A 1-night, 2-day trip to Gangneung has the lowest chance of disappointment when you stick to the “Ocean (Gyeongpo · Anmok) + Coffee + Traditional Market Eats” combo. In particular, if you properly bundle just these three—Anmok Beach Coffee Street (ocean-view cafes), Gyeongpodae Pavilion · Gyeongpoho Lagoon (walk/bike), and Jungang Market (local eats/night-market route)—your satisfaction level jumps. The itinerary below is the same “no-getting-lost route” I use as-is when I’m showing around foreign friends (living in Korea).
Save First! 5 Map Search Keywords
- 안목해변 커피거리 (Anmok Beach Coffee Street) (Visit Korea)
- 경포대 / 경포호 (Gyeongpodae Pavilion & Gyeongpoho Lagoon) (CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION)
- 강릉 중앙시장 (Gangneung Jungang Market) (Gangneung City Hall)
- 강릉 성남시장 (Seongnam Market) (Gangneung City Hall)
- 월화거리 야시장(시즌 운영) (Wolhwa Street Night Market (seasonal)) (Gangneung City Hall)
At a Glance: Recommended 1-Night, 2-Day Gangneung Itinerary
Key point: If you plan it as “Anmok (cafes) around sunset + the market (food) at night,” you get both the vibe and the flavor.
Day 1 (Ocean · Walk · Coffee · Market)
- Arrive in the afternoon → Jungang Market (snacks/dinner)
- Sunset time → Anmok Beach Coffee Street ocean-view cafe
- If you have extra time → Gyeongpoho Lakeside Trail (walk or bike around dusk)
Day 2 (Morning scenery + wrap up with shopping)
- Morning → Gyeongpodae · Gyeongpoho (calm scenery)
- Before lunch → Revisit Jungang Market/Seongnam Market (souvenirs · packed-to-go foods)
- Before you leave → One last cup of coffee at Anmok Beach
Day 1: Jungang Market → Gyeongpoho (optional) → Anmok Beach Coffee Street → (If there’s a night market) Wolhwa Street
1) Why you should hit Jungang Market before check-in
Gangneung Jungang Market sits in the “dead center” of downtown, and the market itself is large, making it perfect for taking care of snacks → a full meal → to-go packing all in one go.
- Location: 21 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Seongnam-dong) (Gangneung City Hall)
- Layout (summary): B1 (fish market) / 1F (food, dried seafood, general goods, etc.) / 2F (restaurant area) (Gangneung City Hall)
In particular, the official info says the underground fish market is “one of the largest in Yeongdong,” and it also notes that the 2nd floor has restaurants serving spicy fish stew, samsugi fish soup, pollock roe soup, and more. (If you love seafood, your satisfaction skyrockets here.) (Gangneung City Hall)
Jungang Market parking (by car) — this part really matters
On weekends in Gangneung, parking is half the itinerary. The official parking guidance for Jungang Market is summarized like this. (Gangneung City Hall)
- Geumseong-ro curbside parking (paid)
- Jungang Market public parking lot: 62 spaces (paid)
- Nearby: Wolhwa Street curbside / Seongnaedong Plaza / Namdaecheon riverside / Jungang-dong Embankment Road (free sections marked), etc. (Gangneung City Hall)
Tip: Markets are not the kind of place where you can “just pop in and leave.” Parking somewhere with quick turnover—like the Namdaecheon riverside—and walking over feels far less stressful (especially in peak season).
2) Gyeongpodae · Gyeongpoho: Gangneung’s “scenery” spot
Gyeongpodae and Gyeongpoho are Gangneung’s 대표 natural landscape, introduced as a “scenic site” on the National Heritage Portal.
- Name: Gangneung Gyeongpodae Pavilion and Gyeongpoho Lagoon
- Category: Natural Heritage / Scenic Site
- Date designated: 2013.12.30
- Location: 94 Jeodong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION)
Gyeongpoho Lakeside Trail (walk/bike): just the essentials
According to a Korea Tourism Organization (Visit Korea) travel feature, the Gyeongpoho Lakeside Trail is about 4.3 km and is mostly flat, making it comfortable for both walking and biking. (Visit Korea)
- If you bike “just one loop,” it takes 15–20 minutes
- If you take photos and look around slowly: 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours (Visit Korea)
- It’s listed as open year-round (daily), with no admission fee. (Visit Korea)
Best timing (in practice):
- On Day 1, go around dusk (around sunset) and the lake’s colors look unreal.
- On Day 2, early morning means fewer people and better photos.
3) Anmok Beach Coffee Street: “If you’re in Gangneung, coffee is here”
Anmok Beach Coffee Street isn’t just a place with lots of cafes—according to the Korea Tourism Organization’s “Open Tourist Destination” info,
- Selected as an Open Tourist Destination in 2020
- Accessible facilities such as disabled parking/restrooms, barrier-free paths, and tactile/voice guidance boards were installed (Visit Korea)
And it also summarizes the story that it has been known as a coffee hotspot since the early 1980s, and after the 1990s, as roasting culture took root, more coffee shops emerged. (Visit Korea) - Address: 20-1 Changhae-ro 14beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Visit Korea)
Three criteria for “choosing a cafe” in Anmok
- If you’re going for sunset/night views, pick a place with a rooftop or plenty of window seats
- If it’s a busy weekend, choose a large venue with fast turnover (ordering/pickup flow)
- If photos are the goal, go for a spot with a straight-on ocean view + a location that gives you sculptures/street depth in the frame
Tip: You can go to Anmok just for cafes, but even a 10-minute beach walk with your coffee completes that “I’m in Gangneung” feeling.
4) (If it’s in season) Be sure to check Wolhwa Street Night Market
The area that comes alive at night near Jungang Market and Seongnam Market is Wolhwa Street.
Gangneung City’s notice (No. 2026-21) has been posted, and the search info for that notice lists the 2026 Wolhwa Street Night Market operating period as 2026.5.1–10.31 (planned), Fridays and Saturdays (around 55 times total, planned). (Gangneung City Hall)
Note: Night markets can change depending on weather (rain, etc.) and event schedules. To be safe, check “Gangneung City notices” or on-site guidance once the day before you leave.
Day 2: Morning walk at Gyeongpodae · Gyeongpoho → market packing & shopping → wrap up with Anmok coffee
1) Morning at Gyeongpo is “Gangneung without the crowds”
On Day 2, you’ll be more than satisfied even if you use the Gyeongpoho Lakeside Trail only “briefly.”
- Even with just a 30–60 minute walk, you can capture “lake + pine trees + the seaside city of Gangneung” in a single shot. (Visit Korea)
2) Jungang Market/Seongnam Market to-go shopping route
Seongnam Market is attached to Jungang Market, so the right move is to see them “as one bundle.”
The Seongnam Market guide explicitly lists items sold such as ox head soup and rice, dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken), an oil mill, assorted fried foods, agricultural/seafood/livestock products, and general goods. (Gangneung City Hall)
Its introduction also includes the phrase night market operation (Fri · Sat 19:00–22:00). (Gangneung City Hall)
(However, the actual night-market format may be linked to / vary with Wolhwa Street operations, so follow on-site guidance.)
Transportation Tips: Public Transit (especially for foreigners)
Gangneung city bus fares/transfers (practical info)
According to the Gangneung Bus Information System,
- Regular (adult) cash 1,700 KRW / card 1,530 KRW
- Up to 2 free transfers within 1 hour after getting off
- Accepted transit cards include T-money, Cashbee, etc. (Bus Information System)
Bus route hint for getting to Anmok Beach (Anmok Coffee Street)
In the Gangneung Bus Information System route search results, routes that terminate at or pass by Anmok Coffee Street (e.g., 300-1 (marked as Gangneung Station), 302-1, 314-1, 225-1, etc.) appear. (Bus Information System)
→ Since actual timetables and real-time arrivals can vary, checking “real-time search in the Bus Information System” on the day is the most accurate.
Getting to the Gyeongpo area (public transit)
In a Korea Tourism Organization (Visit Korea) travel feature, it suggests travel examples like:
- From Gangneung Station bus stop, take bus 202-1 → get off at Gyeongpo Beach
- From the Gangneung Intercity/Express Bus Terminal stop, take bus 202 → get off at Gyeongpo Beach
(Visit Korea)
7 “Small Details” That Upgrade Your Trip Quality
- Split roles: sunset at Anmok, quiet scenery at Gyeongpoho
- Use the market not just for “one meal,” but for snacks/to-go packing/souvenirs for higher satisfaction
- At the coffee street, instead of “two cafes,” go longer at one place (seat/view/walk)
- If you hate parking stress, for the Day 1 market the answer is a large parking lot + walking (Gangneung City Hall)
- Biking isn’t about saving time—it’s content (photos + experience) (Visit Korea)
- If you’re traveling with foreigners, card acceptance can differ by stall at the market, so prepare small cash
- In winter or on windy days, use an ocean-view cafe like an “indoor observatory”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — 1 Night, 2 Days in Gangneung
Q1. With 1 night and 2 days in Gangneung, can I see Anmok Beach, Gyeongpodae, and Jungang Market all?
Yes. Since all three are easy to move between within central Gangneung, if you split it into Day 1: market + Anmok, and Day 2: Gyeongpo (lagoon/Gyeongpodae), you can get around at a relaxed pace.
Q2. Why is Anmok Beach Coffee Street so famous?
According to the Korea Tourism Organization’s Open Tourist Destination introduction, Anmok has been known as a coffee hotspot since the 1980s, and as coffee culture spread, more cafes opened. It was also selected as an Open Tourist Destination in 2020, so convenience facilities such as barrier-free paths have been improved. (Visit Korea)
Q3. How long does the Gyeongpoho Lakeside Trail take?
Based on a Korea Tourism Organization travel feature, the trail is about 4.3 km. It’s guided as around 15–20 minutes by bike, or 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours on foot. (Visit Korea)
Q4. Where is the best place to park for Jungang Market?
Gangneung City Hall’s guidance lists options such as the Jungang Market public parking lot (62 spaces), Geumseong-ro curbside parking, Wolhwa Street curbside parking, Seongnaedong Plaza, Namdaecheon riverside, and Jungang-dong Embankment Road. On weekends, consider places with many spaces—like the Namdaecheon riverside—first. (Gangneung City Hall)
Q5. When does the Wolhwa Street Night Market open?
The search info for Gangneung City’s notice (No. 2026-21) shows 2026.5.1–10.31 (planned), operating on Fridays and Saturdays (planned). Since it may change depending on events/weather, checking before departure is recommended. (Gangneung City Hall)
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