Samcheok Beach is found immediately to the north of town. The beach has shallow waters, making it popular with families, and there's the usual assortment of motels and restaurants. Bus 11 (₩1800, 20 minutes, five daily) runs from Samcheok’s intercity bus terminal to Samcheok Beach. You can also jump on the train from Samcheok train station; Samcheok Beach station is the next stop along to the north.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.68 MILES
Revered as the birthplace of the paragon of Korean womanhood, Sin Saimdang (1504–51), and her son, the philosopher and government official Yi Yulgok (1536…
16.16 MILES
Of all the things you’d expect to find in a fishing village like Sinnam (신남), a ‘penis park’ is probably not one of them. There are more than 50 phallic…
28.8 MILES
Taebaek-san (Big White Mountain) is, for shamanists, one of the most sacred mountains in Korea. Five year-round hiking trails snake up through the park to…
Gyeongpo-ho & Gyeongpodae Pavilion
27.05 MILES
Immediately behind Gyeongpo Beach is Gyeongpo-ho, which attracts local residents looking for a little peace and quiet. There’s a 4km bicycle path along…
26.93 MILES
Dating to the late Joseon dynasty, this national cultural property was for 300 years the home of a yangban (aristocratic) family. It was built for a…
Chamsori Gramophone & Edison Museum
27.18 MILES
This whimsical museum is a sheer delight. It combines the two loves of private collector Son Sung-Mok: gramophones and Thomas Edison. There are hundreds…
6.44 MILES
Maengbang Beach is about 12km south of town. It’s less frantic than Samcheok Beach and has no buildings, although tented stalls spring up during beach…
27.08 MILES
The largest beach on the east coast, and the third-busiest in South Korea, has 1.8km of flat, white sand bordered by pine trees and pleasant waters. It’s…
Nearby Gangwon-do attractions
1. Mystery of Caves Exhibition
2.16 MILES
In a building that resembles a wedding cake dripping with various colours of icing on the south side of the river, exhibits here (some in English) contain…
6.44 MILES
Maengbang Beach is about 12km south of town. It’s less frantic than Samcheok Beach and has no buildings, although tented stalls spring up during beach…
13.31 MILES
One of the largest caves in Asia, with almost 2km of steel stairways that take visitors through cathedral-sized caverns, up, down and around its varied…
16.16 MILES
Of all the things you’d expect to find in a fishing village like Sinnam (신남), a ‘penis park’ is probably not one of them. There are more than 50 phallic…
5. Fishing Village Folk Museum
16.33 MILES
The ship-shaped Fishing Village Folk Museum focuses on the history of fishing and shamanist rituals in the region, and sexual iconography in other…
18.54 MILES
Sitting atop a hill, this park has contemporary Korean sculptures set amid a pleasant 11-hectare garden with winding paths and boardwalks. On a clear day,…
24.2 MILES
This fine beach strewn with golden sand and shells is framed between the blue, blue sea and a long line of cafes; it's a lovely place for a stroll, to…
26.68 MILES
Revered as the birthplace of the paragon of Korean womanhood, Sin Saimdang (1504–51), and her son, the philosopher and government official Yi Yulgok (1536…