When do cherry blossoms bloom in Korea, and where are the best places to see them?

Cherry blossom season runs from late March in the south to mid-April in Seoul, and peak bloom lasts only about 7 to 10 days, so the timing is the whole game.

Expect Jeju and Busan around March 25 to 30, Daegu and Daejeon around April 1 to 5, and Seoul around April 5 to 12. The Korea Meteorological Administration publishes an annual blossom forecast map (개화 지도) from late February into early March, so check kma.go.kr before you book anything. The dates shift year to year with the weather, which is exactly why the forecast exists.

In Seoul, Yeouido Yunjung-ro — the road between the National Assembly and KBS — is the best known, with about 1,800 trees along a 5km stretch during the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. Seokchon Lake next to Lotte World gives you a full loop around the water. Namsan Park, the Han River parks at Banpo and Ttukseom, the Gyeongbokgung area and Seoul Forest are all worth the trip.

Outside Seoul, Jinhae in Gyeongsangnam-do is the most famous destination in the country. The Gunhangje Festival in early April draws enormous crowds to Yeojwacheon Stream and Gyeonghwa Station. Gyeongju, especially around Bomun Lake, is a strong alternative, and Hwagae in Hadong and the roads around Jirisan are spectacular with a fraction of the crowds.

Two practical notes. Go on a weekday morning or a weekday evening if you can, because weekends at the famous spots are genuinely packed. And bring a small mat: sitting under the trees with food is the Korean way to do this, and you will want somewhere to put yourself.