Gangneung walking tour & city guide
East Sea beaches, a coffee street and Korea's favorite sunrise.
Video by Walking On on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Gangneung, on Korea's east coast, is a relaxed seaside city of long sandy beaches, pine forests and traditional culture. It became famous worldwide as a host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, and today it is a favorite weekend escape from Seoul, less than two hours away by KTX.
Beaches and coffee
Gyeongpo Beach is the city's best-known beach, backed by pine trees and the calm Gyeongpo Lake, which reflects the moon on clear nights. Anmok Beach is famous for its 'coffee street', a row of cafés facing the sea that grew from a line of coffee vending machines into one of Korea's best-loved coffee destinations. Gangneung even holds an annual coffee festival.
South of the city, Jeongdongjin is known for its sunrise and for a railway station right by the sea, and Korean families flock to the coast on New Year's morning to watch the first sunrise of the year.
Culture and history
Ojukheon, a traditional house surrounded by black bamboo, is the birthplace of the Joseon scholar Yulgok Yi I and the home of his mother, the artist Shin Saimdang. Both appear on Korean banknotes. Seongyojang, an aristocratic estate with a lotus pond pavilion, shows how the gentry lived in the Joseon era.
In the city center, Jungang Market and the Wolhwa Street area, built along a former railway line, are lively with food stalls and evening strolls.
Visiting tips
Summer is beach season, while autumn brings beautiful colors to the nearby Odaesan National Park. The Gangneung Danoje Festival, a UNESCO-recognized traditional festival, takes place in early summer.
Top sights in Gangneung
- 1
Gyeongpo Beach and Lake
A pine-backed beach next to a calm lake.
- 2
Anmok Beach coffee street
Seaside cafés facing the East Sea.
- 3
Ojukheon
A historic house surrounded by black bamboo.
- 4
Jeongdongjin
A famous sunrise spot with a seaside station.
- 5
Seongyojang
A Joseon-era aristocratic estate.
- 6
Jungang Market
A busy traditional market downtown.
Food markets & where to eat in Gangneung
Chodang Sundubu Village
Restaurants serving soft tofu made with seawater.
Anmok coffee street
Specialty coffee with sea views.
Jumunjin Fish Market
Fresh seafood just north of the city.
Jungang Market
Street food like dakgangjeong and squid sundae.
Food to try in Gangneung
Chodang sundubu
Silky soft tofu made with East Sea water.
Hand-drip coffee
From Gangneung's many specialty roasters.
Squid sundae
Squid stuffed with rice and vegetables.
Fresh raw fish
From the nearby fishing harbors.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Gangneung
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in GangneungCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Gangneung.
- eSIM for South KoreaStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in South Korea
▶ 6 videosSeoul
Palaces, K-culture and markets that never close.
▶ 6 videosBusan
Beaches, fish markets and colorful hillside villages.
▶ 6 videosJeju
Korea's volcanic island of beaches, tangerines and lava caves.
▶ 5 videosGyeongju
The 'museum without walls', capital of the ancient Silla kingdom.
▶ 5 videosIncheon
Korea's gateway, from a historic Chinatown to futuristic Songdo.
▶ 6 videosJeonju
Korea's food capital and its finest hanok village.
▶ 6 videosSuwon
A UNESCO-listed fortress city, just south of Seoul.
▶ 5 videosSokcho
A seaside fishing town at the foot of Seoraksan's granite peaks.
▶ 5 videosDaegu
A lively inland city of markets, alleys and spicy food.
▶ 5 videosYeosu
The romantic 'night sea' of Korea's southern coast.
▶ 6 videosAndong
The capital of Korean tradition, with a UNESCO folk village.
▶ 5 videosGwangju
A city of democracy, art and the best food in Korea.