ToKorea.org

๐ŸŽŽ Festivals & Best Times to Visit Korea

Discover where to go in Korea each month: seasonal scenery, festivals, cultural events, food experiences and trip ideas.

Korea changes dramatically with the seasons. Choose your travel month to see the best regions to visit, what to see, major festivals and practical ways to get there.

๐ŸŒผ Best Months in Korea

March
Weather
Chilly, warming up
Best for
Plum and cornelian cherry blossoms
Best regions
Gwangyang ยท Gurye ยท Jeju ยท Gyeongju
Crowds
Medium
Book ahead
Flower festival weekends

Typical conditions, not a forecast. Flowers, foliage and snow do not follow fixed dates.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Happening Now

No confirmed festival is on right now. See the next ones below.

Dates come from official tourism listings and can change. Confirm with the festival organizer.

๐ŸŒผ March in Korea

Best for: Plum and cornelian cherry blossoms

Where to Go

GwangyangGuryeJejuGyeongju

Main experiences: Plum ยท Sansuyu ยท Early blossoms

When are you visiting Korea?

Gwangyang Maehwa (Plum Blossom) Festival

๊ด‘์–‘ ๋งคํ™”์ถ•์ œ
Jeollanam-do ยท Gwangyang-si
โ—‹ Typical timing: Early Mar โ€“ Mid MarThis yearโ€™s dates are not listed here. Check the organizer.
๐ŸŒธ Flowers๐Ÿ“ท Photography

Why Visit?

The first sign of Korean spring! Over 100,000 plum trees blanket Seomjingang river valley in pure white and delicate pink blossoms among 2,000 traditional earthenware kimchi jars.

Don't Miss

  • โ€ข Endless hillsides of snowy plum blossoms
  • โ€ข Traditional pottery jar fields at Cheong Maesil Farm
  • โ€ข Plum ice cream, plum makgeolli, and plum bibimbap
Good to know: Arrive before 9:00 AM to beat heavy weekend traffic along the river road.
Getting There

Check KORAIL, express and intercity buses for your date.

City-to-City Travel โ†’
View on Korea Map โ†’Plan This Trip โ†’

Gurye Sansuyu (Cornelian Cherry) Festival

๊ตฌ๋ก€ ์‚ฐ์ˆ˜์œ ๊ฝƒ์ถ•์ œ
Jeollanam-do ยท Gurye-gun
โ—‹ Typical timing: Mid Mar โ€“ Late MarThis yearโ€™s dates are not listed here. Check the organizer.
๐ŸŒธ Flowers๐Ÿ“ท Photography

Why Visit?

Nestled beneath Jirisan Mountain, Sandong village turns into a golden-yellow wonderland with millions of vivid cornelian cherry blossoms blooming alongside mountain streams.

Don't Miss

  • โ€ข Golden yellow blossom walking trails alongside mossy stone walls
  • โ€ข Jirisan spring herb markets
  • โ€ข Cornelian cherry tea and liquor tastings
Good to know: Pair with a visit to historic Hwaeomsa Temple nearby.
Getting There

Check KORAIL, express and intercity buses for your date.

City-to-City Travel โ†’
View on Korea Map โ†’Plan This Trip โ†’

Explore Korea by Season

MARCH TO MAY

๐ŸŒธ Spring

Best for flowers, outdoor walks and mild weather

Best regions

Jinhae ยท Seoul ยท Gyeongju ยท Jeju ยท Gurye ยท Gwangyang

Main experiences

๐ŸŒธ Cherry blossoms ๐ŸŒผ Canola flowers ๐ŸŒบ Azaleas ๐Ÿฏ Historic cities ๐Ÿšถ Walking and cycling

Example festivals

  • โ€ข Jinhae Gunhangje
  • โ€ข Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
  • โ€ข Gurye Sansuyu Festival
  • โ€ข Gwangyang Maehwa Festival
JUNE TO AUGUST

โ˜€๏ธ Summer

Best for beaches, water festivals and nightlife

Best regions

Busan ยท Boryeong ยท Gangneung ยท Sokcho ยท Jeju ยท Jangheung

Main experiences

๐Ÿ–๏ธ Beaches ๐ŸŒŠ Water activities ๐ŸŽต Music festivals ๐Ÿ— Food festivals ๐ŸŒ™ Summer nights

Example festivals

  • โ€ข Boryeong Mud Festival
  • โ€ข Daegu Chimac Festival
  • โ€ข Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival
  • โ€ข Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER

๐Ÿ Autumn

Best for foliage, hiking, food and cultural festivals

Best regions

Seoul ยท Suwon ยท Andong ยท Gyeongju ยท Jinju ยท Busan ยท Jeonju ยท Gangwon

Main experiences

๐Ÿ Autumn foliage ๐Ÿฏ Korean heritage ๐ŸŽญ Traditional festivals ๐Ÿฒ Regional food ๐ŸŽฌ Film and music ๐ŸŒ™ Night festivals

Example festivals

  • โ€ข Andong Maskdance Festival
  • โ€ข Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
  • โ€ข Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
  • โ€ข Busan International Film Festival
  • โ€ข Gwangju Kimchi Festival
DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY

โ„๏ธ Winter

Best for snow, skiing, ice festivals and hot springs

Best regions

Pyeongchang ยท Gangneung ยท Hwacheon ยท Taebaek ยท Seoul ยท Jeju

Main experiences

โ›ท๏ธ Skiing โ„๏ธ Snow scenery ๐ŸŽฃ Ice fishing โ™จ๏ธ Hot springs โœจ Winter lights

Example festivals

  • โ€ข Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
  • โ€ข Taebaeksan Snow Festival
  • โ€ข Seoul winter light events

Month-by-Month

MonthWhere to VisitMain experiences
Hwacheon ยท Pyeongchang ยท GangwonSnow ยท Ski ยท Ice festivals
Gangwon ยท Jeju ยท SeoulSnow ยท Winter scenery ยท Camellia
Gwangyang ยท Gurye ยท Jeju ยท GyeongjuPlum ยท Sansuyu ยท Early blossoms
Jinhae ยท Seoul ยท Gyeongju ยท BusanCherry blossoms
Seoul ยท Boseong ยท Damyang ยท JejuGreen tea ยท Gardens ยท Spring travel
Gangneung ยท Busan ยท JejuBeaches ยท Dano culture
Boryeong ยท Daegu ยท Busan ยท JangheungMud ยท Water ยท Food
Busan ยท Incheon ยท Gangwon ยท JejuBeaches ยท Music
Andong ยท Muju ยท GyeongjuCulture ยท Early autumn
Suwon ยท Jinju ยท Busan ยท GangwonFestivals ยท Foliage
Naejangsan ยท Jeonju ยท Seoul ยท GyeongjuAutumn foliage ยท Food
Seoul ยท Gangwon ยท PyeongchangLights ยท Skiing ยท Snow

Do not only look at Seoul. Each month has great places across Korea.

Plan a Trip Around a Festival

3 DAYS

Jinju Festival Trip

  1. 1Day 1: Seoul โ†’ Jinju
  2. 2Day 2: Jinjuseong Fortress, local food, then the lantern festival
  3. 3Day 3: Jinju โ†’ Busan
5 DAYS

Andong + Gyeongju

  1. 1Seoul โ†’ Andong: traditional culture and the Maskdance Festival
  2. 2Andong โ†’ Gyeongju: historic sites
  3. 3Gyeongju โ†’ Busan
1 DAY

Suwon Festival Day

  1. 1Seoul โ†’ Suwon
  2. 2Hwaseong Fortress and the festival events
  3. 3Back to Seoul

7-Day Korea Itinerary โ†’ ยท Easy Day Trips from Seoul โ†’

Explore by Region

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Interactive Map

Before You Go to a Festival

Check the exact date

Festival dates can change each year because of weather, local conditions or organizer schedules.

Book weekends early

Hotels and transport can sell out during major regional festivals.

Check the weather

Spring blossoms, autumn foliage and winter snow cannot follow fixed dates.

Transportation

Some regional festivals run temporary shuttle buses.

Language

Smaller regional festivals may have little English information.

Payment

Food stalls and local markets are sometimes easier with Korean won.

Official Sources

Information is checked against the organizer and the Korea Tourism Organization. Festival dates, programs and fees can change, so confirm before you travel.

Information last verified: 2026-10-07 ยท Updated: 2026-10-07