Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장) - Area information - Korea travel information

Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장)

Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장)

19.1Km    2024-11-28

190 Haeoreum-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Sokcho Beach opened in 1976 and is one of Korea's representative beaches. It is close to Sokcho's downtown, and the express bus terminal is also within walking distance, so transportation is convenient. With clear sea water, shallow depth, and a gentle slope, Sokcho Beach attracts visitors from all over the country every summer. Especially during the high season in July and August, the beach is so cluttered that there's nowhere to walk. There are many restaurants and facilities near the beach. And there is a pine forest with a small park and a trail behind the beach. The sculptures installed throughout the sandy beach are a sight to see regardless of the season, so tourists continue to visit even after the holiday season. There are sculptures including the Korean initials "ㅅㅊ" symbolizing Sokcho, a large compass showing directions to countries around the world, and a dolphin sculpture. The large picture frame with the blue sea in the background and the Stairway to Heaven are the most popular photo spots here. The beach often serves as a venue for a variety of events like performances and festivals.

Sokcho Oeongchi Badahyanggiro Trail (속초 외옹치 바다향기로)

19.1Km    2023-02-03

585-5, Daepo-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Badahyanggiro is a unique, 1.74-kilometer-long coastal trail that runs from Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi Port. It is mainly divided into the Sokcho Beach section (850 meters) and the Oeongchi section (890 meters), with each having its own vibes. If you are looking to take a light walk along the beach, the Sokcho Beach section is a perfect choice and, if you wish to enjoy views of the dynamic landscape, the Oeongchi section is recommended. The Oeongchi section was restricted to civilian access for several decades so it holds fabulous scenery that has not been damaged by people for a long period of time. It is also famous as a filming spot for K-dramas. The blue sea seems to continue endlessly along the trail that features both a wooden deck path and a dirt road, and the sounds of crashing waves add a sense of refreshment to the scene. The water is so pure and clean that you can clearly see the sea floor. The Oeongchi section consists of four themed courses including the Bamboo Meditation path, Sky Deck path, National Security Experience path, and Rock Observation path. The coastline barbed-wire fences installed on the National Security Experience path are what remain from the original fences set up after the submarine infiltration incident by armed Communist guerillas in 1970. It is also fun to watch rocks of strange shapes form on the coastline including Gulbawi Rock and Jinebawi Rock.

Ziozia - Sokcho Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (지오지아 속초점)

Ziozia - Sokcho Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (지오지아 속초점)

19.1Km    2024-04-19

117-1, Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

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MLB - Sokcho Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (엠엘비 속초점)

MLB - Sokcho Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (엠엘비 속초점)

19.1Km    2024-06-28

119-1, Jungang-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

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Sokcho Eye (속초해수욕장 대관람차(속초아이))

Sokcho Eye (속초해수욕장 대관람차(속초아이))

19.1Km    2025-02-04

2 Cheonghohaean-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Located at Sokcho Beach, Sokcho Eye is a towering Ferris wheel standing approximately 65 meters tall, offering panoramic views of the blue sea, Seoraksan Mountain, and the city of Sokcho. Featuring 36 cabins, its charming, submarine-inspired circular design is truly eye-catching. Constructed entirely with transparent acrylic walls, it provides an unobstructed 360-degree view, ensuring a memorable experience from every angle.

Café ONE FINE DAY (어느멋진날카페)

Café ONE FINE DAY (어느멋진날카페)

19.2Km    2024-02-16

54 Cheongho-ro 2-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Café ONE FINE DAY boasts a stunning view of Sokcho Beach, visible right before it. Both the first and second floors feature expansive window walls that offer unobstructed views of the beach, while the third floor provides a view of the Sokcho Eye. The café's signature menu includes the "Sokcho Eye corn latte," named after the Ferris wheel visible from the café, and the "Ferris wheel bread." Other popular offerings include fresh pineapple juice and the unique Cotton candy latte.

ARUNA (아루나)

ARUNA (아루나)

19.3Km    2024-02-16

85 Cheonghohaean-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Located on Sokcho’s Cheonghohaean-gil, ARUNA is renowned for its stunning ocean views and rooftop area. The first floor of the café features a large window wall on one side, offering expansive views of the sky and the East Sea. ARUNA’s selection of coffee beverages and desserts, including matcha, scones, and cookies, are well-received by visitors. Additionally, the café is conveniently located near several tourist attractions such as Sokchohaebyeon Beach, Sokcho Eye (Ferris Wheel), and Abai Village. 

Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (Formerly, Jungang Market) (속초 관광수산시장 (구: 중앙시장))

Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (Formerly, Jungang Market) (속초 관광수산시장 (구: 중앙시장))

19.3Km    2024-12-03

12 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-653-8433

The Sokcho Tourist Fish Market, an essential tourist attraction in Sokcho, offers all sorts of things. The market includes a large building with a basement and two floors above ground and specialized alley stores. The building consists of shops for clothes, daily necessities, and other general products; the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart; and the Raw Fish Center, which sells fresh live fish and seafood at a reasonable price. The alley market is divided into several alleyways specialized in each product such as a vegetable & fruit alley, a chili pepper alley, a blood sausage alley, a salted seafood market alley, a chicken alley, and so on. Especially, fresh agricultural and fish products, and dried seafood products will draw visitors’ attention. The chicken alley is popular among tourists with various crunchy and spicy dak gangjeong (glazed fried chicken bites) stores, which offer their own taste. The alley market has a rain protection facility and a clean and pleasant environment, and a wide parking lot for visitors’ convenience.

Abai Village Ferry (아바이마을 갯배)

19.3Km    2022-12-21

39, Jungangbudu-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-635-2003

Gaetbae (boat without engine) is an exotic means of transportation to cross the Abai Village at the mouth of Cheongchoho Lake. It is a rapid means of traveling between downtown Sokcho and Abai Village along the 50 m-long waterway. This small barge-style boat without an engine can be run by pulling the wire manually. When fixing the solid steel wire on both sides of the waterway and pulling it hard with a hook, a boat moves forward slowly. As there is no boatman, passengers need to work together to move the boat. It takes about 5 min to cross the water by boat. This unique experience still attracts many tourists to Sokcho. Furthermore, it is known as the filming location for the Korean TV drama Autumn in My Heart, so many tourists from Japan and China visit the place.

Yettteul (옛뜰)

Yettteul (옛뜰)

19.3Km    2024-02-16

289 Dongmyeong-ro, Sonyang-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
033-672-7009

Yettteul has been serving traditional gamasot sondubu (handmade bean curd cooked in a cast-iron pot) and wild-caught seop guk (mussel soup) for over 30 years. In Gangwon dialect, 'seop' refers to mussels. Their seop guk, a hangover soup, is made with seop (mussels), mushrooms, chives, green onions, and eggs, all simmered in a broth prepared with aged soybean paste and red chili paste. For those looking to explore the area, the restaurant is conveniently located near tourist attractions such as Songjeon Beach and the Osan-ri Prehistoric Site.