A Guide to Spring Festivals in Korea – Must-See Spring Destinations & Activities for Foreigners

In spring, Korea is filled with cherry blossoms and various flowers, and magnificent festivals and traditional cultural events are held throughout the country. It's the best season to enjoy the warm spring days and experience nature and culture simultaneously! This guide introduces the must-see spring destinations and activities in Korea for foreign visitors.

1. Must-Visit Spring Festivals in Korea

1) Jinhae Gunhangje Festival – Korea's Largest Cherry Blossom Festival

The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is one of the most famous cherry blossom festivals in Korea, held annually in early April in the Jinhae area. The entire city is covered in pink cherry blossoms, and the streets are filled with their fragrance.

✅ Recommended Spots
• Yeojwa Stream Romance Bridge – A famous cherry blossom spot, also known as a drama filming location
• Gyeonghwa Station Cherry Blossom Road – A spectacular view of cherry blossoms in full bloom along the railway tracks
• Jinhae Gunhangje Main Event Venue – Various performances and fireworks displays are held here

Local Tip:
• Because there are many people during the festival period, visiting early in the morning or in the evening will allow you to enjoy it more peacefully!
• At the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, a food market is also operated where you can taste local specialties and street food.

2) Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon – A Special Experience Running Through History

Gyeongju is a representative historical city in Korea, boasting beautiful scenery with cherry blossoms in spring. The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon offers a special opportunity to run through streets filled with cherry blossoms and serene traditional historical sites.

✅ Recommended Courses
• Cheomseongdae Course – A course running around Korea's traditional observatory
• Bulguksa Temple Course – Gyeongju's representative course running along the temple road where cherry blossoms are in full bloom
• Bomun Lake Course – A beautiful course that circles the lake along a cherry blossom road

Local Tip:
• After the marathon, it's also recommended to enjoy a leisurely time with tea at a Hanok cafe in Gyeongju!
• During the cherry blossom season, accommodation reservations are quickly filled, so it's good to book in advance.

3) Nami Island Spring Flower Festival – A Healing Trip with Nature

Nami Island boasts beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, but in spring, especially, cherry blossoms, forsythia, and azaleas are in full bloom, creating a fantastic landscape. It is a representative travel destination where you can leisurely walk in nature and heal with family, lovers, and friends.

✅ Recommended Activities
• Take a cruise ship across the Han River to Nami Island
• Rent a bicycle on the island and enjoy a drive along the flower path
• Enjoy a cafe or picnic by the lake

Local Tip:
• There are many tourists on weekends, so we recommend visiting on weekdays!
• There are various theme parks inside Nami Island, which are popular among families.

2. Top 3 Spring Activities in Korea

1) Jeju Canola Flower Festival – An Instagram-Worthy Shot in a Golden Field

In spring, Jeju Island is filled with canola flowers, creating an exotic landscape. The canola flower festival is held throughout Jeju Island, but the Gasiri canola flower field in Seogwipo City is particularly famous.

✅ Experiencable Activities
• Take an Instagram-worthy photo with the canola flower field as a backdrop
• Experience Jeju traditional villages and horseback riding
• Admire the scenery of Hallasan Mountain and the sea

Local Tip:
• During the Jeju canola flower season, the weather is warm, but it can be windy, so it's good to prepare a light outer garment!
• There are many Jeju black pork restaurants near the canola flower fields, so it is also recommended to taste local food after the festival!

2) Gangneung Danoje Festival – A Festival Experiencing Traditional Korean Culture

Gangneung Danoje Festival is a representative traditional festival in Korea designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It commemorates Danoje (the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar), and various traditional performances and experiences are presented.

✅ Experiencable Activities
• Experience traditional mask plays and folk games
• Make Danoje fans and experience washing your hair with mugwort water
• Wrestling competition and tasting Gangneung local specialties

Local Tip:
• During the Danoje Festival, many tourists enjoy the festival wearing traditional Hanbok, so rent a Hanbok and add to the festive atmosphere!
• There is a tradition that washing your hair in mugwort water wards off evil spirits, so experiencing it yourself will be a unique experience.

3) Damyang Bamboo Festival – Enjoying Leisure in Nature

Damyang is an area famous for bamboo, and in the spring, a bamboo festival is held with various experiences and performances using bamboo.

✅ Experiencable Activities
• Take a walk through the bamboo forest and heal with phytoncides
• Experience making bamboo crafts
• Watch traditional tightrope walking and traditional Korean music performances

Local Tip:
• The bamboo forest has a lot of shade, so if you visit when the spring sun is warm, you can enjoy it more comfortably.
• Damyang is also famous for its Dakgalbi (grilled marinated short ribs), so we recommend tasting local food when you visit!

Which Korean spring festival are you most looking forward to visiting? Share it in the comments below~