How to Get from Seoul to Sokcho — Bus, Car and What to Know (2026)
Visit tips · Sokcho Hangari Mulhoe
Sokcho is much closer to Seoul than most travellers expect. About two and a half hours by bus, so leave in the morning and you’ll be eating lunch by the sea.
It’s genuinely doable as a day trip. We regularly get people who take the morning bus, eat mulhoe, walk the beach, and head back in the evening.
Here’s how each option works.
Express bus — the easiest way
Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam, subway lines 3/7/9) → Sokcho Express Bus Terminal About 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes
Departures run throughout the day, so you can usually turn up and get a seat. Book at kobus.co.kr (English available), the Kobus T-money app, or the terminal counter.
Do reserve ahead on weekends and in peak summer. Friday afternoon and Saturday morning services often sell out on the day.
Which class?
- Standard — 4-across seating. Cheapest
- Udeung (premium) — 3-across. Roomy and comfortable. Worth it for 2.5 hours
- Premium — reclining seats, but fewer departures
The price gap is small, so we’d take udeung.
The genuinely useful part
Our restaurant is a 3-minute walk from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.
No need to find a taxi with your luggage. Step off, walk three minutes, and start your trip with a bowl of icy mulhoe.
And Sokcho Beach is directly behind us. After eating you can walk straight onto the sand, or swim in summer. We can hold your suitcase for a bit — just ask.
Intercity bus — from Dong Seoul
Dong Seoul Terminal (Gangbyeon stn., line 2) → Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal About 2 hours 20 minutes
Book via the T-money intercity site or the BusTago app.
If you’re staying in northern or eastern Seoul this may be easier than getting to Gangnam. Just note the different arrival point below.
Sokcho has two bus terminals — remember this
This is the single most common source of confusion for first-time visitors. Sokcho has two bus terminals, roughly 3 km apart.
| Sokcho Express Bus Terminal | Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal | |
|---|---|---|
| Buses from | Gangnam (express) | Dong Seoul, Incheon Airport (intercity) |
| Location | Right by Sokcho Beach | City side |
| To our restaurant | 3-minute walk | ~5 minutes by taxi |
If you have the choice, take the Gangnam express bus. Walk three minutes, eat, and step straight onto the beach. No luggage-hauling involved.
Arriving from Dong Seoul is fine too — a taxi takes about five minutes, and local buses run as well. It isn’t a hardship.
Driving
The Seoul–Yangyang Expressway takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. The road is good and the drive is straightforward.
Avoiding traffic
- Friday afternoon and evening — getting out of Seoul alone can take an hour
- Sunday 2–7 p.m. — the worst window for the return leg
- Early Saturday morning (before 7 a.m.) — much smoother
- Add an hour to your estimate on peak-summer and foliage-season weekends
Parking once you’re here
Search “속초해변” (Sokcho Beach) in your navigation app. We’re right beside the Sokcho Beach public car park.
Our private car park is very large, so parking is rarely a problem even in peak season. Leave the car and walk to the beach and the ferris wheel.
There’s still no train
As of 2026 there is no direct rail line between Seoul and Sokcho. The Chuncheon–Sokcho high-speed line is under construction but not yet open.
You can take the KTX to Gangneung and transfer to a bus, but counting the connection, the bus is the fastest and simplest option from Seoul.
What to do when you arrive
If you came by express bus:
Terminal → 3-minute walk to Sokcho Hangari Mulhoe for lunch → 2-minute walk to Sokcho Beach → 3-minute walk to the Sokcho Eye ferris wheel
All on foot. Diners can also use our top-floor Sky Stairs viewpoint free of charge — worth a photo.
For a full plan see our 1-night-2-days itinerary, and if you’re visiting in autumn, the Seoraksan foliage guide.
Practical notes
- We’re open 9:00 a.m. to 10:20 p.m. (last order 21:30, takeaway until 21:50)
- Whether you’re on the first bus or a late one, you can eat with us
- Coming as a group? Please call ahead. We have a large third-floor hall, but it fills fast in peak season
Safe travels — see you in Sokcho.
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