Korea Cherry Blossoms 2027: When to Go and Where to See Them

Checked Oct 2026 2 min read 6 sources

On this page3 sections

1When do cherry blossoms bloom in Korea?
2Best places to see them
3How to plan a 2027 cherry blossom trip

When do cherry blossoms bloom in Korea?

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) declares the first bloom when at least three flowers are fully open on one branch of its official tree. Its long-term normal is the 1991–2020 average.

Place	Normal first bloom	2025	2026
Seoul (official tree, Jongno)	8 April	4 April	29 March
Yeouido, Seoul (Yunjung-ro)	6 April	3 April	29 March

In 2026 Seoul’s blossoms opened ten days earlier than normal. Recent springs have run early, so don’t plan only around the normal dates.

The south blooms first. Jeju, Jinhae and Busan usually open about a week before Seoul. For example, the 2026 forecast put the first blooms in Seogwipo (Jeju) around 25 March and Seoul around 3 April.

Best places to see them

Seoul

Spot	Why go	2026 festival dates
Yeouido (Yunjung-ro)	Seoul’s classic cherry blossom avenue beside the National Assembly; the road closes to cars during the festival	3–7 April
Seokchon Lake (Jamsil)	Blossoms all around a lake below Lotte World Tower	3–11 April
Seoul Forest	Cherry blossoms and tulips in a big park next to Seongsu	No festival; busy in spring

Outside Seoul

Spot	Why go	2026 festival dates
Jinhae (Changwon)	Korea’s most famous cherry blossom festival, Jinhae Gunhangje, with the stream at Yeojwacheon and its Romance Bridge	27 March – 5 April
Gyeongju	Blossoms along the stone walls by the ancient royal tombs (Daereungwon)	3–5 April

Festival dates for 2027 are usually announced in February and March. We’ll add them here.

How to plan a 2027 cherry blossom trip

Pick a window rather than a date. For Seoul, the last days of March to mid-April covers both early and normal years. For Jinhae and the south, plan for late March to early April.
Start in the south and move north. Spend a few days in Busan and Jinhae first, then take the train to Seoul. See Seoul to Busan by train.
Watch the forecasts from late February. Then fix your hotel dates. Book early: festival weeks fill up.
Go early in the morning. Yeouido and Jinhae get very crowded by midday, especially on weekends.

Planning your days? Use the trip planner and add the blossom spots around your fixed sights.

Questions people ask

Is there a 2027 cherry blossom forecast yet?

Not yet. Korean private forecasters usually publish the season's forecast in late February, and the Korea Meteorological Administration announces the actual first-bloom dates as they happen. We'll update this page when the 2027 forecasts are out.

How long do cherry blossoms last?

Not long. Peak bloom usually comes within about a week of the first flowers opening, and rain or wind can bring the petals down quickly after that. Build some flexibility into your plans.

Which is better: Seoul or Jinhae?

Jinhae has the most famous display and the biggest festival, but it's crowded and blooms earlier. Seoul is easier to combine with the rest of a trip. If you have time for both, do Jinhae first and Seoul a few days later.