The mild and pleasant weather during spring makes it an ideal time for outdoor activities. Why not take advantage of this season to visit places in Seoul that allow you to enjoy spring to the fullest?
As you are currently in South Korea, experiencing traditional Korean culture would be a good choice. Ikseon-dong Hanok Village is a compound of exquisite Hanok, an architectural term referring to traditional Korean buildings, where you can feel the country’s vibrant culture and combination of tradition and modernity. Walking down the street, you can discover beautiful cafés popping up between the old Hanok buildings.
Hanbok rental services are also highly recommended, as it is a unique culture only available here. Such rental services are available around Changdeokgung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace. You can choose from fusion to traditional Hanbok, enjoying hairstyling services and accessories, which definitely would create a precious memory. The most frequently visited places for Hanbok rental includes Hanboknam, which is located five minutes walking distance from both Changdeokgung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace, which only takes a 30 minute ride on the subway from Ewha.
The palaces offer a decent place for photographs with beautiful sceneries made by spring flowers that are in full bloom. Both domestic and international tourists gaze at the scenery consisting of colorful flowers against the backdrop of traditional palatial architecture in awe.
Spring in Seoul is not complete without cherry blossoms. Try visiting Seokchon Lake Park and Yeouido Hangang Park. Such parks are iconic locations to fully enjoy the beauty of stunning cherry blossoms, always being crowded with both foreign and local visitors taking photos. The flowers transform the parks into a pastel-colored wonderland, which makes them the best spring attractions in Seoul. Seokchon Lake Park is directly behind Lotte World, one of the most famous amusement parks in South Korea, so it is fairly easy to access through subway stations. Spending a pleasant time taking rides with your friends in Lotte World and visiting Seokchon Lake Park is highly recommended.
Yeouido Hangang Park is where individuals visit for a picnic during springtime. The park also holds a Spring Flower Festival in the first week of April, where 1,886 cherry blossom trees and other spring flowers including Forsythia and Azalea accompany the visitors. Other than picnics, you can take a walk around Hangang Park or ride a bicycle to enjoy the smell of spring air.
Walking down the streets of Seoul, cafés are almost everywhere. There are a wide variety of cafés to choose from, making diverse desserts and drinks accessible to the public. They also provide unique and photogenic aesthetics during spring by creating desserts that are only available during spring.
Right next to Ikseon-dong is Jongno-gu, where Cafe Kiiro, home to one of the most famous cherry blossom desserts, is located. Cafe Kiiro features its unique cherry blossom Mont Blanc, a French dessert made of baked meringue, whipped cream, and sweet chestnut cream. Mont Blanc’s exclusive pink color creates a mood that suits the warm weather of Seoul’s spring. Some people say that the Mont Blanc resembles a princess wearing a pink dress, which makes the dessert worthy of photo taking and attractive towards young female university students.
Patisserie BOOWOO is also a place where you can taste spring desserts. The café is famous for its cherry blossom puddings that include Panna Cotta, cherry jelly, and cherry pickles. The scent of cherry blossoms used for decoration is a perfect match with the flavor of the pudding. Its chewy texture created by the Italian-style Panna Cotta makes the dessert attractive. Hurry up and visit the café if you are interested as the pudding is only available until the first week of April.