Published 20th Oct. 2025
Written by Emma Begley
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When you think of cherry blossom, we’d bet you picture Japan and its springtime Sakura. Now, we’re not denying that Sakura season is beautiful, but its reputation means it draws flocks of visitors, contributing to overtourism and disrupting local life. To combat this, we’re on a mission to shout about South Korea’s cherry blossom. Known locally as beotkkot, South Korea’s cherry trees bloom at a similar time to Japan’s and are just as breathtaking – without the pesky crowds (and skyrocketing costs). Feeling inspired? Read on to discover our top five places to see cherry blossom in South Korea…
Jinhae is one of the most popular places to see cherry blossom in South Korea, partly because of its annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Officially known as Jinhae Guhangje Festival, this springtime celebration is actually held to honour South Korea’s military and Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Nowadays, while the festival still celebrates the city’s military history, many visitors come to see the cherry blossom, which paints Jinhae District a soft pink hue.
Over this week-long festival in March, you’ll be treated to themed performances, military events and a variety of stalls and markets showcasing local art and culture. For the best view of Jinhae’s cherry blossom, visit Yeojwa Stream, famous as the setting of K-drama Romance, or Gyeonghwa Station, where thousands of cherry trees line the track to create a picture-perfect scene. You can even sample local cherry blossom ice cream – what better way to celebrate beotkkot season?
Image by CJNattanai / Getty Images.
Seoul’s Seokchon Lake Park is another beotkkot hotspot. Tucked away in a quiet corner of this buzzing city, the park’s two lakes are set in a figure of eight, lined with wooden boardwalks and over 1,000 cherry blossom trees. Seokchon also holds an annual Cherry Blossom Festival in early April, but if you’d rather avoid the crowds, you can head to the park from late March to see the beautiful blooms.
The park’s trees feature delicate pink and white blooms, forming a canopy over the lakeside walkways. The cherry blossoms are also reflected in the lake’s clear waters, meaning you’ll be treated to a view of the fabulous flowers everywhere you look. Combine this with a backdrop of a pastel pink fairytale castle (located in nearby theme park Lotte World) and you’re onto a winner.
Image by StudioNKRG / Getty Images.
If you fancy combining scenic landscapes with a bit of history and culture, this one’s for you. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and a Historic Site of South Korea in 2009, Bulguksa Temple is a sprawling Buddhist temple complex that houses seven Korean national treasures. Although the ancient Silla-style architecture is spectacular to behold on a normal day, springtime cherry blossoms turn this historic site into a pink paradise.
Wander along the cherry tree-lined path to the temple and marvel as the double cherry blossoms, which have twice the number of petals and bloom a more vibrant pink, form a vivid tunnel to the main gate. The beotkkot here begin to flower on the later side, around mid-April, meaning that Gyeongju is a great place to visit after seeing the cherry blossoms in Seoul and Jinhae.
Image by travellinglight / Getty Images.
Located off South Korea’s southern coast, Jeju Island is known for its lush landscapes and dramatic volcanoes. Its warmer climate also means that it kicks off South Korea’s beotkkot season, with its cherry trees blooming as early as mid-March. Not only that, but Jeju is home to the rare ‘King Cherry Blossom’ trees, which are native to Jeju and bloom a delicate pale pink colour.
Jeonnong-ro is one of the best places in Jeju to see these rare flowers, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the central attractions during the island’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Affectionately known as Cherry Blossom Street, Jeonnong-ro boasts a row of the pretty trees on either side of the road, forming a pastel pink canopy over the urban landscape. During the festival, lanterns are hung along the street, and at nighttime, areas of the street are lit up to illuminate the night sky and celebrate the beginning of spring.
Image by 시선 / Getty Images.
Last up on our list of the best places to see cherry blossom in South Korea is another Seoul spot: Yeouido Park. Yeouido, set on the Han River, is a small island that acts as Seoul’s main finance district and South Korea’s political hub. Come away from the towering skyscrapers, however, and you’ll find Yeouido. As well as over 80,000 spring flowers across 13 varieties, Yeouido Park boasts 1,886 cherry trees, which spring to life in early April and smother the green landscape with their pretty pink hue.
Like many other beotkkot hotspots, Yeouido holds a yearly Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place in the week leading up to the day when the blossoms are projected to bloom in full (often the first week of April). During the festival, the main street is blanketed in blush flowers, so make sure to have your cameras at the ready to capture this wonderful blend of city and nature.
Image by f9photos / Getty Images.
Header image by Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images.
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