Come March, South Korea will rework into a fantastic pink paradise! Take a look at one of the best locations to go and issues to do throughout cherry blossom season.
Many consider Japan in the case of cherry blossom holidays, nevertheless it’s not the one nation within the area with gorgeous floral blooms each spring 🌸.
Enter South Korea — the land of Ok-pop, Ok-drama, and in addition cherry blossoms. Blooms final for about 10 days, so that you’ll want cautious planning and many luck to catch the pink hues.
From one of the best cities to go to to FAQs about cherry blossoms in South Korea, this information covers every thing you’ll want to know!
Photograph credit score: @rawkkim through Unsplash
*Professional-tip: Bookmark this information for annual updates on the newest forecast in South Korea!
Learn additionally: Final 2023 Cherry Blossom Japan Information — The whole lot you’ll want to know
South Korea’s Cherry Blossom 2023 Forecast
Primarily based on historic tendencies, flowers in South Korea begin blooming in late March to April earlier than wilting in early Could, relying on the situation.
Whereas the official forecast is anticipated to be launched in March, listed below are some estimated dates primarily based on the 2022 forecast!
*Observe: Dates proven on the map are tentative flowering dates, not full bloom dates.
South Korean Cities with the Finest Cherry Blossoms
Don’t miss these cities throughout cherry blossom season!
Cherry blossoms begin blooming round 18 March on Jeju Island — the southernmost a part of South Korea. In the event you’re planning to hit just a few cities, begin from the south and plan your route northward in line with the bloom patterns.
Jeju Island
Cherry blossoms in Jeju Island. Photograph credit score: Jeju Tourism Group
Learn additionally: 4-Day Jeju Itinerary Below S$500 — Highway Journey Journey Round South Korea’s Island Paradise
Cherry blossom and Forsythia in Jeju Island’s Seogwipo. Photograph credit score: Jeju Tourism Group
Jeju Island is residence to a local species of cherry blossom generally known as the Jeju Flowering Cherry (beforehand generally known as King Cherry). With barely larger petals than the ever present Yoshino cherry species present in Japan, the Jeju Flowering Cherry was as soon as misidentified as simply one other Yoshino till the late eighties.
Right now, many guests flock to Jeju Island in the course of the months of spring to witness the blooming of the rarer Jeju native.
Dawn at Seongsan Ilchulbong peak.
Whereas chasing cherry blossoms, don’t neglect to test some distinctive experiences off your bucket checklist too — like catching epic sunrises and dolphin recognizing!
Finest Viewing Spots: Downtown space of Seogwipo, Mt. Hallasan, Jeonnong-ro, Hallim Park, Noksan-ro, Jeonnong-ro cherry blossom avenue
Getting Round: There are three public bus techniques in Jeju Island, and they’re all as inconvenient as they’re complicated. So except you’ve gotten quite a lot of time in Jeju Island, we’ll suggest you forgo cost-savings and simply constitution a personal automotive or lease one to save lots of each time and planning.
Busan
Jinhae Cherry Blossom Pageant, Busan. Photograph credit score: Klook
Learn additionally: 4D3N Busan Itinerary — Why You Want To Spend Extra Than A Day Journey In Korea’s Charming Coastal Metropolis
Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, South Korea. Photograph credit score: Naver
Samnak Ecological Park. Photograph credit score: Busan Metropolitan Metropolis
The most important cherry blossom pageant within the nation could be the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Pageant close to Busan. And if you happen to’re travelling round Busan or the southern space of South Korea, there’s additionally Gyeongju, the previous capital of Silla, the place you’ll be able to feast your eyes on cherry blossoms galore.
South Korea is a fairly homogenous nation and in all places appears to be the identical after some time, however Busan gives completely different views as a coastal metropolis. In the event you’ve had sufficient of Seoul-searching, hop onto that prepare to Busan to expertise a South Korea not like another.
Finest Viewing Spots: Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, Dalmaji-gil Highway, Macdo Ecological Park, Samnak Ecological Park, Oncheon-cheon, Yeonji Park, Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Highway, Gyeonghwa Station (in Jinhae), Yeojwacheon Stream (in Jinhae), Bomun Complicated (in Gyeongju)
Gyeongju Gyochon Conventional Village.
Getting Round: The Busan Metro system is probably the best method to get across the metropolis. Ease your navigation round Busan by downloading the helpful Busan metro app (Android) or Subway Korea app (iOS) for instructions. Busan can also be an ideal base for a highway journey, with underrated cities like Gyeongju and Daegu lower than 3 hours away by automotive.
*Professional-tip: You’ll be able to e book your automotive on-line and decide it up from Gimhae Worldwide Airport or your most popular location! However if you wish to skip all of the fuss, hop on these excursions as an alternative.
Excursions for cherry blossom season:
– Jinhae Cherry Blossom Pageant Day/Night time Tour (~S$55)
– Jinhae Cherry Blossom Tour from Busan (~S$47)
– Cherry Blossom Searching Tour from Busan (~S$98)
– Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Pageant In the future Tour from Busan (~S$66)
– Daegu E-WORLD Land & Spring Cherry Blossom Day Tour (~S$95)
Learn additionally: 7 Hidden Gems You Can Discover Much less Than 3hrs From Busan
Seoul
Seokchon Lake Park in Seoul. Photograph credit score: Korea Tourism Group
Kyunghee College Seoul in Spring. Photograph credit score: Pinterest
Come spring, Seoul is dotted pink with cherry bushes blooming throughout town — excellent for exhibiting off on the ‘gram. For cherry blossom viewing away from the crowds, head to Kyunghee College, which gives spectacular neo-classical structure as a backdrop.
Moreover admiring flowers, don’t neglect to take a look at different sights in Seoul too like Lotte World, Seoul Metropolis Wall and naturally, buying alongside the bustling streets of Myeong-dong and Hongdae.
Finest Viewing Spots: Yeoduido Park, Kyunghee College, Seoul Forest, Seoul Grand Park, Seokchon Lake Park
Gapyeong Rail Bike. Photograph credit score: Klook
However if you happen to suppose you’re performed exploring Seoul, hop on a visit to Nami Island — well-known for sights just like the Backyard of Morning Calm and Petite France. Go for the Gapyeong Rail Bike Expertise and recreate your individual romantic Ok-drama scene amongst pink flowers.
Festivals: Yeouido Spring Flower Pageant, Taean Tulip/Magnolia Flower Pageant, Jinhae Gunhangje Pageant
Getting Round: The town of Seoul is accessible through the Seoul Metro, and we suggest getting the Uncover Seoul Cross — which gives reductions to over 100 vacationer sights and in addition acts as a transportation card.
Excursions for cherry blossom season:
– Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Pageant Day Tour from Seoul (~S$57)
– Cherry Blossom Random Tour (~S$56)
– Pink King Cherry Blossom Tour from Seoul (~S$71)
– Seoul Metropolis Tour with Cherry Blossom (~S$93)
– Cherry Blossom Korean Folks Village Tour (~S$104)
– Eden Cherry Blossom Pageant & Nami Island & Gangchon Rail Bike Day Tour (~S$61)
Learn additionally: 7-Day First Timer’s South Korea Itinerary Below S$1k incl. Day Journeys Out of Seoul
Getting Round Seoul (Transport Necessities)
Uncover Seoul Cross.
Inside Seoul: Public transportation inside Seoul is fairly simple utilizing simply the T-Cash card for subways and buses. Alternatively, get the Uncover Seoul Cross that offers you free admission to 65 of Seoul’s hottest sights for a interval of 24, 48 or 72 hours, which additionally doubles up as a chargeable T-Cash card.
Discover South Korea past Seoul with the Korail Cross!
Intercity Travels: For longer distances, the Korail Cross is a extra value-for-money choice. This comes with choices for 3 and 5 consecutive days in addition to flexi two and 4 days. The latter could be excellent for chasing cherry blossoms throughout a number of cities in South Korea!
Navigation Maps: Google Maps doesn’t work properly in South Korea. Obtain Naver Map (iOS / Android) in your smartphone as an alternative to navigate round South Korea.
Rating Low cost Flights from Singapore to South Korea
From Singapore, there are direct flights to numerous widespread cities in South Korea like Seoul, Busan, and even Jeju! It’ll be peak season, so try to settle these big-ticket objects like flights and lodging early to maintain prices low.
If you’d like extra flexibility, many airways additionally will let you change your journey dates for a small charge. After all, the sooner you determine the higher it’s because the dates you would possibly need to change may be full or have a surcharge!
South Korea Should-Eats in Spring
1) Contemporary King Crab
Take pleasure in a king crab meal at Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul.
Early spring (round March) is one of the best time to splurge on King Crabs in South Korea, as they’re at their largest and freshest. Whereas they’re out there nearly all yr spherical at Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, the crabs caught low season are much less fleshy.
2) Jjukkumi (쭈꾸미) — Webfoot Octopus
Jjukkumi dish. Photograph credit score: Timeout
These baby-like octopi aren’t precisely juvenile however are one other breed of octopus with shorter tentacles. Jjukkumi could be loved grilled, stir-fried, blanched or cooked in a hotpot. The very best time to eat jjukkumi is between March and Could as that’s the spawning season!
3) Korean Strawberries
Korean strawberries in a South Korea native market. Photograph credit score: Sunyshore
Korea boasts one of many sweetest and juiciest strawberries on this planet, and also you’re in for a deal with to one of the best harvests while you go to in spring. The strawberry season lasts from late winter to early summer season (Jan to Could), and through these months, many strawberry farms permit guests to decide their very own strawberries at a charge.
Learn additionally: Seoul Meals Information — 15 Korean Meals and the Finest Locations to Strive It
Incessantly Requested Questions on Cherry Blossoms in South Korea
1) What do locals normally do in the course of the Cherry Blossom season?
Just like Japan’s Hanami, South Koreans additionally take pleasure in “벚꽃 놀이 (beot-ggot nori or flower viewing)” throughout springtime. This comes hand-in-hand with one other exercise — springtime picnic!
Public parks and gardens in South Korea can be busier than regular throughout springtime, whether or not or not cherry blossom bushes are in sight. To South Koreans, springtime picnics are merely get-together time loved with household and associates. Moms would gown their children up and even put together extravagant lunch packing containers.
South Korean youngsters’s lunch field. Photograph credit score: @gnldi1101 through Instagram
Different typical meals objects Koreans would put together of their picnic baskets embrace gimbap, dosirak (Korean lunchbox), gyeran-mari (omelette roll), and even makgeolli rice wine and crimson wine!
2) What’s a Cherry Blossom pageant like in South Korea?
Jinhae Gunhangje Pageant (진해군항제)
Cherry blossom festivals in South Korea final from every week to a month and are sometimes overestimated with makeshift markets, avenue performers and even staged live shows. South Koreans actually have a time period “봄을 타다 (bom-eul ta da)”, which loosely interprets to “trip the spring”, to symbolize a particular change of temper as spring arrives.
The fanciest cherry blossom pageant of all is none aside from the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Pageant in Busan. There’s a slow-speed sightseeing “cherry blossom shuttle prepare” that solely operates in the course of the interval of the pageant, and guests can even count on fireworks shows on sure nights.
3) What ought to travellers be ready for throughout this season?
Photograph credit score: @clarissaacindy through Instagram
In South Korea, there’s a time period “봄비 (bom bi)” that interprets to “spring rain”. Although temperatures are usually climbing larger, mild rain is anticipated to be fairly frequent throughout springtime so pack heat and waterproof outerwear. There’s no must convey alongside warmth packs and umbrellas as these are offered at most comfort shops in South Korea.
That mentioned, the primary rainfall marks the tip of the freezing winter and it’s additionally a sign that flowering bushes will begin blooming. So meaning it’s time to lease a hanbok (Korean conventional costume) and be one with the spring scene of South Korea.
For extra concepts on what to do in Korea throughout cherry blossom season, try Klook’s curated checklist of excursions and experiences right here!
Know of another nice cherry blossom spots in Korea? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
This text was dropped at you by Klook.
