Gangwon-do
A haven of natural beauty, Gangwon offers breathtaking coastlines, misty forests, and peaceful mountain towns. It’s where you reconnect with nature and find calm in Korea’s purest landscapes.
Sokcho · Gangneung · Pyeongchang · Wonju · Yangyang · Chuncheon · Jeongseon · Donghae
Things to do here
14 experiences our team has visited
Inje · Wondae-ri
White Forest, Quiet Steps: The Birch Wood
Hike the forest road into Wondae-ri's birch stand and walk among the white trunks — in winter, snow renders the whole forest almost black-and-white.
Pyeongchang · Woljeongsa
Under the Fir Trees: Woljeongsa
Walk the kilometre of ancient firs to Woljeongsa, then stay the night — dawn service, meditation, tea, or simply the temple's own quiet.
Sokcho · Ulsanbawi
Granite Korea: Ulsanbawi
From Seoraksan's Sogongwon past Sinheungsa to the top of Ulsanbawi — the vast granite wall above Sokcho, with the East Sea spread below.
Yangyang · Hajodae
Surfing at Surfyy Beach
Take a surf lesson on the east coast at Surfyy Beach in Yangyang — boards, wetsuits and instructors on the sand, sunset beach bar afterwards, in the town that turned Korean surfing into a scene.
Pyeongchang · Yongpyong
Balwangsan Gondola & the Snow Country
Ride the Balwangsan gondola at Yongpyong to a 1,458m ridge — sky-walk deck and mountain panorama in green season, Olympic-grade slopes under your feet in winter.
Sokcho · Cheongho-dong
Abai Village & the Hand-Pulled Ferry
Cross Sokcho's harbour on the gaetbae — a flat ferry you pull across by cable, by hand — into Abai Village, settled by North Korean refugees in the war, and eat the stuffed squid sundae they made famous.
Gangneung
Gangneung: Coffee Town on the Sand
Take a small east-coast city at its own speed — Gangneung's Jungang market for potato pancakes, the pine-backed beaches, and an espresso strip where roasters face the sea.
Gangneung
Gangneung Coffee Street
Finish the drinking map with coffee: Gangneung's Anmok beach espresso strip, where Korea's first-generation roasters set up facing the sea and turned a fishing town into the country's coffee capital.
Gangneung · Anmok Beach
Coffee by the Sea: Anmok Beach
Pick a roastery or two along Anmok Beach's coffee street, order a hand drip, and hear how a strip of vending machines grew into Korea's best-known coffee city — the East Sea in front of you the whole time.
Sokcho · Dongmyeong Port
Pojangmacha Night at Dongmyeong Port
Sit down in the tent-restaurant alley at Dongmyeong Port — plastic stools, grilled fish and squid straight off the boats, the owner topping up your side dishes without being asked.
Gangneung · Jumunjin
Chasing the Scene: K-Drama Gangneung
Track down Gangneung's most famous K-drama filming spots — the Goblin breakwater at Jumunjin among them — holding each scene up against the real coastline and restaging it for your own camera.
Pyeongchang · Yongpyong
Nature & Adventure in Yongpyong
Stack a Yongpyong day from Aniforet's monorail, alpaca meadow and healing forest, the In-Art media gallery, the luge run that descends from the 1,458m ridge, the family waterpark — and Anbandegi's Milky Way skies after dark.
Jeongseon · Jeongseon Arirang Market
Spring on the Mountain: A Wild-Greens Table
In April and May, walk Jeongseon Arirang Market as the first mountain greens come down — gondre, chwinamul, gomchwi, dureup — then eat them as gondre rice or a full sanchae table.
Wonju · Museum SAN
Forty Minutes of Nothing: The Meditation Dome
Pass through Ando's stone, water and light gardens to the dome hall, then follow a 40-minute guided rest or music-therapy meditation — aroma oil and warm tea included.
Places to see
The landmarks worth the stop
Sokcho
Seoraksan National Park (Outer Seorak)
Korea's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Seoraksan rises to Daecheongbong Peak at 1,708 meters, the country's third-highest summit. The Outer Seorak side draws hikers with its rugged trails and sweeping ridgelines, where sunrise and sunset views reward those who make the climb.
Sokcho Beach
Open since 1976, Sokcho Beach sits within easy walking distance of the city center and bus terminal. Its clear, shallow waters and gentle slope make it a summer favourite, while a pine forest trail and year-round sculptures, including a compass and dolphin design, keep visitors coming beyond the peak season.
Sinheungsa Temple
Set within Seoraksan Mountain near Sokcho, this Jogye Order temple traces its origins to 652 AD, when the monk Jajang founded it as Hyangseongsa. Its grounds hold notable heritage such as the Joseon-era Geungnakbojeon Hall and a three-story stone pagoda, and a templestay programme invites visitors to join Buddhist ceremonies, 108 prostrations, and lotus lantern making.
Gangneung
Ojukheon House
The birthplace of the revered Joseon scholar Yi I, better known by his penname Yulgok, Ojukheon dates to the early Joseon dynasty and was designated Treasure No. 165 in 1963. Within the complex you can visit Mongryongsil, the room where Yi I was born, alongside the family shrine, the men's quarters, and the Yulgok Memorial Hall, which hosts an annual commemorative ceremony each October.
Gangneung Coffee Street
Gangneung's reputation as Korea's coffee capital traces back to the cafes of Anmok in the 1980s. It became the first local district to host a coffee festival and to champion its baristas, and today nearly every shop here roasts its own beans, supported by coffee museums, factories, and barista academies throughout the city.
Gangneung Gyeongpo Beach
Stretching 1.8 kilometres along a sandbar between Gyeongpo Lake and the sea, this beach is prized for its soft sand and gentle, shallow waters. A fragrant pine forest lines the shore, ideal for a slow walk, while summer brings cultural performances to the beachside stage and lakeside cycling paths for exploring the surrounding scenery.
Wonju
Sogeumsan Mountain Grand Valley
This dramatic river valley pairs sheer cliffs and ancient trees with a network of engineered walkways, including two long suspension bridges and a Cliff Walk suspended 200 meters above the ground. Recent additions of a mountain escalator and cable cars have made the once-strenuous trek far easier to enjoy.
Guryongsa Temple
Set on the wooded slopes of Chiaksan Mountain, Guryongsa is a serene temple whose name traces to a legend of nine dragons that once lived in a lake here. Its grounds hold several historic halls and pavilions, with the Daeungjeon Hall preserving its original form through generations of careful repair.
Museum SAN
Tucked into the mountains of Wonju, this Tadao Ando-designed museum unites Space, Art, and Nature across a sequence of gardens, courtyards, and exposed-concrete pavilions. Highlights include the wing-shaped Main Building, a Meditation Hall, and a dedicated James Turrell space exploring light and perception. A cafe terrace with panoramic views makes for an unhurried pause between exhibitions.
Chuncheon
Nami Island
A half-moon-shaped isle on the Bukhangang River, Nami Island is known for its tree-lined lanes and shifting seasonal colors, made famous as a Korean drama filming location. Beyond its scenery, visitors can explore museums, picture-book playgrounds, and cultural events, or simply cycle and stroll among the metasequoia paths. Themed dining and the on-site Hotel Jeonggwanru make it an easy day trip or overnight escape.
Cheongpyeongsa Temple
Set on Obongsan Mountain near Chuncheon, Cheongpyeongsa is a Buddhist temple with roots dating to 973. Its grounds include a Goryeo-era garden and pond, thoughtfully shaped to follow the natural terrain by the scholar Yi Ja-hyeon after he retired from office. Though war and time have claimed many relics, restored halls and surviving stonework preserve its thousand-year heritage.
Soyanggang Skywalk
Stretching 174 meters over the Soyanggang River, this skywalk features a transparent glass floor for much of its length, letting visitors seem to walk above the water. A circular plaza and observatory at the far end offer sweeping views, particularly at sunset, while a leopard mandarin fish sculpture with a timed fountain adds a playful touch.
Journeys through Gangwon-do
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Sample journey
All About Korea (11D 10N)
Seoul (3N), Suwon (1N), Wonju (1N), Andong (1N), Gyeongju (1N), Busan (2N), Seoul (1N)
Sample journey
Grand Korea Journey (14D 13N)
Seoul (3N), Sokcho (1N), Andong (1N), Gyeongju (2N), Busan (2N), Jeonju (1N), Daejeon (1N), Seoul (2N)
Sample journey
Ultimate Korea Discovery (17D 16N)
Seoul (4N), Chuncheon (1N), Sokcho (1N), Andong (1N), Gyeongju (2N), Busan (2N), Suncheon (1N), Jeonju (1N), Daejeon (1N), Seoul (2N)
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