Gangneung snack shop with a 5F viewpoint: strawberry and corn sand

When planning a trip to Gangneung, travel gifts and souvenirs are a must 💙 This time I went looking for a special snack you can only find in Gangneung, and headed to Gangneung Sand Main Branch!

From the savory-sweet sand cookies that make an easy gift to all sorts of other snacks, this place was perfect for anyone trying to figure out what to bring back from Gangneung 🎁 Let me show you which ones I picked as a Gangneung souvenir snack that'll bring back the taste of Gangneung even after the trip's over~!

Where is Gangneung Sand Main Branch, and what are the hours?

• 📍 Location: 31 Seonggok-goyang-gil 5beon-angil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: (daily) 09:30–19:00 / last order 18:30

The building outside — easy to spot from a distance

The moment I arrived at Gangneung Sand Main Branch, the clean, stylish exterior caught my eye! The building was bigger than I expected too, so it was easy to spot from far away — a great stop for anyone looking for a Gangneung travel gift or souvenir snack~

You could feel Gangneung Sand's own vibe right from the entrance, which made it great for photos, and even before stepping inside I was already curious what kind of space was waiting.

Inside Gangneung Sand: hands-on 1st floor to the 5th-floor viewpoint

Gangneung Sand Main Branch runs from the 1st floor all the way up to a 5th-floor observatory~ Each floor is decorated differently, so along with browsing the sand cookies, it was fun just exploring the store itself!

The 1st floor is a space where you can see how Gangneung Sand is made and even try a hands-on activity, so it seemed like a great spot to visit with kids too.

On the 2nd floor there was a space set up for excavator play~ Looks like a great spot for kids to come try it out!

Head upstairs and you'll find your way to the 5th-floor observatory. Rather than just buying Gangneung Sand and heading out, exploring the whole building and going all the way up to the observatory was part of the fun~ It was also a nice spot to take a break during a Gangneung trip and enjoy the view around you~

Menu: the six Gangneung Sand flavors

Gangneung Sand Main Branch sells a wide variety of sand flavors! There are 6 in total: coffee, dried persimmon, Chodang corn, black sesame, purple sweet potato, and strawberry~!

Courier delivery is also available, just so you know~! There's a review event going on too~☺️

I ordered the Chodang corn flavor and the strawberry flavor!

Strawberry vs Chodang corn sand: how they taste

🍓 Strawberry — one bite and a subtle strawberry scent spread through, with a sweet, fresh taste. The soft, sweet cream blended well with the strawberry's natural tartness so it wasn't overwhelming at all — dessert lovers especially would love this one! Crisp on the outside and soft inside, it went really well with coffee or tea~

🌽 Chodang corn — the sweet, savory flavor of Chodang corn (a sweet corn variety from Gangneung's Chodang neighborhood) came through richer than I expected~ That distinct nutty, gently sweet corn taste blended nicely with the cream, giving it a different charm from the strawberry one!! Personally, since it's not a flavor you see often, I thought it made for a fun, unusual Gangneung souvenir or snack!

Is Gangneung Sand worth it as a souvenir snack?

A Gangneung dessert snack absolutely worth stopping by for on a Gangneung trip! With a variety of flavors and pretty packaging, it made for a great gift. If you're looking for a Gangneung souvenir snack or travel gift, I'd recommend Gangneung Sand. Since it captures the flavor of Gangneung, it'll stay a tasty memory even after the trip. Easy to enjoy without feeling like too much — a perfect simple gift!