Make the Best Memories on Your Nami Island Tour from Seoul
Are you visiting Korea soon? Then a Nami Island day trip from Seoul is a plan you must have on your itinerary. The iconic location of the famous romantic K-drama series "Winter Sonata", Nami Island takes you away from the concrete jungle of urban Seoul to the lap of nature.
Local folklore claims that the remains of one General Nami, who served under the seventh sovereign of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo, were discovered here after he was falsely accused of treason. This is where the island gets its name from.
The Naminara Republic, a micronation located within this island, has its own national flag, national anthem, and even a passport. Hence, your entry ticket purchased with the Nami Island entrance fee looks like and serves as a visa to enter this enchanting island.
Fascinating, isn't it?
Address: 1 Namiseom-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea (map)
Hours: Open daily: 8am to 9pm
Entrance Fee: SGD 10-16 (KRW 10,000-16,000)
1-Year Passport (Membership): SGD 49-58 (KRW 49,000-58,000)
How to Travel from Seoul To Nami Island
The distance from Seoul to Nami Island is approximately 60-65km. There are three efficient ways of getting to Nami Island from Seoul.
Cheapest: Seoul To Nami Island By Train
Taking the ITX train is the most cost-effective way. You can board from two train stations in Seoul - Cheongnyangni and Yongsan.
If you are traveling from Dongdaemun or Myeongdong to Nami Island, then Cheongnyangni Station will be more convenient. However, boarding at Yongsan Station is easier if you are near Hongdae or Seoul Station. You have to take the subway to reach either of the two stations from these locations.
With a 24/48/72-hour Discover Seoul Pass, it gets way easier to access the buses and subways.
At Cheongnyangni or Yongsan Station, purchase ITX train tickets for Gapyeong Station. To skip peak hour crowd, purchase the ticket online in advance for better seats.
Station | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeong Station | 40 minutes | SGD 5.70 (KRW 5,700) |
Yongsan Station to Gapyeong Station | 60 minutes | SGD 6.90 (KRW 6,900) |
You will find the Gapyeong City Tour Bus right outside Gapyeong Station. Get down at Gapyeong Wharf. You can also take a taxi from the station to reach the wharf, from where a Nami Island Ferry will take you to the location.
Mode | Price |
|---|---|
Gapyeong City Tour Bus | SGD 8 (KRW 8,000) |
Taxi | SGD 6 (KRW 6,000) |
Easiest: Seoul To Nami Island By Bus
Don't want the stress of booking trains and changing stations? Hop on a direct shuttle bus to Nami Island from Seoul. Bus tours are highly recommended as they pick you up from a favorable location near Myeongdong, Hongdae, or Dongdaemun. Moreover, it is easier than figuring out the sightseeing locations by yourself.
Fastest: Seoul To Nami Island By Car
The fastest and most comfortable way is to rent a private vehicle and explore Nami Island at your leisure. You can arrive and leave at a flexible time, avail hotel pickup and drop-off, and get a friendly guide in your chauffeur. The vehicles will stay with you for the entire day trip and help you navigate the location without worry.
Reserve a chartered van for a small family or a private tour for 6-12 people today.
Gapyeong Wharf to Nami Island
You can reach Nami Island from Gapyeong Wharf in three ways - ferry, motorboat, and zip line. Ferries are most commonly availed, while the other two are for the more adventurous souls.
Mode | Timings | Price |
|---|---|---|
Ferry | First ferry: 8am (Mon to Thur), 7:30am (Fri to Sun and holidays) Last ferry: 9pm (Mon to Thur), 9:30pm (Fri to Sun and holidays) | Cost is included in the entrance fee. |
Motorboat | Daily: 9am to 6pm | Nami Wharf: SGD 10 (KRW 10,000) Meta/Eastern Wharf: SGD 12 (KRW 12,000) |
Zip-Wire | Daily: 9am to 6pm | Family: SGD 50 (KRW 49,990) Adventure Course: SGD 53 (KRW 52,900) *Admission fee and return ferry fee included |
Exploring Gapyeong Aboard City Tour Bus
The Gapyeong City Tour Bus that takes you from Gapyeong Station to the Wharf also covers the other major attractions in the region such as Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm.
The bus runs 30 minutes to hourly between 9am and 7pm. If you are depending on it for transportation, be on schedule. Or else, your itinerary can get messed up. If you miss a bus, you may not get to see all the attractions as the next bus could be an hour later.
Check the timetable when you purchase the pass. It will give you access to unlimited bus rides within a day. Just show it to the bus captain at every pickup point.
A DIY Nami Island Itinerary: Plan Your Perfect Day-Trip
An amalgamation of gorgeous, mind-blowing attractions, this popular location is best explored with a carefully curated guide.
Depending on your health and group, you may take it down a notch if it gets too hectic.
Explore the Best of Nami Island
A scene of many romantic K-drama scenes, the serene redwood tree-lined lanes of Nami Island are excellent photoshoot locations for your Instagram.
The foliage becomes an extravagant color palette around the year as the seasons change - blush pink in spring, lush green in summer, fiery red and orange in fall, and snow white in winter.
Kick off the tour at Central Korean Pine Tree Lane, which turns into a fairytale-like setting at night as the hanging lamps come alive.
See the "First Kiss" Glass Sequoia Bridge, where the lead characters from "Winter Sonata" first locked their lips.
Relax under the cool shades at Maple Lane of True Love.
Visit Dodamsambong Garden and pose against the Namhangang River.
Take a picture with the "Winter Sonata" statue of the lead protagonists, Kang Joon-sang and Jeong Yoo-jin, to relive an iconic cultural moment.
Take a look at the "Winter Sonata" gallery.
Opposite the "Winter Sonata" figurines, see the mother-and-child breastfeeding statue depicting the ever-arching maternal love.
Walk along another postcard-worthy location - the Metasequoia Lane - and witness some of the largest trees in the world.
Take a stroll in the Ginkgo Tree Lane. These trees, considered "living fossils", are one of the oldest living species in the world. They are the sole survivor of an ancient group of plants dating back to before dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Hop on the UNICEF Charity Train at SGD 3 (KRW 3,000) per person and take in incredible views.
Explore the Baekpungmilwon Maple Garden.
Interact with the biggest birds in the world at Ostrich Village as well as rabbits, squirrels, and peacocks.
Walk the secret passageways at Moon Hill.
See the Millennium Waterfall.
Share a romantic moment at Tulip Tree Lane and Weeping Willow Lane.
Get your adrenaline pumping at Forest Adventure TreeGo & TreeCoaster, a thrilling treetop adventure course.
If it is too much to cover everything on foot, you can ride the Story Tour Bus or rent a ride from the following:
Mode | Price |
|---|---|
Bicycle | Single: SGD 5-8 (KRW 5,000-8,000) Couple: SGD 10-16 (KRW 10,000-16,000) |
Sky-Bike | SGD 2-3 (KRW 2,000-3,000) |
Electric Tri-Way | SGD 4-12 (KRW 4,000-12,000) |
Want an expert to capture your best moments at Nami Island?
Book a tour with an expert photographer guide today.
Alternatively, travel with a photographer to get 300+ pictures clicked at the most click-worthy locations and 20-30 edited versions of your trip.
Have Lunch at Nami Island
Stop for a delectable lunch at one of the many restaurants in and around Nami Island.
Dongmoon, on the first floor of the Baplex Building, is the most popular family restaurant, serving Asian cuisine. Their food is Halal-certified. Try the soft-shell crab curry or the Beijing sweet and sour chicken.
Visit Nammoon for high-end Korean food, Seomhyanggi for Korean BBQ, Yeongajiga for a classic Korean lunch box, or Ddanji Pub for Napoli-style authentic pizzas and pasta. For desserts, relish Book Cafe's natural ice creams, Swing Cafe's gelatos and croissants, and Sonata Cafe's must-try Hotteok Snowman Pancake.
Marvel at Petite France
After lunch, stop at the pretty-as-a-postcard Petite France, a French cultural village in Seoul, Korea, with an endearing European ambiance. If you are a Korean drama fan, you may recognise this location from shows like "Secret Garden" or "My Love from the Star".
Pastel-coloured houses, dainty flower bushes, century-old dolls and puppets, colonial antiquities - anywhere you set your eye in Petite France, there is only charm. Enjoy French and Czech puppet shows, accordion performances by street musicians, musical notes from a 200-year-old music box at Orgel House, and more.
Pay tribute at the memorial hall dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of "Le Petit Prince". See the exhibition of sculptures and paintings of "le coq gaulois" or the Gallic rooster, France's national symbol. Visit the Butterfly Park for more great photos.
Address: 1063, Hoban-ro, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (map)
Hours: Open daily: 9am to 6pm
Cherish the Beauty of the Garden of Morning Calm
Founded by horticulturist and professor Sang-kyung Han in 1996, the Garden of Morning Calm is South Korea's oldest private garden. With 26 themed gardens, its tranquil setting is in perfect harmony with its vibrant and colorful scenery.
The name of the garden originates from how Nobel laureate Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore described Korea - 'the Land of Morning Calm'.
In spring, magnolias, azaleas, cherry blossoms, and witch hazels paint the gardens in pastel shades. Come summer, peonies, lilies, veronicas, roses, and hydrangeas dominate the Secret Garden, Pond Garden, Sunken Garden, Moonlight Garden, J's Cottage Garden, and Morningcalm Walk. Watch the gardens turn different shades of orange in fall, with chrysanthemums sprawling everywhere. Finally, in winter, when nature rests, the garden lays covered in powdery white snow.
Try visiting there from December to March to enjoy the Lighting Festival. Don't forget to see the shooting locations of "You're Beautiful" or "TVN Taxi" K-dramas.
Address: 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (map)
Hours: Open daily: 8:30am to 7pm (closing varies during the festive period)
Indulge in Adventure at Rail Bike Parks
Gapyeong Rail Park is easier to reach, as it is one of the City Bus stops and the views at Park are breathtaking so it's a must-visit.
Located next to Gimyujeong Station, Gangchon is where K-dramas like "Running Man" and "We Got Married" were filmed. After the Gyeongchun Subway was built, the old train tracks were turned into this rail bike park. You get to ride along the old locomotive route with lush green cliffs and fields on one side and the Bukhangang River on the other. The last 2.5km of the 8.5km course from Nanggu Village to the old Gangchon Station is on a train.
Address: 1383, Gimyujeong-ro, Sindong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do (map)
Hours: Open daily: 9am to 6pm
Meanwhile, the Gapyeong Rail Bike tour takes you through the Gapyeongcheon Stream Iron Bridge, Bukhanggang Iron Bridge, and Zelkova Tree Tunnel before returning. This route famously featured in the 1997 Korean movie, "The Letter", making it a dream location for couples.
Opt for a Nami Island day tour with a visit to Petite France only, with an additional ride at Gangchon Rail Bike Park.
Hand-feed Animals at Alpaca World
Add a visit to the world's first and only alpaca theme park to your trip. Watch the fluffy, adorable animals pitter-patter along their playground every day at 10:10am, and otherwise in their respective enclosures.
Also witness the Rainbow Flight of macaque birds, Harris' Hawk Hunting, Guinea Pig Maze Escape, and Golden Eagle Feeding.
Take a walk with the alpacas before you leave for a healing experience. You can feed the animals by purchasing "Pacacoin" at the ticket office for SGD 1 (KRW 1,000) per coin.
Address: 310 Pungcheon-ri, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do (map)
Hours: Open daily: 10am to 6pm
DIY or Guided Tours?
While DIY tours give you freedom and flexibility, guided tours offer comfort and convenience. If you can speak/read/understand Korean and are confident about navigating Nami Island by yourself, a DIY itinerary is ideal for you.
However, if you are a first-time tourist, choose guided tours for the full experience. Going DIY as a first timer may have you miss out on noteworthy spots or worse, get lost amid the attractions, without an expert to help out.
Nami Island - A Wonderworld
If fairytales could come to life, then it is here at Nami Island. No matter what kind of traveller you are, this trip will surely be fun and exciting.