Gangneung

Travel Guide
Gangneung which includes general coastal views and rugged coastline as well as a couple

Gangneung Travel Guide Video

Beautiful eastern-facing beaches and spectacular inland mountains make this a popular tourist destination and a site for upcoming Olympic events.

Natural beauty is the largest draw to Gangneung. At Gyeongpo, Jeongdongjin, and 20 other beaches you can greet the sunrise over the East Sea (especially popular on January 1), watch naval and commercial traffic glide by all year long, and rest on the white sands or swim in the ocean during warm summers. Temperatures will rise to the high 70s degrees Fahrenheit (high 20s degrees Celcius)

Gangneung is also far enough north to see cold winters. Several venues are preparing to host hockey, curling, figure skating, and speed skating events during the 2018 Olympics. Nearby Seoraksan National Park offers yearlong hiking including challenging ice-climbing in its waterfalls. Alpensia Ski Resort, 12 miles (20 kilometres) west of the city, offers winter ski and snowboard fun and turns into a wildflower garden in the summer.

In addition to its natural beauty, the city has also been influenced by modern technology and culture. Near Jeongdongjin Beach is Hourglass Park, sponsored in part by Samsung Electronics. The sand in its giant timepiece takes a full year to fall to the bottom then it is tipped over to start the new year on January 1. Overlooking Jeongdongjin Beach is a large hotel in the shape of a cruise ship, looking as if it were lifted there by a typhoon. Gangneung is also home to over 200 coffee shops, relatively new, but very popular city locations. Many are developing in-house grinding to appeal to coffee aficionados and the city now hosts an annual coffee festival in October. There is a youth art festival each August which is followed by a rock festival on the beach.

In May each year, the city celebrates the Danoje Festival with colourful ethnic dress, traditional food, Korean wrestling demonstrations, local handicrafts, and theatrical performances. Some interpretation services are available and visitors may participate in several of the events. The festival is identified by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Gangneung is 30 minutes from Sokcho by bus or taxi and less than three hours by bus from Seoul. 

Where to stay in Gangneung

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Gyo-dong

While visiting Gyo-dong, you might make a stop by sights like Gangneung Ice Arena and Gangneung Culture and Art Center.

Gyo-dong
SL Hotel Gangneung
SL Hotel Gangneung
3.5 out of 5
59, Jumun-ro, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is S$87 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
S$87
per night
24 Mar - 25 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy free parking, an outdoor pool, and breakfast. Popular attractions Jumunjin Port and Dokkaebi "Goblin" Filming ...
7.8/10 Good! (433 reviews)
"Loved our visit"

Reviewed on 27 Feb,2024

SL Hotel Gangneung
St. John's Hotel
St. John's Hotel
4 out of 5
307, Changhae-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is S$99 per night from 26 Mar to 27 Mar
S$99
per night
26 Mar - 27 Mar
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy breakfast, a sauna, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Gangmun Beach and Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,592 reviews)
"Excellent"

Reviewed on 7 Mar,2024

St. John's Hotel
Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
4 out of 5
476 Haean-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is S$96 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
S$96
per night
20 Mar - 21 Mar
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,880 reviews)
"I like wooden floor&window&Ocean view!"

Reviewed on 4 Feb,2024

Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Dawoo Resortel
Dawoo Resortel
3 out of 5
43, Jeongdongdeungmyeong-gil, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung, Gangwon
Stay at this 3-star condo in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Jeongdongjin Beach and Haslla Art World ...
7.8/10 Good! (115 reviews)
"강릉과 정동진사이에 위치해 있어요..접근성이 좋긴한데 항상 자동차로 이동해야 한다는거 말고는 괜찮아요..펜션같은 개념이예요. 주방이 있어서 편리하구요 객실도 넓어요"

Reviewed on 30 Jan,2024

Dawoo Resortel
Hi Ocean Hotel Gyeongpo
Hi Ocean Hotel Gyeongpo
3 out of 5
30-5, Gyeongpo-ro 463beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Gyeongpo Beach and Gyeongpoho Lake ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (111 reviews)
"Very clean, very friendly—loved having washing machines in the room and reasonably sized detergent in the downstairs vending machine. Walking distance to the beach and the lake. Great having a convenience store and restaurants on the ground floor! The rooftop terrace was very nice for enjoying a ..."

Reviewed on 25 Jun,2023

Hi Ocean Hotel Gyeongpo
Gangnung SS Pension
Gangnung SS Pension
3 out of 5
1077, Haean-ro, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and barbecue grills. Popular attractions Sacheonjin Beach and Sacheon Port are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (32 reviews)
"가성비 좋은 숙박시설임"

Reviewed on 12 Jan,2024

Gangnung SS Pension
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Gangneung

5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
1
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4 - Good
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" "4 - Good 0%
3 - Okay
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2 - Disappointing
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
30 May 2019

A great place to visit by train from Seoul to get a taste of the country.