Sokcho city

[Hisashiburi]

Sokcho is a small beach city on the East coast, popular as a weekend getaway from Seoul.
Formerly part of North Korea before the war.

The main beach is only about a 2 min walk from the Express bus station
Not really a swimmable beach though, more for sightseeing and walks
Across the East sea, from the beach, is north Honshu, Japan
Lots of people go there on Jan 1 to catch first sunrise of the year.

There is a popular Sokcho Tourist and Fishery market which sells seafood and other types of food.
Worth going to take a look.
Highlights are Snow/King Crab, Squid, Tempura, grilled and fried fish

Youngrang Lake is nice to walk especially in Spring where white Cherry blossom trees surround the entire lake.

Seoraksan is very pretty especially in Autumn.
There is a cable car that tourists can ride to a higher peak
Also has quite a few different hiking trails of varying difficulty and length
Buses or Taxis can easily get there, about 20 to 40min ride

Weather is more temperate than in Seoul
Less warm in Summer and less cold in Winter.
Air quality is generally better

Hotels along the beach with ocean view
Lotte Resort
A-Place

How to get to Sokcho:
Express Bus terminal at Gangnam area
Takes about 3 hours and often sold out on weekends(Fri and Sat)
There are different levels of buses such as Premium Gold
Difference is mostly just wider seats.

KTX train supposedly coming in 2027 cutting travel time to 1.5 hrs

 

[wongkc]

Sounds very laidback... good for relaxing and hiking...

but moving around will be hard without private transport?

 

[Hisashiburi]

Sounds very laidback... good for relaxing and hiking...

but moving around will be hard without private transport?

Have lots of taxis and Sokcho is quite small so it is easy to get around.
Not expensive

No private transport is still ok

 

[wongkc]

Have lots of taxis and Sokcho is quite small so it is easy to get around.
Not expensive

No private transport is still ok

The taxi in Sokcho easy to flag down or need to use their app?
I had quite a bad experience flagging taxi in Seoul on my last trip... their taxi stand also no use... no taxi turn into the stand for 45mins even though we see many empty taxi on the road...

 

[Hisashiburi]

The taxi in Sokcho easy to flag down or need to use their app?
I had quite a bad experience flagging taxi in Seoul on my last trip... their taxi stand also no use... no taxi turn into the stand for 45mins even though we see many empty taxi on the road...

Easy to flag down n lots of taxis at all the tourist spots.

We dont have a car because the city is so small.
Just walk around or take taxi for further places.

 

[wongkc]

Just checked out the map... wah damn far...

We went Alpaca World and that already took 2 hour plus from Seoul... and Alpaca World is only half way to Sokcho... so i think 4 hours more realistic... definitely need to stay a day or 2... not for day trip...

 

[rrr2015]

Sokcho Travel Courses
https://www.sokchotour.com/en/information/information_courses
i wish they had put more effort to provide more information, clickable links though.

 

[Hisashiburi]

Just checked out the map... wah damn far...

We went Alpaca World and that already took 2 hour plus from Seoul... and Alpaca World is only half way to Sokcho... so i think 4 hours more realistic... definitely need to stay a day or 2... not for day trip...

Ya day trip is too short for Sokcho.
The traffic can be really bad on weekends too.

Maybe 3 days if want to explore Seoraksan or more if want to go to Gangneung too.

 

[tazzycorner]

is this tour itinerary similar to what is recommended here?

package is sgd700 for 2 pax

https://www.viator.com/en-SG/tours/...-Harbor-Private-Tour-from-Seoul/d973-101420P7

 

[Hisashiburi]

is this tour itinerary similar to what is recommended here?

package is sgd700 for 2 pax

https://www.viator.com/en-SG/tours/...-Harbor-Private-Tour-from-Seoul/d973-101420P7

From their website, doesnt seem very clear as to the exact itinerary.

It seems like:
- hotel pickup
- travel to Seoraksan, included entrance fee but cable car fee not included
- fish n tourist market
- sokcho beach
- seafood lunch
- return to Seoul

I think it is a bit short n tiring for a day trip as the ride from Seoul to Sokcho is about 3 hrs.

It is very do-able on your own but will take longer of course.
- express bus about $50 per person roundtrip.
- taxi from sokcho to seoraksan $20
- entrance fee $3.50 per person
- cable car ride $11 per person
- crab soup lunch $15 per person
- add in taxi ride from seoraksan to sokcho fish market $20

So total about $200 for 2.

Sokcho beach is just 2 min walk from bus station.

Recommend to stay 1 or 2 nights in the area n see other parts of Sokcho.

If u drive, can also go to Gangneung and Yangyang beach town.

 

[Hisashiburi]

This website has quite a good writeup

https://www.koreatodo.com/seoraksan-national-park

 

[tazzycorner]

From their website, doesnt seem very clear as to the exact itinerary.

It seems like:
- hotel pickup
- travel to Seoraksan, included entrance fee but cable car fee not included
- fish n tourist market
- sokcho beach
- seafood lunch
- return to Seoul

I think it is a bit short n tiring for a day trip as the ride from Seoul to Sokcho is about 3 hrs.

It is very do-able on your own but will take longer of course.
- express bus about $50 per person roundtrip.
- taxi from sokcho to seoraksan $20
- entrance fee $3.50 per person
- cable car ride $11 per person
- crab soup lunch $15 per person
- add in taxi ride from seoraksan to sokcho fish market $20

So total about $200 for 2.

Sokcho beach is just 2 min walk from bus station.

Recommend to stay 1 or 2 nights in the area n see other parts of Sokcho.

If u drive, can also go to Gangneung and Yangyang beach town.

thanks for the details and the website link!!

tried looking at the express bus website to see if can pre-book tix but everything is in korean
any issue if we have to bring our big luggage on the bus?

 

[Hisashiburi]

thanks for the details and the website link!!

tried looking at the express bus website to see if can pre-book tix but everything is in korean
any issue if we have to bring our big luggage on the bus?

No issues
Can store big luggage in the luggage hold of the bus.

There are many buses throughout the day by various companies i think.
Can prebook or book at the express bus terminal.

just dont travel to sokcho on the weekends, fri, sat n sun.
Buses are packed n the town is very crowded.

 

[tazzycorner]

No issues
Can store big luggage in the luggage hold of the bus.

There are many buses throughout the day by various companies i think.
Can prebook or book at the express bus terminal.

just dont travel to sokcho on the weekends, fri, sat n sun.
Buses are packed n the town is very crowded.

ahh ... my free days are from Fri to Sun

 

[Hisashiburi]

ahh ... my free days are from Fri to Sun

Weekends are still ok but just much more crowded.

Friday buses are almost always full so have to book in advance.

 

[tazzycorner]

Weekends are still ok but just much more crowded.
Friday buses are almost always full so have to book in advance.

thanks!
booked 2 nights stay at Kensington hotel

let's see if I can make advance booking for buses without KR CC
looks like the return leg schedule will only be online after 20th each mth

 

[Hisashiburi]

thanks!
booked 2 nights stay at Kensington hotel

let's see if I can make advance booking for buses without KR CC
looks like the return leg schedule will only be online after 20th each mth

I stayed at kensington stars too on my first trip to sokcho!

Ill list some food places that i like.

 

[tazzycorner]

thanks!
booked 2 nights stay at Kensington hotel

let's see if I can make advance booking for buses without KR CC
looks like the return leg schedule will only be online after 20th each mth

@Hisashiburi - appreciate if you can provide any comments/feedback on my itinerary

Day 1 : Fri
From Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take 930am bus to SokCho
Reach SokCho, take taxi to Kensington hotel and check-in at 1pm

Left 1/2 day ... was thinking of going the national park first
Take the cable car ride to Gwongeumseong (Gwongeumseong Fortress) Platform.
Walk to Anrakarm Temple
Take cable car back down, see if any more time to do another short hike
Dinner back at hotel

Day 2 : Sat
Take bus #7/7-1 from hotel to Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
Walk to Younggeumjeong Pavilion / lighthouse
What else?

Day 3 : Sun
Leave SokCho and head back Seoul Express Bus Terminal and then to ICN Airport

 

[Hisashiburi]

@Hisashiburi - appreciate if you can provide any comments/feedback on my itinerary

Day 1 : Fri
From Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take 930am bus to SokCho
Reach SokCho, take taxi to Kensington hotel and check-in at 1pm

Left 1/2 day ... was thinking of going the national park first
Take the cable car ride to Gwongeumseong (Gwongeumseong Fortress) Platform.
Walk to Anrakarm Temple
Take cable car back down, see if any more time to do another short hike
Dinner back at hotel

Day 2 : Sat
Take bus #7/7-1 from hotel to Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
Walk to Younggeumjeong Pavilion / lighthouse
What else?

Day 3 : Sun
Leave SokCho and head back Seoul Express Bus Terminal and then to ICN Airport

Day 1 is good.

Day 2 can also go to Sokcho beach near bus station.

Day 3 what time is your flight? It takes a very long time from Sokcho to ICN airport.
3 hrs from Sokcho to Express Bus Terminal and another 2.5 hours or so to ICN.

Kensington Hotel is nice but a bit far from town.
Day 1 is ok but on Day 2/3 , will have to take 3 trips to/from the hotel.

Suggest maybe
1. Day 2 switch hotel to somewhere close to bus station/town so will have shorter trips.

2. If prefer not to switch hotels, stay at a hotel close to bus station/town.
Then switch days and on day 2 , go to Seoraksan.
Day 1 to fish market and/or lake.

 

[tazzycorner]

Day 1 is good.

Day 2 can also go to Sokcho beach near bus station.

Day 3 what time is your flight? It takes a very long time from Sokcho to ICN airport.
3 hrs from Sokcho to Express Bus Terminal and another 2.5 hours or so to ICN.

Kensington Hotel is nice but a bit far from town.
Day 1 is ok but on Day 2/3 , will have to take 3 trips to/from the hotel.

Suggest maybe
1. Day 2 switch hotel to somewhere close to bus station/town so will have shorter trips.

2. If prefer not to switch hotels, stay at a hotel close to bus station/town.
Then switch days and on day 2 , go to Seoraksan.
Day 1 to fish market and/or lake.

Thanks for the suggestion!
My flight is 7:30pm, so should be able to make it.
Just that like you said, 3 trips ... shag
Will look to see if should make the adjustments

btw, the Lake you mention is which one?