Where to base a Pyeongchang ski trip: the Yongpyong complex, Alpensia's InterContinental and Holiday Inns, Phoenix Park, Hoenggye town, KTX Jinbu, or Gangneung on the coast — pros, cons and transfers.
In Pyeongchang the first decision is whether to sleep inside one of the three resorts (Yongpyong, Alpensia, Phoenix), in a town or by a KTX station, or on the coast in Gangneung. The answer depends on whether you will ski one place every day, rotate between them, or mix in non-ski days.
Most terrain: The Yongpyong complex — 28 slopes and the cable car on your doorstep.
Upmarket and quiet: Alpensia's InterContinental (238 rooms) or Holiday Inn.
Skiing late: Phoenix Park — white-night skiing runs to 02:00.
Sea and cafés too: Stay in Gangneung and take the KTX to Jinbu.
Yongpyong complex — Feel: Big resort: hotel, condos, hostel. Best for: Ski-focused trips, families. To the lifts: Walk within the resort.
Alpensia — Feel: Quiet hotel resort. Best for: Couples, upmarket hotels, beginner families. To the lifts: Walk within the resort.
Phoenix Park — Feel: Hotel, condos, villas, youth hostel. Best for: Night and late-night skiing. To the lifts: Walk within the resort.
Hoenggye — Feel: Town below, many restaurants. Best for: Local food, drivers. To the lifts: Car or taxi.
Jinbu — Feel: KTX station, gateway to Odaesan. Best for: Rail travellers, Woljeongsa. To the lifts: Taxi about 20 min.
Gangneung — Feel: Coastal city of beaches and coffee. Best for: Trips with several non-ski days. To the lifts: KTX to Jinbu, then taxi.
Yongpyong complex: Dragon Valley Hotel (190 rooms), the Tower, Villa and Green Pia condos, premium condos and the Bliss Hill Stay hostel. See the Yongpyong stay guide for the full comparison. Best for: People who want maximum ski time. Price: Dragon Valley Hotel Deluxe Twin ₩175,000–280,000 online (official site); others via the resort. To the lifts: Walk within the resort.
Alpensia: InterContinental Alpensia (238 rooms, Flavours restaurant), the family-focused Holiday Inn (214 rooms, some facing the slopes) and the self-catering Holiday Inn & Suites (419 rooms). The Ocean 700 water park closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A free Jinbu Station shuttle runs twice a day. Best for: Quiet upmarket hotels; beginner families. Price: Check the official site. To the lifts: Walk within the resort; 6 slopes.
Phoenix Park: One hotel, three condo buildings (Blue, Green and Orange, including the 28-floor Sky condo), four villa buildings and a youth hostel. Blue Canyon water park and the Ondo and Lieto restaurants are on site; the nearest KTX station is Pyeongchang. Best for: People who want to ski late. Price: Check the official site. To the lifts: Walk within the resort.
Hoenggye: The town with Hwangtae Hoegwan, Doam Sikdang, Daegwallyeong Hanu Town and the PyeongChang Olympic Memorial Hall. Intercity buses from Dong Seoul take about 2 hours 30 minutes; a taxi to Alpensia is about 15 minutes (about ₩10,000). Best for: Drivers who want local restaurants at night. Price: Varies by property. To the lifts: Car or taxi to Yongpyong and Alpensia.
Jinbu: The town around KTX Jinbu (Odaesan) Station, near the Woljeongsa fir forest, the Joseon Annals museum and Odaesan Minsok Sikdang's mountain-vegetable meals. The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is held in Jinbu. Best for: Rail travellers; visiting Woljeongsa and Odaesan. Price: Varies by property. To the lifts: Taxi to Yongpyong about 20 min (about 16 km).
Gangneung: The end of the KTX Gangneung line, with Anmok coffee street and the Terarosa Coffee Factory. If you plan to ski every day the extra travel adds up, so it suits itineraries with rest days. Best for: Combining skiing with the coast and cafés. Price: Varies by property. To the lifts: KTX to Jinbu, then taxi.
Yongpyong and Alpensia are both on the X6+ Season Pass; Phoenix is not. If you will rotate, choose the pass first.
Yongpyong (guests only) and Alpensia (free for customers) run separate Jinbu Station shuttles, each twice a day.
Alpensia has night skiing only in peak season (December 20 to February 17 in 2025-26).
Yongpyong and Phoenix opened on November 21 in 2025-26. None of the three has announced a 2026-27 opening date.
Most Seoul shuttles run November 27, 2026 to March 1, 2027.
Seollal (Lunar New Year) 2027 falls on Sunday, February 7, with the holiday running February 6–8. That weekend fills resort rooms and shuttles first and jams the roads back to Seoul, so book it before anything else.
Can I stay in one place and ski several resorts? Yongpyong and Alpensia are next door to each other, so either base works for both. Phoenix is over in Bongpyeong and needs a drive.
Can I see the Olympic venues? The Alpensia ski jump observatory (monorail, closed Tuesdays) and the PyeongChang Olympic Memorial Hall in Hoenggye (free, closed Mondays) are close to every base.
What is the most upmarket hotel in Pyeongchang? The InterContinental Alpensia (238 rooms), which the resort describes as a five-star hotel.
Can I do it all by train? Yes: from KTX Jinbu take the Yongpyong or Alpensia shuttle or a taxi; for Phoenix use Pyeongchang Station.
Is staying in Gangneung a good idea? If you have several non-ski days, yes. If you ski every day, stay on a resort.