By: Emma O’Flynn
This is one of the largest cities in the province, and as such has most of the trappings that one would expect. There is a relatively large and thriving ex-pat community there as well, so you will always see a few folks that you can stop and ask for directions!
For accommodation, best to grab a taxi from the bus station to the Tekji area, where there are a wealth of love motels. You should expect to pay in the region of $40-60, but in return you can expect to get spacious and clean digs.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants in Tekji for the weary traveler. Check out Shabu Shabu, Plein Fradai, or the Beer Factory, and wash it all down with drinks at the fabulous Bon Voyage bar, where you will meet the owner Ben, a local legend in himself!
The downtown area also offers some well established watering holes for the ex-pat crowd, those worth mentioning include the quirky Bumpin’, a ramshackle wooden hut, perfect for grabbing a cold one and listening to some classic tunes. If you want a knees-up, then check out The Warehouse, and Rush, which often have live music and DJ sets at the weekend.
Gangneung also offers a number of tourist attractions, including the Gyeongpo Pavilion and lake. The Pavilion, located on the edge of the lake, is a pretty good example of a Korean temple, and it’s not a long ass hike up a hill! From that point you can stroll round the lake and admire an abundance of weird artworks. It’s also possible to hire peddle-cars or tandem bikes for the circuit, so you can do it Korean Styleee, (make sure to take lots of cute couple shots whilst saying ‘Kimcheeee’ in your most sugary voice!).
The lake is in close proximity to the excellent Gyeongpo beach. The main beach front is lined with motels, seafood restaurants, and some very good coffee shops that offer a selection of drip coffee (try Terrarosa or Hippy Coffee).
Also in that area there is the world famous (and by that I mean famous in Korea!) Cho Dang Dong Soondubu (tofu) Village, which if you are a fan of Korean food, is well worth the visit. Soondubu is a spicy tofu stew, with mushrooms and glass noodles. It’s reasonably priced and meat-free, for the scrooges and veggos amongst us respectively, and comes with a wealth of side dishes (including some fish).
The city also hosts a number of festivals, including the Dano Festival in June, and a coffee festival in October time.
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