Nami Island is one of the most popular day trips from Seoul. This small half-moon shaped island in the North Han River offers tree-lined paths, seasonal scenery, and a relaxed pace that feels removed from the city even though it is only about an hour away.
Getting to Nami Island
Take the ITX-Cheongchun train from Yongsan Station to Gapyeong Station, then a taxi to the ferry dock. The train takes about an hour. A short ferry ride crosses to the island. Admission and the ferry are combined into a single ticket purchased at the dock.
What to Do on the Island
Nami Island is best explored on foot. Several paths wind through the interior, each lined with different trees including metasequoia, ginkgo, birch, and pine. The famous metasequoia lane is the island’s signature image. The island gained international attention after the Korean drama Winter Sonata was filmed here in 2002. A small museum documents the drama and the Korean Wave cultural export.
Bicycles and inline skates are available for rent. Small galleries and outdoor sculptures are scattered throughout the grounds. Animals including ostriches and ducks roam parts of the island freely.
Combining with Petite France
Many visitors combine Nami Island with Petite France, a French-themed village about fifteen minutes away by taxi. The village is built on a hillside with colorful European-style buildings and a museum dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It is best visited in the morning before afternoon crowds arrive.
Best Season to Visit
Spring brings cherry blossoms. Summer turns the island deeply green. Autumn is the most popular season, when ginkgo trees turn bright yellow and metasequoias turn red and orange. Winter snow creates a quiet, cinematic atmosphere that fans of Winter Sonata find particularly evocative.
Autumn weekends from mid-October to mid-November are the busiest period. Arriving early on the first or second ferry makes a meaningful difference. Weekday visits are noticeably less crowded.
Practical Details
Admission including the ferry crossing costs 16,000 won for adults. The island is open year-round. Most visitors spend two to four hours on the island. A full day trip from Seoul typically runs six to seven hours depending on your starting point.