I’ve been lucky enough to live in South Korea for the past three years, and I have to say few places can match the beauty of Spring quite like here. The first signs of Spring kick off with the cherry blossoms towards the end of March/early April and it is truly one of the most beautiful sights. While you can typically find cherry blossoms all over in Korea, Seoul definitely has a few spots that I would consider the best.

With Spring quickly approaching, it’s time to start planning out cherry blossoms spots to visit. Keep in mind, the blossoms are unfortunately very short lived, as spring showers usually cause them to fall after about two weeks; so try to see as much as you can when they first bloom.

Here are 7 must see cherry blossom spots in Seoul.

-Seoul Forest. Seoul Forest is a beautiful park right in the city and a must-see cherry blossom spot on your trip to Seoul. The entire park has cherry blossoms and tulips spread throughout in the Spring, but for this stunning photo spot you’ll need to cross an intersection to the Seoul Forest Entrance 11 (naver pin here) where you’ll find this bridge surrounded by huge cherry blossom trees.

-Seokchon Lake. This is one of my favorite spots to visit in the Spring. The lake looks stunning during all seasons, but especially with the cherry blossoms. The lake is fully lined with the flowers, which give it a tunnel effect— and that mixed with the weeping willow trees and city skyline make for a stunning combination.

-Mapo. Mapo has a ton of streets lined with cherry blossoms that you can wander and find. One of the most popular locations in Mapo is Greylab cafe, where you can enjoy your afternoon latte with a backdrop of cherry blossoms. Like with most popular places in Korea, you can expect for it to be packed on the weekends. So ideally you’ll want to visit on a weekday or early in the morning once they open.

*photo is by @kieunchoi on Instagram

-Yangjae Citizen’s Forest. This park is a very famous spot on Instagram, with an iconic bridge view of the cherry blossoms lining the stream. You can also follow the trail to find more great spots with views of Lotte Tower in the distance and a canopy of cherry blossoms.

-Namsan. The road up to Namsan is lined with cherry blossoms offering a beautiful view of the Seoul landmark tower.

-Kyunghee University. By far one of the prettiest campuses I’ve ever seen, this university looks stunning with the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

*photos by @alleyzheng on Instagram

-Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace. At Gyeongbokgung you’ll find cherry blossoms near the pond area, offering a beautiful cherry blossom view with the palace and mountains in the background. I personally have not visited Changgyeonggung yet, however it is said to have more nature focused landscape and a great spot for cherry blossoms.

If you’re staying closer to Camp Humphreys or Osan AB in Pyeongtaek, check out my post on local cherry blossom spots here.

For more Korea (and cherry blossom) content, check out my Instagram and TikTok page.

xoxo

Alicia