Seoul in March — Travel Guide

By Harry Nara · Last updated September 24, 2026

#Weather in Seoul in March

Seoul in March averages 2–11°C (36–52°F) with around 5 days of rain, and crowds are medium.

March is the month Seoul turns from winter to spring, and it does not do it evenly. The first week can still bring frost and a cold wind; the last can feel like April. The average high climbs from single figures to the mid-teens across the month, and mornings stay cold throughout, so a day that starts at 2°C may be pleasant by afternoon.

The flowers arrive from the south and move up the peninsula. In Seoul the yellow of cornelian cherry and forsythia comes first, from the middle of the month, and the cherry blossom follows. Its long-run average opening is 8 April, but in 2026 it opened on 29 March, so late March is now worth watching.

March is also when yellow dust from the deserts of northern China and Mongolia begins to arrive, alongside the fine dust that builds through late winter.

#What to Do in Seoul in March

Independence Movement Day

1 March is a national holiday marking the 1919 independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, which began with a declaration read in what is now Tapgol Park, off Jongno. Seodaemun Prison History Hall, where many independence activists were held, is the place to understand it. Expect flags across the city and ceremonies in the centre.

Marathon Sunday

The 2027 Seoul Marathon, the 97th edition of the race, is on 21 March. Even if you are not running, the course through the centre makes it a good morning to watch; find a spot early, and use the subway to move between points.

The first flowers

Forsythia, gaenari, is Seoul's city flower, and from late March it turns the slopes of Eungbongsan, a small hill above the Han, bright yellow. Cornelian cherry comes out in the parks around the same time. If the season runs early, the first cherry blossom may open in the final days of the month.

A temple before the lanterns go up

Bongeunsa, a Buddhist temple founded over a thousand years ago and now standing opposite the COEX towers in Gangnam, runs short temple-stay programmes for visitors, from a few hours of meditation and tea with the monks to an overnight stay. In March it is quiet. From April, the lanterns for Buddha's Birthday start going up across the city's temples, and the crowds follow them.

A long walk before the crowds

With cool, clear days, March is good for walking the old city wall or climbing Inwangsan before the April crowds. Wear layers: the summit can be cold even when the streets below are warm.

#Getting Around

On the morning of the Seoul Marathon, Sunday 21 March in 2027, roads across the city centre close from early morning, with the start scheduled at Gwanghwamun Square. Buses are rerouted, so plan that morning around the subway.

March is also the first month when cycling along the Han is pleasant again. The public bikes, Ttareungi, are rented through an app, and the riverside paths run for long distances without traffic.

#Budget & Costs

March is still a shoulder month in Seoul, and room rates are moderate until the last week, when blossom season demand begins. The marathon weekend is busy around the centre.

Most of what March offers is cheap: Seodaemun Prison History Hall and the palaces charge small entry fees, and a hike costs nothing but the subway ride to the trailhead.

#Food & Dining

Spring greens are the food of March. Naengi, shepherd's purse, goes into soybean paste stew, and dallae, wild chives, is mixed into sauces. Markets such as Gyeongdong, in the east of the city, sell them by the bag, along with the dried herbs and roots Koreans cook with.

Jukkumi, small octopus, is in season and is usually stir-fried with chilli. The last of the winter strawberries are still around.

#Nightlife

The new academic year starts at the beginning of March, and the university areas of Hongdae, Sinchon and around Korea University fill with students again. Freshers' welcome parties keep the bars busy.

On 14 March, White Day, men give sweets to women in return for the Valentine's gifts of February. Couples' restaurants are booked out.

#Shopping

Spring stock arrives in March, and the independent labels of Seongsu and the boutiques along Garosu-gil in Sinsa get it first. Outdoor gear shops near the mountains fill with hikers preparing for the season.

#Culture & Etiquette

Seodaemun Prison and Tapgol Park are sites of real national grief, particularly around 1 March. Keep voices low and photographs respectful.

Masks become common again from March, when the dust season starts. Nobody will think it strange if you wear one.

#Essential Local Phrases

#Packing List

• A warm jacket for mornings and evenings
• Layers you can take off as the day warms
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A few KF94 masks for dusty days
• Sunglasses for bright, clear days
• A small umbrella for the odd shower
• Lip balm and moisturiser, because the air is still dry
• Running kit, if you have a marathon place

#Safety & Health

Dust is the main health concern in March. Check the air-quality forecast in the morning, and on a bad day keep hard exercise indoors and wear a mask outside. Anyone with asthma should take this seriously.

Mornings can be icy in the first half of the month, especially on shaded mountain paths.

#Backup Plans

A dusty or rainy March day is a museum day. The National Museum of Contemporary Art beside Gyeongbokgung, the Seoul Museum of History and the Leeum all have strong collections, and the Starfield Library at COEX makes a calm hour.