Gangneung Travel Guide

Gangneung is a city of around 210,000 people on the east coast of South Korea in Gangwon Province, facing the East Sea (Sea of Japan). It is known for its long beaches, a cluster of Joseon-era Confucian buildings, and an unexpected café culture that has made the Anmok Beach area one of the most discussed coffee destinations in the country.

The city gained national attention as the coastal hub for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics ice events, which accelerated rail infrastructure development and brought Gangneung within 2 hours of Seoul by KTX.

Getting to Gangneung

From Seoul: KTX runs directly from Seoul Station to Gangneung Station in approximately 2 hours. Services run multiple times daily. This is the fastest and most convenient option.

By bus: Express buses from Seoul’s Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Express Bus Terminal take 2.5–3 hours and serve several locations within Gangneung.

Getting around: The main beaches (Gyeongpo, Anmok) and heritage sites are spread across the city. Local buses connect most points; taxis are inexpensive and practical for shorter hops. The Anmok coffee street is about 15 minutes by bus from Gangneung Station.

What to See and Do

Gyeongpo Beach and Gyeongpoho Lake — the main beach stretches for about 6 km along the coast. Behind it, the brackish Gyeongpoho Lake and its surrounding pine forest provide a quieter landscape for cycling and walking. The Gyeongpodae pavilion sits on the lake’s western shore with views across the water.

Anmok Beach Coffee Street — a 1 km stretch of road along the coast lined almost entirely with independent cafés, most of them with ocean views. The concentration of specialty coffee shops here is extreme by any standard. The area developed organically from the 1990s and now includes around 100 cafés. Busy on weekends year-round.

Ojukheon House — the birthplace of Shin Saimdang, a 16th-century artist and scholar who appears on the Korean 50,000 won note, and her son Yi I, a Confucian philosopher who appears on the 5,000 won note. The wooden house is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in South Korea. Well-maintained grounds with a bamboo grove.

Seongyojang House — a large aristocratic Joseon-era villa maintained by descendants of the original family. The compound includes a central hall, lotus pond, and a guest pavilion built over the water. One of the best examples of Joseon upper-class domestic architecture accessible to visitors.

Jeongdongjin — a small coastal settlement about 18 km south of Gangneung, known for the unusual sight of a cruise ship permanently beached on a hill (now a hotel and complex) and the Morae Sija clock tower. The area is a popular spot for watching the sunrise, which draws domestic visitors who time overnight trains to arrive at dawn.

Where to Stay

Gyeongpo Beach has a concentration of resort hotels and guesthouses along the seafront. Anmok Beach has smaller guesthouses more suited to relaxed stays near the coffee street. The area around Gangneung Station is practical for those arriving late or departing early.

Food and Drink

Gangneung is associated with chodang sundubu — silken tofu made using seawater, from the Chodang neighbourhood north of the city. The tofu is served in set meals with various accompaniments and is delicate in texture compared to standard sundubu. A cluster of tofu restaurants operates in the Chodang area.

The fish market near the port at Jumunjin (about 15 km north) is one of the larger fish markets on the east coast and a good place to buy or eat fresh local seafood.

For tours and activities on the Gangwon coast, including surf lessons and coastal hiking, see east coast experiences.

Explore Gangneung in Detail

• Things to do in Gangneung — Gyeongpodae Pavilion, Jeongdongjin, surfing, and the Danoje Festival with entry fees and opening times
• Where to stay in Gangneung — Anmok, Gyeongpo Beach, Jeongdongjin, and city centre areas compared
• Best hotels in Gangneung — Pullman to beachside pensions, with prices across every budget
• Gangneung food guide — soondubu jjigae, Chodang Tofu Village, Anmok Coffee Street, and gamja-ongsimi