Best Hotels in Gangneung: Top Picks Across Every Budget

Gangneung’s hotel scene expanded significantly around the 2018 Winter Olympics, with several new upscale properties opening alongside the existing network of beach pensions, guesthouses, and business hotels. Here is a guide to the best options across different budgets and preferences, with prices as of 2026.

Pullman Gangneung

The Pullman is Gangneung’s most prominent upscale property and the one most frequently recommended to international visitors. Built as part of the Olympic hospitality infrastructure for the 2018 Games, it sits near the Gyeongpo Beach area and offers a polished international standard that is otherwise rare on the East Coast outside of purpose-built resort complexes.

Rooms are well-appointed with modern furnishings, and the hotel has a full-service restaurant, bar, fitness centre, and indoor pool. Sea or mountain views are available depending on the room category.

Rates start from approximately KRW 200,000 per night for a standard room as of 2026, rising to KRW 350,000+ for superior rooms with sea views during peak season. The hotel is a short taxi or bus ride from the main Gyeongpo Beach and Anmok Coffee Street, and around 20 minutes from the city centre by car.

Who it suits: Couples wanting a reliable upscale experience, business travellers, visitors who want the closest thing to a luxury resort experience in Gangneung without going to a purpose-built pension complex.

Gyeongpo Beach Hotel

The Gyeongpo Beach Hotel is one of the most established mid-to-upper-range properties directly on Gyeongpo Beach. The location is its primary selling point — sea-facing rooms look directly over the sand and pine tree belt that backs the beach. The property has dated somewhat in its decor but maintains a loyal domestic clientele and offers reliable standard rooms.

Prices run from approximately KRW 150,000–250,000 per night as of 2026, depending on room category and season. Sea-view rooms command a meaningful premium over inland-facing options.

The hotel includes a restaurant serving Korean and Western breakfast options, and its ground-floor location means you are a 60-second walk from the beach in summer.

Who it suits: Families wanting direct beach access, couples seeking a classic Korean beach resort feel, travellers who prioritise location over sleek interiors.

Ocean Palace Hotel

The Ocean Palace Hotel is a large property in the Gyeongpo Beach area that has positioned itself as a family-friendly resort-style option with a broader range of in-house facilities than most Gangneung properties at its price point. The hotel features an indoor water park area during summer months — a significant draw for families travelling with children.

Rates start from approximately KRW 130,000–180,000 per night for a standard room as of 2026, rising considerably during summer peak season when the water facilities are in operation. Booking well in advance is advisable for July and August stays.

Rooms are larger than typical Korean city hotels and are set up for family use. The property is not the most stylish option in town but is one of the most practical for multi-generational travel groups.

Who it suits: Families with young children, groups wanting a full-service property with on-site entertainment, domestic travellers doing a classic Korean beach holiday.

Pensions Near Gyeongpo and Anmok

The pension market in Gangneung — Korean-style private guesthouses, typically family-run and occupying purpose-built small buildings — is extensive and offers some of the best value accommodation in the region once you know what to look for.

The best pensions in the Gyeongpo and Anmok area offer well-maintained rooms with ondol heated floors, private bathrooms, simple kitchen facilities, and sea or lake views. Many have been upgraded in the years since the Olympics and offer a comfortable standard without the cost of a branded hotel.

Price range: KRW 80,000–150,000 per night as of 2026 for a private room. Sea-view pensions at the top of this range can rival mid-range hotel standards in terms of comfort.

How to book: Korean platforms Naver Hotel and Yanolja have the most comprehensive pension listings in Gangneung. Many smaller pensions are not listed on international booking sites. A basic search in either platform with Gangneung (강릉) as the destination will surface the full range.

What to check before booking: Look for recent Korean-language reviews (Google Translate works adequately for the gist) and verify that the listed sea view is genuine — some properties describe partial views generously. Photos of the actual room are more reliable than CGI-styled listing images.

Pensions in Jeongdongjin

Jeongdongjin has a small cluster of pensions and guesthouses within walking distance of the famous station-on-the-beach. The village is at its most atmospheric in the early morning when day-trippers have not yet arrived and the sunrise is visible directly over the sea from the beach.

Accommodation here is modest — functional rooms rather than boutique finishes — but the location is singular if the sunrise or the quietness of a genuine small coastal village is your priority.

Prices run approximately KRW 80,000–120,000 per night for a private room as of 2026. New Year’s Eve rates are in a different category entirely — expect four to five times the standard rate and waiting lists even with early booking.

Who it suits: Travellers specifically here for the sunrise or the scenic railway experience, those who prefer quiet coastal environments to busy beach resorts.

Business Hotels Near Gangneung Station

For transit-focused stays, the area around Gangneung KTX station and intercity bus terminal has several three-star and four-star business hotels offering reliable, if unremarkable, accommodation. These properties are worth considering if you are using Gangneung primarily as a hub for exploring the wider Gangwon region rather than spending your time on the beach.

Notable options include properties affiliated with national chains that offer consistent room standards, reliable Wi-Fi, and easy access to buses and trains. Rates at these properties typically run KRW 100,000–180,000 per night as of 2026.

The main trade-off is location — these hotels sit 10–20 minutes from the beach zone by bus or taxi and lack the coastal atmosphere of Gyeongpo or Anmok properties.

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For help deciding which part of Gangneung to base yourself in, see our where to stay in Gangneung guide. For what to see and do during your stay, read our things to do in Gangneung guide. The Gangneung city hub covers transport, seasonality, and day trips.