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Gangneung · Area guide

Gangneung Station & Jungang Market

강릉역·중앙시장

The end of the KTX line and the old town: Jungang Market, Wolhwa Street and Danoje.

The street entrance to Gangneung Jungang Market
The street entrance to Gangneung Jungang Market. Photo: Grapesurgeon · CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo credits

The short answer

Stay by Gangneung Station if you are travelling without a car. VisitKorea's 2026 train guide lists the KTX Gangneung Line running 237.7 km from Cheongnyangni in Seoul all the way to Gangneung Station, with Seoul Station also a starting point, and the Donghae Line runs south along the coast from Gangneung via Donghae and Samcheok. Gangneung City's directions put the Intercity/Express Bus Terminal stop a 7 to 10 minute walk from City Hall.

The old town is the other draw. Wolhwa Street, a 2.6 km trail along an abandoned railway, starts at Gangneung Station, Gangneung City says. Gangneung Jungang Market, which VisitKorea calls a representative traditional market of Gangwon State, has been a permanent market since 1980, and the Daedohobu government office hosts the city's Cultural Heritage Night Tour every September. Danoje comes downtown too: in 2026 its evening parade ran from the Daedohobu along Geumseong-ro, the street Jungang Market stands on.

Best for

  • Travelling without a car
  • Arriving and leaving by KTX
  • Danoje Festival week
  • Jungang Market and the old town
  • Coastal rail trips to Donghae and Samcheok

Think twice if

  • Waking up by the sea
  • Beach days without a taxi ride
  • Sunrise from your door

Getting here

Stations and lines
StationLines
Gangneung StationKTX, Gangneung Line: 237.7 km from Cheongnyangni, also from Seoul Station; major stops include Seowonju and Pyeongchang; Gangneung is the end of the line (VisitKorea, 2026)
Gangneung StationDonghae Line south along the coast via Donghae and Samcheok: ITX-Maum, four round trips a day, and KTX-Eum, six runs a day, three each way (December 2025 figures)
Intercity/Express Bus Terminal stopA 7 to 10 minute walk from Gangneung City Hall, 33 Gangneung-daero (Gangneung City)

From Seoul

Take the KTX on the Gangneung Line. VisitKorea's train guide, updated in August 2026, lists the line as running 237.7 km from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul all the way to Gangneung Station, with major stops including Seowonju and Pyeongchang, and names Seoul Station as a starting point of the line, so board at either. Gangneung is the end of the line: ride it all the way.

From Incheon Airport

Travel into Seoul and take the KTX on the Gangneung Line from Seoul Station, which VisitKorea's train guide names as a starting point of the line. You arrive at Gangneung Station, the end of the line and the start of Wolhwa Street.

From Yangyang Airport

VisitKorea's domestic flights guide, updated in June 2026, places Yangyang International Airport in Yangyang-gun, Gangwon State, with the Yangyang Intercity Bus Terminal 20 minutes from the airport by city bus.

From Donghae and Samcheok

Take the Donghae Line north along the coast to Gangneung. A December 2025 city release on the line gives its opening date as 1 January 2025, with ITX-Maum trains making four round trips a day and six KTX-Eum runs a day, three each way. Gangneung is the northern end of the line, at Gangneung Station.

On your doorstep

  • Wolhwa Street A 2.6 km trail along an abandoned railway, starting at Gangneung Station, with sculptures and old alleys, says Gangneung City, at 211 Gyeonggang-ro.
  • Gangneung Jungang Market A representative traditional market of Gangwon State in VisitKorea's words, registered as a permanent market in 1980, with vendors spreading along the nearby alleys. It stands at 21 Geumseong-ro.
  • Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office The venue of Gangneung City's Cultural Heritage Night Tour every September, with concerts and exhibitions. In 2026 Danoje's evening parade set off from here via Okcheon junction and Geumseong-ro to Seongnae-dong plaza.
  • Danoje Festival grounds The Danoje Festival Committee holds the festival at the Danoje festival grounds along the Namdaecheon Stream; its office is at the Gangneung Danoje Education Center, 1 Danojang-gil. In 2026 the festival ran from 15 to 22 June.
  • Intercity/Express Bus Terminal Gangneung City's directions to City Hall, at 33 Gangneung-daero in Hongje-dong, say to get off at the Intercity/Express Bus Terminal stop and walk for 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Ojukheon House and Gyeongpo Yulgok's birthplace, a Treasure since 1963, open 09:00–18:00 all year, and Gyeongpo Beach, which VisitKorea puts about 6 km from downtown Gangneung. Take a taxi or drive.
  • Jeongdongjin (day trip) In Gangdong-myeon and, in the words of Gangneung City's creative-city site, well-known as the best sunrise spot in the country. Gangneung City lists the 2.86 km Jeongdong Badabuchae-gil coastal trail to Simgok Port, which it calls a designated natural monument, and an electric rail bike between Jeongdongjin Station and Moraesigye (Hourglass) Park.
  • Solhyang Arboretum (day trip) At 156 Sumogwon-gil in Gujeong-myeon; Gangneung City calls it Korea's only pine-themed arboretum. Go by car or taxi.

One easy day from here

  1. Morning Arrive by KTX at Gangneung Station and walk Wolhwa Street, the 2.6 km former-railway trail that starts at the station.
  2. Lunch Gangneung Jungang Market on Geumseong-ro, where the vendors spread into the surrounding alleys.
  3. Afternoon The Daedohobu government office, then a taxi to Ojukheon (09:00–18:00, last admission 17:00, open all year) or out to Gyeongpo Beach, about 6 km from downtown.
  4. Evening Back downtown. In September, the Cultural Heritage Night Tour at the Daedohobu; in Danoje week, the festival on the Namdaecheon and the parade along Geumseong-ro.

Before you book

  • Danoje week fills the centre. In 2026 the festival ran from 15 to 22 June on the Namdaecheon grounds, with its evening parade through downtown. Book that week as early as you can.
  • September brings the Cultural Heritage Night Tour to the Daedohobu government office, with concerts and exhibitions, says Gangneung City.
  • Flying into Incheon? Travel into Seoul and board the KTX at Seoul Station, which VisitKorea's train guide names as a starting point of the Gangneung Line; it runs all the way to Gangneung Station.
  • This is the base without a car: the KTX from Seoul and the Donghae Line from Donghae and Samcheok both arrive at Gangneung Station, and the bus terminal stop is a 7 to 10 minute walk from City Hall.
  • Want the beach too? Budget for taxis: VisitKorea puts Gyeongpo Beach about 6 km from downtown.

Questions visitors ask

How do I get from Seoul to Gangneung by train?

By KTX on the Gangneung Line. VisitKorea's 2026 train guide lists it running 237.7 km from Cheongnyangni Station all the way to Gangneung Station, and names Seoul Station as a starting point of the line, so you can board at either. Gangneung Station is the end of the line, and Wolhwa Street starts at the station.

Is there a train along the coast from Gangneung?

Yes: the Donghae Line, which runs south from Gangneung Station via Donghae and Samcheok. A December 2025 city release gives its opening date as 1 January 2025 and lists ITX-Maum trains making four round trips a day and six KTX-Eum runs a day, three each way.

Where is the Danoje Festival held?

On the Danoje festival grounds along the Namdaecheon Stream, says the Danoje Festival Committee. In 2026 it ran from 15 to 22 June, and its evening parade set off from the Daedohobu government office and ran along Geumseong-ro to Seongnae-dong plaza. Stay downtown for the parade.

How do I get from Incheon Airport to Gangneung Station?

Travel into Seoul and take the KTX on the Gangneung Line from Seoul Station, which VisitKorea's 2026 train guide names as a starting point of the line. Gangneung Station is the end of the line, so ride it all the way; Wolhwa Street starts at the station.

A place before a plan.

Where to stay in GangneungSave your address in Korean

Sources & review

Editorial review: · Korea Standard Time