Seoraksan to Gangneung's Beaches

Depart Seoul in the morning from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Express Bus Terminal Station on subway lines 3, 7, and 9). The express bus to Sokcho takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes, cutting directly through the mountains on the highway. There is no KTX train to Sokcho yet, making the bus the fastest and most direct option. Arrive at the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, check into your accommodation, and head straight to the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market for a late lunch. This large, bustling market is the culinary heart of the city. The basement level is dedicated to raw fish (hoe) where you can select your seafood live from the tanks. Upstairs, join the queues for Sokcho's famous street foods: dak-gangjeong (sweet and crispy fried chicken, traditionally eaten cold) and ojingeo sundae (squid stuffed with a mix of noodles, tofu, and vegetables, then egg-washed and pan-fried). In the late afternoon, take the Gaetbae — a small, flat wooden ferry pulled by hand across the waterway along a steel cable — to Abai Village. The village was formed by refugees from Hamgyeong Province in North Korea who fled south during the Korean War and were unable to return. It retains a distinct atmosphere and serves North Korean specialties like Abai sundae (blood sausage) and cold noodles (naengmyeon).

• The express bus from Seoul to Sokcho
• Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
• The Gaetbae hand-pulled ferry to Abai Village

Base: Sokcho

Dedicate the entire day to Seoraksan National Park. Take local bus 7 or 7-1 from downtown Sokcho; it drops you directly at the park entrance in about 30–40 minutes. Arrive as early as possible, especially on weekends or during the October autumn foliage season, as the park is immensely popular. National Park entry is free. Inside, you have two main options depending on your energy level. The easiest route is the Gwongeumseong Cable Car (₩16,000 return). It lifts you near the summit of a rocky peak, from where a short 10-minute hike takes you to the top for panoramic views of the jagged Seorak massif and the sea. Tickets are sold only on the day and can sell out, so buy yours immediately upon arrival. If you prefer a proper hike, the trail to Ulsanbawi Rock is the classic Seoraksan experience. It is a 7.6-kilometre round trip that takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours. The path winds past Sinheungsa Temple and its massive bronze Buddha, through the forest, and eventually up an exceptionally steep series of metal staircases to the summit of the granite outcrop. The view from the top is spectacular, but the final ascent is physically demanding. Return to Sokcho in the late afternoon for a seafood dinner.

• The Gwongeumseong Cable Car or the Ulsanbawi Rock hike
• Sinheungsa Temple's bronze Buddha
• A seafood dinner back in Sokcho

Base: Sokcho

Check out of your Sokcho accommodation and head to the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (note this is different from the Express terminal used on Day 1). Catch an intercity bus south to Gangneung. Buses leave frequently (roughly every 30 minutes) and the journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes along the coastal route. Arrive in Gangneung and drop your bags. For lunch, head to Chodang Dubu Village. This neighbourhood is famous for soft tofu (dubu) curdled using seawater from the nearby East Sea, a method that gives it a unique, slightly briny flavour. Try the spicy seafood tofu stew (jjampong dubu) or the mild white tofu served with soy sauce. Spend the afternoon at Gyeongpo Beach. This is one of Korea's most famous beaches, a long, clean stretch of white sand backed by a dense pine forest. Walk the boardwalk under the pines or rent a bicycle to ride around the adjacent Gyeongpo Lake, a large, tranquil lagoon just inland from the sea. The pavilion at Gyeongpodae, overlooking the lake, is a traditional spot for moon-viewing.

• The intercity bus to Gangneung
• Chodang Dubu Village's seawater tofu
• Gyeongpo Beach and Gyeongpo Lake

Base: Gangneung

Start the day with a dose of history at Ojukheon, a short taxi ride from the centre. This elegant Joseon-dynasty estate is the birthplace of the prominent Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi I and his mother, Shin Saimdang, an accomplished artist and writer. Both figures are so revered that they appear on the South Korean 5,000 and 50,000 Won notes, respectively. The complex is peaceful, surrounded by the black bamboo that gives the estate its name. In the afternoon, experience modern Gangneung's defining characteristic: coffee. Head down to Anmok Beach, where the seafront road is lined entirely with cafes, ranging from small independent roasteries to large, multi-story establishments with rooftop terraces. Grab a window seat, order a hand-drip coffee, and watch the waves. The coffee culture here started decades ago with simple vending machines on the beach and has evolved into a serious artisanal scene. For dinner, explore the Gangneung Jungang Market. While similar in function to Sokcho's market, it has its own specialties, including garlic bread, sweet and sour chicken, and ice cream hotteok.

• Ojukheon's Joseon-dynasty estate
• Anmok Beach's Coffee Street
• Gangneung Jungang Market for dinner

Base: Gangneung

Use your final full day to explore the cultural and architectural sites south of the city centre. Take a taxi or local bus to Haslla Art World, a sprawling, eccentric contemporary art park built into a cliffside overlooking the sea. It features outdoor sculpture gardens, indoor galleries, and architectural installations that frame the ocean in surreal ways. Further south lies Jeongdongjin, famous for having a train station that sits almost directly on the beach. It is a traditional spot for watching the sunrise, but it is equally striking during the day. Above the beach sits the Sun Cruise Resort, a hotel designed to look exactly like a cruise ship that has been mysteriously stranded on the edge of a cliff — a bizarre and highly photogenic landmark. Return to central Gangneung for a final seafood dinner, perhaps trying fresh snow crab or a mixed raw fish platter.

• Haslla Art World's cliffside sculpture park
• Jeongdongjin's beach-side train station
• The Sun Cruise Resort's ship-shaped hotel

Base: Gangneung

Enjoy a relaxed morning. You might take a final walk along the beach or return to your favourite cafe on Anmok Beach for a morning coffee before the crowds arrive. Head to Gangneung Station to catch the KTX train back to Seoul. The high-speed rail line, built ahead of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, connects Gangneung to Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni Station in just under two hours, slicing smoothly through the mountains you took a bus across on Day 1. Book your KTX tickets in advance on the Korail website, as weekend trains frequently sell out. The journey drops you directly into central Seoul.

• A final morning coffee on Anmok Beach
• The Gangneung-Seoul KTX
• Arrival back in central Seoul

Base: Gangneung