If you want to go on a one-day trip from Seoul, then Nami Island is the perfect location for you. Located in Gapyeong city, you can spend a relaxing day at this gorgeous river island that’s only one and a half hours away from Seoul!
A popular tourist attraction, Nami Island is also the shooting location of various fan-favourite Korean Dramas like Winter Sonata, Secret Garden, my love from the stars and Running Man. Many people love to come here to reminisce about their favourite k-drama.
Honestly, Nami Island is one of my favourite places to visit when I was visiting Seoul. It is not only because of its picturesque scenery of manicured gardens and tree lanes surrounded by the blue water of Cheongpyeong lake.
But I also come for the peaceful atmosphere here, where I can take a long walk around the whole Island in one go and meet cute rabbits and peacocks on my way too! There are so many amazing things to do here that it would be a shame if you missed out on anything. That’s why I have prepared a complete guide on planning the best Day trip to Nami Island, South Korea.
Recommended Tours & Tickets
Klook.comTop 10 Things to do on Nami Island
If you are wondering what things to do on the magical Nami Island, here is a list of the top 10 experiences you must have on a Day trip to Nami Island from Seoul!
1. Walk along Central Korean Pine Tree Lane
The first thing you must do at Nami Island is take a walk around the Island. Nothing is better than walking along the Central Korean Pine tree lane while enjoying the clean and calming air under the shades of the towering trees.
By chance, if you decide to stay on Nami Island for the night, you must do this walk under the Island’s hanging lights because the entire Island gets transformed into a place akin to a fairy tale location!
2. Visit the Ginkgo Tree Lane for an afternoon stroll
Just like Central Korean Pine tree lane, Ginkgo Tree Lane is a beautiful avenue of perfectly aligned ginkgo trees. This tree lane is so magnificent and wonderful to come for an afternoon walk after grabbing a snack or meal at the Island’s various cafes and restaurants.
Also known as the maidenhair trees, Ginkgo trees are regarded as living fossils, and the considerate plantation of these trees here makes walking through these trees even more so special!
3. Go on a Nature Trip at Metasequoia Lane
Another location where you must go for a long walk with nature is Metasequoia Lane. This place is filled with soaring trees of Metasequoia, which are so majestic and alluring. It is another great location on Nami Island, where you must get your picture clicked with these gorgeous redwood trees in the background!
4. Stroll through the Dodam Sambong Garden
One of the main attractions of Nami Island is the Dodam Sambong Garden. This garden is a miniature replica of the Dodam Sambong Peaks, a popular tourist attraction of Danyang County, South Korea. There is a beautiful lotus pond around which you can have a great picnic.
You can very easily get captivated by the beauty of this place, so visiting Dodam Sambong Garden is a must!
5. Visit the Life-Size Statue of Winter Sonata’s Couple
If you are a fan and want to visit Nami Island, especially to reminisce about your favourite scenes from the drama, then visiting the life-size figures of Kang Joon-sang and Jeong Yoo-jin should be on top of your list.
The queue to get here can be long, but it is worth it when you click a picture of yourself with your comfort characters. You will also find loads of memorial pictures hanging here on a wall created here dedicated to the k-drama.
6. Reminisce Winter Sonata moments along the Maple Lane of True love
After visiting the very popular Winter Sonata Statue, you should head on to the Maple Lane of True Love to reminisce more about Winter Sonata. As the name suggests, this place is full of maple trees under whose shade you can sit and wind down while enjoying the lovely view. They also serve as the best background to take Instagram-worthy pictures.
7. Visit the First Kiss Glass Sequoia Bridge
Another place that a diehard Winter Sonata fan must visit is the First Kiss Glass Sequoia Bridge. In fact, this bridge is one of the most popular locations on Nami Island. As the name explains, this bridge was where the lead couple Kang Joon-sang and Jeong Yoo-jin share their first kiss in Winter Sonata.
If you happen to visit Nami Island with your partner, you must get a picture of you both clicked, but no kissing because such a public display of affection is frowned upon in South Korea.
8. Make friends with Rabbits, Peacocks and Ostriches!
At Nami Island, you can also visit Ostriches and see peacocks wandering around. Little animals like rabbits and squirrels are common sights. They roam around here peacefully and are mild-mannered. You can click your picture with them and even try your luck at petting a rabbit but be respectful of these creatures because Nami Island is their home.
9. Ride on the UNICEF Charity Train
One of the best experiences on Nami Island should have to hop aboard the UNICEF Charity Train. You can board this charming train from Nami Wharf Train Station as well as the Central Train Station. This train will take you around Nami Island, and you will get to enjoy the beautiful scenery while sitting comfortably on board. The fare is only ₩3,000 per person, and this train ride is worth every penny!
10. Rent a Bike to tour Nami Island
Another adventure you can have on Nami Island is going cycling around the Island. Nami Island is really small, and you can finish one round around the Island in 1-2 hours, depending upon your speed. Trust me when I say that you get major ‘Main Character’ vibes riding on your bike through this magical place!
You can easily rent a bike from the Bike centre for ₩4,000 for 30-minutes and ₩7,000 for an hour. You can also grab a couples’ bike for ₩8,000 for 30-minutes and ₩14,000 for an hour. If you are visiting Nami Island with family or a group, you should rent a family (quadruplet) bike for ₩10,000.
How to go to Nami Island from Seoul
If you have decided to get on this journey to Nami Island, then here are the four different ways you can get to Nami Island. You can easily choose whether you want to travel via a bus or train, or taxi according to your budget and travel time. To visit Nami Island, you have first to reach Gapyeong Station from Seoul if you pick up public transportation. Here are the best ways to get to Gapyeong Station most conveniently.
1. ITX- Cheongchun
I would recommend travelling via ITX-Cheongchun to get to Nami Island. It is a more direct and convenient option that will take you to your destination in less than an hour. To purchase your ticket to ride on ITX, you will need to go to Korail Counters. If you are a Korail Pass holder, then it is most advantageous. Also, you can easily check the departure and arrival schedule from their booking page.
From Gapyeong Station, Nami Island is only 2.2 km away, and you can easily grab a taxi to get there. The taxi ride is 10-15 minutes, according to the traffic.
Travel Time: 1 hr
Ticket price: ₩6,000-₩9,500
2. Subway
The next option to reach Nami Island is by using Subway. Although cheaper than ITX-Cheongchun, Subway would take much more time to get you to Nami Island. First of all, you will have to reach Hoegi station, where you can easily get on a subway on its way to Gapyeong Station. This subway journey will be a little longer than one hour. Now from Gapyeong station, all you have to do is get on a taxi to reach the ferry port.
Travel Time: 1.5 hr
Ticket price: ₩2,000-₩2,900
3. Bus+Train
Another way you can reach Nami Island is by making a one-hour bus journey from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Cheongpyeong, where you have to first get to Cheongpyeong Station. Then at Cheongpyeong Station, you can get on the ITX-Cheongchun Yongsan, which will take you to Gapyeong Station in mere seven minutes. Afterwards, it’s only another small journey to the ferry port via taxi.
The important thing to keep in mind if you decide to pick this method to reach Gapyeong is that you have to be very mindful of the bus and ITX-Cheongchun schedules. Otherwise, you will end up wasting a lot of your precious time waiting for the next bus or train.
Travel Time: 2 hr
Ticket price: The bus ride will cost you ₩6,359, and the train ticket will cost you something between ₩1,200 and ₩2,300.
4. Shuttle Bus to Nami Island
A really convenient and economical way to make this journey is to take a Shuttle bus to Nami Island. You get to reach your destination without any headaches of dealing with traffic or following the public transportation schedule. Your shuttle bus driver will take you on a round-trip from the centre of Seoul (Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Hongdae) straight to Nami Island and then back.
Since Shuttle buses don’t stop at different locations during their journey like public buses, you will end up saving a lot of time too. Also, most Nami Shuttle Bus services have the entrance fee to Nami Island included in their tickets. This makes travelling by shuttle bus even more beneficial because you will not have to stand in the queue at Nami Island’s ticket counter. Might I add that this queue is more than often quite long and busy!
By opting for the shuttle bus, All you need is to show up at the designated pick-up place and enjoy the rest of the journey sitting comfortably in your seat!
Travel Time: 1.5 hr
Ticket price: ₩24,000-₩26,000
5. Taxi or Private tours
Another option you have is to travel by taxi or private tours from Seoul to Nami Island. It is indeed the fastest and the most convenient way but making such a long journey via taxi is also going to cost a lot more than using public transportation.
Travel Time: 1 hr
Ticket price: ₩80,000 to ₩100,000
But whatever the way you choose to reach Nami Island, make sure to have a lot of fun and make memories to bring home!
How to get onto Nami Island
Nami Island is surrounded by water, and there are only two ways by which you can get onto this Island.
1. Ferry
The first and most popular way to get onto Nami Island is by taking a ferry. When you purchase the admission ticket for Nami Island, the ticket includes the fee for the ferry, for both the ride to and from the Island. The ferry service is regular, and you can easily consult the ferry schedule available there.
Price for the ferry on Nami Island: Included in the Nami Island Visa/ticket.
2. Zipline
But if you have an adventurous streak like me, you should definitely go onto Nami Island by Zipline. Skyline Zipwire is a one-way ride to Nami Island that runs every day of the week. On normal days with good weather, zipline service starts at 9 am and till 6 pm.
If you come with your camera, all with a wrist strap or necklace or any tool to uphold your camera or even your phone, you get to record your zipline experience! Keep in mind that you are solely responsible for your recording equipment.
Price for Zipline on Nami Island: ₩49,900 per person
Best Time to Visit Nami Island, South Korea
Nami Island is lovely to visit at any time of the year. Every season will show you something special here. So, you can either plan your day trip to Nami Island from Seoul during your favourite season or read on to find out what to expect on Nami Island during different seasons.
1. Autumn Season at Nami Island, South Korea
I love the autumn season, and that’s why I really hope that you plan your day trip to Nami Island from mid-September to November when it’s autumn here. The Island is covered in shades of red, orange and brown with dry leaves of trees like Metasequoia, Korea Pine and Maple trees falling around charmingly.
Baekpungmilwon Garden becomes the most incredible sight on Nami Island, and everyone from little kids to adults to animals here will rejoice!
The average temperature during the Autumn season on Nami Island is 3°C to 18°C
2. Spring Season at Nami Island, South Korea
For all spring lovers, Nami Island will welcome you with the most amazing view of cherry blossoms. Spring comes and goes by really quickly, so make sure that you check an eye out on the weather reports of Nami Island to maximize your chances of catching the cherry blossom season here!
The average Temperature during the Spring season on Nami Island is 2°C to 12°C
3. Summer Season at Nami Island, South Korea
If you love the summer season, you should most definitely visit Nami Island, when all the trees turn luscious and green and the whole Island becomes vibrant and lively. Many amazing spots appear where you can have picnics under the shade of the trees. Also, summers are probably the best time to rent a bike from the bike centre and tour the Island.
The average temperature during the summer season on Nami Island is 12°C to 28°C
4. Winter Season at Nami Island, South Korea
Another great time to visit Nami Island is during the Winter season when the entire Island is covered in snow and truly resembles a Winter Wonderland. Everything from trees to ground is covered in pristine fluffy snow.
Also, for the fans of ‘Winter Sonata’, visiting Nami Island during the winter is a must. Not only are winters the time when this k-drama’s most popular poster consisting of Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo on Metasequoia Lane was captured, but the iconic statue of the couple located in the Gongsaengwon Garden also becomes the focus of attraction.
Average Temperature during the Winter season on Nami Island: (-7°C) to 2°C
Restaurants and Cafés to try on Nami Island
After walking around the Island, if you find yourself peckish, worry not because Nami Island has some really amazing places where you have delicious food. After all, good foo