7 beaches near Seoul: Where to go for sun, sand, and surf

Published by: BouncePosted
Beaches near Seoul

There are many ways to enjoy South Korea, and heading to the beach can be a great way to relax and unwind while you are in this famous city. The beaches near Seoul are some of the most popular beaches in the world for good reason. Beaches in South Korea offer soft sand and lovely views, as well as plenty of room to get a tan in peace and quiet.

Seoul is an exciting and lively city, which means is always quite busy. After exploring places like Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the N Seoul Tower, you'll probably want a break from the hustle and bustle, and that's where Seoul's beaches come in.

And everyone knows that a beach day is so much more enjoyable when you're not worried about your stuff. Head to a suitcase storage in Seoul before you embark on your beach adventure, and you won't have to haul all your possessions around with you.

Flower at Daecheon Beach near Seoul

Daecheon Beach

This large beach is one of the most popular beaches near Seoul, and it is also the home of the Boryeong Mud Festival each year. There are many things to do and see in the surrounding area as well, meaning that you don't have to head here just for the beach. If you love seashells and a pebble beach that is full of little treasures to pick up, this is the place for you to head.

Daecheon Beach travel distance from Seoul

It takes about two hours to get to this beach from Seoul. If you head to Seoul Station, you will need about two and a half hours of time to get to this beach by bus.

Activity recommendations

Rent an umbrella and a sun lounger here so that you can tan and relax, or else you might want to head back toward town a ways and enjoy access to a zip line and adventure park. There are also lots of great areas at the beach for swimming if you enjoy time in the ocean itself. This is one of the most famous beaches near Seoul because of the incredible array of activities that you can enjoy here and also due to the beauty of the beach area.

Consider choosing to stay overnight here if you want to really make the most of what this coastal area has to offer.

Naksan Beach near Seoul

Naksan Beach

For a quiet beach that offers white sand and soft waves, this is the place to go. This is one of the best beaches in South Korea for swimming and playing in the water, but you can also visit this beach, famous for its tent-camping options. You will need to bring some warmer clothes with you if you choose to camp, but the adventure of sleeping on a South Korean beach can be really fun.

Naksan Beach travel distance from Seoul

It takes about two hours to drive to this beach, and a bus using the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal takes the same amount of time.

Activity recommendations

The aforementioned camping adventure might not be for you, but this is still one of the best beaches for walking barefoot and frolicking in the water. The charming town of Naksan is very close to the beach, and you can enjoy access to shopping, restaurants, and more in the village as well.

You might also want to visit the Naksan Beach Buddhist temple, which is called Naksansa Temple. There is something magical and serene about this part of the beach, and you will immediately feel like you have been transported into a traditional South Korean experience when you head to the temple during your time here.

Sandy beaches near Seoul

Eurwangni Beach

Eurwangni Beach is one of the most well-known South Korean beaches. Many people head here for multi-day trips to get away from it all. The tides can be quite extreme here, which is unique and makes for days where there are vast amounts of beach to enjoy. You can also have fun swimming here, or you might want to just look at the beach from the town above the water.

Eurwangni Beach travel distance from Seoul

It will take you about two hours to get to this beach. If you have just arrived at the airport, you can head right to this beach in just half an hour.

Activity recommendations

Consider visiting during low tide if you want to do a lot of walking or high tide if you want to make the most of the water. You will find that this is not the best sunbathing beach, but you can rent sunchairs and an umbrella and get a tan or sit in the shade if this is your favorite thing to do at the beach.

The town offers you access to shopping, restaurants, and ambiance. For those who love seafood, there is always a lot of fresh seafood on the menu at these spots. You can also climb the rocks that surround the water or explore coves and other little areas that are tucked away to the side of the beach.

Muchangpo Beach

This cool beach location is famously accessible on foot when the tides are low enough. This is one of the best beaches to create a memorable experience if you are in the area between September and May. Plan your timing right, and you can walk on the ocean to get to this lovely beach area.

Muchangpo Beach travel distance from Seoul

When the tide is low, you can actually walk across to this island. Otherwise, it can take about three to four hours to travel here.

Activity recommendations

At this beach, you will find that you can't rent umbrellas and sunchairs, but you can explore, walk in the sand, or enjoy swimming in the sun. Little ones might like picking up crabs and small shells as they wander, and this is one of the best beaches for a photo op since you can actually just walk right to it across the water.

There are always lots of water activities to enjoy here as well, so those who are avid swimmers or who love time in the ocean will have a ton of fun at Muchangpo Beach.

Best Seoul area beaches

Hanagae Beach

Hanagae Beach is one of the best beaches near Seoul for a quiet day in the sun. There are various resorts being built in this area, and if you time your trip right, you might be able to benefit from access to the pampering that these locations can offer. Otherwise, this beach tends to be quiet year-round, which means that lovers of peace and quiet will have a great time here.

Hanagae Beach travel distance from Seoul

Driving just over an hour, it's fairly easy to reach this beach. On public transportation, it'll take longer. Both a bus or train will take a little over two hours to travel the 75 km.

Activity recommendations

There are various trails that you can hike in this area, and you will also be able to enjoy time in the water as well as time spent on the beach in the sun. You can use the Muuido Island roadway to head over to this beach during most seasons of the year, making this a very easy beach to access compared to some of the others on this list.

Many people who are local to this small island area actually head to this beach because this is one of the best beaches for crabbing. When the tide is out, it's fun to look for marine life, but you can also stay away from the mud flats and just make the most of the beach itself.

Best swimming beaches near Seoul

Guryongpo Beach

For crystal clear waters and soft sand, there is no better beach to visit than this one. You can actually come here for the day or join the locals and camp. You are allowed to bring your own food onto the beach, which is unusual for this part of the world. This is one of the most beautiful beaches near Seoul, and you can easily spend a whole day here having fun.

Guryongpo Beach travel distance from Seoul

The journey to Guryongpo Beach is a fairly long one. It will generally take a little under four hours to reach this beach if you drive yourself. On the other hand, the train is your best bet at just shy of three hours to travel the same distance but does involve a taxi ride to change stations in Pohang City.

Activity recommendations

There are various food sellers and drink vendors right along the beach that you might want to take advantage of, or you can camp and bring your own food. There is not a lot of oversight at this beach compared to others on this list, so you will not have to struggle to have a peaceful day here.

This beach is really family-friendly, and there are usually lots of kids playing in the water or running around on the sand. The beach is also open 24 hours a day, which is not common for beach locations near Seoul. You can have a ton of fun here, and you might want to consider renting camping equipment so that you can join the locals in this favorite activity.

Some young people head here to have a night to remember, but you will usually find the crowds here to be quiet. This is not actually a party beach, and the atmosphere is very famil-oriented in most seasons of the year.

Best beaches near Seoul

Seonnyeo Rock Beach

This is a rocky beach area, but it is really picturesque and can be a good place to head for pictures and to hike or walk around the water. From pine trees to sea birds, there is something really special and different about this beach area. This is a wild space that feels majestic and removed from civilization.

There are several beaches like this near Seoul, but this is the most attractive and special of those beaches.

Seonnyeo Rock Beach travel distance from Seoul

First, you need to get to Incheon International Airport, which can take about an hour from the city center during peak travel times. Then, you can hop on bus 306 from the airport, which takes you directly to the beach in about 25 minutes.

Activity recommendations

You can swim and camp here as well as hike, but it can be chilly compared to other places along the coast near Seoul. This is also a fishing village and a place where you can enjoy an authentic experience that is not offered in other beach areas near the city. You will not be able to enjoy the same classic fun-in-the-sun experience here that other beaches in this guide will offer, but that doesn't mean that you won't be blown away by the beautiful beach area.

Consider climbing up to the town and visiting the cafe that is perched over the water. You can get an authentic meal and some tea and just take in the beauty of the area along with the peace and quiet that this beach offers.

Conclusion

Since some of these beaches can take upwards of two to three hours to reach, it's a good idea to make them into one of the best weekend trips from Seoul to really get the full experience. There are many ways to plan to have a great time in this part of the world, and once you have finished visiting the famous beaches in this guide, you might want to check out some of the areas that surround this well-known city. If you are traveling to Seoul on a budget, hitting the beach for a day is also a great way to save money.

From Seoraksan National Park to the white sands and pine forest locations of the wild beaches on this list, you can find all kinds of beach adventures when you visit Seoul. Besides, a day at the beach is never wasted, right?

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