Sokcho-si

• • Abai Village — A small village of North Korean expats. Located just off the main street, a hand drawn (called Gaetbae and only ₩200) ferry will take you across the river to this charming village. You can even pull the boat across as a kind of "exercise." There isn't much to see in the village itself, but it served as scenery for the TV drama "Autumn in My Heart" and serves excellent Abai Sundae, a local speciality and probably the best sundae (not the eponymous dessert) in Korea. Instead of pork casings and blood, this variety uses squid for both the casing and filing. Rice, squid, seasonings and vegetables are cooked and then stuffed inside the cavity of the squid, which is then cooked whole. Then the squid 'sausage' is sliced. It's different in size and has a unique flavor from other sundae in Korea. — Address: Cheongho-ro 122 — Phone: +82 33 633 3171 — Website: http://www.abai.co.kr/
• • East Sea — See the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The beaches are not the most beautiful in the world but at night you might get to see a lot of Korean groups burning fireworks at the beach. There are numerous pagodas and observation areas for sunsets with fishing ships in the foreground. Also, the Lighthouse Observatory offers a better-than-average view of the East Sea.
• • Sokcho Expo Tower — You can get to the 15th floor and have an amazing view of the city. — Address: 72 Expo-ro — Hours: 09:00-22:00(Everyday) — Price: ₩2500(Adult), \2000(Teenager), \1500(child) — Phone: +82 33-637-4504
• • Seoraksan National Park — Gangwon Province's famous mountain is in the Taebaek Mountains. It spans Sokcho-si, Yangyang-gun, Goseong-gun, and Inje-gun. It is 1,708 m high, the third highest mountain in South Korea after Hallasan Mountain and Jirisan Mountain. Rock rock and Ulsan rock are famous. If you look at the East Sea from Ulsan Rock, you can see the view of Sokcho City and the East Sea. — Address: Yangyang-gun, Goseong-gun, and Inje-gun — Directions: 강원도 속초시 설악동 43 — Phone: +82 33-801-0900 — Email: sorak@knps.or.kr — Website: https://english.knps.or.kr/Knp/Seoraksan/Intro/Introduction.aspx?MenuNum=1&Submenu=Npp
• • Sokcho Beach — The length of the white sand beach is 2 km long, including Cheongho-dong, Joyang-dong, and Daepo-dong, and the opening is 1 km and 75 m wide, reaching 29,752 m (about 9,000 pyeong), and the quality of the sand is good as well as clean water and pine forests, making parks, flower roads, and trails popular among Sokcho citizens. In addition, along with Seoraksan Mountain, Cheoksan Hot Spring, Cheongcho Lake, and Yeongrang Lake, which are major tourist resources in the vicinity, it plays a large role in emerging Sokcho as a comprehensive tourist destination, and its importance and necessity are even more prominent. — Address: 강원 속초시 해오름로 186 — Directions: 조양동 1464-7 — Phone: +82 33-639-2027 — Email: sorak@knps.or.kr — Website: http://www.sokchobeach.co.kr/

Bikes are available from outside the GS25 Sokcho Tower Branch (next to the Sokcho Tower). They cost approximately 20,000 won/day to rent and there are a range of sizes. Call 0505-929-7000 for more info (updated Sep 2023).

• Visit the Seoraksan National Park
• • Sokcho Beach — Only officially open from approximately July 10 - August 20. However, you can still get on to the beach even when it is closed and it is still worth a visit then.
• • Biking — Take a bike ride around Yeongnangho Lake The lake funnels into the East Sea and takes about an hour on bike to get fully around the lake. Some stops along the way include Bombawi, a rock shaped like a crouched tiger which offers views of downtown, pagodas and temples.
• • Seorak Hanwha Waterpia — Korea's largest hot springs theme park with huge hot springs facilities such as modern facilities using natural spring water that comes out of the ground at 49 °C, outdoor leisure spa facilities, pulp wood baths and warm water baths at 8 °C. Visitors can enjoy various types of spas against the background of the ulsan stones that stand out like folding screens - the landmark of Gangwon-do. — Address: 88, Misiryeong-ro 2983 beon-gil — Phone: +82 33-630-5800 — Website: http://www.hanwharesort.co.kr/irsweb/resort3/eng/index.asp
• • Sokcho Sea Boat — It is the only cable ferry in the country that can only be found in Sokcho. Now, Cheongho Bridge and Seorak Bridge have been opened, so it is easy to cross the sea, but Sokcho-si designated the seashore as a tourist product and maintained it for tourists' experience. — Address: 강원도 속초시 청호로 122 (청호동) — Directions: near the entrance to Abai Village — Price: 500원 — Phone: +82 33-633-3171

• • Wangshiprigoihanmadang — For ₩13,000 (₩12,000 if you buy a drink) you can eat an unlimited amount of meat, octopus, fish, and mandu. All of the standard types of pork are available, and they even have chicken marinated in some yellow stuff. Many foreigners staying at the House Hostel go there because the proprietor duly recommends it to everyone. There are also stray cats that lurk around which are fun to feed the fish to as long as you don't get caught doing it. Because many places do not serve alcohol and ice cream together, it is important to make an elusive makeoli-ice cream float if you patronize this fine establishment. — Address: Rodeo St — Directions: walk toward the harbor from the intercity bus terminal and turn left at the three-way intersection — Hours: 18:00-00:00 — Price: ₩13000 — Phone: +82 33-636-7849
• • Mansuk Sweet and Sour Chicken — As the name gives away, this chain restaurant is popular for its chicken dishes. — Address: 4 -, 471, Jungang-dong — Phone: +82 33-632-4084 — Email: byungju1234@naver.com
• • Hang-A-Ri Mulhoe in Sokcho — Sashimi dish where you scoop the flesh of flatfish, sea bream, fish, and shellfish, cut them finely, season them, mix them with soy sauce, and pour cold water. — Address: 강원도 속초시 조양동 1470 — Website: http://mulhoe.co.kr/
• • sokcho_gobuk_e — It is a bar around Sokcho Beach where various snacks are prepared. — Address: 강원도 속초시 조양동 새마을13길

Sokcho is not filled with the plethora of hofs (restaurants with a drinking atmosphere), but almost all restaurants serve beer and soju (sweet potato wine, 20% proof). Beer and soju usually cost around ₩5,000 in restaurants.

• A small bar with nice views exists near the small hand pulled ferry crossing to the Abai village. It serves local craft beer (₩10,000 a can) and Korean lagers at ₩4,000. It has music and possibly karaoke on particularly lively evenings.

If you're lost without an essential and are having trouble finding it try the E-mart near the express bus terminal. Also, fans of dried squid can find a whole package of squid for only ₩10,000, which is the same price, if not less, that most restaurants sell one squid for.

• • Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market — A big seafood market worth visiting. It contains different sections catering to fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, household goods and finally cooked foods. There are many stalls selling battered / tempura style seafood such as crab legs, squid and prawns. There are also takeaway steamed crab stalls which offer a more affordable way of trying the local crab than many of the crab restaurants in the city. The market can become very busy in the evenings but is an excellent place to try local food. — Address: 12 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil — Hours: M-F 08:00~24:00 (closed Sa Su) — Website: http://sokcho-central.co.kr/

• • The House Hostel — Facilities include free internet access, free laundry, free bike rentals, guest kitchen and common room. Also, comes with an excellent staff fluent in English. Booking in advance is recommended since the place is popular with tourists. — Address: 452-5 Dongmyeong-dong — Price: Dorm ₩18,000-30,000, double ₩35,000-60,000 — Phone: +82 33-633-3477 or +82 17-713-0550 — Email: yoohj73@hanmail.net — Website: http://www.thehouse-Hostel.com
• • James Blue Hostel — Address: 466-35 Dongmyeong-dong — Price: Dorm ₩20,000-30,000, double ₩40,000-60,000 — Phone: +82 10 5365-4591 — Email: jamesblue12@naver.com — Website: http://jamesblue.modoo.at/
• • Beach Camping — There is camping right by the beach in a designated area for only ₩6,000 per night. Look for the "Dome Pensions" the camping area is next to it.
• • Hotel Seorak Park — Deluxe, 121 rooms — Phone: +82 33-636-7711
• • The Kensington Star Hotel — Deluxe 108 rooms — Phone: +82 33-636-7131
• • Donghae Condo — 140 rooms — Phone: +82 635-9631
• • Sajo Resort — 219 rooms — Phone: +82 33-631-9631
• • Kumho Resort — 247 rooms — Phone: +82 33-636-6000
• • Sorak Pine Resort — 141 rooms — Phone: +82 33-635-5800
• • Welcome Condo — 129 rooms — Phone: +82 33-631-8711
• • Koresco — 153 rooms — Phone: +82 33-635-8040
• • Hanwha Resort — 1,534 rooms — Phone: +82 33-635-7711
• • Yunho Condominium — 119 rooms — Phone: +82 33-631-5000
• • Youngrangho Resort — 261 rooms — Phone: +82 33-633-0001

= Buses leave the Seoul Express Bus Terminal approximately every 30 minutes. It takes around 2:30 - 3:00 hours and buses arrive at the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal. Tickets are approximately ₩15,000 per person. There is rarely need to get tickets in advance.

Buses leave from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station Line 2) to Sokcho every 30 minutes.

From Chuncheon, they are 17 buses per day leaving from 06:15 until 20:00. The ride takes 2 hours and costs ₩13,400. Buses from Gangneung costs ₩6,300.

The bus terminals in the jurisdiction include 'Sokcho Express Bus Terminal' and 'Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal'. The two terminals are in the southern and northern parts of Sokcho, respectively, and are about 3 km away, so be careful.

The city buses in the jurisdiction are Donghae Commercial Express and Gangwon Passenger, and T-money and Cashbee are used for transportation cards. Some postpaid transportation cards are not available, so be careful.

New BS has a high proportion, and there are diesel and electric buses. Donghae-si is the only city bus in the Yeongdong area where gas cars roll.

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Sokcho is a sprawling city but transport by bus is easy. Bus routes are available through the Naver map app but timetables are not given.

The two bus terminals (intercity and express) are at some distance from one another. City buses leave regularly for Seoraksan National Park. The bus leaves irregularly for Osaek (south Seoraksan) from the intercity bus terminal.