Things to Do in Gangneung: A Local 1-Day Itinerary by the Sea

Gangneung (강릉) is the easiest seaside escape from Seoul — a little over two hours by KTX. If you only have a day, here is how a local would spend it, ending with something you can do nowhere else in Korea.

🌊 Gyeongpo Lake & Gyeongpo Beach

Start at Gyeongpo Lake, a calm lagoon ringed by a 4 km walking and cycling path. In spring it is one of the country's best cherry-blossom spots; in summer the pine-shaded path leads straight to the wide white sand of Gyeongpo Beach. Rent a bike at the lake and you can loop both in an hour.

☕ Anmok Coffee Street

Gangneung is Korea's coffee capital, and Anmok Beach Coffee Street is its heart — a row of roasteries and cafés looking straight out to sea. Order a hand-drip, take it to the sand, and watch the waves. If you visit in winter, see our guide to Gangneung's seaside spots for more.

🏯 Ojukheon & Heo Gyun · Heo Nanseolheon Park

Ojukheon is the birthplace of the scholar Yulgok Yi I and his mother Shin Saimdang — the first mother and son in history to appear on a nation's banknotes. A short walk away, the Heo Gyun · Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park is a quiet, free garden of old pines.

🎬 Jumunjin Breakwater (a Goblin filming spot)

North of the city, the Jumunjin Breakwater is famous as a filming location for the K-drama Goblin. We wrote a full fan guide here: Goblin filming spots in Gangneung. Watch the waves — they can overtop the pier.

🎨 Paint Your Own Backdrop — Rain or Shine

Here is the part you can't do anywhere else. At Now or Never, a paint-and-photo studio in Gangneung, you hand-paint a 2.4 m backdrop, then take your photos standing inside your own artwork. It's indoors, so it's perfect on a rainy day. Read how a session works in Paint Your Own Backdrop: Gangneung's one-of-a-kind photo studio, or see real guest work in the gallery.

💡 Booking: Now or Never runs strictly by reservation. International visitors can book via Instagram DM (@nowornever_gn) — see the About page for hours and location.