The Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival: How To Get There & What To Expect
Spring means cherry blossoms cherry blossoms cherry blossoms all around Korea, and a sea parting down in Jindo, but that’s another story for another time. The place to see the cherry blossoms in Seoul is either Yeouido, or Namsan so I hear. Have you heard that too? Must have or else you wouldn’t have ended up here.
Yes, the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival (여의도 봄꽃축제) near the Yeouido Han River Park is one of the most popular spring festivals in Seoul, Korea every year.
Yeouido abloom with cherry blossoms is utterly gorgeous, but it can also be pretty busy so know what you’re getting into. Here is a guide to the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival:
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How To Get There
Address: Yeouiseo-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 영등포구 여의서로)
By Subway: Make sure to have a T-money card and get it topped off before you go. Yeouinaru Subway Station is the closest subway station to the flowers. Go out any of the four exits and you’ll easily see where the cherry blossom trees are as the line the road. You’ll want to walk out the direction of exit 1 or 2 though to follow all the way around the National Assembly building.
By Bus: There are numerous buses that head to the festival area but do note that bus routes are adjusted during this festival as the road is blocked for pedestrian use only so subway is the best way to get there just in case the bus you want to go on is rerouted.
When is the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival?
The festival dates change each year but usually fall in the first or second week of April.
This year, 2024, the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival is from March 29, 2024 to April 2, 2024.
Stay Nearby
Conrad Seoul
If you’re headed to Seoul in the spring, definitely look into staying at Conrad Seoul. The location is amazing and you can see the cherry blossoms from above and if you have jetlag, get up early to see the flowers before the people arrive in the afternoon. Conrad Seoul is a five-star luxury hotel that has a friendly helpful staff. It’s a gorgeous hotel. You can check out my review of the hotel here. Or just book a room on Booking.com.
What To Expect
There are 1,700 King cherry blossom trees that line the western end of Yeouido Island. The flowers are the obvious draw and they line the roads that circle the island of Yeouido behind the National Assembly Building. This road is the back of the Yeouido Hangang Park where you can have a lovely picnic in the spring and watch as the petals begin to fall from the trees.
The road is also quite romantic as the western end of the island’s roads are closed for the festival and pedestrians can weave this way and that across the street at their whim just following the petals that float in the wind.
There is NO admission fee for the festival so head in and enjoy the views whenever you feel. FYI, cherry blossoms are not the only flowers that bloom in the spring as I’m sure you know. If you want some more flowers and spots to check out in the spring… summer… and even in the autumn, check out this guide to flower spots in and around Seoul to find.
Portrait Artists, Food Vendors & Performances
Flowers aren’t the only thing that visitors can enjoy in the spring. With the closing of the road, artists come out to draw portraits for fun and visitors can get a caricature or even some pretty legit portraits. There are also a ton of street food vendors who are prepared to give you all of the eats. Expect to find sweet corn, corndogs, Korean rice cake, and a ton of other street food options.
If you’re looking for something else, you should plan to bring it yourself. Or head over to nearby Sky Farm which is a gorgeous restaurant and indoor garden in one of the towers nearby that only locals know about but you’ll want ot see.
Back to the festival though, during peak periods in the afternoon and evening, there are also singers and musicians putting on performances. From festival eats and treats to fun and shows, there’s a lot to see and do. There are also even more flower installations that are added during the festival period so you can see even more than just the cherry blossoms. Hooray!
Eland Han River Cruise
The Yeouido Han River Park is also where the dock for the Eland Cruises are so take advantage of your visit and enjoy a cruise while you’re in the area. There are multiple options for cruises including some that are just for views and some that include a concert or even a meal. Get a view of the city from the water. It’s gorgeous and spring is a great time to take a ride. Here is more information on the Han River Cruise here.
Other Spots To See Cherry Blossoms
Though Yeouido is definitely the most popular place in Seoul to see cherry blossoms, it is by no means the only place to see the lovely white and light pink trees in bloom. Here are some other places in Seoul to check out if you’re flower hunting this spring season and if that’s not enough, check out this guide for where to see cherry blossoms in Korea.
Ansan Mountain
This is one of my favorite hidden spots in Seoul that only locals know about. It’s not super close to any subway stations, which means it’s not usually overrun with crowds. You can not only see gorgeous cherry blossom flowers surrounding the mountain, but there is also a waterfall in Seoul that you probably didn’t know existed. Find out more information about the Ansan cherry blossoms here.
Jinhae
The Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival is the biggest spring festival in the country and attracts more than two million people. It is gorgeous and when the flowers bloom there are day trip options from Seoul. Book early because the trips fill up and are totally worth it. If you’re really interested in seeing cherry blossoms, this is THE event you need to visit this spring.
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