If you associate cherry blossoms only with Japan, you might be wrong because this rosy flower of ornamental cherry trees can also be found in Korea. Cherry blossoms, or sakura flourishing in spring, symbolize life and death, beauty and unattractiveness–the advent of spring brings new energy. This flower is also described as having a beautiful scent which has been an inspiration for the aroma of candles, perfumes, sprays, and lotions.

Cherry blossoms in Korea have attracted lots of tourists throughout the world every year. They love going to the cherry blossoms’ festivals or just viewing the flowers blooming while walking around the palace grounds or riverside paths. If Jeju Island is included as one of the destinations for their cherry blossom trips, they would be lucky enough to see the “king cherry” variety, which is different from the common Japanese cherry blossom trees; they’re bigger and only blooming a couple of days at a time. In order to experience all of those charms, first, you have to go through some information below.

Korean cherry blossoms appear from mid March until early April. The first bloom always occurs in Jeju Island, then slowly works its way up through Jinhae, Seoul, and Chuncheon Province. Hence, you can almost be a witness to these trees in several spots around the country. Some key details about the date forecasts and locations are provided below.

As the capital city of South Korea, Seoul is a busy huge metropolis where many modern superstructures and hi-tech metros meet cultural settings, such as temples, palaces, and street markets. It goes the same for cherry blossom trips; you will see this lovely tree, start blooming around March 27th and fully flowering on April 2nd, in both natural and historical landmarks of Seoul. Below is some spots to find cherry blossom in this city:

Seoul’s Royal Palace, also known as Gyeongbokgung, was the most beautiful main palace of the FIve Grand Palaces built by Joseon dynasty. Nowadays, it’s a cultural property, housing the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum. Inside the secondary palace, Changdeokgung, the Secret Garden is located; it’s a restricted royal garden area displaying some finest natural sights, functioning as recreation or farming throughout the century. You can view cherry blossom trees growing around the palaces during the spring season.

Seoul Grand Park, or Gwacheon Seoul Grand Park, is a park complex based in Southern Seoul. It features several facilities, including hills and hiking trails, Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Children’s Zoo, a rose garden, Seoul Land amusement park, and the Seoul Museum of Modern Art. During the cherry blossom season, the cherry trees can be found alongside the lake streaming along the park area.

Seokchon Cherry Blossom Festival is the most favorite event for tourists during the spring season. Held in Seokchon Lake Area, you can walk around the pathways surrounding the lake. As you look up, the Seoul Sky Observatory in Lotte World Tower is visible. From there, you can look over the lake, park, and the cherry blossoms from above.

Namsan Tower is a communication and observation tower located in Namsan Mountain. When cherry blossom trees bloom, you can view them from the tower, or take a cable car to see them as you’re passing by. The huge mountains of Bukhansan National Park and the whole city can also be witnessed from above.

The most popular occasion in Yeouido Hangang Park is the Hangang Spring Flower Festival. It’s when tourists come in droves to view cherry blossoms; they usually walk along the riverside, have a picnic, rent a bike to enjoy the trees. When blooming simultaneously, they form a tunnel of cherry blossom trees the tourists can roam into and take photos of.

Recommended hotels: Orakai Cheonggyesan Hotel (near Seoul Grand Park), Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences (Seokchon), Hotel Nongshim (Namsan), Fairmont Ambassador Seoul (near Yeouido Hangang Park). Visit this for further details of accommodations.

Busan isn’t only known for its beaches, mountains with hiking trails, and temples, but also several best places to see cherry blossoms. Start blooming on March 23rd and its full growth 6 days after (March 29th), the 3 excellent spots mentioned for cherry blossoms in Busan are:

Oncheon Stream Park, located in Dongnae-gu, is a beautiful road famous for stretching alongside a stream flowing tranquilly. In spring, it’s a home to various flowers, yet cherry blossom trees are the most impressive among them. Visitors can witness freshly bloomed cherry blossoms lining up on the road’s side while having a picnic with families, friends, or loved ones.

Samnak Ecological Park is a park/wetland functioning as an observation for diverse vegetation. This natural ecosystem displays a stunning cherry blossom colony which can form tunnels, if the trees are blooming at the same time, of pinky-white petals very worth photographing. You can rent a bike to explore this area or bring some food/snacks to have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees.

Dalmaji-Gil road is one of the well-known driving roads in Busan. This area can transform into a tunnel of cherry blossoms, lining along the road, when the spring comes. Some galleries and art markets are available in this area; they are the favorites of some local artists. Imagine you’re driving along this road at night, seeing the cherry petals blow with the wind; what an inevitable serene and romantic night!

Recommended hotels: Paradise Hotel Busan, Park Hyatt Busan, Hotel Paragon (near Samnak Ecological Park), Signiel Busan (near Dalmaji-Gil Road). Check this if you want to find out supplementary info about other hotels in Busan.

Jeju Island is the largest island in Korea famous for its natural landmarks, such as beaches, waterfalls, several locations for popular Korean soap operas, and a volcanic island. During spring, its milder climate allows the region to bear some of the earliest cherry blossom blooms in the country. The blooming starting date is approximately on March 19th and March 26th is the peak date. The 2 perfect places to encounter cherry blossoms in Jeju Island are Noksan-ro and Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival. Noksan-ro features long and winding roads, popular with cyclists and bikers, lined with colorful displays of yellow canola flowers and rose-colored cherry blossoms. Besides, you can also find this appealing tree in Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual occasion held at three-lined venues: Jeonnong-ro, Jeju City; the entrance to Jeju National University; and Janjeong-ri, Aewol-eup. Gaze the grace of the rare King Cherry in this festival which only lasts for 2-3 days–starting late March to the early April.

Recommended hotels: Ramada Plaza Jeju Ocean Front, Lotte City Hotel Jeju, Shinhwa Jeju Shinhwa World Hotels & Resorts. Click this link to check out extra info on hotels around cherry blossom spots in Jeju.

Gyeongju is the second largest city in the province after Andong, located in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province. Renowned as the best city to come upon cherry blossoms–blooming on March 23rd with its peak on March 30th, there are at least 4 best venues for tourists to visit: Gyeongju Historic Area, Bomun Lake Tourist Complex, Bulguksa Temple, and Seokguram Grotto. One of the UNESCO World Heritages, Gyeongju Historic Area consists of 5 sub-areas: Mount Namsan, Wolseong, Tumuli, Hwangnyongsa Temple, and the Fortress Belt. Here you can view the enchantment of cherry blossoms while immersing yourself in the city’s historical background. Besides, cherry blossom trees grow in Bomun Lake Tourist Complex, where the most favorite sight, Hwangnyongwon (a 9-story golden tower) was built. You can also visit Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto if you have extra days, since the trees can also be found in those two notable Buddhist temples–they also host 6 national treasures of South Korea.

Recommended Hotels: Brown-Dot Hotel Gyeongju, Gyeongju Ran Hanok, Gyeongju Sulleim Pension. Visit this page to observe further info on other hotels in Gyeongju.

Situated in a central lowland valley alongside forested hills and the Geum River, Daejeon is South Korea’s fifth largest metropolis popular for its technology and research institutions. Although this city isn’t a well-known tourist destination, it presents great spots to view cherry blossoms, like at KAIST University, along the Gapcheon River, and nearby Gyeryongsan National Park. KAIST University, based in Yuseong-gu, has a large grass area for people to sit on while enjoying nice weather in spring and seeing the blossoms. They can also order some snacks/foods from cafes and restaurants around the campus; the foods can even be delivered directly to you while you sit on the grass. Outside KAIST University, the Gapcheon River runs through the central area of Daejeon. The riverside is a large public space with parks, bridges, and walkways, lined with lots of cherry blossom trees and yellow canola flowers. If you prefer cherry blossom festivals, visit Donghaksa Temple in Gyeryongsan National Park. Held 2 weeks in early April, this festival also presents some traditional events, like trot singing, performances, and games. However, the blossoms’ starting date in Daejeon is around March 26th and fully blooms on April 1st.

Recommended hotels: LOTTE City Hotel Daejeon, The Empress Hotel, Hotel Graytone Dunsan. Check this link to elicit additional info on hotels in Daejeon.

If you’re a first timer of viewing cherry blossoms and wondering how to enjoy this picturesque seasonal scenery, here are some tips for you to consider:

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Now, you already have everything to know about Korean cherry blossoms. However, always keep an eye on the forecasts, the opening hours of the places where the trees can be found, and how to get there. Book your flights and accommodations on Traveloka immediately. Have a memorable and enjoyable cherry blossom in Korea!