Gangneung has an outsized coffee scene for a city its size: coffee vending machines appeared along Anmok Beach in the 1980s, cafés followed after 2000, and it's now the country's unofficial coffee capital.
Highlights
- Anmok Coffee Street, dozens of cafés along the beach, many roasting their own beans — an Americano runs about ₩5,000–6,000, hand-drip a little more.
- Gyeongpo Beach, Gangneung's main beach and a lively summer spot.
- Ojukheon and Seongyojang, well-preserved Joseon-era historic houses.
- Jeongdongjin, a stretch of coast known for sunrise views, a short trip along the coast from the city.
- The SEA TEA bus, a scenic red bus looping 23 km of coastline between Anmok, Gyeongpo, and Jumunjin Fish Market.
Getting there
KTX from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni Station to Gangneung Station takes about 2 hours. Express buses from Dong Seoul Terminal take about 3 hours. From Gangneung Station it's a 10–15 minute taxi to Anmok Beach.
How long
Easily a long day trip from Seoul thanks to the KTX, though an overnight lets you fit in both the coffee street and the beach towns further along the coast without rushing.