After the chilly, grayish winter in South Korea, here comes the season of light, sunshine, and cherry blossoms. If you plan to go to South Korea during spring, you’ll be amazed by the flower festivals, varieties of flowers, and sakura-viewing destinations. And if you want to simply wander through gardens and take in the scent of spring, the country has a lot of them too. Here are the most beautiful spring gardens you can visit in South Korea:
Garden of Morning Calm
via Korea Tourism Organization
This stunning arboretum, which opened in 1996 at the east of Seoul, in the Gapyeong district of South Korea, is home to 5,000 species of plants. A 30,000-square-metre Korean garden, Garden of Morning Calm was designed by professor Sang-kyung Hang. No wonder it is called Garden of Morning Calm, with its lush mountains enclosing the garden, 20 different themed areas, and different types of flowers, ranging from hydrangeas to chrysanthemums.
It is in spring, however, that you can witness The Garden of Morning Calm, Korean Wild Flower Exhibition. You will be welcomed by a grand display of over 300 kinds of wildflowers and rare, gorgeous flowers such as cherry blossom, Japanese apricot, magnolia, forsythia, and azalea. You can book a tour to discover the beauty of the Garden of Morning Calm here.
Huwon
via Olesya Kuznetsova on Shutterstock
Blooming behind the Changdeokgung Palace like a secret garden, Huwon features a square lily pond under a viewing pavilion of kings and courtiers into poetry. You can join a Huwon Garden, which will bring you to the Buyongji Pond, Bullomun Gate & Aeryeonji Pond, Jondeokjeong Pavilion & Pyeomusa House, Ongnyucheon Stream, and Yeonggyeongdang House. You can also book a tour to see the Changdeokgung Palace and learn about Korean culture here.
Myeongnyun 3(sam)ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South KoreaTuesday – Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Gardens of Jeju Island
via Korea Tourism Organization
There are many reasons to love Jeju Island, a popular island in the Jeju Province of South Korea. With its pleasant climate and rich soil, Jeju Island is able to grow different types of plants. Jeju’s Spirited Garden is famous for hundreds of bonsai or bunjae that are beautifully designed with ponds of koi carp, waterfalls, and black volcanic stones.
Jeju Stone Park, with 970,000 square kilometers of space, features artfully arranged ponds, tumuli, rocks, and statues. You will also stumble upon the Sky Pond, stone carvings, giant pots used for storing kimchi, and lots of dol hareubang (grandfather rocks).
The Yeomiji Botanical Garden, located inside the Jungmun Resort, is said to be the largest greenhouse in Asia. It both has outdoor gardens and indoor gardens, such as the flower garden, the aquatic garden, the cactus garden, the jungle garden, the tropical garden, and the fruit garden.
Hwadam Botanical Garden
via Konjiam Resort official website
A highlight in Konjiam Resort, Hwadam Forest, the Hwadam Botanical Garden will delight you with its pink royal azaleas, birch trees, and wildflowers. Inside the garden are the Bridge of Promise and a large pond with a traditional Korean house. There are also different hiking courses you can take. If you are traveling with your families, you can have a picnic, unwind at the coffee shop by the lake, and reach a small playground at the end of the main trail.
278, Docheogwit-Ro, Docheok-Myeon, Gwangju-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, KoreaMarch-May 8:30 – 6:00June-October 8:30 -6:30October-November 8:30 – 5:00
Seoul Iris Garden
via Seoul Metropolitan Government
While small, the Seoul Iris Garden is bursting with beauty. Nestled between Suraksan and Dobongsan mountains, the Seoul Iris Garden is home to 130 species of irises. You will also find a Medicinal Botanical Garden and a Wetland with an observatory deck overlooking lotuses and other aquatic plants inside.
