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Latest update: 5 January 2026
Gangneung. South Korea’s coffee city. When I read that, I immediately thought: barista workshops, coffee tastings, and an exclusive coffee experience. So when I traveled south from Sokcho, Gangneung seemed like the perfect stopover. It turned out differently than I expected, but it was a wonderfully relaxed day.
Gangneung: perfect stopover
Gangneung is a short stopover for me between Sokcho and Andong. I read that it’s South Korea’s coffee city, so I’m curious. I imagine workshops with baristas and coffee tastings. Well, that’s not Gangneung. Although during the annual coffee festival, it probably is.
So it’s not coffee Disneyland. But it is a relaxed coastal city with a long row of coffee shops along the beach, a lively local market, and a large lake for a walk. There’s also a beach, but there are no summer temperatures during my visit, so I focus on the coffee.
Is Gangneung worth it? As a stopover: absolutely. As a main destination for a week: probably not. It’s just a nice place to be for a day without tight planning or a must-see list. Just chilling.
I have one night in Gangneung and then have to catch an early train. In total, I have a long afternoon and an evening to get to know the city. Gangneung isn’t Seoul or Busan, where you run from place to place. But more time would’ve been nice, because the different sights are pretty far apart. So I have to make choices.
Anmok Coffee Street: coffee with sea view
Anmok Coffee Street. The excuse for many people to visit Gangneung. Gangneung is South Korea’s coffee city, and that’s because of this stretch of beach where one coffee shop after another stands.
You’ll find well-known names like Starbucks and Bossa Nova (a South Korean chain), as well as local coffee cafés. Just pick a spot that appeals to you. It’s a bit of a shame there’s a street between the cafés and the beach, but hey, you can’t have everything, right? What I do have is good coffee and a delicious pastry.
Ziplining on a bike
If you’re at Anmok Coffee Street, you can head toward the ferry and walk a bit further. At the tip, you can zipline to the other side. And you can do ‘normally’, but also on a bike. I’ve never seen that before. It looks a bit like a circus act.
Gyeongpo Lake: biking or walking
From Coffee Street, we take the bus to Gyeongpo Lake. The lake is 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) in circumference, and you see lots of people going by on bike wagons and tandems. We decide to do the stretch on foot.
It’s not a spectacular lake. No azure blue colors or tiny islets. Just a peaceful lake where you can get away from the city for a bit. Fine for a walk and it’s fun to see how much fun people are having on the bikes.
Myeongju-dong: coffee and shopping
More coffee? Then go to the Myeongju-dong neighborhood. Here you’ll find even more coffee shops and a handful of cute streets to wander through.
From Myeongju-dong, you can easily walk into a long shopping street full of sports brands like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance. In South Korea, they’re crazy about sporty outfits, and the clothing is often a bit cheaper than back home.
Gangneung Jungang Market
The Gangneung Jungang Market is fun to visit both during the day and in the evening. During the day, you see stalls full of fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables. In the evening, the market really comes alive with food stalls and lines at popular spots.
We see a massive line at Baenni daljip during the day, and in the evening it’s still there, probably even longer. Oddly enough, the online reviews aren’t that enthusiastic, but, herd animals that we are, we join anyway. The line moves surprisingly fast, and we order one portion of chicken.
The sauce is good, but the chicken could be a bit more tender, in our opinion. Not bad, but also not something we’d repeat. But at least now we know what everyone’s lining up for!
Patrick also gets a potato ice cream at this stall. Sounds weird, tastes… also a bit weird. But fun to try.
More things to see in Gangneung
Because I only had a long afternoon and one night, there are a few things I didn’t see, but that seem worth it. You might want to check these things out in Gangneung:
Ojukheon House: The birthplace of Yulgok Yi I, a famous Confucian scholar. His face is on the 5,000 won bill. The complex has traditional buildings with black bamboo forests.
Gyeongpodae Pavilion: Historic pavilion by Gyeongpo Lake. According to legend, during a full moon, you can see the same moon four times: in the sky, in the lake, in the sea, and in your glass.
Haslla Art World: Art museum on a hill overlooking the sea. Modern art and a sculpture garden.
Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park: Popular for sunrises. Has the train station closest to the sea in the world. People even take the night train from Seoul that arrives just before sunrise.
Seongyojang House: Traditional manor house from the Joseon period, where you can see how the nobility used to live.
Where to stay in Gangneung?
I stayed in an Airbnb apartment from this host. They have multiple apartments in Gangneung, and it was neat and cozy. Communication via Airbnb went smoothly, and everything was well organized. This was the specific apartment where I stayed.
The train station and the market are within walking distance.
How to get to Gangneung?
Most people come from Seoul. With the KTX high-speed train, you’re there in about 2.5 hours. You board at Seoul Station and arrive at Gangneung Station. Tickets cost between $32 and $54 (€30-€50), depending on when you book and which class you take. From Busan, it’s about 4 to 5 hours by KTX train, with a transfer in Seoul or sometimes a direct connection. Book via Korail.
From Incheon Airport, you can also take a direct bus that takes about 3 hours to Gangneung. That costs $16 to $27 (€15-€25) and is ideal if you want to head straight from the airport to the east coast.
I came from Sokcho by bus. That ride takes about an hour and costs a few Won. Check bus connections here.
Once in Gangneung, you can easily walk around the center. For more distant places, you take the local bus. You pay with your T-money card.
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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