How to Visit the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival in 2023

The Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is near and dear to my heart, because it’s the one I never miss. Sure, it helps that it’s walking distance from my house, but the real draw is undoubtedly the dreamy pink cherry blossoms that transform the lake into a pastel coloured wonderland.

The Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival takes place every April

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Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival | 석촌호수 벚꽃축제

Seokchon Lake is one of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul. It’s easily accessible via public transit, and there are a ton of other activities, attractions and things to do in the area at the same time.

Over 1000 stunning cherry blossom trees line the pathways surrounding both lakes. During the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom festival, you can saunter leisurely beneath a gorgeous canopy of pale pink blooms, while admiring Lotte World Magic Island and the massive Lotte World Tower Seoul Sky Observatory in the background.

You can see the Lotte World Tower during the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

You’ll also find various music performances, a cherry blossom market, artists, and photo zones at the festival. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the trees reflecting in the water!

Limited Edition Spring Tours in Korea

April in South Korea is wonderfully pink and alive with colour. Here are the spring tours to take advantage of in spring. 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.

Jinhae is the most famous cherry blossom festival in Korea ⓒ Live Studio, Korea Tourism Organization

Spring Tours from Seoul

• Gwangyang Maehwa & Jeonju Hanok Village Tour | March 13th – 24th, 2023
• Jeju Island Package: Flight, Private Tour + Hotel Option | March 20th – April 9th, 2023
• Jeju Island Cherry Blossoms and Canola Private Taxi or Van Tour | March 21st – April 10th, 2023
• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour from Seoul or Busan | March 27th – April 6th, 2023
• Exclusive VIP Tour Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival | March 27th – April 7th, 2023
• Daegu E-WORLD Land & Spring Cherry Blossom Day Tour | March 28th – April 7th, 2023
• Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do | April 5th – 16th, 2023
• Ganghwa Island Cherry Blossom & Luge Ride Experience | April 9th – 17th, 2023
• Eden Cherry Blossom Festival + Alpaca World + Nami Island | April 11th – 18th, 2023
• Taean Tulip Festival + Strawberry Picking Experience | April 14th – May 7th, 2023
• Pink King Cherry Blossom Tour from Seoul | April 15th – April 30th, 2023

Spring Tours from Busan

• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour from Busan | March 24th – April 9th, 2023
• Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Tour from Seoul or Busan | March 27th – April 6th, 2023
• Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Busan | March 27th – April 12th, 2023
• Cherry Blossom Hunting Tour from Busan | March 24th – April 9th, 2023
• Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival from Busan | March 27th – April 8th, 2023
• KING Cherry Blossom Hunting Tour from Busan | April 17th – April 30th, 2023

Gyeongju has gorgeous cherry blossom spots and is an easy day trip from Busan © Kim Hoyeol, Korea Tourism Organization

When is the festival?

FESTIVAL DATES: April 5th – 9th, 2023

The Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival takes place sometime during spring in Korea – usually in the first 2 weeks of April every year. That doesn’t mean you can’t visit outside of the festival. You totally can, because this is a public lake that’s fully accessible to the public. It’s free to enter at all times.

Cherry blossoms bloom in Korea during the first 2 weeks of April

READ NEXT: 7 Fantastic Things to do at Seokchon Lake Park in Jamsil

Tips for Visiting the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

This festival can get very busy because it’s right in the middle of a huge residential area, and easily accessible by subway. If you’d like peace and serenity in Seoul to admire the blooms, head there on a weekday morning. I’ve found that if you get anywhere in Seoul before 10AM, you can count on quite a bit of solitude.

Seokchon Lake has a figure 8 walking path surrounded by cherry blossoms in Seoul.

On the other hand, if you don’t mind some crowds, sunset is an excellent time to see the cherry blossoms at Seokchon Lake. Lotte World Magic Island and the Lotte World Tower are brilliantly lit and the blooms take on an incandescent silvery sheen at night.

Visit the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival at sunset for some excellent views

In my opinion, the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival dates have been on the back end of the blooming peak in recent years. To see them at their best, I recommend visiting at the beginning of the festival, rather than the end… otherwise you’ll end up seeing some pretty threadbare trees.

READ NEXT: Seoulism Cafe: The Insta-Famous Cafe with a Spectacular View

How to get to the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

Address:  47 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 송파구 잠실동 47

Seokchon Lake is located on the east side of Seoul near Jamsil Station which intersects on Line 2 and Line 8. The lake is directly behind Lotte World, and the Lotte World Mall, so it’s easy to access from the subway station.

Both the East and West Lakes at Seokchon Lake Park are connected by a walking path

Once you reach the station, you can take exits 1 or 2 to reach the East Lake, and exits 3 or 4 to reach the West Lake. Both lakes are connected by pathways in a figure 8 pattern, so don’t stress too much about ending up in the wrong place.

There are also many buses that stop near Seokchon Lake. If you plan to take the bus to the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, it’s best to check apps like Naver Maps for the exact routes and numbers.

Seokchon Lake is ringed in pink © Song Seungwook

Where to Stay near the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

If you’d like to stay close to the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, the most convenient hotels to book are near Jamsil subway station or close to Starfield Coex Mall – 3 subway stops away.

Jamsil is where popular attractions like Lotte World and the Seoul Sky Tower are located.

Recommended Hotels in Jamsil

Jamsil is on the east end of Seoul. While this area is not super close to major tourist sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the N Seoul Tower, it’s literally right on top of popular attractions like Lotte World, the Seoul Sky Observatory, AND the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival. If you’re traveling with family, or plan to spend time in Gangnam, this is an ideal area to stay in Seoul.

Signiel Seoul

Signiel Seoul is located at the top of the Lotte World Tower. This is the tallest building in Korea, with unmatched views of Seoul. Each of the 235 rooms at this luxurious hotel has a stunning view that literally can’t be found anywhere else in the city.

It also offers all the high end amenities you’d expect from an hotel of this calibre, including a champagne bar, Michelin-star restaurant, indoor swimming pool, and incredible fitness centre.

Lotte Hotel World

There are a billion and one Lotte hotels of varying calibers in Seoul, but Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil is one of the first and most beloved. Newly renovated in 2022, with modern rooms, excellent amenities, an incredible location steps from Seokchon Lake, and some of the best service in Seoul – you can’t go wrong at Lotte Hotel World.

Hotel Pharos

Hotel Pharos offers excellent value for money, with clean, spacious, and quiet rooms. It’s conveniently located halfway between Jamsil subway station and Coex Mall near Jamsilsaenae Station on Line 2. This is the area that I personally live in. It’s a great location with easy access to Gangnam, Jamsil, and the Han River.

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Do you plan on visiting the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival during spring?