Gangneung

Travel Guide

Gangneung Seongyojang House showing wildflowers and heritage elements
Gangneung
Gangneung Seongyojang House showing interior views and a park as well as a small group of people
Gangneung featuring rocky coastline and landscape views
Gangneung showing food and interior views

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 kilometers) 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 colorful 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

If you're spending some time in Gyo-dong, Gangneung Culture and Art Center and Sorol Art Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Gyo-dong
Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
4 out of 5
476 Haean-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is P5,942 per night from Jul 9 to Jul 10
P5,942
P6,536 total
Jul 9 - Jul 10
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,550 reviews)
"Everything is excellent"

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
St. John's Hotel
St. John's Hotel
4 out of 5
307, Changhae-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is P5,236 per night from Jun 30 to Jul 1
P5,236
P5,759 total
Jun 30 - Jul 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a sauna, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,661 reviews)
"Great staff, beautiful ocean view, and clean amenities."

Reviewed on Jun 11, 2025

St. John's Hotel
Gangneung Tourist Hotel
Gangneung Tourist Hotel
3.5 out of 5
62, Geumseong-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon
The price is P3,400 per night from Jul 9 to Jul 10
P3,400
P3,740 total
Jul 9 - Jul 10
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"It's a bit far from Gangneung Station, but the nearby traditional market makes it a nice area to explore. The hotel is a bit old, but the room condition was satisfying for the price. I stayed on the 14th floor for two nights and enjoyed the open city view and the breakfast. One inconvenience was ..."

Reviewed on May 15, 2025

Gangneung Tourist Hotel
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 Anmok Beach are located ...
7.8/10 Good! (146 reviews)
Great ocean view from the room
"Great ocean view, some distant from Jungdongjin station but no walk way to there so we had to walk the road passing cars. Seafood and Tofu restaurants near by are so good. Also good Chinese restaurant front of the Jungdongjin station. Sweet sour source pork fried and noodles are good. All restaurants ..."

Reviewed on Nov 28, 2024

Dawoo Resortel
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 housekeeping. Popular attractions Gyeongpo Beach and Gyeongpodae are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (47 reviews)
"Great view and location but a room is quite outdated"

Reviewed on Jan 8, 2025

Gangnung SS Pension
Shillamonogram Gangneung Residence
Shillamonogram Gangneung Residence
2.5 out of 5
210 Haean-ro, Gangneung
Stay at this residence in Gangneung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Gyeongpodae and Anmok Beach are located ...
Shillamonogram Gangneung Residence
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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