Korea cherry blossom season
Korea’s cherry blossoms open first on Jeju and in Busan in late March, then in Seoul in early April. The weather offices’ normal bloom dates are March 25 on Jeju and April 8 in Seoul, and Busan usually blooms in the last days of March. In 2026 Seoul bloomed early, on March 29, so keep your dates flexible.
When the blossoms open: normal vs recent years
| City | Normal (1991–2020) | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JejuJeju City reference tree. | Mar 25 | Mar 26 | Mar 28 |
| BusanOne press report; we show exact dates only where two sources agree. | Last days of March | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| SeoulReference tree at the Seoul weather station in Jongno. | Apr 8 | Apr 4 | Mar 29 |
The weather office counts a tree as in bloom when three or more flowers are fully open on any one branch of its reference tree. Checked Oct 3, 2026.
Dates move by a week or more from year to year. Seoul bloomed four days before its normal in 2025 and ten days before it in 2026.
Where to see them in Seoul, Busan and Jeju
| Place | What to know | Address in Korean |
|---|---|---|
| Yeouido Yunjung-roSeoul | Cherry-lined road beside the Han River. Line 9 to National Assembly Station, Exit 1 or 6, then about 400 m on foot. Vehicles are restricted around the festival dates. | 서울특별시 영등포구 여의서로 |
| Seokchon LakeSeoul | A 2.5 km walking path around the lake in Songpa. | 서울특별시 송파구 송파나루길 206 |
| Oncheoncheon Citizens’ ParkBusan | A walking path along the stream, lined with cherry trees. No festival dates are listed. | 부산광역시 연제구 온천천남로 39 |
| JeonnongnoJeju | A 1.2 km street in Jeju City that is closed to cars during the festival. | 제주특별자치도 제주시 전농로 40 |
Checked Oct 3, 2026. Seokchon Lake and Yeouido are also on the Seoul things-to-do guide.
Pick your dates: a south-to-north plan
In a normal year the blossoms move north: Jeju around March 25, Busan in the last days of March and Seoul around April 8, up to two weeks from first to last. Our 10-day itinerary goes Seoul, Busan, Jeju. For blossom season, flip it: Jeju and Busan first, Seoul last. The Seoul to Busan guide has the train and bus times, and best time to visit has the month-by-month weather.
Opens the planner with Jeju, Busan and Seoul in blossom order. Change the days or the style there.
2026 festival dates
| Festival | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Jeonnongno Cherry Blossom FestivalJeju City | Mar 27–29 |
| Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower FestivalSeoul | Apr 3–7 |
| Songpa Lake Cherry Blossom FestivalSeoul | Apr 3–11 |
Checked Oct 3, 2026. Bloom forecasts for 2027 usually appear in February or March, and festival dates for 2027 are announced around then. We will update this page when they are.
Day trip from Busan: Jinhae Gunhangje
Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival is in Jinhae, part of Changwon, west of Busan. It ran from March 27 to April 5 in 2026. Check bus and train times before you go. Dates: Mar 27–Apr 5, 2026.
Sources
- Hankyung, Mar 26, 2025: Jeju bloom and normal (Jeju Regional Office of Meteorology)
- Nate News, Mar 28, 2026: Jeju bloom, three days after the normal
- Nate News, Mar 28, 2026: Jeju bloom, two days after 2025
- Newsis, Mar 28, 2025: Busan bloom (Busan Regional Office of Meteorology)
- Korea Meteorological Administration, press release, Apr 4, 2025: Seoul bloom, normal and definition
- Nate News, Mar 29, 2026: Seoul’s official bloom date, 10 days before the normal
- Nate News, Mar 29, 2026: Seoul bloom, six days earlier than 2025
- Seoul Han River Authority: 2026 Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
- Songpa-gu: Lake Cherry Blossom Festival
- Visit Korea: Busan cherry blossom spots (Oncheoncheon)
- Visit Jeju: Jeonnongno Cherry Blossom Festival
- Changwon City: Jinhae Gunhangje festival
Questions
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Seoul?
Seoul’s normal bloom date is about April 8. It was April 4 in 2025 and March 29 in 2026, so plan for any time from the end of March to the middle of April. Checked Oct 3, 2026.
Where do cherry blossoms bloom first in Korea?
On Jeju, then in Busan, then in Seoul. The weather offices’ normal bloom dates are about March 25 on Jeju and April 8 in Seoul, and Busan usually blooms in the last days of March, so the south is usually one to two weeks ahead of the capital.
Can I count on the exact bloom dates?
No. Dates move by a week or more from year to year: Seoul bloomed four days before its normal in 2025 and ten days before it in 2026. Festival dates for 2027 are usually announced in February or March, and we will update this page when they are.