Donghae

Donghae (동해) is a coastal city in Gangwon, South Korea.

Donghae (동해) is a port city on the east coast of Gangwon, South Korea. Its old harbor district of Mukho has a busy fish market, a hillside mural village and a lighthouse above the sea, and the coast is lined with beaches from Mangsang in the north to Chuam and its Candle Rock in the south.

Donghae has a mild climate for Korea, because the Taebaek Mountains shelter it from the cold northwest winds in winter. Winters are dry and sunny, with highs around 5–8°C, though snow storms off the sea occasionally dump heavy snow. Summers are warm and humid, with highs of about 27°C in August. Most of the rain falls from July to September, when typhoons can bring heavy downpours and rough seas, and ferries to Ulleungdo are often cancelled.

In 1980, Mukho-eup, Myeongju-gun, and Bukpyeong-eup, Samcheok-gun were merged and promoted to the city of Donghae due to their urbanization as a thriving heavy chemical industry, fishing, and trading port. The name is derived from the nearby East Sea, internationally called the Sea of Japan.

Until the larger Donghae Port was built further south, Mukho Port was the biggest outlet in Korea for coal and cement from the mines inland. The name Mukho means "ink lake"; according to local tradition, an official sent after a tidal wave in the early 19th century chose it because the sea, the water and even the seabirds here looked black.

The city grew out of two towns. Mukho (묵호) in the north is the old harbor district, with Mukho Station, the fish market and the ferry terminal for Ulleungdo. Bukpyeong (북평) in the south is home to Donghae Station and the industrial Donghae Port. Between them is Cheongok-dong (천곡동), the modern downtown with City Hall and Cheongok Cave.

Most of the sights are in Mukho, packed onto the steep hill above the harbor: Mukho Lighthouse, the mural lanes of Nongoldam-gil and Dojjaebigol Sky Valley are all within about 1 km of Mukho Station. Mangsang Beach is about 5 km further north, and Chuam Beach and its Candle Rock are at the southern end of the city, about 4 km east of Donghae Station.

Express and intercity buses use the Donghae Bus Terminal, in Cheongok-dong downtown. There are direct express buses from Seoul (Dong Seoul Terminal and Seoul Express Bus Terminal), Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport, Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu and Busan, and intercity buses from Gangneung, Samcheok and other towns in Gangwon. Timetables and fares are on the Kobus (express) and Bustago (intercity) websites and apps.

• 37.52776129.104041 Donghae Bus Terminal (동해시종합버스터미널), 5443 Donghae-daero (Cheongok-dong, downtown), ☏ +82 33 532-3800. Combined express and intercity bus terminal, run by the city's facilities corporation. City buses towards Mukho and Donghae Station stop outside.  (updated Nov 2026)

KTX high-speed trains from Seoul (Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni) run via Gangneung to Mukho and Donghae stations. Since 2025, the coastal Donghae Line also links the city with points south, including Samcheok, Pohang, Gyeongju and Bujeon Station in Busan, using ITX-Maum trains since Jan 2025 and KTX-Eum high-speed trains since Dec 2025. Slower Mugunghwa trains that cross the mountains on the Yeongdong Line terminate at Donghae Station.

For the harbor, the lighthouse and the fish market, get off at Mukho. Donghae Station is in Bukpyeong, closer to Chuam Beach.

• 37.54718129.108072 Mukho Station (묵호역), 520 Haean-ro (Balhan-dong, about 1 km from Mukho Port). The station for the Mukho harbor area. The Haeparang Trail's course 34 starts here.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 37.49798129.122763 Donghae Station (동해역), 69 Donghaeyeok-gil (Bukpyeong). The end of the line for Mugunghwa trains on the Yeongdong Line, and the station nearest Chuam Beach.  (updated Sep 2026)

Ferries to Ulleungdo leave from Mukho Port, about 1 km from Mukho Station.

• 37.55025129.11254 Mukho Port Coastal Passenger Terminal (묵호항연안여객선터미널), 22 Ilchul-ro, ☏ +82 33 531-5891. Seaspovill's Sea Star 1 sails daily at 08:00 to Dodong on Ulleungdo (2 hr 40 min) and returns from Ulleungdo at 12:30. Extra sailings are added on holidays and in summer. Fares include the terminal fee, but a fuel surcharge may be added, and the higher fare applies on weekends, public holidays and peak travel periods. There is only one class of seating. Sailings are often changed or cancelled in rough seas, so call the operator (1577-8665) before you set out. Cars cannot be taken on this route. Parking at the terminal costs ₩7,000 per day. One way: adults ₩65,500 (₩71,900 on weekends and holidays), children aged 1–11 ₩32,750 (₩35,950).  (updated Sep 2026)

International ferries leave from the Donghae Port International Passenger Terminal (210 Daedong-ro, Songjeong-dong) in Bukpyeong, not from Mukho. As of 2026, Duwon Shipping's Eastern Dream sails once a week to Vladivostok in Russia (Mondays) and once a week to Sakai Minato in Japan (Thursdays). The DBS Cruise Ferry service mentioned in older guides ended in 2020.

From Seoul, take the Yeongdong Expressway (50) east to Gangneung, then the Donghae Expressway (65) south to Donghae; the drive takes about 3 hours without traffic. The Donghae Expressway continues south to Samcheok. Expressways in South Korea are tolled, and you can pay by card at the toll gates.

Most international visitors arrive at Incheon International Airport. Direct buses run from Terminal 2 to Donghae Bus Terminal, or you can take the airport railroad into Seoul and change to the KTX at Seoul Station.

The nearest airport is Yangyang International Airport, north of Gangneung, which has a small number of flights, mainly to Jeju.

Local buses link Mukho, downtown Cheongok-dong, Donghae Station, Chuam and Mureung Valley. The adult fare is ₩1,530 with a transit card (₩1,700 in cash), and you can transfer to another bus for free within 40 minutes of getting off; tap your card when you get off. Useful routes include 111 to Mureung Valley and 161 or 162 to Chuam Beach. Buses become much less frequent after about 18:00.

Taxis wait outside Mukho and Donghae stations and the bus terminal. The base fare is ₩4,600 for the first 2 km (Gangwon province rates since August 2024), with a 20% surcharge from 23:00 to 04:00. A taxi is the easiest way to get up to Mukho Lighthouse or out to Mureung Valley.

Donghae's sights are spread across several areas a few kilometers apart, so you will need a bus or taxi to get between Mukho, downtown and Chuam. Mukho itself is compact enough to see on foot: Mukho Lighthouse, Nongoldam-gil, the Haerang Observatory and Kkamak Rock are all within 500 m of Dojjaebigol Sky Valley. From the fish market by the harbor, the four lanes of Nongoldam-gil climb to Mukho Lighthouse, 67 m above the sea, with the Sky Valley just beyond. The lanes are narrow and steep and not suitable for wheelchairs; a road also leads up to the lighthouse, so you can take a taxi up and walk down. From the lighthouse the coast road, Ilchul-ro, runs north past Kkamak Rock to Eodal Port and Eodal Beach, with a bike path along the sea.

The Gangwon section of the East Coast Bike Path follows the shore through Donghae, past Mangsang Beach, Mukho and Chuam, and there are certification centers for the national bike path passport at Mangsang Beach and Chuam Candle Rock. The seaside road north of Mukho, past Kkamak Rock to Eodal Beach, is one of the easiest stretches to ride, but Mukho itself is very hilly.

• 37.4793129.159921 Chuam Candle Rock (추암 촛대바위), 17-1 Chotdaebawi-gil (at the north end of Chuam Beach), ☏ +82 33 530-2801. 24 hours daily. A slender pillar of rock rising from the sea among smaller rock formations, at the southern edge of the city. The sunrise behind it appears at the start of the national anthem on Korean television, and it is a popular place to watch the sun come up. In the Joseon era the official Han Myeong-hoe was so taken with this stretch of coast that he named it Neungpadae. A 72-m suspension bridge over the sea, opened in 2019, gives another view of the rocks; it closes in bad weather. The path to the rock itself is not suitable for wheelchairs. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.5816129.109722 Daejin Beach (대진해변), 1-3 Mangsang-dong (on the coast road between Eodal and Mangsang beaches), ☏ +82 33 530-2447. 24 hours daily. A small beach beside Daejin fishing port. The water is shallow and the waves are moderate, which makes it popular for surfing. There is free parking for about 50 cars. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.55621129.121373 Kkamak Rock (까막바위), 141 Ilchul-ro (300 m north of Mukho Port on the coast road). 24 hours daily. A black rock just offshore, named for the crows (kkamagwi) said to have nested on it; it is also said to lie due east of Namdaemun gate in Seoul. According to local legend, a village headman of the Joseon era was reborn as an octopus to drive off Japanese pirates and still lives in a cave beneath the rock. An octopus statue on the shore marks the story. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 37.55382129.120354 Dojjaebigol Haerang Observatory (도째비골 해랑전망대), 13-2 Mukhojin-dong (on the coast road below Dojjaebigol Sky Valley), ☏ +82 70 8883-4708. 10:00–21:00 daily. A footbridge that runs out over the sea, with sections of glass and steel-mesh floor so you can watch the waves break beneath your feet. It stays closed in bad weather. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 37.55214129.112495 Mukho Byeolbit Village Observatory (묵호 별빛마을전망대), 15-122 Mukhojin-dong (climb the stairs by the Little Prince photo spot on the way from Dongjjok Bada Jungang Market to Nongoldam-gil), ☏ +82 33 530-2570. 24 hours daily. A viewing platform above Mukho Port, built between 2016 and 2021 as part of a project to renew the hillside neighborhood. The houses on the way up have brightly painted roofs and walls, and the platform looks straight down over the harbor.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 37.55448129.118546 Mukho Lighthouse (묵호등대), 289 Haemaji-gil (at the top of Nongoldam-gil), ☏ +82 33 531-3258. 06:00–20:00 (Apr–Oct), 07:00–18:00 (Nov–Mar). First lit in 1963, the lighthouse stands on a hill 67 m above the sea and looks down on Mukho Port. The present 24-m tower, rebuilt in 2007, has an observation deck just below the lantern, and its light can be seen up to 48 km out at sea. The plaza in front has a small exhibition on lighthouses and a monument to the 1968 film Miwodo Dasi Hanbeon, which was shot here. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 37.5615129.120457 Eodal Port (어달항), 230 Ilchul-ro (about 1 km north of Mukho Lighthouse), ☏ +82 33 530-2272. A small fishing harbor, developed from 1984 and home to about 70 boats. You can walk out along the breakwaters to the lighthouses at either end, past tetrapods painted in bright colors. Anglers fish for flounder from the breakwater or on small charter boats, and seafood restaurants line the road behind the port. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 37.55281129.116488 Nongoldam-gil (논골담길), 2 Nongol 1-gil (starts opposite the fish market at Mukho Port), ☏ +82 33 530-2418. 24 hours daily. A hillside mural village and walking route near Mukho Port, where narrow, steep alleyways are decorated with colorful murals and short poems depicting the history and everyday life of the fishing community. Four walking routes, including Nongol 1-, 2-, and 3-gil and Deungdaeoreum-gil, lead uphill toward Mukho Lighthouse. Along the way, visitors can explore the old residential neighborhood, see artwork inspired by the port's fishing heritage, and enjoy views of Mukho Port and the East Sea. The alleys are steep, have no parking spaces, and are not suitable for wheelchairs. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 37.54753129.106389 Pencil Museum (연필뮤지엄), 183-6 Balhan-ro (5 min walk from Mukho Station), ☏ +82 33 532-1010, pencil_museum@naver.com. 10:00–18:00 (closed Tue Wed). Billed as Korea's first pencil museum. Exhibits show how graphite becomes a pencil, and the collection of more than 3,000 pencils, gathered by the curator in over 100 cities around the world, includes some you can pick up and try. Adults and teenagers ₩7,000, children ₩5,000.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 37.51741129.1101510 Cheongok Golden Bat Cave (천곡황금박쥐동굴), 50 Donggul-ro (Cheongok-dong, downtown), ☏ +82 33 539-3630. 08:30–18:00 daily. A limestone cave in the middle of downtown, found in 1991 during construction work. About 700 m of its 1.4 km length is open to visitors, with stalactites, curtain-shaped formations and a flowstone "waterfall", and it stays at 14–15°C all year. In 2005 an endangered golden bat (red bat) was found living inside. Last entry is at 17:30, and the cave is not suitable for wheelchairs. On the hill above, a nature park has a boardwalk around sinkholes formed by the same limestone. Adults ₩5,000, reduced fares ₩2,000–3,000, under 7 free.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 37.592253129.0896921 Mangsang Beach (망상해변), 6270-10 Donghae-daero, Donghae-si (On the coast north of Mukho Port), ☏ +82 33 530-2800. Open year-round, 24 hours daily; swimming is permitted only in designated areas during the official summer beach season. A sandy beach north of Mukho Port, known for its wide shoreline, shallow water and pine groves. Facilities include parking areas, public toilets, showers and nearby camping accommodation, including Mangsang Auto Camping Resort. The beach is a popular summer destination, particularly for families. Outside the swimming season, visitors can enjoy coastal walks and sea views. Swimming season dates and facilities may vary each year, so visitors should check local notices before visiting. Free.  (updated Nov 2026)

• 37.4791129.15942 Chuam Beach (추암해수욕장), 26 Chotdaebawi-gil, Donghae-si (On the coast near Chotdaebawi Rock), ☏ +82 33 530-2801. A sandy beach near Chotdaebawi Rock, known for its coastal rock formations and sunrise views. Visitors can walk along the shore and enjoy views of the surrounding coastline. Public toilets are available, and the beach is suitable for families with children. Chotdaebawi Rock, Haeamjeong Pavilion and the coastal suspension bridge are nearby attractions. Supervised swimming is seasonal, and visitors should check local notices for current swimming dates and facilities. Free.  (updated Nov 2026)

• 37.5677129.11863 Eodal Beach (어달해변), 217 Ilchul-ro (north of Mukho Port), ☏ +82 33 530-2272. 06:00–22:00; swimming 09:00–18:00. A small beach with a 300-m-long and 20–30-m-wide shoreline. It has fine sand, a gentle slope and shallow water averaging about 1 m deep.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.5216129.12194 Hanseom Beach (한섬해변), 9 Hanseomhaean-gil, Donghae-si (Near central Donghae; follow signs for Hanseom Beach and descend toward the shore), ☏ +82 33 530-2447. 24 hours daily. A small sandy beach near central Donghae, with pine trees and coastal rock formations. Visitors can walk along the shore and enjoy views of the East Sea and Mukho Lighthouse in the distance. The nearby 2.2-km Hanseom Gamseong Sea Trail connects Hanseom Beach, Gobulgae and Gase Village, with sections of wooden deck walkway overlooking the coast. Parking and public toilets are available. The beach is open year-round, but visitors should check local safety notices before swimming. Free.  (updated Nov 2026)

• 37.468689129.0336175 Yuchunji by Mureung (무릉별유천지), 97 Igi-ro (Samhwa-dong, on the way to Mureung Valley), ☏ +82 33 531-2233. Tu–Su 09:30–17:30 (last tickets 16:30); until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays from late June to late August. A former limestone quarry transformed into a tourist attraction featuring lakes, rocky landscapes and outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy views of the surrounding scenery and try attractions such as the Sky Glider and Alpine Coaster. Admission ₩6,000 (June–September), ₩4,000 (October–May); reduced fares for seniors, children and teenagers. Rides cost extra..  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.555304129.119156 Dojjaebigol Sky Valley (도째비골 스카이밸리), 2-109 Mukhojin-dong (between Mukho Lighthouse and the coast road), ☏ +82 70 7799-6955. Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (Apr–Oct), 10:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar); closed Mon (or the following business day when Mon is a public holiday). A recreation area near Mukho Lighthouse with a skywalk, Sky Cycle and Giant Slide. The skywalk has a transparent glass floor overlooking the sea. The Sky Cycle is a bicycle ride along a cable above the valley and is open only to riders at least 140 cm tall. The Giant Slide descends about 27 m down a cylindrical slide. Adults ₩3,000; teenagers and children ₩2,000; free for children aged 6 and under; Giant Slide ₩3,000; Sky Cycle ₩15,000.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.47977129.158297 Chuam Suspension Bridge (추암 촛대바위 출렁다리), San 75-7, Chuam-dong (at Chuam Beach), ☏ +82 33 530-2801. 24 hours daily. A 72-m-long suspension bridge over the sea at Chuam Beach, opened in June 2019. It offers views of the surrounding coastline and Chotdaebawi Rock. It may be closed in rain, snow or strong winds. Free parking is available, and the bridge is wheelchair-accessible. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 37.4623129.02728 Mureung Valley (무릉계곡), 538 Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si (Take local bus 111 toward Mureung Valley. Check the current timetable before travelling, as services are limited.), ☏ +82 33 539-3700. 09:00–20:00 (summer); 09:00–18:00 (winter); open daily. A mountain valley between Dutasan and Cheongoksan, with rocky scenery, streams and hiking trails of varying difficulty. Visitors can walk through the valley and explore nearby temples and waterfalls. Parking and public toilets are available, including wheelchair-accessible parking and toilet facilities near the visitor area. Parking costs ₩2,000 for small vehicles and ₩5,000 for large vehicles. Some mountain trails may be restricted for wildfire prevention from March to May and November to December. Check current trail access restrictions before hiking. Adults ₩4,000; ages 13–19 and 65+ ₩1,500; ages 7–12 ₩700; ages 6 and under free.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.539558129.1118489 Haeparang Trail Course 34 (해파랑길 34코스) (starts behind Mukho Station). A 14.5-km section of the Haeparang Trail that takes about 5 hours to walk and is rated easy. Starting near Mukho Station, the route passes Mukho Lighthouse Park, Daejin Port and Mangsang Beach before continuing into Okgye, Gangneung. The route combines coastal paths, fishing villages and a forested valley section. call 1588-7417  (updated Oct 2026)

• 37.51603129.1021310 Donghae Mureung Festival (동해무릉제), Donghae Wellbeing Leports Town, 10 Deokgol-gil (Cheongok-dong, downtown). Four days each autumn (17–20 Sep in 2026). Donghae's main annual festival, organized by the city and the Donghae Culture and Tourism Foundation; 2026 was its 39th edition. The program changes each year, but the 2026 festival included a harvest ritual (pungnyeonje), folk games, children's activity zones, stalls run by local restaurants and evening concerts on a large outdoor stage. Some events take place at the nearby Donghae Culture and Arts Center.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 37.523906129.1171011 E-MART Donghae (이마트 동해점), 100 Cheongok-ro, Donghae-si (By bus, take route 31-3, 42, 12-4 or 15-3 to Donghae Public Health Center, then walk about 2 minutes toward City Hall. By car, follow signs toward Donghae City Hall from Donghae IC or Mangsang IC. The store is opposite Donghae Police Station and Donghae Post Office, about 5 minutes by car from the express and intercity bus terminals.), ☏ +82 33 539-7123. 10:00–22:00 (closed second and fourth Sun of each month). A large supermarket in central Donghae selling groceries, fresh produce, seafood, meat, clothing, household goods and electronics. Food departments are on the first floor, while the second floor has household goods, stationery, toys and electronics. Parking is available on the upper floors, and the store has an electric vehicle charging station. Convenient for buying groceries and everyday supplies during a stay in Donghae.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.551854129.1134032 Mukho Port Live Fish Market (묵호항활어판매센터), 68 Ilchul-ro (on the waterfront at Mukho Port), ☏ +82 33 530-2271. Hours vary by stall. Seafood market with around 70 stalls selling live and fresh fish and seafood, including squid, flounder, octopus and snow crab depending on the season. Fish bought here can be prepared as hoe (Korean-style raw fish) and eaten at nearby restaurants for an additional charge.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.5524129.11283 Janjanhage (잔잔하게), 215-2 Balhan-ro, Donghae-si (About a 3-minute walk from Mukho Station, near Mukho Post Office), ☏ +82 10 2734-3514. 11:00–18:00 (closed Tue). An independent travel bookshop near Mukho Station, founded by a travel writer. It specializes in travel-related books and independent publications. The shop also organizes occasional author talks and literary events, sometimes held at other local venues. Check its Instagram account for upcoming events and current opening hours.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.545155129.103754 Mukoya (무코야 선물가게), 24-5 Deungdaeoreum-gil, Donghae-si (Below Mukho Lighthouse, near the entrance to Dojjaebigol Sky Valley), ☏ +82 507 1355-4136. 11:00–18:00 (closed Tue Wed). A small souvenir shop below Mukho Lighthouse, selling Mukho-themed gifts, postcards, magnets, keychains, stationery and other small accessories. The shop has views of the East Sea and is near Dojjaebigol Sky Valley. Parking is available near Mukho Lighthouse.  (updated Nov 2026)

Seafood is the local specialty. Around Mukho Port, small restaurants serve hoe (회, sliced raw fish) and mulhoe (물회, raw fish in a cold, spicy broth), and you can buy fish at the Mukho Port Live Fish Market (see Buy) and have it prepared to eat nearby. Downtown Cheongok-dong, the city's main commercial area, has plenty of everyday Korean restaurants, bakeries and chain eateries.

• 37.521405129.1179241 Donghae Bakery (동해제빵소), 126-1 Hansom-ro (Cheongok-dong, ground floor of the Very Six building), ☏ +82 507 1346-2966. A bakery with a wide range of breads and a seating area where you can have them with coffee. Its own Donghae potato bread (gamjappang) is a specialty. Takeout is available. Coffee ₩4,500–5,500; Donghae potato bread ₩3,000.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.54996129.109842 Ottogi Kalguksu (오뚜기칼국수), 10-1 Ilchul-ro (Mukho, in the Balhan Sangga apartment building), ☏ +82 33 532-3868. A long-running noodle shop in Mukho serving jang-kalguksu, hand-cut noodles in a spicy broth seasoned with chili and soybean paste, a Gangwon specialty. You can also have it with dumplings added. It is small and casual, and fine for solo diners. Jang-kalguksu ₩7,000; with dumplings ₩8,000.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.482325129.1268323 Hosan Bakery (호산빵집), 117 Daedong-ro, ☏ +82 33 521-5525. 11:00–18:00 daily. An old-fashioned neighborhood bakery known for chapssal doughnuts (glutinous rice doughnuts filled with red bean paste) and kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts). Twisted doughnuts ₩1,000; red bean doughnuts ₩1,500; vegetable bread ₩3,000.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.552498129.1159414 Dongnam Hoejip (동남회집), 34 Mukho Market-gil, ☏ +82 33 532-8204. 08:30–20:00 daily. A plain local seafood restaurant known for flounder mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and boneless flounder hoe. It also serves pufferfish soup (bokjiri). Mulhoe ₩12,000; boneless flounder hoe from ₩20,000.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.550343129.1091935 Mukho Gimbap (묵호김밥), 3 Jungang Market-gil (10 m down the CU alley opposite Balhan-dong Sinhyeop), ☏ +82 507 1366-7806. 10:00–18:00 (closed Wed Sun). A small takeout shop whose gimbap is packed with egg, popular for a cheap lunch or a snack before a train. Also sells fish-cake bars, tteokbokki and fried snacks. Gimbap from ₩4,000.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 37.552465129.1167016 Geodong Tangsuyuk (거동탕수육), 83 Ilchul-ro, ☏ +82 33 532-4778. M 10:30–15:00; W–F 10:30–15:00, 16:30–19:00; Sa 10:00–15:00, 17:00–19:30; Su 10:00–15:00, 17:00–19:00; closed Tu. Korean-Chinese restaurant whose tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour fried pork) has cubes of octopus inside the pork loin, in original or spicy versions. Also serves octopus jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and jajangmyeon. Waits of an hour or more are common (waiting list via the Catch Table app), last orders are 40 minutes before closing, and there is no parking. Tangsuyuk ₩19,000–30,000; jjamppong ₩11,000; jajangmyeon ₩7,000.  (updated Oct 2026)

Donghae has a variety of cafes and casual drinking spots, particularly around Mukho Port and its hillside neighborhoods. Visitors can enjoy coffee with harbor views, relax in tea rooms near Mukho Station, or visit bars serving wine and light meals. Opening hours vary by establishment, so check ahead before visiting.

• 37.55321129.117451 103LAB (103LAB 카페), 19 Nongol 1-gil (on Nongoldam-gil; no parking, walk up from the public lots), ☏ +82 507 1433-1074. 11:30–17:30 (closed Mon). A small cafe on the mural lanes with window seats looking over the harbor. The owners look after local street cats, so you may share the room with one. Coffee ₩4,700–6,900.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.55299129.118212 Baram-ui Eondeok (바람의언덕 동해 타파스 와인), 22-7 Nongol 1-gil (at the top of Nongoldam-gil), ☏ +82 507 1338-9764. Mon Wed 14:00–20:00, Thu–Sat 12:00–20:00, Sun 12:00–19:00 (closed Tue). A wine and tapas bar with a terrace overlooking the sea from the "Hill of Wind" at the top of the mural village. Tapas and pasta ₩17,900–39,900.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 37.549293129.1093043 Doyahaus (도야하우스), 223-1 Balhan-ro (Near Mukho Station, about a 5-minute walk), ☏ +82 10 6554-3313. 10:30–19:00; closed Wed; last order 18:30. A specialty tea room near Mukho Station offering original blended teas. The first floor features an interior inspired by reflections on water, while the second floor has a calm, forest-inspired atmosphere. In addition to enjoying a variety of blended teas, visitors can browse a selection of tableware, books, stationery, and design goods. The tea room offers a quiet place to relax and shop for tea-related gifts.  
• 37.583284129.1027544 Hyunsangso (현상소), 20 Nobongan-gil (Mangsang-dong). A dessert café known for pies baked every day, such as pecan, apple, sweet pumpkin and Chodang corn cheese, with a garden terrace and a vintage-style interior. Pies often sell out by the afternoon, and it can be busy at weekends and around lunchtime. Pies ₩7,500–8,500; coffee ₩4,500–7,000.  (updated Nov 2026)

As elsewhere in South Korea, Donghae has plenty of love motels, mostly downtown in Cheongok-dong and around Mukho Port. Despite the name, most are simply cheap, clean hotels that rent rooms by the night as well as for shorter stays; one example downtown is 37.52139129.117991 Very Six (베리식스). A jjimjilbang (찜질방), a bathhouse with a shared sleeping hall, is the cheapest option, but you sleep on mats alongside other guests and there is no privacy.

• 37.59839129.080772 Mangsang Auto Camping Resort (망상오토캠핑리조트), 6370 Donghae-daero (Mangsang-dong, north of the city near Mangsang Beach), ☏ +82 33 539-3600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A campground run by the city's facilities corporation, with 44 auto-camping pitches with electricity, caravans, glamping tents, cabins and traditional hanok rooms. There is a café and a convenience store on site. Book through the city's online reservation site; prices vary by season and day of the week. Campsites ₩25,000–50,000, caravans ₩130,000–200,000, cabins and other rooms ₩80,000–400,000.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.59272129.087383 Benikea Premier Donghae Boyang Hot Spring Convention Hotel (베니키아 프리미어 동해보양온천컨벤션호텔), 6285 Donghae-daero (Mangsang-dong, by Mangsang Beach), ☏ +82 33 530-0700. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A 183-room hotel built around a hot spring that has been designated a national health spa. Facilities include hot spring baths, an indoor pool, a fitness center and a restaurant, and a footbridge leads from the hotel to Mangsang Beach.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 37.52658129.103414 New Donghae Tourist Hotel (뉴동해관광호텔), 1 Pyeongneung-gil (Cheongok-dong, downtown), ☏ +82 33 533-9215. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A 63-room hotel in the city center with an Italian restaurant, a café, a coin laundry and a fitness center. Rooms range from standard doubles and twins to suites, including family suites with ondol (heated floor) bedding.  (updated Nov 2026)

• Gangneung – the largest city on the coast, a short train or bus ride north, with Gyeongpo Beach, the Ojukheon house and a well-known coffee scene.
• Jeongdongjin – a seaside village between Donghae and Gangneung, famous for its train station right on the beach and its sunrise views.
• Samcheok – just to the south, with the huge Hwanseongul cave and the seaside Haesindang Park.
• Taebaek – a mountain city inland with a coal-mining history and a winter snow festival.
• Ulleungdo – a volcanic island about 2 hr 40 min by ferry from Mukho Port (see By ferry).