You know spring is in full swing in Seoul, South Korea, when the days grow longer, the air turns warmer, and the 벚꽃 (bot-ggot), the Korean word for cherry blossoms, begin to bloom. It’s the season that breathes life back into my sluggish social media presence after a seemingly endless winter hibernation. The moment I spot the first buds of these world-famous flowers, my planner quickly fills with the names of spots around the city for cherry blossom viewing—a cherished annual tradition I’ve committed to for years. In this post, I’ve curated a list of places in Seoul, both iconic and hidden gems, where you can admire the breathtaking displays of cherry blossoms.

A quick note: most cherry blossoms in Seoul are Yoshino cherry trees, known for their delicate, pale pink flowers. This is the variety you’ll find at the viewpoints I’ll share below. Due to the fleeting nature of these blooms, the peak season typically spans from late March to mid-April. If you’re planning a trip to Seoul around this time, you’ll have a great chance of witnessing the cherry blossoms in their full, glorious bloom.

1. Sindaebang Station | 신대방역

Address: 서울특별시 동작구 대림로 2

Sindaebang Station is a stop on Seoul Subway Line 2, serving the Nangok district of Sillim-dong in southern Seoul. Like many other stations in the city, it is surrounded by recreational zones filled with greenery. However, what sets Sindaebang Station apart and earns it a spot on this list is the fact that the lush green leaves emerging in summer belong to cherry trees.

Every spring, the station transforms into a breathtaking scene, with strips of white, fluffy cherry blossoms resembling clouds. I’d even go so far as to call it a hidden gem for celebrating the arrival of spring in the city. To fully experience this beauty, take either exit 2 or 3 and stroll along the promenade by Dorimcheon, a serene waterway. Continue until you reach the overpass, where the most picturesque views await atop the bridge.

2. Nangok Road | 난곡로

Address: 서울 관악구 난곡로 356

Still lingering around the Sindaebang Subway Station, stepping out of the platform exit number 1 and 2, there Nangok Road lies across the street. I highly recommend you to take a walk along the footpaths or make a dinner plan in one of the diners here if an experience of the nightime cherry blossom viewing is a longing you put on your bucket list. 

The first kilometers of Nangok Road, extending to Nangok Junction (난곡 사거리) from Sindaebang Station Junction (신대방역 사거리), is fringed with long line of cherry trees, as well as local eateries and boutique stores. At night, the flower path is illuminated with soft lights from the storefronts in the area, creating a romantic and ethereal atmosphere which is barely seen in any other neighborhood of Seoul.

3. Boramae Park | 보라매공원

Address: 서울 동작구 여의대방로20길 33

Located in Sindaebang-dong and a former Air Force Academic site, Boramae Park is also noted as an attractive place to sightsee cherry blossoms in the city. During the first few weeks of April each year, a small road laid across the Air Force Historical zone is put under the spotlight as the blossoms of the deciduous cherry trees planted along it come into full bloom. The park is a large open space that features a variety of amenities including a musical pond, playgrounds, picnic grounds, and outdoor exercise fields making it an ideal destination for relaxation, particularly during the springtime.

4. Yeouido Cherry Blossoms Road | 여의도 벚꽃길

Address: 서울 영등포구 여의서로 60-2

Yeouido is a vast island on the Han River, abloom with over 1,000 cherry blossom trees. The yearly celebration event that is organized around the island’s National Assembly Building, is known as one of the most popular spring festivals in Korea. Anticipate in mingling in throngs of flower aficionados if you plan on swinging by during the spring event, which usually falls in the first or second week of April. If you are able to, visit the venue in the early morning and avoid the weekends. Also note that during the festival, the roads will be blocked for pedestrian use only; so, the most efficient way to reach the flowers is taking the subway. The closest station is National Assembly Station (국회의사당역) of Seoul Subway Line 9.

5. Dorimcheon Station | 도림천역

Address: 서울 구로구 신도림동

In the direction of exit 2 of Dorimcheon Station, a stop for a train bound between Sindorim and Kkachisan, this is where you may want to stop by on your next springtime visit to Seoul. From exit 2, a walkway that stretches over 700 meters along the Dorimcheon waterway – as the name of the station was dominated from, is fully covered with hundreds of ornamental cherry trees providing a stunning backdrop during the blooming season. 

That said, the path seems to be overshadowed by the bigger and more popular flower viewing spot: Anyang Stream Walkway Mokdong section, which is located in the same area. So, if you are looking for a lesser-known, or lesser-crowd, or more secluded place to enjoy the spring experience in the city, then you should put a pin on Dorimcheon Station. It is a perfect spot for not getting people into the background of your photos.

6. Anyang Stream Walkway | 안양천 산책로

Address: 서울특별시 양천구 목동  411-27

The Anyang Stream Walkway is a long, scenic path that follows Anyangcheon (안양천), or Anyang Stream, which originates in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province, and flows into the Han River near Seongsan Bridge. While cherry trees are scattered along various sections of the walkway, the stretch passing through Mokdong neighborhood boasts the highest concentration of blossoms, making it the most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in western Seoul.

During peak season, the area hosts a cherry blossom festival, drawing even more visitors. Even without the festival, the walkway tends to get crowded as the weather warms up, attracting walkers and cyclists alike. For a more peaceful experience, visit early in the morning to enjoy the blossoms in solitude, or head there after dinner to see the flowers beautifully illuminated by colorful spotlights—a truly memorable sight.

7. Gangnam Station | 강남역

Address: 서울 강남구 역삼동

Many of you may feel surprised, just like I first did, to discover that there is a proper spot for cherry blossom viewing popping out right in the middle of the bustling business district such as Gangnam. It is a street called Yeoksam-ro-7-gil that is located nearby Gangnam Station of Seoul Subway Line 2. Starting from Gukgiwon Entrance Junction (국기원입구 사거리), stretching westward in the direction of Ssari Gogae Park (싸리고개공원), the roadway is brimmed with about-900-meter-long lines of cherry trees on both sides. During each spring, the sidewalks are greeted with numerous career men and women coming after their lunch break to relish the joy of the season. Beyond that time, the flowers are relatively free of admirers. So, visit the road anytime other than at noon on the weekdays, the place is simply your blossom shooting playground.

8. Hapjeong Station | 합정역

Address: 서울 마포구 합정동

Located almost merging into the hipster vibe oozing area of Hongdae, Hapjeong is a modest version of the hottest area for outings in Seoul’s Mapo district. That being said, Hapjeong can become more popular during the flower blooming months when long lines of cherry trees on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil (양화로 6길) turn the familiar eatery street into a springtime wonderland filled with beautiful pastel flowers. Many storefronts look even more magical when they are framed with flimsy clouds of cherry flowers, offering numerous photo ops for your camera. These memorable sceneries can be found immediately outside of Hapjeong Station Exit 5 during the first weeks of April.

9. Greylab Cafe | 그레이랩

Address: 서울 마포구 토정로3길 16

When you are down on exploring the area of Hapjeong, don’t forget to drop by for a cup of apple tea at Greylab Cafe. It is an aesthetic coffee shop with lovely decor and trendy interior. They have a very relaxing outdoor seating area in the back that features three fully-grown cherry trees, making the place very worthy to be on this list. If you would like to see the cherry blossoms at their prime at Greylab, feel free to follow their Instagram account (@greylab_) to keep up with the blooming progress.

10. Seoul Forest Park | 서울숲

Address: 서울특별시 성동구 성수동1가 699-2

Now moving towards eastern Seoul, this time it is down on the north bank of the Han River. Seoul Forest is a vast urban park that is home to a diverse array of fauna and flora including those of ornamental cherry trees. If your sole purpose of visiting the park is to take a good picture with the biggest star of the season of spring, then you don’t want to waste a minute getting lost in this massive space. Head to the Culture and Art Park or the Ecological Forest Zone for the most intensive cherry blossoms background. And if you are a creative photo enthusiast, Seoul Forest is basically your field of amusement. There are many photo opportunities at every turn, especially when the flowers are all around.

11. Seokchon Lake Park | 석촌호수공원

Address: 서울특별시 송파구 잠실동

If you love flowers and/or framing in photography is something you enjoy, then you might want to consider bee-lining to Seokchon Lake Park on your next visit to Seoul during the springtime. It is located at the foot of one of the elegant city landmarks, Lotte World Tower, and is surrounded with over 1,000 gorgeous cherry trees. It is an impeccable spot to shoot the iconic skyscraper with a special frame of cherry flowers. Although I ain’t going to hide the fact that the park always gets very busy when the blossoms are at their peak (usually around mid-April), however, it is a massive area, which can mean the more space you will find to relish the beauty of the season on our own 🙂

12. Seoul National University | 서울대학교

Address: 서울대학교 유전공학특화창업보육센터 105-1동

Most of the university campuses in Korea are brimmed with clusters of cherry trees including Seoul National University (SNU), one of the top three institutions in the country. Its main campus in Gwanak district is where you can find bundles of the blossoming trees, in which the peak season normally falls late in April in accordance with its higher elevation of the Gwanak Mountain foothill. Exploring the school is also a piece of cake since there are four bus routes shuttling in and out: 02, 5511, 5513, and 5516. For this coming flower season, you should hop on the Nakseongdae bound bus: 02, and alight at the stop number 21289 by the Genetic Engineering Department – a long line of the cherry blossoms awaits~

There you have it – all the recorded spots to see cherry blossoms in Seoul! Which one is your favorite?

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