. And the last but not least, make sure to include beautiful Guin Temple (구인사) and Suyanggae Light Tunnel (수양개빛터널) at night into your Danyang trip itinerary.

No. 6
Maehwa Village in Gwangyang

ⓒ SeoulPASS

Mehwa, or plum flowers, are the first flowers to bloom in spring. In Gwangyang Maehwa Village (광양 매화마을), plum trees, a local specialty, are planted instead of grains, and in March, the entire village is blanketed in plum blossoms, creating a spectacular sight.

The houses in the village maintain the form of traditional Korean thatched houses and hanoks, so you can appreciate the traditional beauty of Korea in spring if you come here during this season. In particular, Cheong Maesil Farm (홍쌍리 청매실농원) is one of the most famous places to visit here.

The Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival (광양 매화축제) is one of the top 10 regional festivals in the country. During this festival, visitors can enjoy a walk beneath the plum blossoms, and are able to taste or buy local organic plum products.

No. 7
Namhae

ⓒ Sobilife

Jinhae, Jeju, Gyeongju, and Namhae are the most popular cherry blossom spots in Korea. Among them, Namhae is the least crowded with tourists. However, please note that one of the reasons for that is that local transportation is rather inconvenient here.

In Namhae you can see flowers everywhere you go, so sometimes people call it Flower Island. Wangji Cherry Blossom Road (왕지벚꽃길) is a path where cherry blossoms are spread over 5 km right after passing Namhae Bridge (남해대교). There are cherry trees on both sides of the road, so it's a perfect place to enjoy a cherry blossom drive.

In Namhae, even if you don't try to visit canola flowers places, it’s impossible not to see them at every corner. However, if you want a good location recommendation for canola flowers, go to Daraengi Village (다랭이마을), where you can see the beautiful scenery of sea and canola flowers together.

Sangsang Sheep Ranch (상상양떼목장) is also often recommended as a good place to visit. It is located on a vast land, where you can both enjoy beautiful cherry blossom trees and interact with the sheep.