Things To Do In Gangwondo | Locals' Recommendations

Gangwondo is a very popular destination for tourists because of its natural beauty and many fun activities and attractions.

Today we've compiled a list of must visit places in Gangwondo to help you plan an unforgettable vacation!

Museum SAN
뮤지엄SAN

Address: 강원도 원주시 지정면 오크밸리 2길 260
260 Oak Valley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do

Hours:
Main Building: 10:00-18:00
James Turrell: 10:30-17:30
Meditation Hall: 10:25-17:05

Museum SAN, tucked away in the mountains in Wonju, is a unique art institution that draws inspiration from nature.

The exterior is fairly plain and minimalistic.

The museum is divided into the Outdoor Garden, Paper Gallery, Art Gallery, James Turrell Hall, Meditation Hall, and some other outdoor garden areas. You have a choice of tickets to pick from depending on your preferences.

Museum staff can assist with arranging your visit time.

They are strict on entry times, so be sure to pay close attention to your scheduled time and be punctual.

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The water garden is a quiet and serene area. The main building of the museum and the big red arch are reflected in the calm waters.

RM, known for his love of art and art museums, has also been here. Any Armys who like art and also want to follow in his footsteps, be sure to check out Museum SAN!

Museum SAN is also popular because it was the filming location for the film Real, K-drama Kill Me, Heal Me, and multiple commercials.

Both the building itself and the surrounding gardens are very beautiful works of art, in addition to the art exhibits. You won't be disappointed!

Wonju Rail Park
원주 레일파크

Address: 강원도 원주시 지정면 간현로 163
163 Ganhyeon-ro, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do

Hours:
Mar-Nov: 9:30-17:50
Nov-Feb: 10:10-15:20

Price:
2 seats: 38,000 won
4 seats: 48,000 won

Wonju Rail Park, located at Ganhyeon Tourist Attraction, is a 7km round trip trail.

This was once a functional train station, and the station and ticket vending machines have been preserved as they were.

Before cycling, you will take the "Sightseeing Train" for about 20 minutes, and then take the rail bike for a 40 minute ride.

The whole journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes in total.

The bikes are divided into 2-seaters and 4-seaters.

A camera will capture the appearance of each person cycling during the journey.

When cycling, be sure to keep a safe 10 meter distance between other cyclers both in front of and behind you.

On the way back, there is a slight slope so it is easy to cycle without too much effort, that way you can enjoy the scenery and stop to take pictures like this one we got of this impressive suspension bridge.

On your journey you will be able to see beautiful rivers, mountains, and rice fields.

Anyone who enjoys nature experiences can come here and feel the peace of the mountains and forests of Gangwon.

Haslla Art World
하슬라 아트월드

Address: 강원 강릉시 강동면 율곡로 1441
1441 Yulgok-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Hours: 9:00-18:00

Price:
General Admission: Adults 12,000 won; Children 11,000 won
Guided tour*: Adults 12,000 won; Children 15,000 won
*temporarily suspended due to COVID-19

Transportation: Take bus 112 or 113 at Jeongdongjin Station and get off at Haslla Art World Station (하슬라 아트월드)

Haslla Art World is an art park with an area of 75,000 square meters, named after the city of Gangneung during the Silla Era.

Using the natural environment, the museum area is divided into the Pine Garden, Time Square, Farmland Garden, Ocean Garden, and Music Garden.

Here, all kinds of art are displayed outdoors that utilize the natural environment, making it a great place for family outings.

There are also restaurants, cafes, and accommodations in the area, making it convenient.

The average visit time is 1.5 to 2 hours, but we recommend if you have time, to walk around and enjoy the sea view and the cafe in the garden first.

The art museum has many interactive elements geared towards children, so it is suitable for the whole family to visit.

The interior exhibit halls are filled with many wild-looking and interesting works of art in addition to the outdoor exhibits that offer unique experiences as well.

The art showcased here varies a lot in style, and you can find works by both domestic and foreign artists on display.

Pyeongchang Yongpyong Resort Dragon Plaza (Mountain Coaster / Balwangsan Cable Car)
평창 용평 리조트 드래곤 프라자 (마운틴코스터 / 발왕산 케이블카)

Address: 강원도 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715
715 Olympic-ro Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Hours:
Mountain Coaster:
Mon-Fri: 10:00-17:30
Sat: 9:00-18:00
Sun: 9:00-17:30
Closed: 12:00-13:30 (maintenance time), in inclement weather

Balwangsan Cable Car:
Tue-Fri: 10:00-18:00
Sat-Sun: 9:00-19:00

There are a total of 16 activities you can choose from at Yongpyong Dragon Resort Plaza, but there are two in particular we have chosen to highlight.

You can purchase tickets at the ticket office or the kiosk 30 minutes before the start of the event, or you can pre-book tickets.

I chose to do the latter and make reservation ahead of time because it is cheaper to reserve through Naver Pay than to buy on the spot. Don't forget to get your paper ticket though!

Dragon Plaza | Mountain Coaster
드래곤 프라자 | 마운틴 코스터

This tram that runs down the mountain is the most popular attraction so you may have to wait in line for more than an hour, so keep that in mind.

After getting our tickets at 9:30, we stood in line, where there were more than 10 people in front of us already, but once the ride opens, 50 people are let in every 2-30 minutes, so it wasn't a long wait.

To get on the Mountain Coaster, you will need to take a ski lift to the top, and so you will be able to get a glimpse of the Mountain Coaster on your way up.

Mountain Coaster Tram Ride: Adults 15,000 won / Children 12,000 won

After reaching the top of the mountain, the staff will give instructions, so listen carefully.

The tram will run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). Pull the stick back and forth to accelerate or brake.

Dragon Plaza | Balwangsan Cable Car
드래곤 프라자 | 발왕산 케이블카

Balwangsan Cable Car: Adults Round Trip 25,000 won / Children Round Trip 21,000 won / Adults One Way 21,000 won / Children One Way 17,000 won

After riding the Mountain Coaster, we moved on to the 2nd floor of Dragon Plaza to ride the Balwangsan Cable Car. The facility is very clean because it was newly opened in August last year.

The round trip length of the cable car ride is 7.4 km (4.6 mi), the the longest in Korea, and goes up to 1,458m (4,783 ft) above sea level.

The cable care takes about 18 minutes one-way, but I found I didn't have to wait and was able to board right away.

When taking the cable car up the mountain, you will see the skywalk where many go to take photos and enjoy the view.

The skywalk observatory has a glass floor, which was a bit of an adrenaline rush even without a fear of heights.

But this view is worth it, such a breathtakingly beautiful view of the mountains!

Aside from these vista points, there are also fun photo zones, so don't miss them when you visit!

Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch
대관령 양떼 목장

Address: 강원도 평창군 대관령면 횡계리 14-42
14-42 Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Hours:
Jan-Feb & Nov-Dec: 9:00-17:00
Mar & Oct: 9:00-17:30
Apr & Sep: 9:00-18:00
May-Aug: 9:00-18:30
Ticket sales end 1 hours before closing. May close for inclement weather.

Price:
Adults: 6,000 won
Children: 4,000 won

Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch is a fun place where you can interact with and even feed sheep.

Just walk about 3 minutes from the parking lot, past the snack shops, and you will come to the entrance to the farm.

Buy a ticket at the ticket booth and be sure to hold onto it, as you will need it to exchange for hay to feed the sheep.

Walk about 10 minutes along the path to reach the summit at 920m (3,018 ft) above sea level, where you will find a flock of sheep grazing happily on the hill.

From May to October, the sheep will graze in pastures, but if there is heavy rain or it is too foggy, the sheep don't come out. Fortunately when we visited, the sheep were out to graze.

After visiting with the sheep out in the pasture, we came to the area where you can feed hay to the younger ones.

Here you exchange your ticket for a basket of hay.

If you put out your hand, the sheep will immediately come to you to eat. Place your hand out under their chins with some hay, they will happily eat the hay and lick your hands. They are very tame, so don't be afraid.

After feeding, there is a hand-washing station, but there is no soap here, just fresh flowing water. If you want to wash your hands with soap, you can use the bathroom next to it.

Sokcho City Museum
속초시립박물관

Address: 강원도 속초시 신흥2길 16
16 Sinheung 2-gil, Nohak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

Hours:
Mar-Oct: 9:00-18:00
Nov-Feb: 9:00-17:00

Price:
Adults: 2,000 won
Children: 700 won

Among young locals, this museum is most famous for its replica of old Sokcho Station which was torn down in 1978.

The museum is largely divided into three parts: the Balhae History Hall, the main museum building, and outdoor folk village.

The Balhae History Hall showcases historical artifacts and information related to the ancient kingdom. You may be familiar with this name from the famous Korean drama based in the era, Dae Jo-yeong.

In the folk village and the museum, you can see how Korean locals lived, and what their lives entailed inside Hanok buildings and refugee housing.

Inside the museum building, take the elevator up to the 5th floor to the observatory to get a nice view of Sokcho City Museum!

It's a perfect destination for those who want to spend a quiet day away from the bustling beaches and city centre of Sokcho while learning about Korean history and culture.

Naksansa Temple
낙산사

Address: 강원 양양군 강현면 낙산사로 100
100 Naksansa-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang, Gangwon-do

Hours: 6:00-18:30
Last Entry: 17:30

Price:
Adults: 4,000 won
Children: 1,000 won

This picturesque temple on Naksan Mountain boasts a beachfront view of Yangyang and is deemed a must-visit for the city's visitors.

The classic look of this large temple offers a contrasting experience from the city's modern beach scenes filled with surfers and campers.

Walking around the whole temple area takes around a little over an hour if you take your time and stop to take photos in between.

Hoengseong Welli Hilli Park
횡성 웰리힐리파크

Address: 강원 횡성군 둔내면 고원로 451
451 Gowon-ro, Dunnae-myeon, Hoengseong, Gangwon-do

This one-stop destination offers everything you need for a fun-filled vacation, from accommodation to skiing and golfing and other activities!

Gondola Lift

Hours:
Sun:Fri: 9:00-17:00
Sat: 9:00-19:00
Tue: Closed

Price:
Adults: 10,000 won
Children (ages 3-12): 8,000 won

One of the most relaxing activities at Welli Hilli Park has to be taking the gondola up to the top of the hill.

At the top, you'll find a beautiful flower garden overlooking the resort as well as cute photo spots.

Luge

Hours:
Sun-Fri: 09:00-17:00
Sat: 10:00-19:00
Tue: Closed

Price: 14,000 won and up

If you'd like to try something a bit more hands on and active, try their luge ride!

You take the lift up to the top and ride it down the slope. The view you get from this ride is amazing too.

Those were activities and attractions to enjoy in Gangwondo! What do you think?

There is so much to see in Gangwondo, from the quiet forested mountains, to the bustling beaches.

If you vacation in Gangwondo, you don't have to choose between mountains or beach, you can have both!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!