Samcheok city and county is the southernmost of Gangwon-do's coastal areas. It is made up of a loose conglomeration of fishing villages, harbor districts, and a business center. The harbor here is being rapidly overshadowed by Donghae to the north. Express buses run from Seoul and Dong Seoul terminals. Intercity buses run to and from Donghae, Gangneung, Taebaek, and Uljin. The tourist information booth (tel. 033/575-1330; Mar-Oct daily 9am-6pm, Nov-Feb daily 9am-5pm) is located just to the side of the Samcheok Express Bus Terminal (tel. 033/573-9444). There is also a tourist info center at the Samcheok Municipal Museum.

There are some nice beaches in the area, all reachable by local bus. Samcheok Beach is the largest swimming beach. It has shallow waters and convenient facilities, and a beachside resort. Maebang Beach is more scenic and popular with families due to its shallow, clean waters. Farther south is Yonghwa Beach and nearby Jangho Beach, which is a good place to get fresh seafood.