Our guide to the best things to do for couples in Gangneung includes many places that have been featured in popular K-dramas. Enjoy a walk down the path along Anmok Beach, where you can stop at delightful cafés and visit the famous Terarosa. Known as Gangneung Coffee Street, this area is quite popular among couples.
Hourglass Park and Yeongjin Beach are known for their romantic ambience, while beautiful artworks dot the sea-facing garden of Haslla Art World. Here are some of Gangneung’s most romantic places.
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Gyeongpo Pavilion & Gyeongpo Lake
Gyeongpo Pavilion is beautiful during the day, but it’s downright mysterious at night. The street lights and building lights around Gyeongpo Lake create a continuous link around the lake, and the lights reflecting back onto the calm surface are sublime. The lights reflecting on the water can only be described as dreamy.
The colorful lights strike the white cherry blossoms to create a dazzling display. The dreamy cherry blossoms and lights against a backdrop of the timeless Gyeongpo Pavilion will remain a memory you won’t soon forget.
Location: San 1-1, Gangmun-dong Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
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Wolhwa Street
- Nightlife
Wolhwa Street, near Gangneung Jungang Market, is famous for its food, and it’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll through terraced gardens and modern spacious boulevards. There are ring-shaped swing chairs throughout, and though they appear white during the day, they come alive with colors at night. The nearby bridge through Namdaecheon glows with soft lighting, and the view of the entire city of Gangneung from above is quite romantic.
Location: 2111 Gyeonggang-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
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Solbaram Bridge
- Couples
- Photo
Solbaram Bridge is a footbridge connecting Namhangjin and Anmok beaches, and its net-shaped structure changes colors in a brilliant display. The reflections on the water will captivate you each time the bridge changes color.
Solbaram Bridge is close to Anmok Coffee Street, so stop by and grab a cup of coffee to close out your evening. The wonderful night-time views will make your romantic date even more enjoyable.
Location: Byeongsan-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
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Anmok Coffee Street
- Budget
- Couples
- Food
- Photo
The Anmok Beach area near Gyeongpo Beach is actually more popular under the name Gangneung Anmok Coffee Street. The clear waters and clean sandy beaches are similar to Gyeongpo Beach, but the area is differentiated by exquisite cafés and distinctive sculptures. More people seek out this area than Gyeongpo Beach thanks to the cafés, and they all boast lovely interiors with tremendous ocean views. It’s especially popular among couples, but it has a laidback atmosphere that’s welcoming to friends looking for a place to meet up.
Location: 20-1 Changhae-ro 14 beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Mapphoto by Altostratus (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
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Hourglass Park
- Budget
- Couples
- Families
- Photo
Hourglass Park near Jeongdongjin Station served as a filming location for the K-drama, Sandglass, which had a viewership rating so high in South Korea back in 1995 that you'll be jokingly referred to as a spy if you hadn’t seen it. The park was retroactively created to provide greater enjoyment to fans of the show.
You can find the Jeongdongjin Time Museum, railbikes, and a massive hourglass statue that's illuminated at night. Be sure to visit if you’re a fan of the show or just interested in something a bit different.
Location: San 2, Jeongdongjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
photo by 안우석 (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
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Haslla Art World
- Budget
- Couples
- Families
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Haslla Art World is a place where you can relax while viewing artworks in Gangneung. It consists of an indoor art gallery and an outdoor sculpture park, with lots of seating available throughout the area. There’s a work of art, whether man-made or naturally-occurring, everywhere you look.
Exploring the entire place takes quite a bit of time, so be patient, pace yourself, and get ready to take in all the beauty that surrounds you. Haslla Art World is a wondrous place where art and nature are in absolute harmony.
Location: 1441 Yulgok-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm (sculpture park closes at 7 pm)
Phone: +82 (0)33-644-9411
photo by 최옥영 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
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Yeongjin Beach
- Budget
- Couples
- Families
- Photo
Yeongjin Beach is where one of the most popular romantic K-dramas, Goblin was filmed. This beach is particularly beautiful when the moon rises as the sun is on its way down. A small breakwater stretches towards the East Sea, and a red and yellow lighthouse adds to the romantic landscape, encouraging you into staying just a little bit longer.
Location: Yeongjin 2-ri, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
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Coffee Cupper Museum
The Coffee Cupper Museum in Gangneung consists of 5 floors, and the best way to see the museum is to start from the top floor and work your way down to finish with a cup of coffee at the ground-floor café.
Beans from regions across the world are on display, and you can learn more about the inner workings of an espresso machine and various tools used in the entire coffee-making process. With lots of fun things to see, the Coffee Cupper Museum is not to be missed, whether you’re a connoisseur or casual coffee drinker.
Location: 341 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm
Phone: +82 (0)33-655-6644
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Adeul Rocky Park
A pretty, rocky outcrop on a scenic Korean beach
- Adventure
- Budget
- Couples
- Photo
Little-known Adeul Rocky Park is a pleasant pitstop for travelers traversing Korea’s northeast coastline. The small, seaside reserve features a jagged array of Jurrasic-era rocks eroded into oddball formations over 150 million years. Visitors can view the cragged assortment from a raised walkway and observation deck.
Legend has it that couples who wish to conceive will obtain fertility upon praying at the site. The park straddles the scenic Jumunjin Beach, ideal for bathing, sunbathing and kayaking during the warmer months. If you're hungry, you’ll find a row of authentic Korean seafood eateries serving the catch of the day.
Location: 791-47 Jumun-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Open: 24/7
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Gangneung Jungang Market
- Budget
- Food
- Shoppers
Gangneung Jungang (Central) Market, a permanent market that opens year-round. It's a must-see spot during your Gangneung travels if you're looking for affordable yet authentic local dishes. There is a dedicated parking lot as well as several nearby public parking, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a spot unless you're visiting during a particularly crowded time. The market is adored by tourists and locals alike, with plenty of things to eat, see, and do.
Location: 21 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 9 pm
Phone: +82 (0)33-648-2285
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