Things to Do in Gangneung: Top Attractions & Experiences

Gangneung is the largest city on South Korea’s East Coast and the starting point for most visitors to the Gangwon region. It rose to international attention as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics ice events, but its appeal runs far deeper — the city has some of the most distinctive food traditions in the country, a beautiful lakeside pavilion, a sunrise beach unlike any other in Korea, and a coffee culture that borders on the obsessive. Here is a practical guide to the top things to do in Gangneung, with entry fees and timing as of 2026.

Gyeongpodae Pavilion and Lake Gyeongpo

Gyeongpodae Pavilion is one of the most celebrated historic structures on Korea’s East Coast. Built during the Goryeo dynasty and reconstructed several times over the centuries, the two-storey wooden pavilion sits on a rise above Lake Gyeongpo — a natural coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land. On a clear day, the pavilion offers views across the lake in one direction and the sea in the other.

Entry costs approximately KRW 3,000 as of 2026. The Gangneung Gyeongpo Provincial Park surrounds the site and includes a lakeside walking path that circles the entire lake — a circuit of roughly 4 km that takes 60–90 minutes at a relaxed pace. The path passes through pine forest and is popular with locals for early morning walks.

Cherry blossom season in late March and early April brings significant crowds. Outside of that period, Gyeongpodae is relatively calm and rewards an hour or two of exploration. From Gangneung Bus Terminal, local buses (number 202) run directly to the pavilion in about 20 minutes.

Jeongdongjin Beach and the Sunrise Train Station

Jeongdongjin is one of the most photographed spots on the Korean coast — a small beach town about 18 km south of Gangneung that holds the unusual distinction of having the train station closest to the sea of any in Korea. The Jeongdongjin station platform sits at the edge of the beach, and passengers arriving by train step almost directly onto the sand.

The beach faces due east and is one of the most visited places in Korea for New Year’s Day sunrise. For the rest of the year, it is a quiet seaside village with a handful of cafes and guesthouses clustered near the station. The famous Hourglass Park on the cliffside above the beach contains a large hourglass that was turned at midnight on 1 January 2000 and runs for a full year before being reset.

Trains run from Gangneung station to Jeongdongjin on the Baekdubaegan Utdariryeong Scenic Line — a tourist railway that winds through the coastal mountains. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes and costs from KRW 6,600 one way as of 2026. Regular Mugunghwa trains also run the route.

Soondubu Village (Chodang Tofu Village)

Gangneung is nationally famous for its soft tofu — soondubu — and the Chodang neighbourhood is where the tradition is strongest. The area takes its name from the pen name of Joseon-era scholar Heo Yeop, who is credited with developing a method of coagulating tofu using seawater drawn from the nearby coast rather than the more common saltwater brine. The result is a softer, more delicate curd with a subtle mineral flavour.

The Chodang Tofu Village is a pedestrianised street lined with restaurants and small factories producing fresh tofu daily. Most meals centre on soondubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) served bubbling in stone bowls, alongside steamed plain tofu eaten with salt or soy sauce. Prices run approximately KRW 9,000–13,000 per person for a full meal as of 2026.

This is not a tourist-manufactured experience — local families have been making and selling tofu in this neighbourhood for generations. Arrive early (before 09:00) to see the morning production and have the quietest experience.

Anmok Coffee Street

Anmok Beach, just north of the main Gyeongpo Beach, has become the unlikely coffee capital of the East Coast. More than 50 specialty coffee shops are packed into a 1 km stretch of beachfront road, many roasting their own beans and most facing the sea with large windows designed for watching the sunrise over an espresso.

The concentration of cafes started with a handful of independent roasters in the late 2000s and accelerated dramatically after the area was featured in Korean travel media. Today it operates almost as a destination in its own right — visitors staying in Gangneung commonly make a specific early-morning trip to Anmok for coffee before starting the day.

Coffee prices are in line with Seoul specialty cafe prices — cappuccinos and filter coffees typically run KRW 6,000–10,000. There is no charge to walk the street. The area is busiest on weekend mornings.

Ojukheon House

Ojukheon is a well-preserved Joseon-era house dating to the early 16th century, famous as the birthplace of Yulgok Yi I — one of the two scholars whose faces appear on Korean banknotes (the KRW 5,000 note). The name Ojukheon means “black bamboo house” and refers to the grove of dark bamboo surrounding the main structure.

Entry costs approximately KRW 3,000 as of 2026. The site includes the original residential building (one of the oldest surviving wooden structures in Korea), the adjacent Gangneung Municipal Museum, and a tea garden. The museum displays artefacts related to Yi I and his mother, Shin Saimdang, who appears on the KRW 50,000 note — making this the birthplace of two banknote faces.

From the city centre, the site is easily reached by local bus or taxi in under 15 minutes.

Gangneung Danoje Festival

The Gangneung Danoje is listed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — one of the few traditional Korean festivals to hold this status. It takes place annually around the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, which typically falls in late May or early June.

Events span several days and include shamanist gut (ritual ceremonies), performances of Gwanno masked dance drama, Namsadang acrobatic troupes, traditional Korean wrestling (ssireum), and an outdoor market with hundreds of stalls. Many of the ritual performances are accompanied by live drumming and singing.

The festival grounds are set up near the Namdaecheon stream. Entry to the grounds is free, though some specific performances may charge a small fee. If your travel dates overlap with the festival period, it is one of the more authentic traditional events you can attend in Korea.

Surfyy Beach

Surfyy Beach (also written Surfing Beach) sits at the north end of the Gyeongpo Beach area and is the main surf spot in the Gangneung area. The East Coast swells are most consistent from late summer through autumn, with the biggest waves typically arriving in August and September following offshore typhoons.

Lessons are available from multiple operators based at the beach, starting from approximately KRW 50,000 per session as of 2026, including board rental and wetsuit hire. Equipment-only rental is also available for experienced surfers. The beach has changing facilities, showers, and a cluster of casual restaurants and guesthouses that cater primarily to the surf crowd.

For those not surfing, Gyeongpo Beach itself is one of the longer sand beaches on the East Coast — around 1.8 km — and is popular for swimming in summer. The beach is backed by a pine forest that provides shade and a campsite.

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For where to sleep, read our Gangneung where to stay guide. For eating out, see our Gangneung food guide. The Gangneung city hub covers transport links, seasonal tips, and day trips from the city.