It is not an exaggeration to say that spring is the most beautiful season in Korea. Countless flowers after a long winter incubating incense in many regions across the country have simultaneously bloomed brilliantly, captivating people’s hearts.

Normally, spring in Korea starts at the beginning of March and ends at the end of June. The best time to visit the flower blooming season falls between April and May every year. The question is where can we go to fully admire the spring flower season in Korea? While Seoul is certainly beautiful in its own right, we think Gangwon Province is a spring destination that deserves a lot more attention!

Gangwon is located just a short distance from Seoul and it is perfect for day trips. The easiest way to get here is by bus for about an hour and a half. Going by train is also a good option, but it is much more expensive.

But not only is it famous for winter and beautiful camera angles in dramas, it is also one of the top destinations to admire spring flowers in Korea. In fact, the famous annual flower festivals are held here. So why not hesitate to explore together the 9 most impressive places to admire spring flowers in full bloom in Gangwon Province?

1. Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival

Of all the cherry blossom destinations in Gangwon Province, Gyeongpo Lake is definitely the number one priority. Located in the city of Gangneung, Gyeongpo Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the province with beautiful views all year round. However, spring is still the most beautiful season with the pink and white color of the cherry blossom forest. Flowers bloom along the two sides of the 4.3km long road around the lake.

When walking under hundreds of cherry blossom trees in full bloom, how can the hearts of tourists avoid being fluttered by the breathtaking beauty of the landscape here? One of the best spots to see cherry blossoms in Gyeongpo is the Gyeongpodae observatory. Located at the end of the lake with a traditional wooden house structure, Gyeongdodae is a center for spring activities with various flower exhibitions. This is truly a must-visit for insta devotees to take pictures and admire the pristine Gyeongpo Lake.

Besides the enchanting cherry blossoms, you can also quickly visit Gyeongpo beach with just a few minutes walk. Now you can enjoy a very different beauty: the wonder of the ocean as you walk along the sands. And of course, seafood restaurants are also worth a try!

2. Nami Island

Another popular place where you can immerse yourself in the spring atmosphere in Gangwon Province is Nami Island. Perhaps not much need to be said about the inherent popularity of this place. It is the filming location of romantic scenes, especially the iconic scene in the famous movie: Winter Sonata . Whenever you want to visit in any season of the year, Nami Island is breathtakingly beautiful. But it must be admitted that every visitor has been moved by the romance of spring here.

Every year, from the end of March to the beginning of May, this half-moon-shaped island is filled with the white and pink colors of thousands of cherry blossom trees that surround the island. The sight is picturesque and you will surely regret it if you forget to bring your camera! Cherry Tree Lane is a particularly popular spot to see the most beautiful cherry blossoms on Nami Island.

3. Maengbang Flower Festival

Of course, coming to Gangwon in spring is not only cherry blossoms in bloom, if you want to see more colors than that, don’t hesitate to put Maengbang on your list to visit right away!

The festival is held every April every year in Samcheok with the highlight of the large yellow rape fields on the East Sea coast. Not only the flowers are brilliant, but you also enjoy the beautiful beach view. Moreover, during the festival, many interesting experiences will take place such as visiting the local market or picking strawberries at the garden, etc.

If you have a lot of time in Samcheok, cycling on Ocean Rail will surely be an unforgettable experience in your life. Running along the 5.4km road is one of the best ways to explore the scenery on the east coast of Gangwon Province.

4. Jade Garden

The Jade Garden is a large botanical garden located right in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province. The garden is modeled after gardens in Europe, so this massive nursery is often called “miniature Europe” in the heart of Gangwon with more than 3000 species of plants on a total area of ​​163,500m2.

The garden is divided into 24 different small areas such as: the European zone, the scenic area (Lanscape Zone), … Following the three main roads, you will immerse yourself in the beautiful natural scenery including: around, especially in spring. Located in the center of the garden is an eye-catching brick house, you will have an interesting check-in place for your insta! You will wander in this garden for a few hours and forget the time, simply because it is so attractive.

Besides the wonderful scent of spring, there are many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops around this area. A very typical dish that you should not miss right in the restaurant on the garden premises: Bibimbap flower (Mixed rice with flowers). True to its name, traditional Bibimbap is covered with a variety of colorful flowers. And not only is it worthy to post a picture on the gram, it is also attractive in terms of color, aroma, and explosive flavor.

5. Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan is one of the most visible places in Gangwon in particular and Korea in general. Named after the tallest peak in the Taebaek Mountains, Seoraksan National Park boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its rustic, pristine natural setting is something you can hardly find elsewhere.

Possessing a beautiful natural scenery, Seoraksan National Park is especially famous and attracts visitors in the spring when hundreds of flowers bloom. Hiking through the streets filled with scents and singing birds in Seoraksan National Park will be a must-try experience once in your life.

6. Chiaksan . National Park

Compared to Seoraksan National Park, Chiaksan National Park is less well known. But don’t let that level of popularity fool you because this is the hidden gem in the heart of Gangwon. Although Chiaksan is the smallest national park in the province, it possesses a rich variety of flora and fauna. In addition, this place also includes many deep valleys creating mysterious high cliffs, majestic waterfalls.

Some of the must-see spots here are: Geumdae valley, Taejongdae rocky mountain, Seryeompokpo waterfall and Guryongsa temple. But the most attractive point in Chiaksan National Park in spring is the wildflower trail up to 14km long, blooming and wonderfully beautiful at the beginning of the year. Also in the spring time, the whole forest of azaleas blooms, adding new and beautiful colors to this area.

7. Naksansa . Temple

Naksansa Temple is known as one of the top tourist attractions in Gangwon. This Buddhist temple complex is located on the slopes of Mount Naksan and offers direct views of the vast East Sea. Besides being a major cultural heritage work, Naksansa Temple also owns impressive attractions and landscapes. It’s a series of cliffside cottages for visitors to watch the sun rise over the South China Sea, Hongnyeonam Monastery right by the sea, and the iconic statue of Avalokitesvara.

If you want your experience to be even more unforgettable, visit the area in the spring. You know, Naksansa Temple is a great place to see spring flowers in Gangwon. Surrounding the temple is the beautiful natural scenery, not the hustle and bustle in exchange for beautiful moments of peace and relaxation for visitors.

While the popularity of national parks is undeniably popular during the springtime, you can also opt for some pretty gardens. In addition to the Jade Garden mentioned above, another interesting place is the Gangwon Provincial Botanical Garden.

Located in the town of Chuncheon, it boasts an ideal attraction suitable for the whole family. The most special feature is that this place is home to countless species of plants. Mainly the garden grows typical local flowers of Gangwon, even one of them is in danger of extinction. That makes this place not only a place to relax and enjoy the scenery, but also a special plant reserve of Gangwon Province.

9. Pyeongchang Botanical Garden

The last place where you can admire the beautiful spring flowers in Gangwon is the Pyeongchang National Botanical Garden. Leaning on the foothills of the majestic Odaesan Mountain, this is a place frequented by locals during the flower season. This place is proud to be the land of more than 500 different species of local wildflowers, so it is always full of color.

Although the botanical garden is not the largest flower garden, it still deserves a great place on your picturesque spring travel itinerary. The garden is so beautiful that it became the setting for the popular TV series: The scent of summer . Don’t forget to fully charge your camera to capture the unspoiled beauty of this place!

So we have together discovered 9 great places for spring flower viewing experience in Gangwon. Of course, when you come here, you will have many other interesting experiences. Hunt for dreamlike movie scenes or enjoy traditional cuisine, for example. Why not enjoy it all with a day trip to Gangwon? Come on, you don’t even want your trip to end in 6 or 7 hours.