Gangneung's status as a beloved tourist site comes from the deep blue East Sea. The region is also a site of pilgrimage for many coffee lovers in Korea. After spending your day sampling the local delicacies and enjoying the scenery of the beaches in the city, wind down with these relaxing activities for the evening.
After dinner, enjoy the view of the night sea with delectable desserts, or a glass of cocktail in a trendy bar. Whatever you choose, make sure to sit back, take your mind off your daily grind, and enjoy the city lights. If time permits, you can even catch a movie in one of the largest movie theaters in the Gangwon region. For a livelier experience, visit the traditional market and feel the open hands and big hearts of the people of Gangneung.
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Sundubu gelato
Unique and healthy dessert with a rich taste
- Food
Sundubu gelato serves ice cream made out of Chodang soft bean curd, the specialty of Gangneung. The gelato is made with an authentic Italian gelato machine, and thus recreates the unique texture of gelato. It is rich, but not too sweet, so it makes for a great dessert. Get the gelato in a cone or a cup from the kiosk, either for takeout or to be eaten at one of the outdoor tables next to the kiosk.
Other than the soft bean curd gelato, you also have a number of other flavors made from traditional ingredients, like injeolmi (powdered soybeans), coffee, Halla green tea, and black sesame seed. But make sure to try out the Chodang soft bean curd in particular. After all, this is the specialty of Gangneung, and it is healthy to boot.
Location: 95-5, Chodangsundubu-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 10 am to 8 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +82 (0)10-7523-4487
Mapphoto by lazy fri13th (CC BY 2.0) modified
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Sky Lounge Bar at Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo
Rooftop bar with infinity pool
- Food
- Luxury
- Nightlife
Skybay Hotel Gyeongpo is a landmark of Gangneung that also housed many Olympians during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Located on the highest floor of the hotel, on the 20th floor, the Sky Lounge Bar has a window wall that gives you a great view of the beautiful beach and Gyeongpo Lake, especially the sunrise and the sunset over the water.
Outside is the rooftop bar and infinity pool. After your leisurely dinner in the hotel, you can enjoy a dip in the fantastic infinity pool where the sky joins the sea, lie down on a sunbed, and enjoy a cocktail with the sunset for a healing experience. End your day on a high note with a great view.
Location: 476, Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Open: Daily from 1 pm to 10 pm
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307 Pub & Pop
Casual bar through a secret door
- Luxury
- Nightlife
307 Pub & Pop is located in the 307 Color Photo Studio on the 16th floor of the St. John's Hotel. A photo studio in a hotel, you say? Indeed, there is a bona-fide photo studio on the 16th floor. What's more, one has to find the secret entrance within the studio to enter the bar.
Once you find your way there, grab a cocktail from the bar, and see if you can catch a live performance from the stage in the middle of the space. If the weather is nice, take your cocktail outside to the terrace with a great view of the East Sea, and enjoy your cocktail with the sea breeze. If you want a casual place to enjoy some local nightlife, 307 Pub & Pop is a great place to go. This will be a great way to end your evening in Gangneung with good vibes.
Location: 307, Changhae-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Open: Daily from 6 pm to 1.30 am
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Gangneung Jungang Market
Traditional market where you can sample local specialties
- Food
- Nightlife
- Shoppers
Located in Gangneung's city centre, Gangneung Jungang Market is a historic market and the biggest of its kind in Gangneung. In spring, it sells mountain herbs like fatsia shoot, Fischer's ragwort, and thistle. In summer, the market sells maize and potato, while in fall the coveted pine mushroom can be found here. The underground fish market offers both fresh fish and seafood as well as salted and preserved seafood.
Jungang Market is also a great place to enjoy some snacks. There's a staggering variety of snacks on offer, the most popular ones being hotteok (griddlecake with sugar filling), coffee bread, and dakgangjeong (deep-fried and braised chicken). Hotteok in Gangneung often feature ice cream or mozzarella cheese. They are famous enough to have people lining up for their turn, so make sure to try them. Gangneung is a city of coffee, so coffee bread is unsurprisingly a part of the snacking scene here. The bread is filled with sweet red bean paste and coffee jelly, perfect for dessert. Another popular menu, dakgangjeong, sees considerable diversity between the stores. It is perfect for a night-time snack.
Location: 21, Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 9 pm
Phone: +82 (0)33-648-2285
Mapphoto by Minseong Kim (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
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CGV Gangneung
Multiplex movie theater leading the city's movie culture
- Couples
- Families
- Nightlife
Now that you've enjoyed the scenery of Gangneung and had a delicious supper, how about winding down with a movie in CGV Gangneung? CGV Gangneung is a multiplex movie theater equipped with special theaters including ScreenX and SWEETBOX. Its 4-way speaker system guarantees a more immersive experience. It has a carpark with a capacity of around 600, and filmgoers are provided with a 3-hour free parking ticket.
CGV Gangneung is also a participant in the Gangneung International Movie Festival, during which it screens selected movies from the festival. If you are a fan of the movie form, don't miss the Gangneung International Movie Festival. There, you can enjoy everything that has to do with movie, with movies on every material and genre.
Location: 2120 Gyeonggang-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Open: Depends on the movie time
Phone: +82 1544-1122
Map