The Best Things To Do in Seoul in Spring
Spring is one of the most beautiful times to visit Seoul. With mild weather, cherry blossoms in full bloom, and a packed calendar of festivals and outdoor activities, the city really comes alive after winter. We visited Seoul in April, and Seoul in Spring was truly spectacular.
After spending time in Seoul in Spring as a family of four, it’s quickly become one of our favourite seasons to explore the city. The parks were green and walkable, the attractions weren’t too crowded and felt manageable even with kids, and we saw exploding cherry blossoms all over the city.
If you’re planning a spring trip to South Korea, here’s a guide to the best things to do in Seoul in spring, including our favourite cherry blossom spots, and practical tips to help you plan. I’ve also added links to some of the best activities (and our reviews of them!) to help you plan your trip.
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Why Spring Is One of the Best Times to Visit Seoul
Spring in Seoul runs from March to May. This is often considered the best time to visit Seoul, and having explored it right bang in the middle of this period, it’s easy to see why. Some of the things we loved about being in Seoul in Spring were the:
- Comfortable daytime temperatures (If you’re a mum like me then you’ll appreciate not having to pack the kids heavy coats and winter gear!)
- Cherry blossoms and spring flowers throughout the city. We weren’t expecting these, and they were so beautiful: we actually saw more cherry blossoms in Seoul than we did in the following week in Tokyo.
- Outdoor attractions and parks are at their best, and exploring the Spring Pokemon event at Lotte World was a highlight of the whole year for my boys.
- Fewer extreme weather issues than summer or winter. We experienced a couple of April showers, and we packed our raincoats for these, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle!
For families like ours I recommend visiting in spring if you want to explore the city on foot, spend plenty of time outside, and not have to worry about the extremes in weather that Seoul experiences in summer and winter.
👉 Looking for a comprehensive Seoul experience? Check out my perfect 2 day itinerary for Seoul for families
When Is Spring in Seoul? Month-by-Month Guide
I keep using the world spring, but you may be wondering when Spring in Seoul actually is! Spring in Seoul typically runs from late March until May, and then the heat of the summer strikes in June. Each month offers a slightly different experience, and we visited at the very beginning of April, but here’s a very quick breakdown of what you can expect from each month in the city.
March in Seoul
March is a good option if you prefer quieter sightseeing and don’t mind wearing layers. It’s the quietest of the three months of spring, and you can expect to see the first early signs of spring in the city. The weather will be warming up, but you’re likely to experience some cooler temperatures, especially in the evenings. The main selling points of March in Seoul are the fewer crowds and lower prices in the city, and it’s also worth noting that while you might not see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, the plum blossoms begin to appear in March.
April in Seoul
April is the month when we visited Seoul and I can honestly say that it was PERFECT! April is peak cherry blossom season and we saw so many blossoms and spring festivals across the city. The mild temperatures were perfect for exploring, and we also loved the longer daylight hours. If you’re a first time visitor to Seoul then April is a great month to visit: but it’s worth noting that other tourists feel the same way, meaning April can be a very crowded and popular month.
May in Seoul
May feels more like early summer but without the crowds and heat. The whole city looks verdant green, and the weather is warm but you won’t get the horrid humidity that comes with the heat of the peak summer season.
Best Things To Do In Seoul In Spring
We loved our time in Seoul and found that spring is the perfect time to explore Seoul’s attractions. It’s an especially good time to visit if you’re travelling with children or planning a relaxed itinerary. Some of our favourite things to do in Seoul in Spring are:
Visit Seoul’s Royal Palaces
Seoul’s historic palaces are almost completely outdoor attractions which will see you walk through gardens and around temples and royal structures, rather than inside them. The gardens are green, flowers are blooming, and it’s the perfect weather for strolling around. The kids loved walking around these palaces as much as we did! We visited three palaces in Seoul. These were:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Deoksugung Palace
Try A Hanbok Experience
One of the best things I did by far during our time in Seoul was rent a Hanbok. Wearing traditional Korean hanbok and visiting palaces is especially popular in spring when the colours of the clothing best contrast with both the buildings and the cherry blossoms.
I opted for a pale blue hanbok because I wanted something pastel and spring-like. Not only was the experience really affordable, I felt so beautiful and I loved the experience of choosing my hanbok, having my hair done, and then walking around the palaces all dressed up.
I paid £9.39 for a 2 hour rental, which allowed me to wear the hanbok for the whole day! You can book this experience here.
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra discount on your booking.
👉 You can read our complete guide to renting a Hanbok in Seoul here
Spend Time Along The Han River
We knew that we would be in Tokyo for chery blossom season, but we didn’t realise that we were going to catch the blossoms in Seoul too. And honestly? They were even more beautiful than the ones in Japan! We must have got them at just the right time!
The two best places that we saw cherry blossoms during our time in Seoul were:
- Yeoido Hangang Park – It was busy here, but it has such a great atmosphere. This is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Seoul
- Gyeongbokgung Palace – We weren’t expecting to see so many cherry blossoms here, but they looked so beautiful against the backdrop of the palace. It really was an unexpected treat!
Visit Lotte World
If you’re visiting Seoul in Spring with kids and you only have time to do one activity, please make it be to visit Lotte World! We visited for the special Pokémon Spring Adventure event: it’s likely that this event will take place next spring too. As die-hard Pokemon fans, this was absolute heaven for my boys.
Lotte World Seoul is officially the world’s largest indoor theme park. Which is confusing, as it also has a huge outdoor section, which is called Lotte World Adventure. This is where you’ll find the Lotte World castle, which looks a lot like the Disney castle (if you squint a bit!). And kids of all ages will absolutely love it here!
The indoor/outdoor nature of the park makes it perfect for visiting in Spring: April showers don’t need to hold you back, but if you want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, the option is right there! As an aded bonus, at around £22 per adult, tickets are super affordable too.
👉 Click here to check availability and book tickets with Klook
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off your ticket prices too! And if you’re a new Klook user they have a limited time offer where you get a whopping 10% off right now!
👉 Want to learn more? Read our ultimate guide to visiting Lotte World Seoul here.
Enjoy The Views From The N Seoul Tower
I think the N Seoul Tower is such an underrated attraction. And the clear days of spring are actually the best time to visit to get panoramic views of the city, with visibility in the summer months being much more difficult.
At the tower you can go to the top for amazing observation decks, and active families can also take advantage of the walking paths around the tower. It’s a great activity for kids!
👉 Click here to book your tickets in advance with Klook
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra exclusive reader discount
FAQs: Visiting Seoul in Spring
When Do Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Soeul?
One of the main attractions of Seoul in Spring is the chance to see the city’s beautiful cherry blossoms. The blossoms bloom at slightly different times every year depending on the weather, but you can typically expect to see them from early to mid April.
Is Spring The Best Time To Visit Seoul?
We think so! Spring is both one of the best and the most comfortable times to visit Seoul because of its mild weather as well as the pretty seasonal blooms.
Is Seoul Crowded In Spring?
April in Seoul can be busy because it’s cherry blossom season, but the crowds are pretty manageable. We’ve been to Japan in April, and found Seoul to be much quieter and easier to navigate by comparison.
How Many Days Do You Need In Seoul In Spring?
We spent a week in Seoul (on our way to Tokyo for two weeks) and this was enough time for us to see absolutely everything we wanted to see in the city. Most visitors find 4-6 days is enough time in the city.
👉 You can check out my full 5 day Seoul itinerary here
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
