Donghae 2 Days 1 Night, A Refreshing Coastal Walking Course Following the Waves

1. DAY 1 Morning Take your time walking through Cheongok Cave, a limestone cave in the middle of the city, and feel the cool cave air.
2. DAY 1 Lunch Enjoy a leisurely meal of fresh raw fish at Yeongbingwan Raw Fish Restaurant while gazing at the sea through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
3. DAY 1 Afternoon Spend a thrilling time at Doge-bigol Sky Valley with activities like the skywalk, sky cycle, and giant slide.
4. DAY 1 Evening Have a hearty dinner with various grilled pork cuts at Ttungbone Pujutgan, then check in to your accommodation.
5. DAY 2 Morning Look around the emerald-colored lakes and activity facilities at Mureung Byeol Yucheonji, then enjoy a late breakfast or brunch with a fish and mountain vegetable set meal at Mureung Ilga.
6. DAY 2 Afternoon Wrap up your coastal walk while taking in the strange rock formations and East Sea scenery created by Chuam Chotdae-bawi Rock.

This is a 2 days 1 night itinerary that lets you slowly savor Donghae in Gangwon-do, a cool and refreshing summer destination by the East Sea. Starting from Cheongok Cave, a limestone cave in the city center, you move on to Yeongbingwan Raw Fish Restaurant with its wide-open sea views, and then to Doge-bigol Sky Valley packed with activities like a skywalk and sky cycle, filling your time with the sea at every stop.

From there, the route continues to Ttungbone Pujutgan, a pork BBQ specialty restaurant; Mureung Byeol Yucheonji, where emerald lakes sit alongside various activity facilities; Mureung Ilga, known for its generous fish and mountain vegetable set meals; and finally Chuam Chotdae-bawi Rock, famous for its spectacular rock formations. As you follow the landscapes painted by nature and the sea, the trip becomes a healing journey that leaves your mind feeling noticeably lighter.

During my cool and thrilling 2 days 1 night trip in Donghae, breathing in the salty scent of the sea, the sea felt close from the very first impression. The scenery where the harbor, alleys, and beach connect naturally was comfortably relaxed, and it wasn’t overly crowded, so time passed easily as I stopped to gaze at the sea, take photos, or enjoy a cup of coffee. In particular, the atmosphere around Mukho Port, Nongoldam-gil, and the coastal observatories made me feel as if I had stepped a long way away from everyday life.

The rough flow of the trip was to stroll around Mukho Port on the first morning, have sundubu (soft tofu stew) or jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles) for lunch, then spend the afternoon on a light drive and sightseeing around Cafe Mukho 287, Doge-bigol, or Haerang Observatory. In the evening I enjoyed seafood such as raw fish or mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) before checking into my accommodation. On the second morning, I took a walk while watching the sunrise or the sea near the lighthouse, then packed up at a relaxed pace and headed home. Mukho Lighthouse, Chuam Beach, and Nongoldam-gil were the main highlights, while small cafés, photo spots around the harbor, and the terrace of the accommodation became perfect places to take a break.

For accommodation, I chose a hot spring hotel near Mangsang Beach, which had well-equipped facilities and made me feel like my accumulated fatigue was melting away throughout the trip. Getting around was easiest by car; it’s also possible to use Donghae’s city buses and taxis, but that tends to take a bit more time. If I were to visit again, I would happily recommend it to family, friends, or couples, as I was highly satisfied. It felt especially suited to people who want to pause their daily routine for a while. That said, popular restaurants and cafés can have long waiting times on weekends, so a flexible schedule is needed, and the impact of sunrise or sunset views can change depending on the weather, which was one slight downside. Even so, overall, it remains a place I would definitely like to visit again.

This 2 days 1 night Donghae course lets you capture in one trip the cool air of Cheongok Cave, the thrilling activities of Doge-bigol Sky Valley, and the impressive views of Mureung Byeol Yucheonji and Chuam Chotdae-bawi Rock. As you walk slowly through scenery where harbor, alleys, and beaches connect, breathing in the sea air, the speed of everyday life naturally slows, and it feels like being gifted a moment of true rest.

Along a route of just about 40 km, you can move between sea, mountains, and city, and enjoy a wide variety of food from sashimi to pork BBQ and hearty mountain vegetable set meals. It’s a course that can be fully enjoyed by car, and also sufficiently by combining city buses and taxis, so when you feel the need to quietly catch your breath, it may be worth thinking of this 2 days 1 night trip alongside the waves of Donghae.