I've been to Seoul in April several times, most recently in April 2023, when I spent the entire month in South Korea. Here's what the weather's like, and what festivals and events you can look forward to.
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In the month of April, Seoul and the rest of South Korea starts to warm up, after the freezing cold winter.
The city is transformed into a vibrant array of spring colors, thanks to the eagerly awaited blooming of the flowers. You'll find that 7 days in Seoul isn't enough! (Cherry Blossoms are the most famous but the Canola flowers and plum blossoms are equally gorgeous!)
Note: if you plan to shop, here's a FREE Dongdaemun voucher from Klook! (It's a Super Pass that gets you exclusive discounts and sometimes free gifts)
Weather
The average temperatures in Seoul vary from 6°C to 13°C, which is nothing short of perfect for enjoying outdoor activities. If the sun is out, it can even feel like it's in the 20s!
For those who prefer mild temepratures, It's a great time to visit Seoul. You also enjoy long daylight hours so you have more time to explore. (Korea has very distinct seasons- summer is too hot and winter too cold for me. Another ideal time is in fall.)
Just keep in mind that the fine dust pollution will mean that you may need to wear a face mask on some days.
For a complete list of what to bring to Seoul in April, beyond the obvious light jacket and long-sleeved shirts, click here. Note that the weather in early April can be very different from that of end April, so pack accordingly!
Alternatively, if you're in Seoul in May or June, click here for what to expect.
Cherry Blossoms
The blooming of cherry blossoms and other spring flowers is a huge event in South Korea and Japan. Tourists- both domestic and international- flock to the countries to enjoy the beautiful sight.
Unfortunately, due to global warming, the flowers are starting to bloom earlier and earlier every year, usually starting in late March. Whether you can see them or not may come down to luck!
If the flowers are blooming when you arrive- and you want to see cherry blossoms- go as soon as you can. If you wait just a week, you might miss your chance! (This happened to us in 2023.) This is especially true in places such as Jeju Island, where strong winds often blow the flowers off quite quickly.
Where to See Cherry Blossoms
When we visited Seoul at the end of March and April 2023, my Aunt wanted to see cherry blossoms so I compiled this list of the best places in Seoul to enjoy flower-watching. (Expect large crowds- try to go as early in the day as possible if you don't want to be squeezed in.)
If you're traveling with elderly travelers, hiring a car and driver might be the easiest way to get around. Whilst the Seoul public transportation city is terrific, some of the following spots are quite far from each other, and can involve changing lines on the subway (i.e. more walking.) (If you want to save money and your hotel has the airport limousine bus, I recommend that over getting a private car from Incheon.)
Tourists don't often visit Yeouido, as it's more of a business district, but it does have some of the best cherry blossoms! (In fact, if you take the airport bus from Incheon International to Myeongdong, you will pass some of the beautiful cherry blossom trees in Yeouido.)
Why not combine viewing cherry blossoms with a Han River cruise, to make the most of your travel time? (Not many tourists stay at Yeouido, so I assume you will have to commute there!)
Another of the best places to see these pink flowers is Seoul Seokchon Lake, near Gangnam- the cherry blossoms reflect on the water's surface, doubling the magic. It's a popular spot though, so expect large crowds.
For those who love watching K-dramas set on University campuses, visit Kyung Hee University.
If you want to do a day trip from Seoul, Nami Island is another spot to consider for flower viewing. (To be honest, it wasn't one of my favorite things to do, but it sure is a popular activity!)
Major Events and Festivals
Besides cherry blossoms, there are so many spring flowers worth seeing in South Korea:
- Plum Blossoms: Visit Hadong Plum Blossom Street (nearest subway station: Yongdap Station, Line 2)
- Red Plum Blossom: Visit Bongeunsa Temple (nearest subway station: Bongeunsa Station, Line 9)
- Forsythia: Visit Eungbongsan (nearest station: Eungbong Station, Gyeonggi-Junggang Line)
There are many events and festivals to have a good time at, in and around Seoul in April:
- Seoul Outdoor Library: Do as the Koreans do and read at Cheonggyecheon Stream! This fun event will run from April to November in 2024.
- Yeouido Flower Festival
- Jinhae Gunhangje Festival: another famous cherry blossom festival (but held in the city of Jinhae, not Seoul. There are a few tours from Seoul that will bring you to Jinhae.)
- Nightime exploration of the Royal Palaces. Honestly, when you've seen one palace- unless you're a Korean history fanatic- you've seen them all. The only exception is during spring, when the palaces run different night time programmes. For example, this year, you can not only explore the palace grounds but also watch royal court musical performances at one and enjoy Doseuksurasang, a table set for the king with 12 different dishes, in another!
- Taeun tulip festival (again outside of Seoul)
- Lotus Lantern Festival: the date changes every year so sometimes it will fall in May and not April! You can see the traditional lanterns at Jogyesa Temple.
- Everland Tulip Festival: Amusement Parks are big in Korea. (You can get tickets to Everland here (affiliate link.)) This starts at the end of March- you'll find tulips planted all over an area of 10,000 square meter (2.47 acres)!
For other flower festivals, such as the Hangang Seoraeseom Island Canola Flower Festival, you'll have to wait till May!
There aren't many public holidays in April- only April 10 which is the 22nd National Assembly Election Day.
What to Do
If this is your first time to Seoul, here's a 3-day Seoul itinerary as well as a broader South Korea itinerary for you. If you're on a budget, here are the best free things to do in Seoul!
Some of my favorite things to do include:
- getting a facial (click for a record of the various spas I've tried) - a must every time I visit Korea, not just in spring! My personal favorite way is the Sulwhasoo facial. (Click through for my detailed review of the beauty treatment!)
- doing my hair- another must, click through for a review of the various Seoul hair salons I've visited
- lunch at Ikseon-dong, tea at a traditional Korean tea house in Insa-dong, then dinner at Bukchon Village
- Skincare shopping in Myeongdong (yes it's super touristy, but also very convenient)
- Taking classes, such as this traditional Korean mother-of-pearl class and kimchi-making! (Click through for the respective reviews.)
- Try Korean street food!
- take advantage of the sunny days in the spring season and head out to the national parks for a hike
What to Eat
From the subtle, delicate flavors of seasonal namul (wild greens) to the refreshing tang of mul kimchi made with spring water, every bite is a celebration of the new season.
Popular foods that Korean like to eat in March and April include:
- snow crabs (대게)
- webfoot octopus (쭈꾸미)
- strawberries (딸기)- just keep in mind that Korean fruits are heinously expensie, especially in supermarekts. I paid over US$10 for ONE orange in Lotte Busan! (Getting fruits at Korean traditional markets will save you a lot compared to buying them from supermarkets.)
- tomatoes (토마토)
- spring vegetables such as ssuk (mugwort), gondeurae (cirsium setidens), gosari(bracken), dalle (wild chive), naengi(shepherd’s purse) etc will be used to make banchan and bibimbap!
They also love to go for picnics now that the weather is all warmed up- the Han river is a great place for this!
Where to Stay
Finding that perfect spot to stay in Seoul during April can transform a great trip into an unforgettable experience and save you tons of commuting time. Seoul is a huge city, after all! (For an overview of the different neighbourhoods to stay at in Seoul, click here or the latter link for a list of the best luxury hotels in Seoul.)
Imagine waking up in front of a window from which you can see the delicate pink hues of cherry blossom trees in full bloom! For example, some rooms in Signiel Seoul have great views of the flowers around Seokchon Lake. (I've not stayed there, but you can click here for my review of Signiel Busan.)
Even if you're not lucky enough to get such a room, the hotel is very close to the Lake, so there's no excuse not to go for a walk!
Tips for Travelers
- The weather can change dramatically between night and day (or from city to city), so make sure you layer up! I was too hot in Seoul but FREEZING in Jeju last year.
- Book early as the best things can sell out fast. For example, I wanted to join this Korean market tour and Sulwahsoo facial last April but when I tried to book 2 weeks before the tour, it had already sold out!
- You get WiFi almost everywhere in Seoul but I still always get an eSIM- Korean roads are hard to navigate and you can get easily lost without Naver or Kakao Maps!
- Seoul is great, but so are other parts of Korea, such as Jeju. You can also easily take the high speed rail to Korea's second city, Busan. For tips on visiting Busan in April, click here or here if you can't decide between Busan and Jeju.
Don't forget to print out the Korean name and address to show the cab driver or in case you need to ask for directions!
What to Bring
- T shirts: a mix of long and short sleeved
- Note: If visiting temples or religious sites, the attire should be modest.
- Skirts or trousers
- In Korea, it's acceptable to wear very short skirts, but any hint of cleavage may get you weird looks
- One or two dressy tops or dresses (for if you go somewhere more formal)
- Walking shoes
- I've broken 2 pairs of shoes in Korea already! (You walk a lot.)
- Bringing an extra pair if you have large feet is a good idea. (It's almost impossible to find women's shoes in large sizes in Korea. (You can try ABC Mart in Myeongdong if desperate.))
- Sunglasses, hat and SUNBLOCK
- The UV index is high during daylight hours. Korean sunblock is very good so you could just bring something travel-sized and stock up there.
- Any prescription medicine you may need: remember to check Korea's laws as they do not always accept prescription notes from doctors.
- Travel documents: passport, air ticket, itineraries, hotel reservations, visa and insurance papers, international driving license (if you plan to drive) etc
- Credit cards
- Note that some street stalls only take cash.
- Mobile phone, chargers, and travel adapters
- eSIM or physical 4G SIM card
- The previous link (above) is for a physical SIM card that can be picked up from the airport. If you get a SIM card for more than 3 days, you get a free T money card via the link above (offer valid at the time of writing.)
Any questions about visiting South Korea in April? Let me know in the comments!
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