Top Things To Do in Gangwon-do: Korea’s Adventure Province

Gangwon-do is a mountainous, coastal province in the northernmost part of South Korea that’s a hop and a skip away from Seoul. Thanks to its terrain, it’s home to the most beautiful and thrilling outdoor attractions, many of which earned it the nickname the Adventure Province of Korea.

Wondering what to do in Gangwon-do during your visit? We’re here with a helping hand! Check out our picks for the best things to do in Gangwon-do:

Surrounded by hills, lakes, and picturesque landscapes, Chuncheon is Gangwon's charming capital city that promises a change of scenery within close proximity of Seoul. It's not just popular amongst tourists, but also locals in need of a spontaneous weekend getaway. If you're here for lunch or dinner, be sure to have a taste of Chuncheon's specialty dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken)! There's a Dakgalbi Street lined with restaurants specializing in dakgalbi and soba noodles, as well as a Cafe Street and plenty of duty-free shopping outlets in the city.

💡 Book a Chuncheon Day Tour on Klook that comes inclusive of roundtrip ITX transfers from Seoul, a 3-hour taxi tour, as well as tickets to the iconic Nami Island! ✨

Nami Island (Namiseom) is one of the most well-known Gangwon-do tourist attractions offering a breath of fresh air thanks to its avenues framed by trees. Featuring picture-perfect scenery all year round (especially in spring and autumn), Nami Island exploded in popularity after being featured as the filming location of the hit K-drama Winter Sonata. Besides strolling through its beautiful tree lanes and winding paths, you can also embark on adrenaline-pumping activities like riding an 80-meter high zip wire and motorboating.

Nestled on the east side of the Taebaek Mountains, Gangneung is the largest coastal city in Gangwon-do. Known for its sandy beaches, fun outdoor activities, unique attractions, and fresh seafood, Gangneung is a charming, laid-back city with lots to see.

While Gangneung is not difficult to explore on your own, the ideal way to see the best sights is by booking a Foreign Tourist Taxi Tour on Klook - this tour will allow you to enjoy 3 hours of taxi service (for up to 4 pax) and convenient access to popular locations in Gangneung at an affordable price of only RM65 per taxi!

If you're a fan of Kpop and Kdramas, we'd highly recommend booking a K-WAVE taxi tour (Music & Drama) that includes stopovers at iconic hotspots in Gangneung including Hyangho Beach (where you can take photos at the BTS bus stop!), Youngjin Beach (well-known filming location of the Goblin Kdrama), Anmok Café Street (a half-kilometre stretch lined with about 40 cozy cafes), and more. This tour comes inclusive of pick-up and drop-off at the Gangneung KTX train station, so you're set for your adventure right upon reaching the city.

💡 Besides the K-WAVE TOUR, the 3-hour Taxi Tour is also available in coffee and history themes! Check out the different taxi tour options here.

If you’re an animal lover thinking of what to do in Gangwon-do, Alpaca World is your best bet! This experiential zoo lets you interact with the cutest alpacas, all living in a pristine natural environment worthy of gracing your Instagram feed. Fun fact: it’s also a filming site for many Korean dramas and variety shows!

Gangwon-do is blessed with plenty of scenic rivers and lakes in Chuncheon Mulle-gil, all of which are best enjoyed by canoeing. You can do this on the one-hour Chuncheon Mulle-gil Canoeing experience, where you’ll learn about canoe paddling safety from the pro instructor before your journey starts. After your canoe trip, you can unwind with a drink and snack from the nearby cafe and learn more about the water activity at the canoe exhibit.

If you’re an adventure junkie contemplating what to do in Gangwon-do, then head to Naerincheon, a stream that produces crazy rapid sub-streams, perfect for rafting and kayaking. Thanks to the surrounding picture-perfect flora, river rafting in Naerincheon is a two-in-one adventure and sightseeing experience!

PyeongChang is notable for hosting the Winter Olympics in 2018 and its numerous events, such as snowboarding and skiing. Nowadays, you can visit its famous ski resorts and glide down the slopes for fun. Ski enthusiasts will enjoy going to resorts like YongPyong Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in South Korea, and Alpensia Resort, which sits 700 meters high and is reminiscent of the Alps.

82% of Gangwon-do is a glorious, scenic mountainous terrain that is a haven for hikers. One of the best places to hike is Seoraksan National Park, which Seoraksan (Korean for snowy peak mountain) is part of. The park has a variety of trails adorned with breathtaking scenery and vibrant flora. Another great option is Odaesan National Park, home to Korea’s largest natural forest filled with plant and animal life.

Travelling to Gangwon in autumn? This Seoraksan National Park Autumn Day Tour will bring you on an unforgettable foliage-searching adventure! 🍁

South Korea has a 2,413-kilometer coastline, giving it an abundance of water activity destinations such as water parks. If you’re thinking of what to do in Gangwon-do that takes advantage of this, you can visit its amazing water parks, including Vivaldi Park Ocean World and Waterpia Waterpark. This Egyptian-themed attraction has slides and pools fashioned after the sphinxes and pyramids. Another great one is Blue Canyon in PyeongChang, with Mediterranean-themed attractions.

Inje is a county in Gangwon-do filled with valleys, mountains, parks, and natural landscapes perfect for daring adventures combined with the best of nature views! Here you can go bungee jumping, paragliding, rafting, climbing an artificial waterfall, and more. 

Now that you’ve read about all these fun attractions, you can pause thinking of what to do in Gangwon-do and start planning your trip!