Nami Island (Namiseom) is the day trip you've probably seen on Instagram: long avenues of tall metasequoia and ginkgo trees, leaves turning gold and red, people strolling beneath them. It became famous across Asia as a filming location for the 2002 drama Winter Sonata, and it's still one of the most popular day trips for foreign visitors.
It's touristy, yes — but it's also genuinely pretty, easy to reach and combines well with two other places in the Gapyeong area. Here's how to make the most of it.
What Nami Island is like
The island is small — you can walk around it in an hour or two — and it's run as a kind of outdoor park, with themed tree avenues, riverside paths, sculptures, cafés, restaurants and rabbits and birds roaming around. Highlights:
- The Metasequoia Lane: the famous one, especially in late October and November
- The Ginkgo Lane: bright yellow in autumn
- The Pine Lane and riverside paths: quieter, with water views
- Winter Sonata spots: statues and photo points from the drama, popular with fans
You can also rent bicycles (including tandems and family bikes), which is a fun way to get around the edges of the island.
Getting onto the island
The island is reached from Gapyeong Wharf on the mainland. Your admission ticket includes the return ferry, which takes about five minutes and runs frequently through the day. For something more dramatic, there's a zip wire from a tower near the wharf straight onto the island — book it separately and expect a queue at weekends.
Check current ticket prices and ferry times on the island's official site before you go. There are cafés and restaurants on both the wharf side and the island.
When to go
- Autumn (late October to early November): peak colour and peak crowds. The single best time
- Spring (April): fresh green leaves and cherry blossoms, much calmer
- Winter: snow on the tree avenues is magical if you're lucky, but it's cold on the water
- Summer: green and shady, but hot and humid
Weekends in autumn are very busy, with long queues for the ferry. A weekday, arriving before 10am, is a completely different experience.
Combine it with Gapyeong's other sights
Most visitors pair Nami with one or two of these:
The Garden of Morning Calm (Achim Goyo Arboretum): a large, beautifully landscaped garden in the hills, with themed gardens, a hanok and seasonal flowers. From December to March it holds a huge winter light festival in the evenings, when the whole garden is covered in coloured lights — one of the prettiest winter sights near Seoul.
Petite France: a small hillside "French village" based on The Little Prince, with colourful buildings and puppet shows. It's kitschy, but fun for fans of the book or of the K-dramas filmed there. It shares a site with a similar "Italian village".
Gangchon Rail Park: pedal-powered rail bikes along an old railway line through the river valley, near Gimyujeong Station — great fun in good weather. Book ahead at weekends.
What to eat
The Gapyeong and Chuncheon area is famous for dakgalbi — spicy stir-fried chicken with cabbage and rice cakes, cooked on a big round pan at your table, often finished with fried rice. You'll find dakgalbi restaurants near the wharf and in Gapyeong town. Makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) is the other local speciality.
Tour or do it yourself?
Do it yourself if you're visiting Nami only, or Nami plus one other sight. The train is easy, and you choose your pace.
Book a tour if you want to fit in Nami, the Garden of Morning Calm and Petite France (or the rail bike) in one day. The sights are spread out and public transport between them is slow, so a tour with a bus saves a lot of time.
There's also a direct shuttle bus from central Seoul to the wharf, run for tourists. It's convenient — book ahead on the official Nami Island website.
Getting there
- ITX-Cheongchun train: the fastest option. Trains from Yongsan or Cheongnyangni Station reach Gapyeong Station in about an hour from Cheongnyangni. Reserve seats on the Korail app
- Subway (Gyeongchun Line): slower (about 1.5 hours from central Seoul) but cheap and needs no booking — ride to Gapyeong Station
- From Gapyeong Station: a taxi to the wharf takes about five minutes; walking takes around 20–25 minutes. The Gapyeong tourist loop bus also stops at the wharf, Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm
Our honest take
Nami Island is lovely in autumn, pleasant the rest of the year and very busy on weekends. It's a classic for good reason, but don't expect a hidden gem.
Go if:
- You're in Seoul in late October or early November
- You're a Winter Sonata fan, or love tree-lined autumn photos
- You're combining it with the Garden of Morning Calm light festival in winter
Skip if:
- You only have a few days and haven't seen Seoul's palaces yet
- You dislike crowds and can only go on a weekend
- You want wild nature — Seoraksan is the better choice
Our tip: take an early ITX on a weekday, be on the island by 9:30, and leave the afternoon for either the rail bike or the Garden of Morning Calm.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need on Nami Island?
Two to three hours is enough for the island itself. Make it a full day by adding the Garden of Morning Calm or Petite France.
How do I get from Seoul to Nami Island?
Take the ITX-Cheongchun train or the Gyeongchun Line to Gapyeong Station, then a short taxi to the wharf and the ferry across.
When is the best time to visit Nami Island?
Late October to early November for autumn colours. Go on a weekday morning to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Do I need to book a tour?
No — it's easy to visit on your own. A tour is worth it if you want to see several Gapyeong sights in one day.
