Korea Travel Guide for March! Enjoy the Start of Spring

Guide H 2026-02-24

Hello! I’m Guide H.

February is over and March is just around the corner. Time flies!

In Korea, March is when winter ends and spring begins. It’s not just cherry blossoms—forsythia, plum blossoms, and canola flowers start to bloom, and there are plenty of seasonal foods like strawberries, spring greens, and webfoot octopus, plus March-only festivals, so there’s a lot to do even before cherry blossom season. In this post I’ll cover weather, advantages, flowers and food, festivals, and what to pack for a March trip to Korea.

🌸 When Spring Begins – March Weather

March in Korea is the month when winter ends and spring begins. Early March can still feel chilly, but from mid-month onward you can enjoy slightly warm spring weather during the day. It’s neither too hot nor too cold—ideal for flower viewing, walking tours, and festivals.

Overall Weather

Average temperature: Around 5°C ~ 15°C in Seoul
Low: 0°C ~ 5°C (morning/dawn)
High: 10°C ~ 18°C (afternoon, warmer toward late March)
Day–night difference: Often around 10°C, so mornings and evenings can feel cold.
Rain: Rain increases from mid-March; pollen and fine dust can be high.

There are still days when temperatures drop below freezing, so a light coat or jacket is recommended.

Weather by Region

Region	Average temp.	Notes
Seoul / Gyeonggi	5°C ~ 14°C	Large day–night range, spring feel by late March
Busan	7°C ~ 13°C	Warmer than Seoul, early cherry blossoms in late March
Gyeongju	6°C ~ 14°C	Relatively warm, good for history + spring flowers
Jeju	8°C ~ 14°C	Warmest; canola flowers and fire festival
Gangwon / mountains	2°C ~ 10°C	Still chilly and windy

If you prefer warmer weather, Busan, Gyeongju, and Jeju are relatively mild—good for planning your itinerary.

⚠️ Things to Watch in March

Day–night difference: Mornings and evenings are cold, so bring outerwear. Layered clothing works well.
Fine dust: Fine and ultrafine dust are often high in March. Check air quality (weather app, Air Korea) and bring KF94 masks on bad days.
Pollen: When spring flowers bloom, pollen can be an issue; bring medication or a mask if you have allergies.

✅ Advantages of March Travel

Travel with Spring Flowers

In March, forsythia, plum blossoms, and canola flowers start to bloom, and in some areas cherry blossoms begin as well. It’s less crowded than April cherry blossom season but still full of spring atmosphere.

Comfortable Weather

It’s not as cold as midwinter nor as hot as summer, so great for walking. You can enjoy flower viewing, walking tours, and festivals without much trouble.

Seasonal Food and Festivals

You can try strawberries, spring greens, webfoot octopus, and other March specialties, and enjoy March-only festivals like forsythia, fire, strawberry, and drone shows—plenty to do before cherry blossoms.

Off-Peak Feel

Compared to April cherry blossoms and May holidays, accommodation and flights are often easier to book and a bit cheaper.

🌼 March Flowers

March is when spring flowers gradually bloom along streets, in parks, and in the south. Timing varies by region and flower type, so you can plan around your schedule.

Forsythia

Mid- to late March: Yellow forsythia starts blooming nationwide, including Seoul. You can see it at Eungbongsan (Seoul), Namsan, Han River Park, and similar spots. Eungbongsan is famous for its forsythia festival and is an easy climb, good for families and couples.

Plum Blossoms

Early to mid-March: Plum blossoms often appear first. Yangsan (Gyeongnam), Gwangyang (Jeonnam), Dalseong Park (Daegu) are known for plum blossoms. They bloom earlier than cherry blossoms, so you get that “spring is here” feeling sooner.

Canola Flowers (Jeju)

On Jeju, canola flowers form yellow waves from mid-March to April. You can see large fields near Seongsan Ilchulbong, Noksan-ro, Pyoseon / Namwon, and elsewhere. If you’re on Jeju in March, don’t miss them.

Cherry Blossoms (South / Jeju)

By late March, cherry blossoms start in southern areas such as Busan, Gyeongju, Jinhae, and Jeju. Seoul and the central region are usually early to mid-April, so for cherry blossoms in March, aim for Busan, Gyeongju, or Jeju.

Summary: From mid-March you can see forsythia and plum blossoms in streets and parks, canola flowers on Jeju, and cherry blossoms in the south by late March.

🍓 Spring Food

March brings strawberries, spring greens, webfoot octopus, and other seasonal ingredients. Here are some dishes worth trying.

Strawberry Desserts

From March, Korean cafés kick off strawberry dessert season. Strawberry latte, strawberry bingsu, strawberry cake, strawberry smoothie and other spring-limited menus are common. Popular cafés may have waits, so allow extra time.

At markets and supermarkets you can buy fresh Korean strawberries at good prices. Best season for strawberry lovers. Day trips to growing areas like Nonsan or Naju offer strawberry-picking and very fresh berries.

Spring Greens Bibimbap

In spring, Korea has seasonal wild greens like shepherd’s purse, wild chive, chwinamul, and fern. Spring greens bibimbap with these is fragrant, healthy, and a popular spring dish.

Look for it at traditional set-menu restaurants or bibimbap specialists. In Seoul you can also find it near Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun Market, and in Insadong and Bukchon.

Webfoot Octopus (Jjukkumi)

March is webfoot octopus season, so it’s a good time for fresh jjukkumi. Spicy stir-fried webfoot octopus is very popular; many places serve it as a set with rice or noodles.

If you don’t like spicy food, try webfoot octopus shabu-shabu (clear broth) or grilled webfoot octopus. Busan, Pohang, Yeosu and other coastal cities have many specialty restaurants.

🎉 March Festivals

For those thinking “Cherry blossoms are still a bit early… what else can I do?”, here are four Korea festivals you can enjoy in March. Dates change every year, so check official or tourism sites before visiting.

🌼 Seoul Eungbongsan Forsythia Festival

One of the first places in Seoul to feel spring. By late March, Eungbongsan is covered in yellow forsythia. The view with the Han River in the background is great for photos. The mountain isn’t high, so easy to climb and good for families and couples.

Come here if you want “early spring vibes” before cherry blossoms. Weekends can be crowded; weekdays are recommended.

Rough period: Late March–early April
Location: Eungbongsan, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (near Han River Jin / Yeoksam, Subway Line 6)
Note: Free; wear comfortable shoes for the trails

🔥 Jeju Wildfire Festival

Spring on Jeju is special. This intense traditional festival sets fire to large fields; at night the landscape is lit up and very impressive. If you want “something different” on Jeju, plan your trip around this festival.

Rough period: Mid-March (check official dates each year)
Location: Western Jeju (e.g. Saebyul Oreum)
Note: Evening event—bring a jacket and comfortable shoes; expect traffic and parking congestion

🍓 Nonsan Strawberry Festival

March is when Korean strawberries are at their best. Nonsan is a major strawberry region: you can join strawberry-picking and find various strawberry desserts and gifts. Great for family trips or food-focused travel. About 1–2 hours from Seoul—doable as a day trip.

Rough period: March (check official schedule)
Location: Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do (express bus or car)
Note: Picking may require advance booking—check in advance

🌊 Busan M Drone Light Show

A large drone light show on Gwangalli Beach. Drones draw images in the sky against the night sea and Gwangandaegyo Bridge. Free and high quality, very popular. If you’re planning an evening in Busan, don’t miss it.

Rough period: March–spring (may be held multiple times a year; check official schedule)
Location: Gwangalli Beach, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Note: Beach can be windy—bring a jacket; crowds are common—keep an eye on belongings and agree on a meeting point

⚠️ Festival Tips

Festival venues get crowded, so keep track of your belongings and move carefully. On weekends and holidays, traffic and parking can be heavy—public transport is recommended. Dates and programs change every year; check official and tourism websites for the latest information.

🎒 What to Pack & Tips

Clothing

Light coat / trench / jacket: Needed for the large day–night temperature difference; easy to take on and off.
Layers: Knitwear, light sweaters, long-sleeve tees so you can adjust to morning/evening chill and midday warmth.
Long sleeves and long pants: Early to mid-March can still be chilly; having one set is useful.
Comfortable shoes: You’ll do a lot of walking for flowers and festivals—sneakers or walking shoes are best. If you’ll do light hiking (e.g. Eungbongsan), shoes with good grip help.

Essentials

Masks (e.g. KF94): Fine and ultrafine dust can be high in March—bring masks for bad air days.
Lotion and lip balm: Helpful in dry, windy weather.
Umbrella or rain gear: Rain becomes more likely in late March; a compact umbrella is handy.

Before You Go

Air quality and weather: Use Air Korea or a weather app to check fine dust and day–night temperature difference; on bad days, reduce time outdoors or wear a mask.
Festival and event dates: March festival dates change every year—check official and tourism websites for the latest schedule.

🙋 Conclusion

This post covered March travel in Korea: weather, advantages, spring flowers, seasonal food, March festivals, and what to pack.

March is when winter turns into spring. If you prepare for temperature changes and fine dust, you can enjoy flowers, food, and festivals. It’s less crowded than peak cherry blossom season, and choosing warmer Busan, Gyeongju, or Jeju lets you feel spring earlier.

I hope your March trip to Korea leaves you with great memories of flowers, food, and festivals. See you in the next video or post. Bye!

This post was written in February 2026. Festival dates, bloom times, and weather can vary by year and region—check official sites and the latest weather and air quality before your trip.

Contents