Your stay — Redo Backpackers
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Gangneung.
The Property — Redo Backpackers
Redo Backpackers is a clean, no-frills hostel steps from Gangneung Station, aimed squarely at solo travellers and budget twosomes who want a convenient base rather than frills. The lobby feels like a functional common room with a couple of drinks fridges and noticeboards for local bus times, not a design statement. Its USP is location and price: you can walk to the bus terminal, the Anmok Beach coffee strip and the main train link in under ten minutes.
Chronicles of Gangneung
Gangneung has been a key administrative and cultural centre on Korea’s east coast since the Silla period, best known for preserving the Danoje Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that dates back over a thousand years. The old town clusters around the Imdang-dong Gyo-ri area, where Joseon-era Confucian schools and wooden hanok sit alongside 1970s concrete blocks. Rapid growth came with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics — Gangneung hosted the ice events — sparking a wave of new hotels, a high-speed KTX rail line from Seoul and a shift toward a modern coastal identity built on coffee, surfing and seasonal tourism. Today the city balances its historic salt-farming and fishery roots with a lively café culture centred on Anmok Beach’s mile-long Coffee Street.
Best Time to Visit
Full Gangneung guide →Best months
May and June offer mild temperatures (18–24°C) and low humidity before the monsoon, with clear skies ideal for beach walks and hiking the Gyeongpo Lake trail. September brings similar conditions after the summer rains, with warm sea temperatures for swimming and far fewer visitors than July.
Peak / festival surge
July–August is peak summer season, driven by school holidays and the Gyeongpo Beach swimming season. Hotel prices in Gangneung double or triple during this window, especially around the late-July International Coffee Festival. Redo Backpackers typically sells out dorm beds four weeks in advance in these months.
Budget shoulder season
Late March to early April is a budget sweet spot — spring bloom at Gyeongpo Lake is beautiful, but crowds are slight and dorm rates drop 30–40% below summer highs. November is also quiet and very cheap, though many beachfront cafés close for the season.
Weather & packing
Gangneung has a humid continental climate with a notorious summer monsoon that dumps half the year’s rain in July. Bring a light waterproof jacket and quick-dry trousers even if the forecast looks clear — you will get caught in a sudden downpour between the beach and the hostel.
Live City Briefing — Gangneung
- Gangneung’s KTX station opened a new express bus service to Yangyang International Airport in March 2026, cutting the transfer from 90 minutes to 45 — useful for visitors flying into the region.
- The popular Anmok Beach Coffee Street is undergoing a two-year seawall reinforcement project; expect pedestrian detours and some café closures along the eastern section through October 2026.
- June 2026 saw the launch of the city’s first digital tourist card — a rechargeable T-money-compatible pass that offers 10–20% discounts at participating cafés, bus routes and the Gangneung Olympic Museum.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Redo Backpackers, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the mountain side (south-east) – these floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle and offer quieter, more settled sleep.
Rooms to avoid
Skip any room on the 1st or 2nd floor, especially those at the front of the building – street noise from the main road and late-night foot traffic will be clearly audible.
Best views
Mountain-side rooms (south-east) give you a view of the wooded hills behind Gangneung – better than the main road side.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 are the quietest – furthest from the ground-floor common areas and the street.
🔊 Noise notes
The hostel sits along a busy arterial road in Gangneung – expect traffic hum from early morning until late evening. Ground floor has a common area that can be noisy until 11pm, and the lift is audible from adjacent rooms on all floors.
Insider tips
1) The lift is small and slow – if you have heavy luggage, ask for a room on floor 2 or 3 but earplugs are non-negotiable. 2) Check-in is usually from 3pm, but they sometimes let early birds drop bags – call ahead if arriving before 2pm.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Redo Backpackers
Free passwordless Wi-Fi covering all areas; speeds average 30 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up, can slow during peak evenings
No lift – ground floor reception, dormitories and private rooms on floors 1 and 2 via stairs only
No newspapers or digital newsstand; lobby has a small shelf of travel magazines in Korean and English
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop allowed from 12:00; late checkout until 12:00 free (in high season often not possible), after 12:00 charged KRW 5,000 per hour
Free for same-day arrivals or departures; overflow coin lockers charge KRW 2,000 per 24h
No step-free entry – one step at front door; no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms; narrow corridors
No on-site parking – nearest public car park is Gangneung Municipal Parking Lot (5 min walk), KRW 1,000 per hour / KRW 6,000 overnight
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required via booking platform; incidental hold of KRW 10,000 in cash or card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: 초대교회 (1.8 km · ~23 min walk)
- Church: 주문진성당 (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
중앙공원 — 725 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
농협 — 892 m · ~11 min walk
신생약국 — 108 m · ~1 min walk
항운편의점 — 938 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →South Korean Won, KRW
ATMs at banks or GS25 convenience stores give the best rates; avoid exchange desks at hotels and the tourist information centre near the train station as they charge high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and taxis; contactless and mobile pay (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay) work in most places, but some street stalls and small markets are cash-only.
Tipping is not expected in South Korea; no need to leave anything in restaurants, taxis, or for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A plain americano from a convenience store (e.g., CU, GS25) or self-serve kiosk costs around 1,500–2,500 won.
A filling set meal at a local 'gukbap' (soup rice) or 'kimchi jjigae' (kimchi stew) place runs between 7,000–9,000 won.
A main dish like 'samgyeopsal' (pork belly) or 'jjajangmyeon' (noodles) at a straightforward restaurant costs about 10,000–15,000 won.
The Gangneung Jungang Market and the coastal street near Gyeongpo Beach have stalls selling hotteok, tteokbokki, and fried fish for 3,000–5,000 won per item.
Emart Everyday, Homeplus Express, and GS The Fresh are the common budget supermarket chains in the Gangneung area.
Affordable shopping is at Lotte Mart's clothing section or the underground shopping arcade near Gangneung Station; for budget basics, try the local 'dollar' stores.
A single city bus fare is 1,200 won with a T-money card or 1,300 won cash; the cheapest way from Seoul is the Mugunghwa train (approx 27,000–30,000 won one-way, 6 hours).
Fill up a T-money card at any convenience store to avoid cash handling and get discounted bus fares; eat at university-area restaurants near Gangneung-Wonju National University for lower lunch prices; buy fresh seafood directly from the Gangneung Jungang Market's fish section and ask them to grill it for a small service fee instead of dining at a touristy restaurant.
Good to know — Gangneung
Type C/F · 220V
safe
$1 ≈ ₩1497 · KRW
Emergency Contacts
GangneungFor non-urgent medical help or travel advice, call 1330 (Korea Travel Hotline). For a direct English-speaking police service in Gangneung, dial 112 and ask for an interpreter.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Gangneung, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Redo Backpackers
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · 농협 — 892 m · ~11 min walk — pharmacy · 신생약국 — 108 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Gangneung Station → Donghaehwinikseu Motel
💡 Board bus 202 or 203 from the station stop. Tap your T-money card on entry and exit. The motel is near the 'Gyeongpo Beach' stop – alight there and walk north for 2 minutes.
Incheon International Airport (ICN) → Donghaehwinikseu Motel, Gangneung
💡 Book a fixed-price airport taxi via the Kakao T app to avoid haggling. Drivers might not speak English; have your hotel address written in Korean ready.
Incheon International Airport (ICN) → Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal
💡 Get off at Gangneung Bus Terminal, then take a local bus or 15-minute taxi to the motel. The bus has luggage racks and reclining seats.
Seoul Station (via AREX from ICN) → Gangneung Station
💡 Use the Korail Talk app to buy tickets in advance, especially on weekends. From Gangneung Station, it's a 10-minute taxi or a 25-minute walk east to the motel.
About Gangneung
Wikipedia ↗
Gangneung (Korean: 강릉; Korean pronunciation: [kaŋ.nɯŋ]) is a municipal city in the South Korean state of Gangwon, located on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017). Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of Gangwon State. It has many tourist attr...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Redo Backpackers?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the mountain side (south-east) – these floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle and offer quieter, more settled sleep.
Which rooms should I avoid at Redo Backpackers?
Skip any room on the 1st or 2nd floor, especially those at the front of the building – street noise from the main road and late-night foot traffic will be clearly audible.
Is Redo Backpackers noisy?
The hostel sits along a busy arterial road in Gangneung – expect traffic hum from early morning until late evening. Ground floor has a common area that can be noisy until 11pm, and the lift is audible from adjacent rooms on all floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Redo Backpackers?
Mountain-side rooms (south-east) give you a view of the wooded hills behind Gangneung – better than the main road side.
What are insider tips for staying at Redo Backpackers?
1) The lift is small and slow – if you have heavy luggage, ask for a room on floor 2 or 3 but earplugs are non-negotiable. 2) Check-in is usually from 3pm, but they sometimes let early birds drop bags – call ahead if arriving before 2pm.
What time is check-in at Redo Backpackers?
Check-in at Redo Backpackers is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Redo Backpackers have Wi-Fi?
Free passwordless Wi-Fi covering all areas; speeds average 30 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up, can slow during peak evenings
Is there a city or tourist tax at Redo Backpackers?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Redo Backpackers?
A filling set meal at a local 'gukbap' (soup rice) or 'kimchi jjigae' (kimchi stew) place runs between 7,000–9,000 won.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Redo Backpackers?
A single city bus fare is 1,200 won with a T-money card or 1,300 won cash; the cheapest way from Seoul is the Mugunghwa train (approx 27,000–30,000 won one-way, 6 hours).
When is the best time to visit Gangneung?
May and June offer mild temperatures (18–24°C) and low humidity before the monsoon, with clear skies ideal for beach walks and hiking the Gyeongpo Lake trail. September brings similar conditions after the summer rains, with warm sea temperatures for swimming and far fewer visitors than July.
Top Attractions in Gangneung
💡 Go between 11am and 1pm for the freshest food stalls. Try the chodang dubu (soft tofu) stall at the east entrance — it costs about 3,000 won.
💡 Walk north past the main beach area toward the breakwater rocks for fewer crowds. Bring a mat to sit on the sand.
💡 Outside festival season it's quiet and free. The ginkgo tree lane on the east side is spectacular in late October. No entry fee year-round.
💡 The adjacent municipal museum charges entry but the house grounds are free. Walk the bamboo path behind the main courtyard for the best photo spot.
💡 Visit early morning to see locals practising taichi on the plaza. The retro Olympic mascots make good photo props.