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Last checked: November 3, 2026
Short version: board the KTX-Eum at Cheongnyangni or Seoul Station, whichever is closer, because every train that starts at Seoul Station also stops at Cheongnyangni. Book one night on the coast if the sunrise is the point. For coffee and a beach walk, a day trip from Seoul is plenty.
I’d stay the night. The first train of the day reaches Gangneung at 7:03 a.m., and you still have to get from the station to the beach.
Quick answer
- 🚇 Trains: from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni, first arrival 7:03 a.m., last train back 10:27 p.m.
- 📍 Sea from Gangneung Station: Anmok Beach about 15 min by bus or taxi
- ✅ Stay the night if: the sunrise is the reason you go
Which Seoul station should you leave from?
| Station | Trains to Gangneung a day | First and last departure | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Station | 14 | 5:06 a.m. and 10:14 p.m. | About 1 hr 50 min to 2 hr 10 min |
| Cheongnyangni | 17 Mon to Thu, 22 on Fri, 24 on Sat and Sun | 5:27 a.m. and 10:34 p.m. | About 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 50 min |
All 14 trains that start at Seoul Station stop at Cheongnyangni about 20 minutes later, so you’re choosing a boarding point, not a different train. Cheongnyangni adds its own departures on top, most of them Friday to Sunday, which is why it has more trains on weekends.
So board wherever is closer to where you’re staying. If both are easy, Cheongnyangni saves you about 20 minutes each way and gives you more trains to choose from on a weekend. Check the station name on your ticket before you head to the platform.
Gangneung City’s transport page lists 26,000 won from Cheongnyangni and 27,600 won from Seoul Station. That page is undated, so check the fare when you book.
Day trip or a night by the sea? I’d stay the night
A day trip covers the coffee and the sea comfortably. You take a morning train and a bus or taxi to Anmok, add a few rides on the SEA TEA coastal bus, then catch a train back the same day. The last train to Seoul leaves Gangneung at 10:27 p.m., so you aren’t racing the clock. Winter days are short, though, so I’d keep the plan to two stops: the coffee street and one beach.
The train is the main cost, so check both fares when you book. Four separately charged rides on the SEA TEA bus cost 6,800 won in cash or 6,120 won by transport card, a saving of 680 won. A transport card’s own price varies by product, so if you already carry one, use it. If you don’t, don’t buy one just for this bus.
The sunrise is where a day trip falls short. The first train arrives at 7:03 a.m., so compare that with the sunrise time for your date and the ride from the station to the beach before you rely on a same-day trip.
Yuna’s pick
Coffee, a beach walk, and lunch? I’d do a day trip.
Sunrise on the list? I’d book one night on the coast, next to the beach you’ll watch from.
How do you get from Gangneung Station to the sea?
From Gangneung Station to the coast
- Anmok Beach by city bus or taxi: about 15 min
- Gyeongpo Beach: city bus 202 or 202-1
- Jeongdongjin by KTX-Eum: about 16 min, three trains a day
Three beaches cover most winter plans. I’d pick one or two of them, not all three in a day. Each one is reached a different way, and that matters more than the beach itself, because a winter day is short.
Anmok Beach is about 15 minutes by city bus or taxi, and the SEA TEA coastal bus route starts at Anmok Coffee Street. That makes it the obvious first stop on a day trip. I couldn’t find an official taxi fare, so I’d ask the driver before setting off.
Gyeongpo Beach is on city bus 202 or 202-1 from the station. It’s the Sunrise Festival beach, and Gyeongpodae Pavilion is nearby.
Jeongdongjin is the odd one out, because you go by train. Only three KTX-Eum trains a day run there from Gangneung Station, at 9:36 a.m., 2:56 p.m. and 6:35 p.m., taking about 16 minutes. The beach is about a 3-minute walk from Jeongdongjin Station.
💬 Say it in Korean
안목해변 가 주세요
Anmok haebyeon ga juseyo
“To Anmok Beach, please.” Say it to a taxi driver at Gangneung Station.
Coffee Street or the coffee museum? I’d pick the street
On a short winter day, I’d pick the coffee street. It pairs with Anmok Beach and the SEA TEA bus, so one stop gives you both the coffee and the sea, with no session time to plan around.
The museum suits one kind of visitor: someone who wants a hands-on session. Turkish coffee or hand-drip costs 15,000 won each, and entry is free with one drink per person. It is open 9:00–18:00, so plan it before the evening. If you just want a good cup with a sea view, skip it.
Opening hours on the street vary by café, so check the one you want before you go. The street is open-ended, while the museum runs on set hours.
The SEA TEA coastal bus is the easy add-on. It links Anmok Coffee Street and Jumunjin Beach on a 23 km route, and the fare is 1,700 won, or 1,530 won by transport card. Gangneung’s 2023 guide listed 16 departures from each end and said no reservation was needed, so check the current timetable before you go.
🎟️ Book it
- T-money card on Klook: Lower SEA TEA bus fares by card
Sunrise: Gyeongpo or Jeongdongjin?
| Where you sleep | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Next to either beach | That beach | No dawn bus or train to catch |
| Near Gangneung Station | Gyeongpo | City bus 202 or 202-1, or a taxi. The first KTX-Eum to Jeongdongjin is 9:36 a.m. |
| In Seoul | Risky either way | The first train reaches Gangneung at 7:03 a.m., before any ride to the beach |
Check Gangneung hotel prices on Klook
How you get there at dawn decides this. I’d sleep near the beach you plan to watch from, so the morning needs no bus or train at all.
Staying by Gangneung Station instead? Then Gyeongpo is the practical pick. The first KTX-Eum from Gangneung to Jeongdongjin leaves at 9:36 a.m., so for a Jeongdongjin sunrise you’d sleep in Jeongdongjin. Check the first bus 202 for your date, or plan on a taxi.
Gyeongpo is also the pick if you want the festival setting, with Gyeongpodae Pavilion close by. Sunrise time changes through winter, so look it up for your date.
New Year’s Eve in Gangneung: what’s confirmed
Gangneung’s 2026 New Year event was listed as free. It ran at Gyeongpo Beach Central Plaza and Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park, with five minutes of fireworks from midnight, a countdown, and the Sandglass rotation ceremony at Jeongdongjin. Past programs have also included folk music performances and a sunrise event.
The official listings linked here describe past events, and VisitKorea warns that some New Year events may be cancelled. For the coming New Year, check Gangneung City’s announcement for dates, hours, and admission before you plan around fireworks or a festival.
Don’t count on the last train. It leaves Cheongnyangni at 10:34 p.m. and reaches Gangneung at 12:05 a.m. For New Year’s Eve, I’d arrive earlier in the day and stay near the coast.
What to check before you book
Before-you-book checklist
- Open Korail in Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Safari, not inside a social media or portal app.
- Use Android 12.0 or iOS 16.0 or later, on LTE/5G or a wired connection.
- Pick your return train from Gangneung and check both fares.
- Look up the sunrise time for your exact date.
- Check the first bus 202 to Gyeongpo, or book a room by the beach.
Korail’s timetable gives you the train times. Fares, bus times, and sunrise times you’ll need to look up for your date, since each one can change which beach works.
Book before you set off. Korail warns that Wi-Fi on the move can drop the connection, and if the site won’t connect, it says to switch to mobile data and try again. Older phone software may not work properly either.
I’d book the outbound and return trains in one sitting, so you aren’t looking for a seat home from Gangneung Station.
FAQ
How long is the KTX from Seoul to Gangneung?
Korail’s timetable from November 1, 2026 shows about 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 50 min from Cheongnyangni, and about 1 hr 50 min to 2 hr 10 min from Seoul Station.
Do I need to book the SEA TEA coastal bus?
Gangneung City’s 2023 guide says no reservation was needed. Check the current service details before you go. The fare is 1,700 won, or 1,530 won by transport card.
Can I get travel help in English?
Yes. The 1330 Travel Hotline (+82-2-1330) helps in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. Online calls are free on Wi-Fi, but mobile data charges may apply.
Look up the sunrise time for your date first. It decides whether you need a room and which beach to sleep near.
With that time in hand, book the room, then the KTX-Eum from whichever Seoul station is closer.
Hwaiting! (It’s how Koreans say “you’ve got this.”)
Yuna
✅ Book before you go
- Korea train tickets on Klook: Book outbound and return in one sitting
- Gangneung hotels on Klook: A room by the beach for sunrise
- T-money card on Klook: For the city bus and SEA TEA
📌 Read next
- KTX tickets now open two months ahead: when your Gangneung date goes on sale
- Jeonju Hanok Village in winter: another winter trip by train
- Naver Map in English: buses and walking routes once you arrive
Sources and last check
- Korail: train timetables (timetable from November 1, 2026, in Korean), checked 2026-11-03
- VISITKOREA: Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival, checked 2026-11-03
- VISITKOREA, checked 2026-11-03
- Korail ticket booking (in Korean), checked 2026-11-03
- Gangneung City Hall notice (Tourism Policy Division), checked 2026-11-03
- VisitKorea festival listing for New Year 2026 (in Korean), checked 2026-11-03
- VisitKorea, ‘Best 9 Spots to Greet the New Year in Korea’, checked 2026-11-03
- Gangneung City Tourism, Directions to Gangneung, checked 2026-11-03
- VisitKorea, ‘East Coast Train Trip: 5 Summer Beaches You Can Reach by KTX-Eum’, checked 2026-11-03
- Gangneung City tourism newsletter, ‘Beat the Summer Heat!’, checked 2026-11-03
- Gangneung City tourism newsletter, ‘Experience the sea breeze and coffee aroma.’, checked 2026-11-03
Last checked: November 3, 2026. Prices, hours, and timetables change, so please confirm before you travel.
