Sokcho sits at the edge of the East Sea, backed by the jagged granite peaks of Seoraksan, and it punches well above its weight for a city this size. Most visitors come for the mountain or the seafood, then leave surprised by how much else there is to do. Here’s what’s actually worth your time.
Hike Seoraksan National Park
This is the main event, and it earns the reputation. The Ulsanbawi Rock trail is the most popular route — about 4km each way, with a steep chain-assisted climb at the end that rewards you with views that stretch to the sea. Go early on weekdays if you want to avoid the crowds. The park has multiple entrance points, but Seoraksan Sogongwon is the main one, and it’s well-signed from central Sokcho.
Eat Your Way Through Abai Village
Abai Village is a small settlement on a sandbar across from the main city, reachable by a hand-pulled ferry that costs almost nothing. It was settled by North Korean refugees after the Korean War, and the food here reflects that origin. Ojingeo sundae (squid stuffed with rice and vegetables) is the dish to order. It’s nothing like the sundae you’d find in Seoul, and that’s the point.
Watch the Sunrise at Sokcho Beach
Sokcho Beach is not the most dramatic beach in Korea, but sunrise here is genuinely worth setting an alarm for. The sky turns pink over the water while the mountains glow behind you, and on clear mornings the whole scene is almost disorienting in how beautiful it is. Many Sokcho hotels are within easy walking distance of the beach, so this can simply be part of your morning before breakfast.
Visit Expo Tower for the City View
Expo Tower is an observation tower built to look like a squid — which tells you something about how seriously Sokcho takes its seafood identity. The view from the top gives you a clear sense of the city’s geography: the lagoon, the sea, the mountains, and the narrow strip of land everything sits on. It’s not expensive and doesn’t take long, but it reframes the rest of your trip.
Spend an Afternoon at Cheongchoho Lake
Cheongchoho is a coastal lagoon that separates part of the city from the sea. Walking the path around the lake is easy and flat, lined with cafes and small parks. In the middle of the lake there’s a small pavilion called Yeonggeumjeong, and the reflection of it in calm water is one of those low-key beautiful things you stumble into without expecting much.
Try the Raw Fish Market at Jungang Market
Jungang Market is where you go for raw fish done the Korean way — thick slices of flounder or sea bream served with sesame oil, salt, and spicy fermented paste. The market vendors will often let you pick your fish live from the tank. It’s louder and more chaotic than a restaurant, and the food is better for it. Budget around 30,000 to 50,000 won per person depending on what you order.
Take the Cable Car in Seoraksan
If hiking isn’t your priority, the Seoraksan cable car gets you up to Gwongeumseong Fortress in about five minutes. From the top station, there’s still a short rocky scramble to reach the fortress ruins, but the views are immediately impressive without a full day of effort. The cable car gets busy on weekends, so buying tickets online ahead of time saves you from standing in a long queue.
Explore the Unification Observatory
The Unification Observatory sits near the DMZ and offers a rare look north — on clear days you can see North Korean villages and mountains through the observation deck’s binoculars. Getting there requires a brief stop at a checkpoint, and you’ll need your passport. It’s a sobering experience that puts Sokcho’s history in sharp context. This is a side of the region that most travelers skip, and they probably shouldn’t.
Find a Cafe with a Mountain View
Sokcho has developed a solid cafe culture over the last several years, and some of the best spots sit right along the road toward Seoraksan with unobstructed mountain views. Bring a book or just sit with a coffee and watch the clouds move around the peaks. After a full day of hiking or sightseeing, this is exactly the kind of low-effort pleasure the city does well.
Walk the Sokcho Lighthouse Trail
The small lighthouse on the northern edge of the city is connected to a short coastal walking path with good sea views and far fewer people than the main beach. It takes maybe 30 minutes at a relaxed pace. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t make it onto many itineraries but ends up being a highlight — especially in the late afternoon when the light is right.
If you’re planning the trip, look for Sokcho hotels near the beach or the Seoraksan entrance depending on whether you’re prioritizing the sea or the mountains. The city is compact enough that either location keeps you close to most of what’s listed here.