Traveling from Seoul to Gangneung and Sokcho

Trip at a glance

Route: Seoul → Gangneung (1 night) → Jumunjin → Yangyang → Sokcho (1 night) → Seoul
Best seasons: Late spring through early autumn for beaches and surfing; October–November for autumn leaves in Seoraksan
Getting around: KTX train to Gangneung, express bus back from Sokcho; a rental car or taxis make Day 2 much easier
Must-eat: Chodang soft tofu, jang kalguksu, squid sundae, and mulhoe (cold raw fish soup)

How to get there from Seoul

Seoul → Gangneung by KTX

KTX high-speed trains run from Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station to Gangneung Station in about two hours. Book on the official Korail site in English, Let's Korail, and reserve early for weekends and summer holidays, when trains sell out.

Sokcho → Seoul by express bus

There is no train to Sokcho yet, so return by bus. Express buses leave Sokcho Express Bus Terminal for Seoul Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2), taking roughly 2 hours 10 to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets can be booked on KOBUS or bought at the terminal.

Map tip: Google Maps gives limited directions in Korea. Download Naver Map (it has an English mode) for walking, bus, and train routes. Every place below has a Naver Map link and a Google Maps link.

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Day 1: Gangneung, the city of poets, pine trees, and coffee

12:00 | Lunch: Chodang soft tofu (sundubu)

Chodang village is famous for tofu made with seawater from the East Sea instead of the usual coagulant. The result is soft, slightly savory, and surprisingly mild. Try the classic white version first, or the spicy jjamppong sundubu if you like heat.

Recommended: Donghwa Garden (jjamppong sundubu) (Naver Map | Google Maps) or Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu (traditional white tofu) (Naver Map | Google Maps)

Chodang sundubu (순두부 한 상)]

13:15 | Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park: the home of a Joseon woman poet

Just a short walk from the tofu restaurants is the birthplace of Heo Nanseolheon (1563–1589), one of the most gifted poets of the Joseon Dynasty. She died young, and much of her work was burned at her request, but her brother Heo Gyun, remembered as the author of The Tale of Hong Gildong, gathered what survived. Her poems later became famous in China and Japan. The quiet old house sits inside a pine forest, and it is one of the best free stops in Gangneung.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

 Heo Nanseolheon's birthplace in the pine forest]

14:30 | Ojukheon: the house on Korea's banknotes

Ojukheon is where the great Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi I was born in 1536, and the family home of his mother, Shin Saimdang, an artist and calligrapher. Both appear on Korean money: Yulgok on the 5,000-won note and Shin Saimdang on the 50,000-won note. Take one out and compare it with the real house.

The name means "house of black bamboo." Look for the dark-stemmed bamboo growing around the buildings, then visit the small museum on the grounds.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

 Ojukheon and the black bamboo (오죽헌 전경 / 검은 대나무)]

16:00 | Gyeongpodae Pavilion and Gyeongpo Lake

This pavilion above Gyeongpo Lake has inspired Korean writers for centuries. The poet Jeong Cheol praised it in Gwandong Byeolgok (1580), his famous travel poem about this coastline. Locals say that on a clear night you can see five moons here: in the sky, on the sea, on the lake, in your glass, and in the eyes of the person beside you.

Walk the path around the lake, then continue to Gyeongpo Beach, just a few minutes away.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

Rainy-day alternative: Arte Museum Gangneung, an immersive media art exhibition near the lake. (Naver Map | Google Maps)

 Gyeongpodae pavilion overlooking the lake]

17:00 | Coffee by the sea

Gangneung is often called the coffee capital of Korea. Choose your style:

Anmok Beach Coffee Street: a row of cafés facing the sea, perfect for watching the evening light. (Naver Map | Google Maps)
Terarosa Coffee Factory: a pioneer of Korean specialty coffee, in a beautiful brick building a little inland. (Naver Map | Google Maps)
Bohemian Park Yi-chu Coffee Factory: run by one of Korea's first-generation hand-drip baristas. (Naver Map | Google Maps)

19:00 | Dinner: jang kalguksu

Gangneung's local noodle soup is jang kalguksu: hand-cut noodles in a spicy broth made with red pepper paste. It is warming, rustic, and a favorite with locals.

Recommended: Hyeongje Kalguksu (Naver Map | Google Maps) or Beoljip (Naver Map | Google Maps)

Where to stay: the Gyeongpo Beach area for sea views, or near Gangneung Station for convenience.

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Day 2: Jumunjin, Yangyang surf beaches, and Sokcho

09:00 | Jumunjin Fish Market and the BTS bus stop

Head north to Jumunjin, a working fishing port with a lively morning market. Nearby at Hyangho Beach stands the bus stop set used for a BTS album photo shoot, a favorite photo spot for fans.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)
(Naver Map | Google Maps)

 Jumunjin port or the BTS bus stop]

BTS Bus Stop

11:00 | Yangyang: Korea's surf coast

Yangyang has become the center of Korea's surfing scene, with surf schools, beach bars, and a laid-back mood you won't find anywhere else in the country. Beginners can book a two-hour lesson with board and wetsuit included. If you'd rather stay dry, stroll Ingu Beach's Yangridan-gil, a small street of cafés and casual restaurants, and have lunch there.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)
(Naver Map | Google Maps)

 Surfers at Jukdo or Ingu Beach]

14:00 | Naksansa Temple and Uisangdae Pavilion

Founded over 1,300 years ago, Naksansa sits on a cliff above the sea. Walk down to Uisangdae, a small pavilion with a lone pine tree leaning over the water. Jeong Cheol wrote about waiting for the sunrise here in the same poem that praised Gyeongpodae, so on this trip you are following his route.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

Uisangdae pavilion

pine tree above the sea]

16:00 | Sokcho: Abai Village and the hand-pulled ferry

Abai Village was built by refugees from North Korea during the Korean War. Many settled here hoping to return home once the war ended, and the village still keeps their food and memories. To reach it, ride the gaetbae, a flat little ferry that passengers pull across the water by a steel cable. It takes only a minute and costs very little, but it's one of the most memorable experiences on the coast.

Try the village's signature dishes: squid sundae (squid stuffed with rice and vegetables, then pan-fried) and Abai sundae. A well-known spot is Dancheon Sikdang. (Naver Map | Google Maps)
(Naver Map | Google Maps)

The gaetbae ferry crossing to Abai Village]

18:30 | Sokcho Beach and the Sokcho Eye

End the day at Sokcho Beach, where the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel lights up at night and gives a sweeping view of the East Sea and the city.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

19:30 | Dinner: mulhoe, Sokcho's cold raw fish soup

Your first bowl of mulhoe belongs here. Cheongchosu Mulhoe, near Abai Village, is one of the most famous mulhoe restaurants in the country. (Naver Map | Google Maps)

Where to stay: hotels around Sokcho Beach put you close to the evening sights and the bus terminal.

What is mulhoe? A quick guide to Korea's summer seafood soup

Mulhoe (물회) means "water sashimi." Thin slices of fresh raw fish, squid, or sea cucumber are served in a bowl of icy, sweet-sour-spicy broth with shredded vegetables and pear. It started as a quick meal for fishermen working on the boat, and today it's the dish that brings people to the east coast in summer.

How to eat it: Stir everything together so the chili, vinegar, and ice mix well. Eat about half, then add the rice or thin somyeon noodles served on the side into the remaining broth. Many people say the second half is the best part.

Good to know: Each restaurant has its own recipe, and some bowls are quite spicy. If you don't eat raw fish, ask about cooked options like grilled fish sets, which most seafood restaurants also serve.

 A bowl of mulhoe (물회)]

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Day 3: Seoraksan, one more bowl of mulhoe, and home

07:00 | Optional sunrise at Yeonggeumjeong

If you're an early riser, walk out to Yeonggeumjeong, a pavilion on the rocks by Sokcho Lighthouse. The sunrise over the East Sea here is worth the alarm.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

09:00 | Seoraksan National Park

Just 20–30 minutes from downtown Sokcho, Seoraksan is one of Korea's most beloved mountains. With half a day, visit Sinheungsa Temple and its giant bronze Buddha, then take the Seorak Cable Car up to the Gwongeumseong fortress ruins for a panoramic view. If you prefer an easy walk, the flat trail to Biseondae follows a clear mountain stream.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)
(Naver Map | Google Maps)

Cable car tickets sell out quickly in autumn. Arrive early, especially in October.

 Seoraksan peaks or the cable car view

13:00 | Lunch: mulhoe round two

Compare styles at Bongpo Meoguri-jip, a popular seafood restaurant just north of Sokcho known for generous mulhoe. (Naver Map | Google Maps)

15:00 | Sokcho Jungang Market

Before the bus, pick up dakgangjeong (sweet and spicy crispy chicken), a Sokcho specialty that travels well. Many people bring a box home on the bus.

(Naver Map | Google Maps)

16:30 | Express bus back to Seoul

From Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, you'll be back in Seoul in time for dinner.

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Practical tips

Transport card: A T-money card works on local buses and in most taxis in Gangneung and Sokcho.
Day 2 transport: Intercity buses connect Gangneung, Jumunjin, Yangyang, and Sokcho, but stops like Naksansa and the surf beaches take extra transfers. Renting a car in Gangneung or using taxis for short hops will save you a lot of time.
Opening hours and prices: Restaurants and attractions change hours and fees from time to time. Check Naver Map or the official site before you go.
More information: The Korea Tourism Organization's official English site, VisitKorea, has updated event and festival information for Gangwon Province.

If you have questions about this route, leave a comment below. I'm happy to help you plan your own trip along Korea's east coast.