Last Updated on March 5, 2025 by Jade and Deeshen
If you’re planning a trip to Seoraksan National Park, this is the best guide on how to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul.
When we visited South Korea, Seoraksan National Park quickly became one of our favorite places in the world!
With its stunning hiking trails, crystal-clear rivers, and breathtaking views of the fall foliage, we couldn’t wait to explore the beauty of this national park and its nearest town Sokcho.
As South Korea travel writers, Jade was especially excited, as she’d really wanted to see and photograph the fall colors of Seoraksan. We visited in the fall, and it’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen that completely took our breath away.
Seoraksan is a popular spot for both locals and tourists, offering everything from dramatic granite peaks to the world’s oldest Zen Buddhist temples and shrines.
If you love nature and hiking, you’ll fall in love with this place.
But here’s the thing: finding solid, up-to-date information on how to get from Seoul to Seoraksan was surprisingly confusing. After searching online, we found a lot of incomplete or outdated info that left us wishing for a clear, current guide.
So, we decided to put together one for you!
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get to there, including how to book the bus from Seoul to Seoraksan, so you can enjoy everything this beautiful spot has to offer.
Where is Seoraksan National Park?
Seoraksan National Park is located in the northeastern part of South Korea, close to the coast and only about 25 miles (40 km) from the border to North Korea. As one of the largest national parks in the country, covering 63 square miles (163 km²), it’s a major natural treasure!
The park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (since 1982), recognized for its rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems, and dramatic landscapes.
The park is famous for its stunning mountain landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and cultural sites like Sinheungsa Temple.
It is by far, one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen. There were many spots like this one that made Jade cry, as if it was right out of an ancient poem.
There are multiple entrances to the park, but the main one is located in the east at Seorakdong, just under 124 miles (200 km) from downtown Seoul.
If you’re planning to visit Seoul before Seoraksan, you’ll love our ultimate Seoul 7 day itinerary.
This entrance is the most accessible if you don’t have your own car and serves as the starting point for most of the popular hikes. It also offers the best visitor facilities, including a visitor’s center, hiking gear rental, restaurants, cafes, a gondola, and clean restrooms.
The nearest city is Sokcho, which is about 6 miles (10 km) away by road. It’s a coastal city and by far, the best place to stay near Seoraksan National Park if you don’t have a car.
How to get to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul
Getting to Seoraksan from Seoul is relatively easy with three options: public transport (bus, or train then bus), driving yourself, or taking an organized tour.
If you’re short on time, the best day trip tour from Seoul to Seoraksan National Park is this one.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll be on your way to one of South Korea’s most breathtaking natural wonders!
South Korea’s transportation system is top-notch, and we personally think taking the bus to Seoraksan National Park is one of the most stress-free options.
For most travelers heading to the national park, unless you’re driving or joining a tour, the bus is by far the best choice. It’s efficient, affordable, and easy to navigate.
We loved taking advantage of this, as it gave us plenty of time to relax and even nap for most of the ride.
or most of the ride.
Bus From Seoul to Seoraksan
There are no direct buses from Seoul to Seoraksan National Park, so you’ll need to take a bus to Sokcho first, then transfer to a local bus that will take you to the park entrance.
The first bus from Seoul departs around 6 a.m., and the last one leaves at 11:30 p.m.
There are two intercity bus stations in Seoul that offer regular services to Sokcho: the Seoul Express Bus Terminal and the Dong Seoul Terminal.
The Seoul Express Bus Terminal is the main bus terminal for the city. The terminal is located in the Gangnam district of Seoul (so locals often refer to it as the Gangnam Express Terminal), near the Samseong Station on the Seoul Subway Line 2 making it easy to access other parts of the city.
It offers a variety of express bus services to destinations throughout South Korea, including major cities like Sokcho, Jeonju, Sokcho, Gwangju, and Daejeon.
Express buses, known as “gosok” (고속) in Korean, offer direct routes between major metropolitan areas, traveling on expressways for faster journey times.
The terminal has a variety of amenities, including bakeries and convenience stores. It has a large number of bus platforms and bus gates for different destinations, so it is important to double check the information before boarding. It is very clean and up-to-date!
The Seoul Express Bus Terminal will likely be your best bet if you’re staying in Seoul, as it’s just a train and taxi ride away from major neighborhoods like Gangnam, Hongdae, and Myeongdong. (most places you’re likely to be staying as a visitor)
Unless you’re staying in the northern or eastern parts of Seoul and find it more convenient to reach the Dong Seoul Terminal, we recommend departing from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal.
Buses from here run more frequently, are usually a bit cheaper, and drop you off closer to Seoraksan National Park.
The Seoul Express Bus terminal is served by local bus services and is connected directly to line three of the Seoul metro, it’s easy to get to.
You can also take a taxi there reasonably easily, which might not be a bad option if you have a lot of luggage like we did. (also, the subway can get incredibly crowded)
More details on the drop-off location are below to help you plan your trip!
How to book bus tickets from Seoul to Seoraksan
The best place to book tickets from Seoul to Seoraksan is here by searching for the route from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho Express Bus Terminal here.
As I mentioned before there’s no direct buses from Seoul to Seoraksan, so at Sokcho (the nearest town 6 miles away), you can take a taxi or local bus to Seoraksan.
We highly recommend purchasing a ticket with specific time in advance, as its very easy to reschedule on the app when needed.
We purchased our tickets a week in advance during peak season in autumn.
While its possible to wait to purchase tickets on the day of at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal, we don’t recommend it.
We saw that many any seats and the good bus classes were sold out at least days ahead of time.
Booking your tickets in advance is the best option. Plus, you’ll also save hours in line, get to use your credit card on file, and you can use the QR code ticket directly from your phone to hop on the bus!
It was so comfortable that Premium class is a no brainer. We ate and slept most of the way, and loved it! This is absolutely the way to go.
You’ll want to book your return ticket back to Seoul back as well.
If you do choose to book your tickets in person, head to the ticket machines or the ticket desks at the terminal near the main doors. There is often a line, so make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes to an hour before you wish to depart.
Surprisingly, there were tons of food options, bread shops, and restaurants at the Express Terminal, mostly offering Korean food with a food court-style ordering system.
We bought bentos and kimbap (Korean sushi rolls) and it was so satisfying to eat them on the X bus. (the only buses with tables!)
On your ticket, it will say which platform number your bus will depart from, and it’s all a short walk away.
Buses leave arrive on time, and leave on time. Our bus pulled in exactly 3 minutes before our time, and left exactly 3 minutes after.
So don’t be late! The buses won’t wait for you.
If you’re carrying luggage larger than a small daypack, you can to store it under the bus for free. Staff will usually assist, but if not, simply place under yourself. Large bags won’t fit in the overhead compartments as they’re smaller than airplane compartments.
Don’t forget to scan your ticket at the entrance—this helps the driver know who’s on board and ensures they know who to wait for at rest stop.
The bus ticket said the trip was around 2 hours and 30 minutes but in reality it’s around 3-3.5 hours due to Seoul traffic.
Types of buses from Seoul to Sokcho
Buses from Seoul to Sokcho, as well as across South Korea, come in three classes: Premium, Excellent, and Economy.
As for seat selection, Premium and Excellent class offers assigned seating, while Economy classes generally follow a first-come, first-served system.
Prices were very reasonable in both directions (they’re the same in both directions.
- Economy: ₩17,200 (approximately $13 USD)
- Excellent: ₩22,300 (approximately $17 USD)
- Premium: ₩28,900 (approximately $22 USD)
Here’s the perks and drawbacks for each bus class:
South Korea Premium Class Bus
Premium class (프리미엄) offers the most luxurious experience:
- The most luxurious bus with only 18-21 seats
- Huge cushy seats, with reclining seats that lie flat with a foot rest
- Premium gold buses have privacy curtains between each seat
- Tables to eat on and USB charging ports for added convenience
- Seatback TV screens
- Seat Selection so you can pick your preferred seat on the bus!
We took the Premium as we wanted to be well rested to explore the national park, and we both agreed this was the best decision!
It was so comfortable that Premium class is a no brainer. We ate and slept most of the way, and loved it! This is absolutely the way to go.
Excellent Class Bus
Excellent class (우등) is the middle class bus and offers:
- 28 seats onboard and comfortable seats at a reasonable price
- Seats recline to some degree
- No ammenities like usb charging port or any of those mentioned above but great for those that want them.
- Seat selection available
Economy Class Bus
Economy seats (일반) is the cheapest seats:
- The most basic bus with 45 seats
- No Seat selection
- No ammenities but good for budget or student travelers
Which Seoul Express Bus is best? Premium, Excellent or Economy?
Which Seoul Bus is best, premium economy or economy? It’s clear that premium is the way to go, and for not much more in cost.
We did see an increase in price the closer you were to the date of travel so we recommend booking early.
All of the buses take about the same length of time to get between the two cities: roughly 2.5 hours, depending on traffic. However, in reality it’s around 3-3.5 hours due to Seoul traffic.
There’s usually one rest stop between Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho Express Bus Terminal here. There are plenty of small vendors selling food at this rest stop, mostly fried snacks, a convenience store, tea, coffee, and Korean food.
However the rest stops are VERY brief (15-20 minutes), so you’ll have just enough time to use the restroom and grab a bite for the rest of the ride.
When you arrive at Sokcho Express Bus Terminal (a very small station), you’ll get off and either take a taxi to your hotel, or the local bus or taxi to Seoraksan National Park.
If you’re taking the taxi, walk to the taxi stand outside of the terminal. There’s also a visitor’s stand if you need to ask for information.
How to get to Seoraksan National Park from Sokcho
Buses departing Seoul Express Terminal will arrive at Sokcho Express Terminal. Buses from Dong Seoul occasionally stop here, however they usually end up at the Sokcho Intercity Terminal.
Although the two terminals are only about 5 kilometers apart, the Sokcho Express Terminal is closest to Seoraksan National Park. (about 6 miles)
From both bus terminals, there are 3 ways, via bus, taxi, or car.
Bus from Sokcho to Seoraksan
If you decide to take the bus from Sokcho Express bus terminal to Seoraksan, it’s really simple.
Whatever terminal you arrive at Sokcho Express Bus Terminal or Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, you’ll need to transfer to a local bus, both bus # 7 or 7-1 will get you there.
Walk out the main exit of the Express station, the bus stop you need is on your right, across the multi-lane road in front of you. Cross the street at the nearest traffic signals.
The bus stop has an electronic departures board, which shows how long you will have to wait. They are scheduled to run approximately every half an hour.
Make sure to have a T-Money card on hand so you can easily pay for your fare. Otherwise, you can also pay with exact cash.
The fare was very reasonable often under $3 USD per way, depending on what stop you get on and off.
The ride takes around 30 minutes from the Sokcho Express Terminal or 40-45 minutes from the Seoul Intercity Terminal.
The bus will make multiple stops throughout the neighborhood and you’ll notice both locals and tourists use these bus lines reguarly. Unless you are staying at one of the nearby hotels, you can simply sit back and relax until the bus arrives at the national park gate.
Taxi from Sokcho to Seoraksan
One of the best ways to get from Sokcho to Seoraksan National Park in our opinion will be via taxi.
The rides were around ￦23,000 (16 USD) for a taxi from Sokcho to Seoraksan, which is super affordable, especially if you have mutltiple people in your group.
Calling a taxi via K ride app (a South Korea taxi app) or asking your hotel receptionist to order you a taxi are going to be way more reliable in Sokcho and Seoraksan than Uber. Often the rides arrived within 2-3 minutes.
While Uber worked great in Seoul, it wasn’t reliable in Sokcho and Seoraksan than Uber here since these are smaller towns.
Car rental in Sokcho
Assuming you didn’t rent a car in Seoul, and want to rent one in Sokcho instead. That’s also a great idea and allows you to bypass the Seoul traffic, and drive in one of the most beautiful places in South Korea.
There are so many beautiful cafes and hikes in Sokcho, Seoraksan and the Gangwon region that we’d love to rent a car next time we visit to explore then all.
We’ll cover more on renting a car from Seoul to drive to Seoraksan later.
Seoul to Seoraksan by Train
While it’s possible to get to Seoraksan by a combination of trains and buses, it’s not the most practical or convenient option.
Since there are no direct trains to Sokcho due to the mountanous region, the route is more expensive, involves multiple connections, and takes at least an hour longer than the straightforward bus trip.
To get from Seoul to Seoraksan National Park by train, these are the steps:
- Train to Gangneung: Take the KTX (2.5–3 hours) or ITX (3.5 hours) from Seoul Station to Gangneung Station.
- Bus to Sokcho: From Gangneung, take a local bus to Sokcho (1.5–2 hours).
- Bus to Seoraksan: From Sokcho, take a local bus to Seoraksan National Park (40 minutes).
As you can see it makes no sense to go by train, as it’ll take much more time. So, we recommend sticking with the bus or car option for the best route.
Driving to Seoraksan from Seoul
Renting a car to drive from Seoul is a great option if you want the most amount of flexibility to explore Seoraksan National Park and its nearby towns like Sokcho at your own pace.
You can find the best deals for car rentals from Incheon airport here (the most common airport when landing in Seoul) or pickup a car rental in Seoul city.
While the drive to Seoraksan from Seoul can take as little as two hours with zero traffic (if you leave around 4 AM), realistically, you should expect it to take around four hours due to traffic, especially when leaving or entering Seoul.
This means Google Maps won’t provide turn-by-turn driving directions. Instead, you’ll need to use Naver Map or KakaoMap, which offer accurate routes and real-time traffic updates.
Both Naver Map and KakaoMap were very easy to use.
Expressway Tolls
Most of the journey is on the expressway, which is a toll road. If you don’t have a HiPass card, you can pay in cash. If you’re renting a car, check with the rental company about getting a HiPass card or toll payment options.
If you’re using Naver for navigation, expect tolls to cost around ₩11,500 ($9 USD) each way, with possible discounts for small vehicles and HiPass users.
Parking at Seoraksan National Park
There’s parking available near the entrance, divided into several sections, extending all the way down the hill. There’s a few hundred spots available.
On weekdays, you’ll usually find a spot easily, but on weekends and peak seasons, it fills up quickly.
Arrive early to secure a space near the entrance—otherwise, you may need to park farther away and walk or take a shuttle.
Parking fees:
- Up to 12 hours: ₩6,000 ($4.50 USD)
- Over 12 hours: ₩10,000 ($7.50 USD)
At Seoraksan National Park, you typically pay for parking at the entrance, where attendants collect the fee in cash. The park’s entrance fee was removed in 2007, so now you only need to pay for parking and extras like the cable car.
Some parking lots have machines for payment, but not all accept international credit or debit cards, so it’s best to carry cash.
Since payment options can change, having cash on hand will make things easier when parking at the park.
Seoul to Seoraksan Day Trip by Organised Tour
If you’re short on time or just want a hassle-free way to visit Seoraksan National Park, joining a day trip tour is the easiest and most convenient option.
This is especially true if you’re planning a day trip from Seoul to Seoraksan or want to visit other nearby attractions that are hard to reach by public transport.
The best day trip tours from Seoul to Seoraksan like this one include multiple stops at places like Alpaca World, Nami Island, and Naksana Temple along with Seoraksan.
Most day tours offer multiple pickup and drop-off points in Seoul and typically last around 13 hours. If your main focus is Seoraksan and you want the most time to explore and hike on your own with a private guide, we recommend this excellent option, which gives you 4-5 hours of free time at the park.
Tour availability increases during the autumn foliage season (September–October), and some itineraries change to highlight the best fall colors. It’s a good idea to check different options for your travel dates to find the best fit.
Because Seoraksan is extremely popular in autumn and most tours have limited spots, we highly recommend booking at least a month or two in advance if you’re visiting during peak season.
While most tours are single-day trips, there are also private two-day options that include guided hikes and an overnight stay in Sokcho for a more in-depth experience.
Read Next: Best Seoul 7 Day Itinerary
Final Thoughts: How to get from Seoul to Seoraksan
So there you have it—everything you need to know about getting from Seoul to Seoraksan National Park, one of the best national parks in Korea! Whether you choose to take the bus, rent a car, or join a guided tour, there’s an option for every travel style and budget.
If you have any questions that weren’t covered above, feel free to drop them in the comments—we’ll do our best to help! Happy travels and enjoy your adventure in Seoraksan!
