Gangneung - Gangneung

The Seongyojang House

Gangneung (강릉,江陵) is the largest coastal city in Gangwon Province, third largest overall. Gangneung is nestled at the east side of South Korea's longest mountain range, Taebaek. The Taebaek Mountains stretch along the eastern edge of Korean Peninsula and run along the East Sea.

Understand

Geologically isolated from most parts of the country, the city was able to preserve its own distinct culture, and to date it has a tendency of being politically and culturally more conservative. Gangneung was the venue of the ice sports in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

Get in

37°44′53″N 128°52′34″E
Map of Gangneung

By train

  • Gangneung Station. Is the terminus for the Dong Hae line of Korail. There is a train that connects to Cheongnyangri Station in Seoul, but it goes takes a circuitous route through the mountains and takes 6 hours. A tourist information booth is in front of the station. 

By high-speed train

Korea Train Express (KTX) Gangneung Line is the high-speed train which runs at a maximum speed of 250 km/h. It takes two hours from Seoul station to Gangneung and an hour and half from Cheongnyangni station to Gangneung.

The fare is ₩27,600 from the Seoul station and ₩26,000 from the Cheongnyangni station. Tickets can be purchased a month in advance, from 07:00 to 20 minutes before the departure of the train, at the station or through KorailTalk (Mobile Application) or via the (official website.

By bus

  • Gangneung Bus Terminal. It connects Gangneung to all major cities in Korea. Gangneung is a popular weekend destination during the summer for Koreans living in the capital area. There is only one expressway that connects Gangneung to Seoul. Consequently, traffic gets very heavy coming in on Fridays and leaving on Sundays. 

Here you can find the main tourist information centre (TIC). Also the international airport of Incheon can be acceded by an "Airport Limousine" from this bus terminal. That bus will take four hours, stoping by the small Gimpo Airport on the way. Cost ₩30,000.

Get around

Downtown Gangneung is not very big. One can cross downtown on foot in 15 minutes. Getting to other popular areas will take less than 15 minutes by taxi from downtown. Most streets in Gangneung have names and signs.

By bus

The public bus system is good. Most signs on the buses have English. Fare is a flat ₩1,300 for city routes when you pay cash. Transportation card holders will receive a 10% discount from the regular fares. Transportation card holders can transfer between buses and a regular bus and an express city bus once for free. If you wish to transfer to a different bus, make sure to tag your transportation card at the transportation card terminal located near the front door or the rear door. You must transfer to a different bus within 40 minutes to avoid being charged an additional fare. There are two different types of transportation cards: prepaid and post-paid. Prepaid transportation cards can be purchased at a designated card sales (charging) shops with a payment in cash, while postpaid transportation cards refer to credit or debit cards issued by credit card companies or banks that have a transportation card function.

By taxi

Taxis in Gangneung are considered an affordable and convenient means of transportation. You can catch a taxi anywhere in Gangneung on the streets. All of the taxis charge the fare based on a metering system, with additional charges imposed upon the base fare of ₩2,800 according to the distance of travel. Taxi drivers will accept payment in cash or by credit card.

See

Gyeongpo Area

The "village guardians" at Ojukheon
  • 1 Ojukheon House & Ojukheon Municipal Museum, 24, Yulgok-ro 3139beon-gil (about 1 km west of Gyeongpo Beach), ☏ 82 33-660-3301. Named after a special black bamboo growing in this area, the building was the birthplace of the famous Korean scholar Yulgok (1536-1584 AD. His portrait is featured on the ₩5,000 banknote) and his mother Saimdang (1504-1551 AD who is featured on the ₩50,000 banknote). Since 1963 the Ojukheon Museum counts as national cultural heritage No 165. It includes one of the oldest wooden buildings in Korea. Several shrines and old residential buildings deliver insight into the lives of these famous Koreans. Merged with Gangneung Municipal Museum in 1998. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 2 Museum of Oriental Embroidery, 140-12, Jukheon-gil, ☏ 82 33-640-0600. The Museum of Oriental Embroidery is a place of culture and the arts, where visitors can enter and experience the world of Eastern embroidery, centering on traditional embroidery works of Korea, China and Japan. With its high-quality collection, the museum allows people to develop their emotional sensibility, refine their knowledge in the arts, and receive creative education. It was established with the aim of promoting the mutual exchange and cooperation between creative artists and domestic and overseas institutions specializing in culture and the arts as a means to contribute to the cultural advancement of mankind. (updated Oct 2019)
  • 3 Seongyojang House, 63, Unjeong-gil, ☏ 82 33-648-5303. 09:00-18:00. A traditional house of the high Joseon Dynasty society. It is famous for the beautiful curved lines of its roof, which resemble the shape of traditional Korean socks and hanbok clothing. Garments and products from the Joseon period are displayed in the exhibit and folk information exhibit within Seongyojang. 
  • Gyeongpo Wetland, 670, Unjeong-dong. This area was established to restore the lake ecosystem near Gyeongpo and create a habitable environment for a wide range of aquatic organisms. The salinity of the Gyeongpoho Lake was lowered and the water was allowed to flow out, instead of remaining stagnant. There is an open public square as well as facilities where people can observe the wetland ecosystem. 
  • 4 Gyeongpodae Pavilion & Gyeongpoho Lake, 365, Gyeongpo-ro. Some say that Gyeongpodae Pavilion is the best of the 8 scenic spots of Gwandong, and it is a place where you can see the moon in five spots: the sky, the sea, the lake, a liquor glass and eyes of your beloved. The Gyeongpoho Lake is 4.3 km in circumference, and it contains Hongjangam Rock, which is associated with a heart-wrenching love story. 
  • 5 Charmsori Gramophone & Edison Science Museum, 393, Gyeongpo-ro, ☏ 82 33-655-1130. 09:00-18:00. As the world's largest museum of gramophones, the Gramophone Museum displays unique gramophones collected from all over the world. The museum has items from a tin foil that was invented by Edison in 1877, all the way up to modern audio systems. ₩17,000. 
  • 6 Gyeongpo Beach, San 1, Anhyeon-dong. Gyeongpo Beach has a long stretch of a sandy beach alongside the sea. Here, you can find Gyeongpodae Pavilion, which is the most famous of the 8 scenic spots of Gwandong, and the beach feels extra cozy as it is surrounded by pine trees, which are reminiscent of an exquisite folding screen. It is considered one of the best beaches on the east coast because of the relatively shallow water, white sandy beach, and perfect water temperature. 
  • 7 Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park, 1-29, Nanselheon-ro 193beon-gil, ☏ 82 33-640-4798. Tu-Su 09:00-18:00 (closed Monday). This is a memorial park that contains the former home of Heo Nanseolheon (1563-1589), a poet of the Joseon Dynasty, and Heo Gyun, the author behind Hong Gildong jeon (The Story of Hong Gildong), as well as a memorial hall dedicated to them. The house has been designated as Cultural Material No. 59, while the memorial hall has been established as a cultural site to honor the literary achievements of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon. 
  • 8 Gyeongpo Aquarium, 131, Nanseolheon-ro, ☏ 82 33-645-7887. 09:00-18:00. It is not very huge, but there are a lot of things to watch. And also there are cafe and experience zone, so it is good for spending time. Adult ₩17,000, youth ₩15,000, child ₩13,000. 

Jeongdongjin and Okgye Area

  • 9 Gangneung Unification Park, 1715-38, Yulgok-ro, ☏ 82 33-640-4470 (Warship Pavilion), 82 33-640-4469 (Exhibition Hall). Opened with the purpose of evoking a sense of national security, divided into two parts: Security Exhibition Hall and Warship Pavilion. The North Korean submarine that carried armed spies in the 1996 invasion is displayed here at Warship Pavilion. 
  • 10 Haslla Art World, 1441, Yulgok-ro, Gangdong-myeon, ☏ 82 33-644-9411. This is a 26.9 acres (10.9 hectares) natural art park, established by a husband-and-wife team of sculptors and displaying pieces of grass, flowers, trees, and rocks harmonized artistically . Named after Haslla, an old name of Gangneung, it features beautiful scenic points for the sunrise and moonrise along the coast. 
  • 11 Sandglass Park, Jeongdongjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, ☏ 82 33-640-4536. Sandglass Park contains the world’s largest sandglass. The sand in the top part and the flowing sand symbolize the future and the present, respectively, while the golden shape represents the sun that rises over the East Sea, and the parallel rail tracks signifies the infiniteness of time. 
  • 12 Jeongdongsimgok Badabuchaegil (Sea Road), Port of Simgok in Gangdong-myeon,, ☏ 82 33-641-9444 (Jeongdong Ticketing Office), 82 33-641- 9445 (Simgok Ticketing Office). This is the one and only coastal terrace in Korea, where you can observe the traces of the crustal movements that occurred 23 million years ago and gave birth to the East Sea. It has been designated as Natural Monument No. 437. 
  • 13 Heonhwa Road, Heonhwa-ro, Gangdong-myeon, ☏ 82 33-640-4414. Heonhwa Road is a charming road that is associated with a number of legendary tales including the story of Gangneungtaesu Sunjeonggong and his wife Suro in the Silla period and the god of water who engulfed her because he was captivated by her beauty, and the story of an elderly man who picked royal azaleas from a cliff to be offered to the god of water for her to return. These tales are described in Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) under the titles Haega and Heonhwaga. 

Daegwallyeong Area

  • 14 Old Daegwallyeong Road, Eoheul-ri, Seongsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-640-8520. Daegwallyeong is at the center of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, which is considered the spine of the Korean peninsula, and it has long been an important gateway, bridging Gangneung with Pyeongchang, Wonju and Seoul. The sights of classical scholars including Yulgok Yi Yi walking over the hills with a traveler’s knapsack on their backs and itinerant vendors passing through with bags of goods can no longer be seen today along the Old Daegwallyeong Road; however, the pristine natural environment still remains to captivate the hikers with its beauty. 
  • 15 Daegwallyeong Museum, 374-3, Eoheul-ri, Seongsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-660-3830. 09:00-18:00. A museum donated to Gangneung by Hong Gwi-suk as well as his/her lifelong collection of some 2,000 folk items. It presents a wide range of artifacts dating from the prehistoric period to the modern times by theme. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 16 Daegwallyeong Recreational Forest, 133, Sampoam-gil, Seongsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-641-9990. Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00. This is Korea’s first natural recreational forest established in 1988 on the foothills of Daegwallyeong, where there are a dense pine forest, clean water in the valley, and fascinating rock forms. A part of the Areumdeuri Pine Forest, containing 50- to 200-year-old pine trees, was created by artificially planting pine seeds between 1922 and 1926, and this is why it is considered to have high academic value. Also, in addition to a self-learning forest experience program, there are many sightseeing spots including the Wild Flower Garden, and a number of forest culture experience areas. 
  • 17 Coffee Cupper Coffee Museum, 806-5, Wangsan-ri, Wangsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-655-6644. 08:30-21:00. The museum houses a wide range of rare coffee-related items from around the world including coffee roasters and grinders and espresso machines. You can also tour the Coffee Cupper Coffee Farm, which is where commercial coffee was produced for the first time in Korea, and take a look at the history of coffee with your own eyes. The museum also offers various experience programs related to coffee. ₩5000. 
  • 18 Anbandegi Village, 428, Anbandeok-gil, Wangsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-655-5119. Situated in a high-altitude area at 1,100 m above sea level, Anbandegi Village was formed as slash-and-burn farmers settled here after developing farmlands and started growing hardy plants. Since 1995, it has been the top vegetable producer in an alpine area in Korea. It presents an exquisite landscape, with a beautiful blend of green plains and wind turbines at the summit. 
  • 19 Nochusan Mojeongtap Trail, 1687-1, Daegi-ri, Wangsan-myeon, ☏ 82 33-647-2540. Cha Ok-sun relocated to Gangneung from Seoul after marrying a local man, and had four children. When two of her children died before her as a result of an unfortunate accident, she, of course, fell into despair. One day, a mountain god appeared before her in one of the dreams, and told her to build a tower with 3,000 stones to bring peace to her family. Cha Ok-sun finally accomplished this in 2011, and now people believe that when you earnestly make a wish here, it will come true. 

Jumunjin Area

  • 20 Jumunjin Seafood Market (주문진 수산시장), 312-260, Jumun-ri, Jumunjin-eup, ☏ 82 33-661-7302. 07:00-22:00. You can enjoy fresh raw fish that was just caught from the sea near the Port of Jumunjin. There are many things to see, eat and enjoy, in addition to the Jumunjin Marine Museum as well as the nearby dried fish shops and Jumunjin Hoe (Raw Fish) Center. 
  • 21 Sogeumgang Sheep Ranch, 1321, Jingogae-ro, Yeongok-myeon, ☏ 82 33-661-3395. A ranch that runs experience programs in Sogeumgang Jangcheon Village in Yeongok-myeon, which is famous for its generous residents as well as the beautiful mountains and river. There are diverse experience programs where the participants can interact with the sheep, play folk games, make traditional food and more, and this is why it is very popular as a natural experiential learning center for children. 
  • 22 Sogeumgang River, 500, Sogeumgang-gil, Yeongok-myeon, ☏ 82 33-661-4161. This area has been referred to as the small Geumgangsan and Cheonghaksan because of its exquisite scenery created by the clear waterfalls and fascinating rock forms, and its splendid beauty is attested by its designation as Scenic Site No. 1 (1970). The hiking trails near the Sogeumgang River are not on rugged terrains, so you will be able to enjoy a light trekking experience. 

Downtown and other areas

  • 23 Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office, 6, Imyeong-ro 131beon-gil, ☏ 82 33-640-5119. Jeondaecheong Hall, where the jeonpae and gwolpae tablets of the kings were enshrined and ritual ceremonies were performed, and Imyeonggwan Halls, a guest reception area comprised of two buildings on the left and right side of Jeondaecheong, were built in the 19th year of King Taejo’s reign over Goryeo. The building complex was repaired and restored multiple times, and used as an Ordinary High School by the Japanese before being demolished in 1908. 
  • 24 Wolhwa Street, 21 Geumseong-ro. There was a railroad above this road. Wolhwa street park and food market are loved by many people. 
  • 25 Solhyang Arboretum, San 135 Gujeong-myeon, ☏ 82 33-660-2320. Tu-Su 09:00-18:00. is considered a primeval forest, with well-cultivated Geumgang pine trees (Pinus densiflora Erecta), an indigenous tree species of Gangneung. The arboretum, covering around 78.5 ha in area, is divided into 23 different themes, with around 240,000 plants classified into 1,330 species. 
  • 26 Gangneung Coffee Street, 17, Changhae-ro. The Coffee Street along Anmok Beach was created naturally with famous baristas settling down here. The once tranquil beach has been transformed into a famous tourist spot for fans of coffee. (updated Oct 2019)

Do

  • Biking. Gyeongpo Lake has a paved biking/walking trail around its 4 km long shore. There are bike rental shops near the lake. 
  • Happy Hour Cruise, 1730, Haean-ro, Jumunjin-eup, ☏ 82 1899-3393. A 3-story cruise ship presenting a special experience that combines marine tourism and entertainment. Users can enjoy fantastic performances put on by foreign performance teams, a hearty lunch with diverse menu items, and a dinner offering top-grade tuna and steak. The luxurious halls on the first and second floors, the outdoor observatory, where the sea can be observed up-close, and the on-board café will present the passengers with special experiences that can only be had on a cruise. (updated Jun 2018)
  • Jeongdongjin Rail Bike, 17, Jeongdongyeok-gil, Gangdong-myeon. 82 33-655-7786. Jeongdongjin Rail Bike offers a special experience for you to become one with nature as you travel on an old rail track. It is a 5.1-km round trip between Jeongdongjin Station and Sandglass Park, alongside the beautiful Jeongdongjin Beach. 4-person bike ₩30,000, 2-person bike ₩20,000. 
  • Aranabi Experience, 1982-1, Haean-ro, ☏ 82 33-641-9002. “Aranabi,” meaning “flying like a butterfly above the beautiful sea,” is a befitting name for this enthralling experience program where you can travel a 600-m distance across the Namdaecheon Stream between Namhangjin and Anmok Port in just 2 to 3 minutes in mid-air. You can also cross the area by walking along the Sobaram (Pine Wind) Bridge. 
  • Surfing, Geumjin Beach, When you take a look at the blue sea of Gangneung and the moderately high waves, you will automatically think of surfing. People in their 20s and 30s are now visiting Geumjin Beach for a surfing experience. There are clubs and numerous travel agencies that rent out surfboards and provide surfing lessons for beginners, so there is no need to worry even if you are new to surfing.
  • Scuba diving, Sageunjin Beach of Gangneung is rising in fame as a hotspot for scuba diving in Korea. With assistance from a team of professional instructors, even first-timers and beginners can have a fun scuba diving experience in the clean sea surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
  • Kiteboarding, Songjeong Beach, Kiteboarding, which will make you as though you are running across the blue sky as you glide over the blue sea, has become a popular marine recreational sporting activity. This is why you can see kiteboarding enthusiasts and club members coming here with their own kiteboarding equipment. Songjeong has hosted the Gangneung Kiteboarding Association Korea Cup six times already, which attests to its status as the ideal place for kiteboarding.

Festivals

  • Gangneung Danoje. 3rd to the 7th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar every year, mid June. Gangwon-do's largest folk festival was registered in 2000 with UNESCO Intangible Cultural Assets. The city becomes a festive ambience with over 50 official events. The greatest attractions are the Gwanno Mask Play, open-air market with a thousand shops and splendid fireworks. Gangneung Danoje (Q496483) on Wikidata Gangneung Danoje on Wikipedia 
  • International Junior Art Festival (IJAF) (annually at Gyeongpo Beach). An youth festival which lasts four days (1-4 August). With 300 participants from seven nations and 500 visitors every night, it is considered the biggest international youth festival in South Korea. Each group performs twice: one performance on the main stage at Gyeongpo Beach, one performance on the sub stage next to the Gangneung Arts Hall in the city. The first evening starts with a big parade of all participants through the city towards the beach. The opening and closing ceremony includes a big fireworks at the beach. During festival days, the participating groups attend several cultural workshops. The festival is free of charge for the participating groups, entrance is free for the audience. 
  • Gyeongpo Summer Festival (at Gyeongpo Beach in August). A 10-day summer festival that takes place on the beach. Every summer, it presents a diverse program, with open radio studio shows and K-pop concerts. (updated Jun 2018)
  • Gangneung Coffee Festival. An eleven-day long annual event which began in October 2009. Gangneung has been called 'Coffee City' due to the emergence of privately owned coffee shops that serve high quality coffee. 
  • Gyeongpo Cherry blossoms Festival held in the mid-April every year, at the whole areas of Gyeongpodae Pavilion, has become the representative festival of the city. The beautiful flowers bloom along the 4.3-km road of Gyeongpoho Lake, with Gyeongpodae Pavilion in the center. Spring flowers such as cherry blossoms, forsythia and narcissus bloom beautifully, with the old trees spreading their branches and blooming flowers. There are various events including Flower Exhibition and Cultural and Artistic Events around the Gyeonpodae Pavilian.

Buy

There are several market places in Gangneung. Gangneung Jung Ang Market, at the center of the city, is the largest one in the area. Jumunjin Fish Market, at the eponymous harbor, is also very popular with tourists as they can see and buy various types of fish, squid and shellfish.

There are two major supermarkets, Homeplus and E-Mart.

Eat

  • Cafe Paul&Mary handmade burger
    1 Uncle Bob (coffee shop) (엉클밥), Nansolhyun ro 81-5, or Ponam dong 964, ☏ 82 5327-2008, ✉. 08:30-22:00. American-owned and operated coffee shop. Specialty coffees, teas, fruit drinks, take out and light brunch with natural countryside outdoor seating. On bicycle trail 5 minutes from the lake or beach, 10 minutes from the bus terminal, 10 minutes from downtown. ₩3,000 for Americano. 
  • 2 Chodang Grandma's Sundubu (초당할머니 순두부), 77 Chodang Sundubu-gil, ☏ 82 33 652-2058. 08:00-16:00, 17:00-19:00. If you like sundubu (soft tofu), there is no better place to go in town and Gangneung is well known for some of the best sundubu. Sundubu: ₩4,000. 
  • 3 Gangneung Gamja Ongsimi (강릉감자옹심이), 171 Toseong-ro, ☏ 82 33 648-0340. 10:30-15:00, 16:30-18:00, closed Thursday. Televised on several popular national TV programs for their gamja ongsimi, a variety of dumpling soup. 
  • 4 Yehyang Makguksu (예향막국수), 62 Nanseolheon-ro, ☏ 82 33 644-2270. W-Su 11:00-21:00. Makguksu is Gangwon's local specialty buckwheat noodle dish served in a chilled broth. If you ask the locals, Yehyang is the place they will tell you to go for makguksu. ₩6,000 for a bowl. 
  • 5 Geumhak Kalguksu, 12-6 Daehak-gil, ☏ 82 33 646-0175. M-Sa 09:00-21:00. Not a very clean place, but their kalguksu, a handmade, knife-cut noodle soup is what makes the locals keep coming back for more. ₩4,000 for kalguks. 
  • Ho Ho Sarang, Byeong Sang Dong 327, ☏ 82 33 651-2151. This family-owned restaurant serves a truly unique dish: baked yellow squash stuffed with smoked duck. You can also enjoy dong-dong ju, a traditional rice wine, with your meal. 
  • 6 Cafe Paul & Mary (카페 폴앤메리), 33, Changhae-ro 350beon-gil (can be reached by bus only; the most convenient way to here is take a bus number: 230/230-1/333-1 and get off at the station '강문'(Gangmun), and walk about 3 minutes), ☏ 82 33-653-2354. Daily 10:00-21:30. Very famous store in Gangneung for handmade burgers. Drink: americano ₩3000, caffe latte ₩3500, juice ₩5000, ades ₩4500, burgers ₩5500-6500, French fries ₩5000, beer & cocktail ₩4000-8000. (updated Oct 2019)

Drink

  • 1 Bud Namu Brewery (버드나무 브루어리), 93-8 Hongje-dong, Gangneung. 12:00-00:00. Offers its own signature craft beers that incorporate Gangneung’s local characteristics. (updated Jun 2018)

Sleep

Sun cruise hotel - built to look like a cruise ship

Connect

The area code for Gangneung and the rest of Gangwon province is 033.

Go next

Pyeongchang, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics , is approximately 30 km west of Gangneung. There are several ski resorts such as Alpensia Ski Resort, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics took place, and Yongpyong Ski Resort[dead link] which has 31 slopes and 15 different lift facilities.

This city travel guide to Gangneung is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page .