Visiting Korea in April 2024 | Weather, Best Festivals + Packing List

In Korea in April, the lethargy of winter is officially taken over by glorious pink cherry blossoms, colourful flower festivals, and bright sunshine.

Add in the comfortable weather experienced in South Korea in April, and its undeniably one of the best months of the year to visit the country.

April is one of the best times of the year to visit Korea!

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• what the weather is like during April in Korea
• the Seoul weather in April and other major cities and tourist hotspots, including Busan, Sokcho, and Jeju
• how to deal with the air quality
• the best spring festivals to attend around the country in April
• what to wear and the best things to pack for a successful trip to South Korea in April

Korea in April | Weather

Like all shoulder months, the Korea weather in April has a little bit of everything. This is the first month of true spring in Korea, so while daytime temperatures get increasingly comfortable, it’s still relatively chilly in the evenings, and can be downright cold at night. Especially at the beginning of the month.

In April, there’s some rainfall in Korea… but not enough to really stress about.

In April, average daily temperatures in Korea range from 7°C | 45°F to 20°C | 67°F across the country. Towards the end of the month, there can be days that reach into the low 20s°C.

There’s little humidity, but expect some rainfall. Keep in mind that it can still get quite cold in the evenings, with temperatures falling as low as 5°C | 41°F.

Korea Weather in April Quick Guide

READ NEXT: From Myeongdong to Gangnam: The 7 Best Areas in Seoul for Travellers EXPLAINED

Korea Weather in April | Busan

Busan is located on the southern part of the Peninsula, so you can expect it to be a couple of degrees warmer than Seoul. It has average temperatures of 10°C | 50°F – 18°C | 64°F. The sea temperature hovers around 15°C | 59°F, so I definitely wouldn’t plan on swimming in Busan in April.

The Busan weather in April is lovely © Lee Bumsu, Korea Tourism Organization

Korea Weather in April | Jeju Island

Jeju is known as the “Hawaii of Korea,” but in April, temperatures are not much different than in Seoul. Averages range from 10°C | 50°F to 16°C | 61°F, with 8 days of rain. Jeju is notorious for wind, so be sure to bring a warm jacket or windbreaker if you plan to visit.

It looks warm enough to swim at Gwakji Beach in Jeju in April, but trust me… it’s not.

Korea Weather in April | Sokcho (East Coast)

Korea’s East Coast tends to be a bit cooler than the interior. In Sokcho in April, average daily temperatures range from 7°C | 45°F to 16°C | 61°F. In my experience, it can feel quite chilly, even in summer, so plan accordingly.

Views of Jeongdongjin Beach from the Sun Cruise Resort

In fact, we took a trip to Jeongjongjin Beach near Sokcho in July one year, and it was so cold and windy, it was impossible to go swimming!

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Korea in April | Air Quality

The one downside to traveling to Korea in April, might be the air quality.

In spring, windstorms originating in the Gobi Desert, travel across China, and land squarely on top of Korea in the form of yellow dust. This “hwangsa” colours the sky, with a grainy, yellowish cast. And unfortunately, it’s full of ultrafine and fine dust pollution.

Yellow dust and pollution can be an unfortunate part of visiting Korea in April.

It’s not just ugly, it can also be incredibly harmful to your health. If you’re visiting Korea in April, be sure to equip yourself with some kind of air pollution mask.

Those rated N95 or N99 are the best, since they filter out almost 100% of pollutants. There’s no need to prepare something in advance. You can pick up disposable air pollution masks in any pharmacy, convenience store or Daiso in Korea for just a few thousand won. The Korean equivalent of an N95 mask is called KF94.

Bad air is an unfortunate part of Korea weather in April, but at least the masks are cute?

READ NEXT: A Complete Guide to Spring in Korea | Weather, Best Festivals & What to Eat

Limited Edition Spring Tours in Korea

April in South Korea is positively alive with colour and wonderful things to do. Here are the spring tours to take advantage of. Like cherry blossom season, the dates for most of these tours is incredibly limited. Most run for just a few short weeks, so catch them while you can.

Cherry Blossoms peak in Seoul at the beginning of April.

Best Spring Tours from Seoul

• Seoul Seasonal Hot Attractions Tour | March 2nd – May 14th, 2024
• Spring Flowers + Cherry Blossoms at Hwaseong Fortress | March 18th – April 29th, 2024
• Spring Flower Festivals at Jeonju Hanok Village | March 18th – May 31st, 2024
• Pocheon Art Valley + Strawberry Farm Experience | March 18th – June 30th, 2024
• DMZ Tour with Spring Flowers | March 21st – April 25th, 2024
• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour | March 25th – April 5th, 2024
• Hwadam Forest Cherry Blossoms + Spring Flowers | March 27th – April 26th, 2024
• 6D / 5N All-Inclusive Spring Cherry Blossoms Tour | March 31st – April 10th
• Eden Cherry Blossom Festival + Nami Island and Alpaca World | April 1st – 25th
• Incheon Cherry Blossom + Wonmisan Azalea Festival | April 3rd – 10th, 2024
• Cherry Blossom Hunting in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do | April 5th – 14th, 2024
• Taean Tulip Festival + Strawberry Picking Experience | April 12th – May 7th, 2024
• King Cherry Blossom Tour from Seoul | April 18th – 25th, 2024

Best Spring Tours from Busan

• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour | March 25th – April 5th, 2024
• Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival from Busan | March 25th – April 7th, 2024
• Hadong Cherry Blossom Road + Ssanggyesa + Cable Car | March 25th – April 5th, 2024
• Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Busan + Blueline Sky Capsule | March 25th – April 7th, 2024
• King Cherry Blossom Hunting Tour from Busan | April 12th – 21st, 2024

King cherry blossoms bloom at the end of April © Yang Sungyoung, Korea Tourism Organization

Korea in April | Best Festivals and Events

In spring, cherry blossom festivals rightly steal everyone’s attention for the first weeks of the month. But never fear, because even after all the pink is long gone, there’s always another festival happening somewhere in Korea!

Here’s what you can get up to during April in Korea.

The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon takes place every April in Korea.

Korea in April | Cherry Blossom Festivals

After 3 to 4 long years of cancellations, cherry blossoms festivals were back in full force in Korea in April last year. These were incredibly busy, with expanded venues and a ton of great activities, as local economies were finally revitalized.

Seeing cherry blossoms in Korea in April is a must ⓒ Live Studio, Korea Tourism Organization

It seems like cherry blossoms bloom earlier and earlier every year, and a lot of festivals have followed suit. The biggest, most popular cherry blossom festivals have mostly moved to the end of March in Korea, but don’t worry, because there ARE still others happening all over the country.

You can check them all out in my complete cherry blossoms in Korea guide.

Hwagae was still gorgeous (but no crowds!) AFTER the festival ended.

Besides which, even if there isn’t a festival happening, you can still enjoy those popular spots. I’ve had some of my best cherry blossom experiences in Korea AFTER the crowds left.

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival | 진해군항제

Festival Dates: March 23rd – April 1st, 2024

Address: Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon-si, Jinhae-gu, Tongsin-dong | 경상남도 창원시 진해구 통신동

If you hurry, you can still catch the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival at the beginning of April in Korea. This year, after 4 long years of cancellations, the Jinhae Gunghangje Festival is back in a big way, with newly expanded venues and events.

Yeah, you need to see this ⓒ Lim Bo-hyeok, Korea Tourism Organization

Highlights include the pale pink petals drifting romantically down onto the train tracks of Gyeonghwa Station, or seeing the iconic tunnel of cherry trees atop Jinhae’s Yeojwacheon Stream. Don’t miss all the other activities though – including fireworks, a military parade, and traditional performances.

Gyeongpodae Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 | 경포대 벚꽃축제

Festival Dates: April 5th – 10th, 2024

Address: 365, Gyeongpo-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

We had a late March cold snap, and one result is that the Gyeongpodae Cherry Blossom Festival was pushed back by about a week.

Now slated for early April, it’s a great opportunity to see a 4.3-km string of cherry blossom trees line that line gorgeous Gyeongpo Lake if you’re arriving in Korea a bit later in spring.

Gyeongpo Lake Cherry Blossom Festival by © gangwon.to

Festival activities and exhibitions centre around Gyeongpodae Pavilion, one of Korea’s regional tangible cultural treasures, but there are blooms surrounding the entire lake.

If, for some strange reason, you get overwhelmed by all the effervescent pinkness, you can take a short stroll over to Gyeongpo Beach, one of my very favourite escapes from Seoul. Drink in some East Sea views, and indulge in fresher than fresh seafood from one of the seafront restaurants.

Gyeongpo Beach is steps from Gyeongpo Lake

Directions: From Gangneung Intercity/Express Bus Terminal, take Bus 202 and get off at Gyeongpodae.

Gapyeong Eden Cherry Blossom Festival | 가평 에덴벚꽃길 벚꽃축제

Cherry Blossom Festival Dates: April 6th – 14th, 2024 (weekends)

Address: 139 , Edenbeotkkot-gil, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 가평군 청평면 에덴벚꽃길 189

Visiting Korea a bit later in April, and thought you missed all the cherry blossoms? You didn’t! Because the Eden Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates these pink bloom a bit later than you’d think.

Cherry blossoms bloom a bit later in Gapyeong / Chuncheon area © Jeon Hyeongjun, Korea Tourism Organization

This cherry blossom festival is a bit outside of Seoul in the cooler Gapyeong area, and this makes all the difference to peak blooming dates.

This is a great festival to attend, along with popular hotspots like Nami Island, the Gangchon Rail Bike,and Alpaca World, which are nearby. Check out tour options here.

READ NEXT: 10 Secret Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Seoul

Other April Festivals in Korea

Cherry blossoms festivals aren’t the only game in town during April in Korea. From tulips to glowing palaces to lotus lanterns, there’s plenty more to see.

Do you want to see these lanterns? I sure do! © Kim Dulli, Korea Tourism Organization

Everland Tulip Festival | 에버랜드 튤립가든

Festival Dates: March 22nd – June 16th, 2024

Address: 199, Everland-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 용인시 처인구 포곡읍 에버랜드로 199

Starting in mid March and continuing throughout the month of April in South Korea, Everland is the place to be if you want to see hundreds of thousands of colourful tulips. There are 1.2 million tulips, from 110 different strains at the festival this year.

Go tulip crazy at Everland, if you’re visiting Korea in April © jaeeun/@Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

If you’re obsessed with My Melody, Cinnamaroll, and Kuromi, you’re in luck. The Everland Tulip Festival is running concurrently with Fairy Town – a too cute world populated with your favorite San Rio characters!

When you’re done admiring the beautiful bulbs, try riding South Korea’s first wooden roller coaster, the T-Express, see the giant pandas at Panda World, or visit one of 5 themed zones in the park

Nami Island Spring Festival | 남이섬 봄 축제

Dates: April 6th – 21st, 2024 (weekends)

Address: 1, Namiseom-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do | 경기도 가평군 가평읍 북한강변로 1024

Nami Island’s Spring Festival © 남이섬 – Nami Island

Nami Island is enduringly popular in every season, but visit in April for a cherry blossom picnic, market, and other pretty spring sites.

You can also enjoy live performances, Holi Hai on April 13th, and a number of fun events and activities.

Gyeongbokgung at Night | 경복궁 야간 특별관람

Dates: April 3rd – May 29th, 2024 (TBC)

Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 (세종로)

For a limited time, Gyeongbokgung Palace is opened up to the public at night. It’s definitely a special experience to see this gem of the Joseon Dynasty illuminated brilliantly against the night sky.

Seeing Gyeongbokgung Palace at night is a special experience.

It’s open for viewing everyday from 7:00 to 9:30PM, except Mondays and Tuesdays, with the last entrance at 8:30. There are a limited number of tickets available online and limited tickets available for purchase (by non-Koreans) at the on-site ticket booth every night. Cost: 3,000 won.

This event is the perfect time to rent a hanbok in Seoul if you haven’t already done so, and get some epic pictures… especially since you can enter Gyeongbokgung totally free while wearing one (whether the maximum limit has been exceeded or not).

Gyeongbokgung is an amazing backdrop for a photoshoot in a hanbok.

Taean Tulip Festival | 태안 세계튤립공원

Festival Dates: April 12th – May 7th, 2024

Address: 400, Kkotjihaean-ro, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do | 충청남도 태안군 안면읍 꽃지해안로 400

Held every April in South Korea at Kkotji Beach Park, the Taean Tulip Festival is one of the biggest 5 tulip festivals in the world. There are literally millions of vibrant tulips arranged in stunning scenes and structures.

There are literally millions of tulips in Taean. This is just one small section!

I checked out this festival a few years ago, and while there are definitely A LOT of tulips, there are also other flowers, including king cherry blossoms!

Don’t Let Daddy Know Korea 2024

Festival Dates: April 20th, 2024

Gwacheon Seoulland Address: 181, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 과천시 광명로 181

Don’t Let Daddy Know is an epic EDM Festival from the Netherlands that successfully debuted in Seoul last year.

Don’t Let Daddy Know is a 19+ event.

With headliners Don Diablo, Illenium, 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 2, Jonas Blue, Maddix, and many more – this is a 19+ event. ID WILL be verified.

Icheon Ceramics Festival | 이천도자기축제

Festival Dates: April 25th – May 6th, 2024

Address: 123 Dojayesul-ro 62beon-gil, Sindun-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 이천시 신둔면 도자예술로5번길 109

Icheon is a UNESCO-recognized City of Creative Culture and considered the birthplace of pottery here. This April in Korea, you can make ceramic darts out of raw clay or sample freshly baked bread straight out of a kiln at the Icheon Ceramics Festival.

Icheon is the birthplace of Korean ceramics

We’ve spent a few wonderful days in Icheon, playing with clay and learning about ceramics, and I totally recommend a day trip to check out this relaxed and creative town.

Goyang Flower Festival | 고양가을꽃축제

Festival Dates: April 26th – May 12th, 2024

Address: 595, Hosu-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 고양시 일산동구 호수로 595

The Goyang Flower Festival celebrates the beauty of spring flowers, with a huge expo at Ilsan Lake Park. This is the largest flower festival in Korea, with international exhibitors from over 40 countries taking part. Join a private tour here.

Prepare to be wowed at the Goyang Flower Festival © Yeon So Jeong, (CC BY-SA 3.0)

You’ll be wowed by spectacular indoor and outdoor exhibits, made up of creative floral arrangements. There are also a number of experience areas, where you can try your hand at pressing flowers, wood art, and natural dying using flowers. Magic and bubble shows, musical performances, and flower water bikes on Ilsan Lake will keep the whole family entertained.

Directions: Jeongbalsan Station on Line 3, Exit 2. Walk for approximately 10 minutes to Ilsan Lake Park.

K-Royal Culture Festival | 궁중문화축전

Festival Dates: April 27th – May 5th, 2024

Address: Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu, Changgyeong and Gyeonghui Palaces, Jongmyo, and Sajikdan

If you haven’t had a chance to visit any of Seoul’s 5 Joseon Dynasty palaces yet, the Royal Culture Festival is a good time to do it.

Korea’s rich cultural heritage will be highlighted with performances, rituals, moonlight tours, and interactive activities for kids at these venues throughout the month.

The K-Royal Culture Festival takes places at Seoul’s Joseon Palaces.

The K-Royal Culture Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this April in Korea, so there’s sure to be plenty of free activities and special events. Some – like the Changdeokgung Moonlight tours, require advance reservation. Find more details here.

Busan Lotus Lantern Festival | 부산연등축제

Festival Dates: April 26th – May 12th, 2024

Address: 121-1, Dongseong-ro 112beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan | 부산광역시 부산진구 동성로112번길 121-1

Buddhist or not, this is a festival that absolutely everyone can enjoy. Admire the lotus lanterns of every shape and size that are on brilliantly on display at Songsanghyeon Plaza and Busan Citizen’s Park.

Temples in Korea are decorated with lanterns leading up to Buddha’s birthday.

Check festival details here.

Korea in April | What to Wear

To best deal with Korea’s weather in April, layers are the name of the game. Jeans, trousers, skirts with leggings or tights, and long-sleeved shirts or sweaters work well. Bring along a hoodie, cardigan or light jacket, in case the wind starts up, or there’s a brief cold snap.

Trenchcoat, jeans, layers – Naia and her friend nailed it for what to wear for the Korea weather in April.

There is some precipitation in April, but rather than carry a cumbersome umbrella with you everywhere you go, I recommend picking one up on the fly at a convenience store or street stall, if it starts to rain. Umbrellas will pop up every which way you turn, as soon as the drops start falling.

Visiting Korea in April | Packing List

What you decide to pack to deal with the Korea weather in April has a lot to do with your personal style, but here’s a rough guideline of items to consider.

Cherry blossoms are one of the best parts of visiting Korea in April

Korea in April | Bring from Home

• travel documents – passport, itineraries, hotel reservations, plane tickets, travel visas, insurance
• adaptor / plug
• reusable air pollution mask – Vogmask or similar
• t-shirts
• jeans, trousers or long pants of some kind
• sweaters, hoodies, cardigans
• skirts or dresses with leggings
• light jacket, breaker or waterproof shell
• sunglasses
• deodorant, feminine hygiene items
• comfortable shoes for lots of walking
• any special medications you need
• allergy medications if you’re sensitive to pollen and dust

Buy in Korea

• umbrella if it rains
• disposable air pollution masks
• skincare products like sunscreen (high quality and cheap in Korea!)

Temples around Korea are decorated in lanterns in April and May for Buddha’s birthday.

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All ready for the perfect trip to Korea in April? What have you got planned?