Tips for Photographing Cherry Blossoms and Springtime in Seoul
Seoul in the spring transforms into a photographer’s paradise as cherry blossoms (벚꽃) bloom across the city. Whether you're a street photographer or landscape enthusiast, springtime in South Korea’s capital offers lots of opportunities to capture stunning scenes. I have visited South Korea 4 times, and luckily managed to arrive just in time for peak cherry blossom season during my spring 2024 visit.
I captured some decent shots of the cherry blossoms during my visit, but I also faced a few challenges along the way. By sharing my experiences and tips in this post I hope to help you plan your trip to Seoul with all the tips you need to make the most of the short yet stunning cherry blossom season.
TL,DR:
Keep an eye on the weather, especially windy days that can affect the blossoms.
Plan your shoots for quieter times, as popular spots like Yeouido and Gyeongbokgung can get very crowded. Morning golden hour seemed to be the best for me.
Next time, I’d bring a good zoom lens to complement my 16-80mm—perfect for capturing close-up details and achieving a macro effect for those intricate shots.
Cherry Blossoms in Seoul, March 2024
1. Best Time to Visit Seoul for Cherry Blossom Photography
The cherry blossom season in Seoul typically peaks from late March to early April, but the exact timing can vary depending on weather conditions. You can usually aim to visit between the last week of March and the first week of April for the most vibrant blossoms.
Blossoms only last for about one to two weeks, so if you're traveling from afar, keep an eye on bloom forecasts and plan accordingly. Websites and apps often track cherry blossom status in real-time.
And when planning a trip to see the cherry blossoms, keep in mind that nature doesn't always follow the forecast. During my visit in late March 2024, the blossoms in Seoul and surrounding areas arrived later than expected, with festivals in places like Gangwon postponed by over a week. You can read more about that here.
….So if you're traveling into Korea from far away, it’s important to be flexible and adjust your expectations. When you do catch them in full bloom, the beauty of the pink landscape is 100% worth the wait! Even if you happen to miss the cherry blossoms, you will still be able to take advantage of the other colorful flowers and blooms across Seoul, and generally some great lighting conditions at that time of year.
2. Best Conditions to Photograph Cherry Blossoms in Seoul
Best time of the day to shoot
When in Seoul, arriving at your photo locations early in the morning to avoid crowds (important) and capture the soft, light of the morning golden hour.
Avoid the crowds where possible
Cherry blossom season is a popular time for both tourists and locals, so to reiterate on the above comment, plan to visit top spots early in the morning, even on weekdays to avoid heavy foot traffic.
Popular locations like Yeouido Park, known for its stunning cherry blossom displays, quickly become packed as the day progresses. Its proximity to nearby offices means that workers often flock to the park during their breaks, filling the paths and walkways, especially in the afternoon and evening. By starting your day early, you’ll enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere and have the space to take your time to find the right shots and also just truly appreciate the beauty of the blossoms.
Watch the Weather
Springtime weather in Seoul can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on the forecast. If it rains, don’t fret—raindrops on blossoms make for beautiful detail shots!
Windy Days: Strong winds can cause petals to fall faster, so try to time your shoot when the weather is calm to catch the trees in full bloom.
3. Yeouido Park
Blossoms at Yeouido Park
Yeouido Park tops my list for photographing cherry blossoms in Seoul thanks to its long, tree-lined path bursting with blossoms.
The variety of compositions from close-ups of blooms to wide shots of the canopy make it a dream location (especially if you manage to avoid the crowds).
A mistake of mine was getting to Yeouido Park at lunchtime on a weekday, because it was very busy with groups of office workers from the nearby offices who were taking their lunchtime walks along the path. Nevertheless it was easily the best cherry blossom location that I had found in Seoul.
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This riverside park is famous for its long avenues of cherry trees.
The Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is held annually, creating a festive atmosphere with food vendors and performances along the park.
Aim to get to Yeouido park before the crowds arrive, which is typically in the morning time during sunrise.
Address: 68 Yeouigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: Open 24/7
Entry: Free of charge
Website: Official Yeouido Park Site
Getting There: Take Subway Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station. Use Exit 1, then walk for about 10 minutes to reach the park.
4. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung in Full Bloom
The blooming trees were a strong compliment to the palace’s ancient architecture in springtime. I really liked the delicate and natural shapes of the flowers as the backdrop to traditional Hanok (Korean house) design. Being able to capture the blossoms alongside those ornate rooftops and serene gardens was a unique way to showcase both the nature and culture of Korea in a single shot.
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The combination of traditional Korean architecture and cherry blossoms is a photographer’s dream. The palace gardens offer both close-up and wide shots, blending history with nature.
Gyeongbokgung is also notorious for becoming very busy during the day. So I made sure to arrive at 9am for opening time, and raced to the main photo spots in the palace gardens to capture photos before the droves of hanbok wearing selfie-takers arrived.
I wasn’t the only photographer who had this idea, since there were a few other photographers also lining up at the ticket office for a 9am start.
Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Admission: KRW 3,000 for adults, KRW 1,500 for children, or free entry if wearing a hanbok
How to Get There: Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and use Exit 5. The palace is just a few minutes’ walk from there.
Hongdae and Hapjeong
Hongdae and Hapjeong offer peaceful cherry blossom shots, blending urban charm with springtime beauty against colorful cafes and artistic alleyways.
Dongmak-ro at the bottom of Hapjeong was packed with cherry blossoms, and if you’ve been walking around a lot already and need a break, there are hundreds of bars and restaurants in the area to relax and enjoy the spring colours from.
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The vibrant streets of Hongdae and the more relaxed vibe of Hapjeong make a perfect backdrop for cherry blossom photography. I enjoyed the blend of urban scenery and springtime beauty.
You’ll find blossoms lining the streets, often framing Hongdae’s quirky cafes and Hapjeong’s artistic alleyways.
Dongmak-ro at the bottom of Hapejong was my favourite cherry blossom spot in this area.
Address: Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Center area around Hongik University)
Hours: Open area accessible 24/7
Admission: Free
How to Get There: Take Subway Line 2 to Hongik University Station and use Exit 9 for Hongdae’s main streets, or Exit 1 to explore the quieter Hapjeong area nearby.
Namsan Park and Namsan Seoul Tower
Namsan Park was fun to explore for a couple of hours. The park offers a mix of idyllic Korean landscapes with blooming flowers, water features, and natural rock formations. Renting hanbok from a shop near the entrance added an extra touch to our photos; the pink hanbok that Bokyung wore (pictured above) beautifully complemented the rhododendrons, creating a sense of connection between the photo subject and the vibrant surroundings.
Namsan park: Colourful nature blended into urban landscapes
Namsan Park, home to the iconic N Seoul Tower. Visit here for scenic blossom shots with city skyline views, blending nature with urban landscapes for both wide-angle and close-up photography.
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Namsan Park is home to the iconic N Seoul Tower, is another fantastic location for capturing cherry blossom photos.
The park offers plenty of scenic spots where you can frame the blossoms with sweeping views of the city skyline in the background.
The combination of of nature and urban landscapes makes it a great spot for both wide-angle shots and close-up details of the flowers.
We rented hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and took some photos around the vibrant flowers.
Address: 231 Samil-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free for the park (Separate admission for N Seoul Tower)
Website: Namsan Park Official Website
How to Get There: Take the subway to either Myeongdong Station or Chungmuro Station. From there, you can either walk or take a bus to the base of Namsan Mountain.
Four of my favourite close-up blossom photos from Seoul
Summary:
Best Time to Visit: Late March to early April for peak cherry blossoms, though timing can vary based on weather.
Best Time of Day: Early morning for soft light and fewer crowds. Sunset also provides warm light for dramatic shots.
Key Photo Locations: Yeouido Park, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Park, Hongdae & Hapjeong.
Challenges: Short bloom periods (1-2 weeks), crowded spots, and unpredictable weather. Be flexible with your timing.
Seoul’s cherry blossoms and springtime landscapes are worth the trip for any photographer. With careful timing and planning you’ll capture stunning images to add to your portfolio. If you do manage to get out for some cherry blossom photography in Seoul, please share the results with me on Instagram or Threads, I’d be interested to see them!
