Gangneung

Gangneung-si is a city located on the east coast of Korea in Gangwon-do Province. It's a hotspot for Koreans and foreigners alike, with picturesque beaches, delicious seafood, and beautiful cafes. Plus, with a travel time of around 2 hours from Seoul, it's the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend getaway.

How to get there:

By train: In my opinion, the best way to travel to Gangneung from Seoul is by KTX train. You can depart from Seoul Station or Cheongyangni Station and it'll take about 2 hours. From Cheongyangni Station it'll be a little faster as it's located in eastern Seoul, but it will only make a difference of about 15 minutes. Ticket prices start at around 26,000 won (one way). I recommend that you book well in advance as tickets sell out pretty quickly for Fridays and weekends. Also make sure that you can book a return ticket (I have made this mistake before!) as Sundays in particular sell out really fast.

By bus: You can take an Express bus from the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Gangneung Express Bus Terminal. It will take a little longer than the train, around 2.5 hours, but tickets are slightly cheaper. Prices are set depending on the bus company that is operating the service, but on average tickets cost 22,300 won (one way).

Where to stay

So if you are now considering a well-deserved break in Gangneung, I can recommend the hotel I stayed at during my visit. Gyeongpo Soo Hotel is located directly opposite Gyeongpo Beach, so if you choose a room with an ocean view, that is exactly what you will get! I stayed in the Ocean View Terrace room and it was very spacious and clean. The furniture and fixtures are fairly modern and they provide basic facilities. There are large windows so that you can enjoy the sea view from the comfort of your room, and a small balcony if you'd like to get outside and take in the fresh sea air. The only downside is that the walls are pretty thin so you can hear the toilet being flushed in other rooms! Gyeongpo Beach is very popular, even at night, so you might also hear some small fireworks being set off. On the other hand, the road separating the hotel from the beach is generally pretty quiet, so I didn't hear much noise and had a great night's sleep.