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Destinations & ItinerariesBy Clever Tourists · Published
Two days, three if you want to hike properly. We spent 3 days in Sokcho, from 1 to 4 July 2023, after Gyeongju and before the final 5 days in Seoul. Sokcho has two halves: Seoraksan National Park, about 25 minutes inland by city bus, and the town on the East Sea, with its fish market, beach and the refugee-founded Abai Village. One day for each is the right minimum. A third day adds the Ulsanbawi climb as a day of its own, or Naksansa temple on the cliffs to the south.
• Day trip from Seoul: possible, with express buses taking about 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours each way; see our Sokcho and Seoraksan guide. You get the cable car and a market dinner, no more.
• 1 night: Seoraksan on day one, the town the next morning.
• 2 nights: the recommendation. A full mountain day and a full coast day.
• 3 nights: what we had. Add Ulsanbawi or Naksansa, or a weather backup for the mountain.
Seoraksan's entry is free (the old Sinheungsa temple fee was waived from 4 May 2023), and city buses 7 and 7-1 run from town to the Seorak-dong entrance in about 25 minutes. Pay with a T-money card.
Day 1, Seoraksan by cable car. Take bus 7 or 7-1 to the last stop at Seorak-dong and buy your Gwongeumseong cable car ticket first: ₩15,000 (≈ $11.3) return, sold on site for a set boarding time. While you wait, walk to Sinheungsa and its large bronze Buddha, or along the valley toward Biseondae. The cable car takes about 5 minutes, then a short rocky scramble reaches the fortress ruins and the view over the Seorak peaks.
Day 2, Ulsanbawi. The climb to Ulsanbawi, a granite ridge above the valley, takes about 3.5 to 4 hours return from the park entrance, the last stretch on a steel staircase of more than 800 steps. Start early to beat both the heat and the cable car crowds, and come back down for a late lunch.
Day 3, the coast. Cross the harbour channel to Abai Village on the hand-pulled gaetbae ferry and try abai sundae, then walk to the Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market for fried chicken, dakgangjeong and squid sundae. Finish at Sokcho Beach or Daepo Port. With a spare half day, buses 9 and 9-1 run south to Naksansa, a temple on the sea cliffs above Naksan Beach.
With only two days, put Ulsanbawi or the cable car on day one, whichever the weather suits, and the coast on day two.
On our 32-day South Korea route, Sokcho closed the loop up the east coast: Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju (3 days), then Sokcho, then back to Seoul. Gyeongju to Sokcho is the awkward leg, with no fast direct option. Most people change in Seoul, around 6 hours in all, or work up the east coast toward Gangneung and finish by bus. Plan a full travel day.
Sokcho to Seoul is the easy one: express buses to Dong Seoul or Seoul Express Bus Terminal take about 2.5 hours. That makes Sokcho a good final stop before flying out of Seoul; see how many days in Seoul for the city end.
Sokcho has two bus terminals about 3 km apart: the Express Bus Terminal in the south, closer to Seoraksan, and the Intercity Bus Terminal in the north, closer to the market. Stay near the beach and harbour for the town, or near the park entrance for early hikes.
Seoraksan is the park most Koreans name first when asked about mountains, and the Seorak-dong entrance near Sokcho is the busiest way in. From the bus stop it is a short walk to the entrance plaza, the large seated bronze Buddha and Sinheungsa temple; the cable car station is just beyond.
• Easy: the valley walk toward Biseondae, a flat riverside trail past rock pools, a couple of hours return.
• Moderate: the cable car to Gwongeumseong, with a short rocky scramble at the top.
• Hard: Ulsanbawi, about 3.5 to 4 hours return with the steel stairs at the end.
The park is busiest on autumn weekends, when the expressways from Seoul back up and the cable car queue stretches for hours. A weekday visit in October, or any day outside the foliage season, is a different experience. Strong wind stops the cable car, so if the forecast is bad, swap it for Biseondae and keep the cable car for the next day.
Mid-October to early November is Seoraksan's peak for autumn leaves around Seorak-dong and the cable car, and the upper slopes turn from late September. It is also when cable car waits of 2 to 3 hours are common, so the extra day matters most then.
July and August are beach season in town. We were there in early July, inside the jangma rainy season, which usually runs from late June to late July; on a wet day the mountain closes in and the market and Abai Village are the better plan. Spring is mild and quiet.
• Arriving at the cable car at midday. Buy the ticket first thing, then sightsee while you wait for your slot.
• Trying Ulsanbawi and the cable car on one rushed day. Both are possible, but the steel stairs are slow, and the day gets long.
• Using the wrong terminal. Check which one your bus ticket uses.
• Skipping temple etiquette. Sinheungsa and Naksansa are working temples; see our temple dress code guide.
Yes: one day in Seoraksan National Park and one on the coast. We spent 3 days, which added the Ulsanbawi climb as a day of its own.
About 3.5 to 4 hours return from the Seorak-dong entrance, ending on a steel staircase of more than 800 steps.
₩15,000 (≈ $11.3) return for adults. Tickets are sold on site on the day with a set boarding time, so buy yours first thing.
There is no fast direct option. Change in Seoul, around 6 hours in total, or work up the east coast toward Gangneung and take a bus from there. Plan a full travel day.
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