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Illustration: Gangneung
Gangwon · east coast

Gangneung 강릉

Beaches, seaside coffee and seawater tofu

4 places2 local dishes

Why go

Gangneung faces the East Sea, with long sandy beaches and pine forests. It is Korea's coffee town: a whole street of cafés looks out to sea. It is also the land of Joseon era scholars, and its Danoje (단오제, Danoje) Festival is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.

Getting there

KTX from Seoul Station to Gangneung Station, approx. 2 hours. From Cheongnyangni Station it takes a little less.

Travel times are approximate. Verified in October 2026.

What to see

  1. Gyeongpo Beach

    경포해변 Gyeongpo Haebyeon

    Gangneung's best known beach, with pale sand and pines behind it. Next to it are Gyeongpoho Lake and Gyeongpodae Pavilion, with paths for walking or cycling. On New Year's Day crowds come to watch the sunrise.

  2. Anmok Coffee Street

    안목해변 커피거리 Anmok Haebyeon Keopi Geori

    A row of cafés facing Anmok Beach in the south of the city. Order a coffee, cross the street and sit on the sand. This is the area that made Gangneung Korea's coffee town.

  3. Ojukheon House

    오죽헌 Ojukheon

    One of the oldest houses in Korea, from the Joseon era. The artist Sin Saimdang and her son, the scholar Yulgok Yi I, were born here. Both appear on Korean banknotes, and the house is on the 5,000 won note. Its name comes from the black bamboo in its garden.

  4. Jeongdongjin

    정동진 Jeongdongjin

    A beach south of the city with a train station almost on the sand. It is one of Korea's most famous spots to watch the sunrise.

What to eat

  1. Chodang soft tofu

    초당순두부 Chodang sundubu

    Very soft tofu set with East Sea seawater instead of other coagulants, something rarely seen elsewhere in the world. In Chodang village by Gyeongpoho Lake it is served plain, with sauce or in a spicy stew. The tradition grew after the Korean War.

  2. Ongsimi Potato dumpling soup

    감자옹심이 gamja-ongsimi

    Grated potato dumplings cooked in a mild broth, sometimes with noodles. A classic of Gangwon, a potato growing region.

Best time to go

Summer for the beach, with swimming season in July and August, and autumn for walks and coffee by the sea. Watching the January 1 sunrise at Gyeongpo or Jeongdongjin is a real tradition.

Tip

Combine Ojukheon, Chodang village and Anmok Coffee Street in one day: they are a short bus or taxi ride apart. On the coffee street, look for a table on an upper floor for the best sea view.

Sources