Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Seoul: The 7+ Best Places
I spent the whole month of April chasing and visiting the best places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul with my husband—who’s a local and knows exactly where the magic happens each spring.
Based on our experiences and plenty of advice from locals, here’s where to see cherry blossoms in Seoul—plus a few tips to help you actually enjoy them without getting overwhelmed.
TL;DR? Here are my 3 favorite cherry blossom locations across Seoul
🌸 Best overall: Seokchon Lake (Google Maps, Naver Map)
🌸 Most flowers: Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival (Google Maps, Naver Map)
🌸 Best if you’re coming late in the season: Namsan Tower (Google Maps, Naver Map)
🌸 Hidden gem: Changdeokgung Palace (Google Maps, Naver Map)
Which Month Are Cherry Blossoms in Seoul?
Cherry blossoms in Seoul usually bloom in early to mid-April. The exact timing changes each year depending on the weather, but generally you’ll find:
A. Start of blooming
Late March in warmer years and early April in cooler years. In 2025, cherry blossoms started blooming around April 3rd.
B. Peak/Full Bloom
Full bloom takes place about 7-10 days after the start of blooming. Usually, peak bloom takes place around April 10th.
C. End of bloom
Cherry blossoms usually start falling in mid April and are completely gone by the end of the month.
How long do cherry blossoms last in Seoul?
There’s about a 10–14 day total window from first cherry blossom bloom to when the petals start falling heavily.
On some years, the cherry blossom season might be much shorter due to strong rain or winds.
Pro tip: If you’re visiting after mid-April, check out Namsan Tower, where trees bloom a little later due to its higher elevation.
The 7+ Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
1. Seokchon Lake
📍Location: Google Maps, Naver Map
💸 Cost: Free! Unless you want to explore it from the inside of the iconic Lotte World amusement park
⏰ Hours: Open all day every day! At night the flowers are beautifully lit up with pink and white lights
Seokchon Lake is arguably the most popular cherry blossom destination in Seoul, and rightfully so! In fact, it is my Korean husband’s favorite date spot in Seoul even outside of cherry blossom season!
There, you can walk around a giant lake in downtown Seoul that is completely surrounded by cherry blossoms! By the lake is also Seoul’s iconic amusement park, Lotte World, and the view of the park framed by cherry blossoms looks like a real-life fairytale.
One thing I absolutely love about Seokchon Lake is that there are both cafes and large public seating areas to rest, have a snack and enjoy a view filled with cherry blossoms!
The view is stunning both during the day and at night, when the cherry blossom trees are lit in shades of pink and white!
Because of its central location and stunning cherry blossom views, Seokchon Lake is often incredibly crowded, which can be a drawback to some visitors.
However, to me and many Seoul locals, Seokchon Lake is still the #1 best place to see cherry blossoms!
2. Seoul Forest
📍Location: Google Maps, Naver Map
💸 Cost: Free!
⏰ Hours: The park is open from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM, while their arboretum and butterfly sanctuarium are open from 10AM to 5PM. Google Maps incorrectly lists this space as open 24h!
Seoul Forest, which is a beautiful park in the middle of the city, is one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul.
My visit to the park was towards the end of the afternoon, so my low light pictures simply do not do justice to how stunning this place is!
The park has many different areas with cherry blossoms – some are the traditional double-sided walking paths, others are through beautiful bridges, and there is even a amphitheater surrounded by the blossoms!
As a wildlife-lover, I was very pleasantly surprised to view Seoul Forest’s famous deers surrounded by cherry blossoms!
3. Namsan Tower
📍Location: You can either head directly to the base of the tower (Google Maps, Naver Map) or hike from the Namsan cable car (Google Maps, Naver Map) for ~1hr amongst all the blooming cherry blossom trees
💸 Cost: Free! Unless you want to go up the tower or ride the cable car.
⏰ Hours: Open all day every day! At night the flowers are beautifully lit up with pink and white lights
🚊 How to get there: You can get to the base of Namsan tower by bus, cable car, or walking! I recommend hiking so you can walk up through beautiful pathways with cherry blossoms on both sides.
Namsan Tower and the trail leading up to it has it all – long cherry blossom walks, a panoramic city view dotted with many cherry blossom trees, and instagrammable photo spots where you’re surrounded by the blossoms!
Temperatures in Namsan are a bit cooler than the rest of Seoul, so their cherry blossom season starts (and ends) a few days after the other spots on the list!
If your trip to Seoul is a bit too late for full-bloom cherry blossom, head to Namsan and you might still find some of blooming trees!
You can reach the tower by cable car or bus, but to see the double-sided cherry blossom walk I recommend hiking up! The hike is quite short, totaling about 2km (1.2 miles).
If you choose to hike up, you’ll not only see many cherry blossom trees, but also other Korean spring flowers, including lots of yellow forsythia!
Another fun plus to Namsan tower is that they even have a temporary cherry-blossom-themed section in their gift shop, as well as a seasonal cherry-blossom ice cream!
To be honest, I bet that they’re just selling strawberry ice cream at a higher cost, but it looks amazing anyways!
Because the Namsan tower area is so large it does not get as packed as other popular cherry blossom destinations in Seoul, which makes this a great pick for those who want to avoid the crowds!
4. Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival
📍Location: Google Maps, Naver Map
💸 Cost: Free!
⏰ Hours: Open all day every day!
If you’re wondering what park has the most cherry blossoms in Seoul, this is it! Yeouido is where you’ll find the most petals, but it is also the most crowded cherry blossom destination I came across!
The double-sided cherry blossom trails seem to be infinite, and you can already find lots of walkways surrounded by cherry blossom trees blocks away from the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival.
Though the quantity of trees was impressive, I did not find Yeouido to be as beautiful as Seokchon Lake, as instagrammable as Seoul Forest, or as fun as Namsan Tower.
In fact, I felt quite disoriented while walking through the crowded walkways!
Though not my favorite place to see cherry blossoms in Seoul, the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival has a fun unique feature: it is an actual festival! We’re talking spring-themed live music, mini art exhibits, photo spots, sponsor stands, street food, and more!
Another plus to the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival is that there you can see small fields with other spring flowers!
5. Seoul’s Palaces (especially Changdeokgung Palace)
📍Location: Gyeongbokgung (Google Maps, Naver Map), Changdeokgung (Google Maps, Naver Map), Deoksugung (Google Maps, Naver Map)
💸 Cost: Gyeongbokgung (₩3,000), Changdeokgung (₩3,000), Deoksugung (₩1,000.). The entrance fee is waived for those wearing traditional korean clothing (Hanbok), which can be rented for about ₩25,000. Entrance is also free on the last Wednesday of each month!
⏰ Hours: Gyeongbokgung (9AM – 6PM, closed on Tuesdays), Changdeokgung (10AM -5:30PM), Deoksugung (9AM – 9PM)
✅ Tip: Palaces often have free guided tours in English, Japanese, and Chinese! Check each palace’s official website page for the tour schedule
There are beautiful cherry blossom trees in Seoul’s three main palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Deoksugung.
Though you won’t find long cherry blossom pathways in those palaces, the contrast between the cherry blossom trees and traditional Korean architecture (AKA Hanok) is an incredible sight!
Out of the three palaces, I really enjoyed visiting Changdeokgung, even though I visited before their cherry blossoms hit full bloom!
Just by the entrance, there is a little stream completely surrounded by cherry blossoms, and some other blooming trees can be seen throughout the gardens!
Another plus to Changdeokgung is their beautiful and historic green house, where I could see lots of plants and flowers!
6. Boramae Park
📍Location: Google Maps, Naver Map
💸 Cost: Free!
⏰ Hours: Open all day every day!
Boramae Park is not a major cherry blossom destination in Seoul, so there you’ll be able to enjoy a moderate amount of flowers in a calmer environment.
The walkways with cherry blossoms at Boramae park are not incredibly long, and I personally found them a bit underwhelming compared to the main cherry blossom destinations in Seoul.
On the other hand, the park itself had a beautiful lake and a cozy family vibe, which made it worth the visit!
7. Seoul’s Children’s Grand Park
📍Location: Google Maps, Naver Map
💸 Cost: Free! You can pay to go on rides or an indoor playground
⏰ Hours: 5AM – 10PM
Seoul’s Chidren’s Grand Park is a chidlhood dream that features a walking paths, a free zoo, playgrounds, and even a mini amusement park!
This is a local-favorite spot for spotting cherry blossoms! Though it sits high up on my Seoul cherry blossom bucket list, I unfortunately did not have the time to stop by during the latest bloom.
Other Awesome Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
Time is a limited resource, especially during cherry blossom season since the flowers do not last long! Here are other amazing places that locals have recommended, and that I plan to stop by next year:
8. Jeongdok Library (Google Maps, Naver Map)
9. Kyung Hee University Seoul (Google Maps, Naver Map)
What to Wear During Cherry Blossom Season in Seoul?
The Korean-girl staple outfit for the season is a mini skirt, stockings (thickness varies based on temperature), and a sweater or jacket!
Temperatures fluctuate a lot through the 15 days of cherry blossoms in Seoul, so make sure to wear layers! A mix of light and warm clothes will keep you comfy in all situations.
Comfortable shoes are a must, as some cherry blossom walks are very long – and Seoul’s subway system has lots of stairs!
During the spring, it rains a lot in Seoul, so waterproof shoes are a good idea. I absolutely love wearing my water-resistant Vivaia boots during rainy days!
As temperatures warm up and rain starts to be less frequent, my go-to spring travel shoe are comfi Rothy’s sneakers.
In 2025, when flowers first started blooming in Seoul, daily temperatures ranged from 4° C (39° F) to 17° C (63° F). I was going out to see the trees wearing thick winter coats or sweaters as well as gloves to stay warm.
By the time the trees reached peak bloom, the weather was much warmer, with reaching daily temperatures as high as 24° C (75° F)! At that point, I was very comfortable only wearing a cardigan!
Top 3 Tips for Seeing Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
- Select only 2-3 places to see cherry blossoms: There are many incredible places to see these beautiful tress in Seoul, but if I am being honest, most of them are quite similar, and trying to do it all will leave you more fatigued than relaxed.
- Use Naver Maps for navigation: Google Maps works great worldwide—but not in Korea. It lacks accurate, up-to-date info here. Instead, use Naver Maps, the local favorite. They even have a cherry blossom button that shows blooming spots around town!
- Plan visits during work hours: Though some cherry blossom sites in Seoul, like the famous Seokchon Lake, are busy all the time, you’ll find the least crowds while most locals are at work or school!
The Wrap-Up: Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
Spring in Seoul is pure magic, but if you want to stick to the best 3 spots to see cherry blossoms, Seokchon Lake, Seoul Forest, and Namsan Tower are solid picks.
During your time in Seoul, visiting one of the three major palaces is a must, and in them you’ll also get to experience a bit of cherry blossoms!
