Gangwondo is a must-visit destination for both Koreans and foreign tourists because it has many attractions, like beautiful ocean views and delicious food. Today, we'll introduce the different transportation options you have in Gangwondo, so keep on reading if you plan on visiting!
*The information in this article was last updated in November 2021. Please check the official websites as travel information may change.
Public Transportation To Gangneung
KTX From Seoul To Gangneung
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 27,600 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 2 hrs
Gangneung Station
The KTX is the fastest but most expensive way to get from Seoul to Gangneung, Gangwon-do. You can buy a ticket in advance through the KTX website.
It's convenient because you can catch the train from Cheongnyangni or Seoul Station.
Bus From Seoul To Gangneung
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (By Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 15,600 won, 20,200 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 3 hrs
Gangneung Express Bus Terminal (Source: 파이낸셜뉴스)
If the KTX tickets are sold out, you can go by bus, but the disadvantage is that it takes longer and there may not be a direct route as some buses stop by other cities first. You can purchase tickets at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or order them from websites such as txBus and BusTago.
Bus From Gangneung To Jeongdongjin Beach
Departure: Gangneung Station (강릉역)
Price: 2,600 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 20 min
Jeongdongjin Station
Taking the train from Gangneung Station to Jeongdongjin is the fastest and cheapest, but there are not many trains in a day. The departure times from Gangneung Station are 06:26, 07:38, 08:36, 10:40, 14:10, 16:25, 18:29, and 20:36.
It takes about 15 to 20 minutes and on the way, you will see the scenery of the east coast.
Transportation To Chuncheon
ITX Youth From Seoul To Chuncheon
Departure: Yongsan Station (용산역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 9,800 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Yongsan Station
Travel Time: About 1 hr 10 min
Chuncheon Station
The fastest but most expensive way to get to Chuncheon from Seoul is the ITX Youth train (not KTX). The ITX Youth is only available at Yongsan Station and Cheongnyangni Station, so don't wait at Seoul Station!
To use the ITX Youth, you need to download the app or get a physical card with a QR code on it. Foreign tourists can use the app too, so don't worry.
Bus From Seoul To Chuncheon
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 7,700 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 1 hr 40 min
Chuncheon Bus Terminal
Instead of taking the ITX Youth train, we recommend taking a bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울종합터미널) at Gangbyeon Station (강변역) on Seoul Subway Line 2. You can book tickets through txBus, BusTago, and other websites.
Remember that not all buses from Seoul head to all the destinations in Chuncheon, so check carefully before boarding.
Transportation To Hoengseong
KTX From Seoul To Hoengseong
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역)
Price: 13,900 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 1 hr 20 min
Hoengseong Station (Source: 천지일보)
The fastest way to go to Hoengseong is by KTX, which departs about 10 times a day and takes about an hour and 20 minutes from Seoul Station. However, Hoengseong Station is quite far from the downtown area, so you'll have to take a taxi or bus to other tourist attractions.
Bus From Seoul To Hoengseong (Near Downtown)
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 11,300 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 2 hrs
Hoengseong Bus Terminal
Tickets can be booked through websites such as txBus and BusTago. Get on the bus at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울종합터미널) by Gangbyeon Station on Line 2 in Seoul. Unfortunately, there's only four buses a day from Seoul (07:10, 10:10, 14:40, 17:15). However, it's more convenient as you arrive at the bus terminal in the city center.
Read more about our amazing trip to Hoengseong here!
Transportation To Sokcho
Bus From Seoul To Sokcho
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 15,100 won, 19,700 won, 24,600 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 2-3 hrs
Sokcho Express Bus Terminal
You can only travel from Seoul to Sokcho by bus. You can book tickets in advance at txBus, BusTago and other websites. Get on the bus at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울종합터미널) by Gangbyeon Station (강변역). The fare is 19,700 won or 24,600 won depending on the bus type, with the most expensive being the Premier Bus.
Click to read about our visit to the Sokcho Central Market!
Bus From Gangneung To Sokcho
Departure: Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal (강릉시외터미널)
Price: 7,200 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 1 hr 10 min
Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal (Source: Wikipedia)
You can take a bus from Gangneung to Sokcho at Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal. However, be careful not to use the Gongdong Woonsu (공동운수) bus because it will take much longer to get to Sokcho.
Transportation To Yangyang
Bus From Seoul To Yangyang
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/ 강변역)
Price: 15,100 won, 16,400 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 1 hr 40 min to 2 hrs
Yangyang Bus Terminal
There's an airport in Yangyang, but only a few domestic flights, so most people choose to take a bus from Seoul to Yangyang.
Tickets can be booked through txBus, BusTago, and other websites. You board the bus at Dongseoul Bus Terminal at Gangbyeon Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and it takes about 2 hours.
Click to read more about our taxi tour of Yangyang, Gangwon-do for foreigners!
Transportation To Cheorwon
Bus From Seoul To Cheorwon
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 10,800 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 2 hrs
Sincheorwon Station
Tickets can be booked through txBus, BusTago, and other websites. You board the bus at Dongseoul Bus Terminal at Gangbyeon Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and it takes about two hours to get to Sincheorwon Intercity Bus Terminal (신철원시외버스터미널)
Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal (동송시외버스공용터미널) is a station a little further away. If you're getting off at this station, check to see if it's close to the tourist destination you want to go to.
Click to read about our one day trip to Cheorwon!
Transportation To Wonju
KTX From Seoul To Wonju (Manjong Station)
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 10,800 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 1 hr
Manjong Station (Source: Wikipedia)
There are three KTX stations in Wonju, of which Manjong Station has the largest number of KTX trains per day (about 10). Manjong Station is close to famous Wonju tourist attractions such as Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge and Museum SAN, but it is a little far from the city center.
KTX From Seoul To Wonju (Seowonju Station)
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 10,600 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 1 hr
Seowonju Station (Source: Namuwiki)
Seowonju Station is closer to tourist attractions than Manjong Station, but there are not many KTX trains. If you get on the train from Cheongnyangni Station, the cheapest ticket is only 5,600 won!
KTX From Seoul To Wonju Station (Near Downtown)
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 10,100 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 50 min to 1 hr
Wonju Station (Source: Wikipedia)
Wonju Station serves both KTX and general trains, and it is closest to the city. If you take the KTX from Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역), the ticket is only 6,200 won.
Bus From Seoul To Wonju
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 7,700 won, 10,800 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs
Buses to Wonju run more than 20 times a day, and you arrive at Wonju Intercity Bus Terminal (원주시외버스터미널입구). It's conveniently located in the main city area, but the trip takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Transportation To Pyeongchang
KTX From Seoul To Pyeongchang
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 21,900 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 1 hr 45 min
Jinbu Station
Tourists traveling to Pyeongchang usually get off at Jinbu Station (진부역). Although there's also Pyeongchang Station (평창역) quite close to the city, it's located by the Seoul National University Pyeongchang Campus, so there isn't much to see.
You can also take the KTX directly from Gangneung to Pyeongchang.
Bus From Seoul To Pyeongchang (Near Downtown)
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 19,600 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 2 hrs
Pyeongchang Bus Terminal (Source: Wikipedia)
Pyeongchang Bus Terminal is located in the downtown area of Pyeongchang (about 40 kilometers from Jinbu Station). Those visiting Pyeongchang should check the locations of the attractions they want to visit then choose to get off at Jinbu Station, Pyeongchang Station, or Pyeongchang Bus Terminal.
Transportation To Donghae
KTX From Seoul To Donghae
Departure: Seoul Station (서울역), Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역)
Price: 31,300 won (adult/one way)
*Departing from Seoul Station
Travel Time: About 2 hrs 30 min
Donghae Station
Since the opening of KTX, it has been much more convenient to get to Donghae. However, there aren't many KTX trains going to Donghae Station, so we recommend hitting Gangneung first then taking a regular train or bus to Donghae.
Bus From Seoul To Donghae
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/강변역)
Price: 19,000 won, 24,300 won (adult/one way)
Travel Time: About 3 hrs
Donghae Bus Terminal (Source: Namuwiki)
If anyone wants to visit Donghae, we recommend taking a bus. Although it takes more than three hours, the biggest advantages are time and price flexibility. Like mentioned earlier, you can book tickets on txBus, BusTago, and other websites in advance.
Transportation To Samcheok
Bus From Seoul To Samcheok
Departure: Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station/ 강변역)
Price: 20,000 won, 25,200 won (adult/one day)
Travel Time: About 3 hrs
Samcheok Bus Terminal (Source: Namuwiki)
Samcheok Bus Terminal and Samseok Station do not have a direct KTX connection, so if you want to take the KTX from Seoul, you'll have to get off at Donghae Station and change trains or bus, which can get complicated.
Tickets can be booked through websites like txBus and BusTago. You should get off at Samcheok Bus Terminal (삼척종합버스터미널), which is conveniently close to several tourist attractions.
Click to read about our visit to Samcheok and BTS's Butter album photoshoot spot!
This was our complete guide of transportation options from Seoul to different areas of Gangwondo. Hopefully, it'll help you when you're planning your next trip!
