Hotels in Gangneung

Gyeongpo Beach suits travelers seeking sand and a summer resort atmosphere, three minutes from Gyeongpo Lake. Anmok Beach draws café-goers to South Korea's densest coffee street. The area around Gangneung Station offers the most practical base, with KTX trains reaching Seoul in under two hours. Most visitors stay two to three nights.

Where to Stay in Gangneung

Gyeongpo Beach is the primary resort strip — hotels line the shore and fill fast in July and August. Anmok Beach, two kilometers south, is quieter and anchored by the famous Anmok Coffee Street, where over 100 cafés face the East Sea. Downtown Gangneung, clustered around the express bus terminal and city hall, suits budget travelers and those arriving by intercity bus from Seoul or Busan. Gangneung Station (KTX) sits on the western edge of the city; accommodation here is efficient but removed from the waterfront.

Getting Around

City buses connect the KTX station to Gyeongpo Beach in about 20 minutes. Taxis are metered and widely available. Renting a bicycle is practical along the Gyeongpo Lake trail, a 4-kilometer flat loop. The Gangneung Olympic Park — built for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics ice events — is reachable by bus from the city center.

Practical Tips

• Best time to visit: Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) avoid summer crowds at the beach.
• Local food: Chodang tofu, made with seawater from the Chodang neighborhood, and Ojingeo-sundae (squid stuffed with rice) are regional specialties.
• KTX booking: Reserve seats two weeks ahead for summer weekends and winter ski season — trains sell out.
• Currency: Card payments are accepted at most hotels; smaller beach cafés often prefer cash.