Plan your Nami Island day trip β€” a must-visit in South Korea!

View of Nami Island VTL Itinerary

Photo credit: Korea Tourism Organisation

Located in Gapyeong (가평), Nami Island (남이섬) is less than two hours from Seoul. It’s full of gorgeous attractions, like the Garden of Morning Calm (μ•„μΉ¨κ³ μš”μˆ˜λͺ©μ›). There’s also the colourful, European-style buildings of Petite France (μ˜λ ν”„λž‘μŠ€). No wonder K-dramas have used these spots as filming locations!

You can cover this popular day trip on your own with some careful planning. That said, there are also all-inclusive tours which cover transport from Seoul, attractions, and entrance tickets.

In this guide, we’ll share how we explored Nami Island on our own. But if you prefer a fuss-free experience, it’s worthwhile to hop on a tour!

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off all activities with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15). Apply the promo code upon checkout. One-time use only!

Read also: 7-Day First Timer’s South Korea Itinerary Under S$1k incl. Day Trips Out of Seoul

How to get to Nami Island from Seoul

Here are a couple of ways you can get to Gapyeong, the county where Nami Island is.

Seoul to Nami Island (Gapyeong) by train

Korail card in train of South korea - South Korea Cherry Blossom Guide 2019

Subway/Metro (~β‚©2,350/pax, 95 mins): From Yongsan Station (μš©μ‚°μ—­), take the train to Sangbong Station (상봉역). Transfer to Gyeongchun Line, then exit at Gapyeong Station (Google Maps)

ITX-Cheongchun (From β‚©6,600/pax, 60mins): From Yongsan Station (μš©μ‚°μ—­), take the ITX to Gapyeong Stn (가평역) (Google Maps)

T-money does not pay for rides on the ITX, so you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket from Korail counters. We used our Korail Pass for this, so it was free for us (plus free seat reservations!)

Check the schedule from the Korail booking page by typing Yongsan and Gapyeong under the β€˜Departure/Arrive’ fields.

Seoul to Nami Island (Gapyeong) by car

Gapyeong Station view - Korea Itinerary Korail Pass-3

Shuttle bus (From ~S$32/pax): Want to take on Nami Island DIY-style? Book a round-trip shuttle from Seoul.

Else, this all-inclusive tour is your best bet! Get picked up from a central location (Hongdae, Myeongdong or Dongdaemun), and shuttle to Gapyeong. The private bus will bring you to attractions you’d like to cover, entrance included!

We wish we had taken this option instead ’cause we ended up getting lost on the way to Nami Island from Gapyeong… but more on that later πŸ˜ͺ

Private car: For added flexibility, hire a private car charter from Seoul. Or, rent a car that you can pick up from Incheon Airport.

Getting around Gapyeong via bus

Crowded Gapyeong Tourist Bus - Korea Itinerary Korail Pass

If you’re exploring Nami on your own, there’s a Gapyeong City Tour Bus that runs hourly from 9AM – 7PM. It starts at Gapyeong Station and covers Nami Island’s popular attractions.

For a flat rate of β‚©8,000 (~S$9), purchase the Gapyeong Bus Pass from the bus captain for unlimited rides within a day. Keep this ticket and show it to the bus captain at every pickup point.

The bus comes at intervals of 30 minutes to an hour. It’s usually packed from 10AM – 2PM, so try to reach the bus stop earlier than scheduled. Miss a bus, and you might not be able to visit an attraction (or two) as the next bus will arrive in an hour.

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Gapyeong City Tour Bus Schedule

Course A Gapyeong bus - Nami Island

Intercity Bus Course A

We made a mistake and took a bus in the WRONG direction while at Nami Island 😱

It cost us 2.5 hours of waiting and finding our way back. As a result, we missed our rail bike booking at 5PM! Please familiarise yourself with the schedule to avoid the same mistake we did.

Gapyeong City Tour Bus Schedule
Gapyeong City Tour Bus Schedule - Outbound

Gapyeong and Nami Island Day Trip Itinerary (DIY)

If you’re planning to cover Nami on your own, you can follow what we tried. To cover all four locations, we started our day at 5AM and spent a maximum of two hours at each spot.

To be honest, our schedule is pretty ambitious. So if you’d rather take it easy, you might want to remove one activity or sign-up for a guided day tour.

View our full itinerary

6:00AM – 6:55AM: Take ITX from Yongsan, Seoul to Gapyeong

7:00AM: Take the Intra-city (Green) bus* for Gapyeong Wharf at β‚©1,100 (~S$1) or take a taxi for ~β‚©4,000 (~S$4)

7:35AM: Take the first ferry to Nami Island (from Gapyeong Wharf)

7:45AM – 9:50AM: Explore Nami Island

10:00AM: Take the ferry back to Gapyeong Wharf

10:25AM – 10:50AM: Take Gapyeong City Bus (Opposite GS25) to Petite France

11AM – 12:45PM: Explore Petite France

12:50PM – 1:35PM: Take Gapyeong City Bus to the Garden Of Morning Calm

1:40PM – 3PM: Explore Garden of Morning Calm

3:05PM – 4:22PM: Take Gapyeong City Bus to Gapyeong Rail Bike Park

5:00PM: Gapyeong Rail Bike

7:28PM – 8:24PM: Take ITX back to Seoul (reserve seats for this train in the morning)

How to get from Gapyeong to Nami Island

Entrance and Tickets at Nami Island - Nami Island

There are two ways to get to Nami Island from Gapyeong Station. The most common way is to ride the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Gapyeong Wharf, then ride a ferry. Your Nami Island admission ticket should come with a ferry ticket.

Pre-book your ticket via Klook to skip the lines, and simply present the QR code at the ferry gate!

The other way to get to Nami Island is by zip-lining… yep. The zip-line is only one-way, and you’ll have to leave the island by ferry. Ferries leave every 30 minutes from 8AM – 9AM, and every 10-20 minutes between 9AM – 6PM.

1) Nami Island (남이섬)

Winter sonata statue - Nami Island

Strike a pose with auntie-killer Bae Yong-Joon’s life-sized copper statue!

Nami Island has been attracting many K-drama lovers since the early 2000s. It was popularised by Winter Sonata κ²¨μšΈμ—°κ°€ (2002), an iconic K-drama that certainly ignited the Korean Wave worldwide.

Wedding shoot at Nami island - Korea Itinerary Korail Pass

A popular site for wedding shoots

It’s only an hour’s drive from Seoul too, so it’s the perfect place for anyone who wants to relax, and escape the rapid city pace.

Rabbit - Nami Island

Spot free-roaming bunnies and squirrels while you’re at Nami Island too!

Kimchi Huts of Nami - Nami Island

Here’s a squirrel chilling between two kimchi huts.

Ostriches at Nami - Nami Island

Stop by the old rail tracks to take photos with ostriches on the island!

The redwood trees of Metasequoia Road and Central Korean Pine Tree Lane are a couple of popular photo spots. The tall, majestic trees just seem to go on and on forever.

Metasequoia Trees in Nami Island - Nami Island

Nami is exceptionally beautiful during autumn. Rows of pine and maple trees turn red and transform the island into a huge pumpkin spice latte. We were there in early autumn and the foliages were still green. But in November, Nami Island comes alive in a sea of red and gold!

Nami Island Autumn - Nami Island

Nami Island in Autumn. Photo credit: @guide5111 via Instagram

Nami Hotteok - Nami Island

Feeling peckish? Try the hotteok (ν˜Έλ–‘) β€” a popular Korean red bean pancake β€” from the Nami Island Sonata Cafe at β‚©1,500/pc (~S$2). The hotteoks are freshly prepared, and make a great treat after the long walks around Nami Island!

Fun fact: Nami Island declared its “cultural independence” on 1 Mar 2006. This imaginary “country” has invented its own passport, currency, stamp, and even telephone card!

Cycling in Nami Island South Korea - Nami Island Guide

Photo credit: Klook

While Nami Island can be explored on foot, other modes of transport can save you some walking and time. There’s the Story Tour Bus, UNICEF Charity Train, Sky-bike and Electric Tri-way bikes. Adventurous souls can even get on an exhilarating forest zip-line in Nami Island!

Cost: From ~S$10/pax via Klook (inclusive of entrance and ferry)
Opening hours: 8AM – 9PM

Lunch at Alisu (μ•„λ¦¬μˆ˜)

Arisu Restaurant - Nami Island

There are a couple of food stalls around the ferry terminal. However, if you’re looking for a full meal, there’s a dakgalbi restaurant near the bus stop, Alisu. It’s a blue building with two big chimpanzees on it, hence it’s hard to miss.

While we did not have our lunch there, we read that the dakgalbi (λ‹­κ°ˆλΉ„), or spicy stir-fried chicken, is delicious and reasonably priced.

Dak-galbi from Arisu - Nami Island

Photo credit: 정싀짱

Do take your meals before heading to Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm, as there are limited food options around those areas.

Cost: ~β‚©15,000/pax (~S$15)
How to get there: Walk across shuttle bus stop for Gapyeong tourists (Google Maps – directions inaccurate; use only for reference)

Second Stop: Petite France (μ˜λ ν”„λž‘μŠ€)

Petite France Buildings - Nami Island

Next up in our Nami Island day trip is Petite France, a French cultural village that showcases vintage European trinkets, such as century-old dolls and puppets, antiquities, furniture and orgels (musical instrument). Stepping into Petite France, you’ll feel transported to a different time period.

Little Prince Petite France - Nami Island

While Petite France is also the most touristy, it’s definitely worth a visit as the colourful buildings’ facade make a great backdrop for photos.

Puppet Show Petite France - Nami Island

There are several free performances such as the Orgel Demonstration, Guignol French Hand Puppet show, Marionette Czech String Puppet show, and accordion performances by the street musician.

Street Performer Petite France - Nami Island

Eagle-eyed K-drama fans will probably recognise Petite France from series such as My Love From the Star λ³„μ—μ„œ 온 κ·ΈλŒ€ (2014), Secret Garden μ‹œν¬λ¦Ώ κ°€λ“  (2010), and Beethoven Virus λ² ν† λ²€ λ°”μ΄λŸ¬μŠ€ (2008).

Petite France Butterfly Park - Nami Island

Besides the iconic colourful buildings, another great photo spot is the Butterfly Park.

Entrance fee: β‚©12,000/pax (~S$12)
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM (Last entry: 5PM)
How to get there: Take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Nami Island Station to Petite France

Third Stop: Garden of Morning Calm (μ•„μΉ¨κ³ μš”μˆ˜λͺ©μ›)

Sunken Garden Garden of Morning Calm - Nami Island

With 26 themed gardens, the Garden of Morning Calm is every botanist’s / horticulturist’s / photographer’s dreamland. While we were there, the chrysanthemums were in full bloom, which mesmerised us all.

Purple Chrysanthemum Garden of Morning Calm - Nami Island

It’s a great place for people to slow down. Stroll around, and admire the beautiful flowers and landscapes within South Korea’s oldest private garden.

Autumn Colours at Garden of Morning Calm - Nami Island

Many older folks can be seen brisk walking, while the younger ones take selfies amongst colourful beds of flowers around Pond Garden and Sunken Garden.

Garden of Morning Calm - Nami Island

The Garden of Morning Calm is open all year round. Exhibits are seasonal, so there’s always a reason to visit. In spring, magnolia, azalea, and cherry blossoms paint the gardens pink. Meanwhile, in Summer, the garden bursts into a myriad of colours when roses, iris, and blue hydrangeas bloom.

Garden of Morning Calm Autumn Colours - Nami Island

Our visit in autumn showed us how chrysanthemums and maples add a sense of warmth with their red fiery petals and leaves. In winter, artificial lights make the snow-covered garden look like a magical winter wonderland.

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Lights - Nami Island

Photo credit: visitkorea.or.kr

The undeniable charms of Garden of Morning Calm have made it a hot spot for K-dramas and variety shows. Popular shows like Love in the Moonlight ꡬλ₯΄λ―Έ κ·Έλ¦° 달빛 (2016), You’re Beautiful λ―Έλ‚¨μ΄μ‹œλ„€μš” (2009), and TVN Taxi ν˜„μž₯토크쇼 νƒμ‹œ (SHINee) were filmed here.

Entrance fee: β‚©11,000/pax (~S$11)
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 6PM (closing varies during festive period)

Last Stop: Rail Bike Park (레일파크)

Gapyeong Rail Bike - Nami Island

Photo credit: seoulkorea-tour

There are two rail parks,Β Gapyeong Rail Park (가평 레일파크)Β andΒ GangchonΒ Rail Park (κ°•μ΄Œ 레일파크). For your Nami Island day trip, you can opt to do just one. And for that, we recommend the one in Gapyeong. It’s more convenient and accessible, as it’s one of the Gapyeong City Bus stops.

However, the views in Gangchon are nicer. The rail goes through three tunnels, whereas Gapyeong only goes through one.

As mentioned, we missed our 5PM booking for the Gapyeong Rail Bike, and had to return the next day for it. Be there at least 20 minutes before your booking β€” they’ll be forfeited if missed (non-refundable nor exchangeable).

Gangchon Rail Park

Gangchon Rail Bike Park during sunset - Korea Itinerary Korail Pass

Since we returned on a separate day, we headed straight to the Gangchon Rail Park, and it did not disappoint. Variety shows like Running Man (λŸ°λ‹λ§¨) and We Got Married (우리 κ²°ν˜Όν–ˆμ–΄μš”) were filmed there!

Gangchon Rail Bike - Nami Island

Photo credit: Klook

There are four-seater and two-seater options. If you’re going in a group of six, we recommend getting 3 two-seaters (instead of a four-seater and two-seater) as the bikes go out in batches of type.

Gangchon Rail Bike tunnel - Nami Island

Do note that the ride stops at Old Gangchon Station, which no longer functions. It’s not the one where you can take the ITX from. A free shuttle bus will bring you back to Gimyujeong station, where you’ll need to take one stop down to Gangchon for the ITX.

*Pro-tip: If seat reservations have run out, take the train from Chun Cheon. This will increase your chances of getting non-reserved seats on the ITX train.

Cost: From ~S$30/two-seater bike via Klook
Opening hours: Starts at 9AM, operates at 1hr intervals.
How to get there (from Garden of Morning Calm): Take the Gapyeong City Bus to Cheongpyeong Terminal. Then take the subway to Gimyujeong Station (Google Maps)
How to get there (from Seoul): Take the MRT-Gyeongchun Line to Gapyeong Station. Then exit at Gimyujeong Station (Google Maps)

Gapyeong Rail Park

Gapyeong Rail Bike Overseesing mountain - Nami Island

Photo credit: Cleeswanders

The entire pedalling course is about 8km, and ends where you started. Scenes of the movie The Letter νŽΈμ§€ (1997) were shot here.

Cost: From ~S$30/two-seater bike via Klook
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM, operates at 1.5hr intervals
How to get there (via train): Take the subway/ITX to Gapyeong Station, then walk 30min or take a 5min taxi ride to Gapyeong Rail Park (Google Maps)
How to get there (via bus): Take the Gapyeong/Chuncheon Bus at Sangbong-dong/Guui-dong to Gapyeong Bus Station (~1.5hr), then take Bus Line 15 to Gapyeong Rail Park (Google Maps)

Nami Island day trip: DIY vs. guided tour

Wefie along the pine trees - Nami Island

For FOMO people like us who want to cover everything, our Nami Island day trip DIY plan would have worked if we stuck to all the bus timings. Unfortunately, the detour cost us one activity despite starting our day super early.

Here’s how to help you decide:


ProsCons
DIY– Enjoy a relatively empty Nami Island (if you visit before 9AM)
– Explore places at your own pace
– Be mindful about bus timings
– May feel a bit rushed when covering all four sites
Tour– Minimal planning required
Skip the queues for entrance tickets and transfers
– Nami Island might be crowded, as you arrive at the same time as other tour groups
– However, places like the Garden of Morning Calm is huge, so the crowds won’t spoil your experience

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off all activities with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15). Apply the promo code upon checkout. One-time use only!

We hope you found this guide helpful in planning your perfect day trip from Seoul to Nami Island, as well as all the other gorgeous sights within the Gapyeong area!

Read also: 7D Korea Itinerary for under S$800 β€” Seoul, Jeonju, Busan

After reading this, are you planning to do your Nami Island day trip via guided tour or by yourselves? Let us know in the comments!


This article was brought to you by Klook

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63 COMMENTS

  1. Hai edelyn, just want to know the enterance fee for nami via zipline 38,000 won include ferry fare for way back? Thank you.

  2. hi, for the returning ITX, do you think i have to book online first or i can purchase it at the station? because still unsure to go back from Cheongpyeong station or gapyeong station. just wondering if i were to buy the the ticket at the station, will it sold out?

    • We wish we can predict the situation too! We’re not too sure but we generally either got all our tickets on the spot or the day before without problems.

  3. Hi Edelyn,
    Just want to know how much your budget when you went to korea? Also, do you think it is better to book in advance in klook.com? Thank you.

    • Hi Pamela,
      We spent less than S$800/pax (excluding airfare) for a 7-day trip. Here’s our 7D Korea Itinerary for your reference πŸ™‚
      Yes, we would encourage you to book the activities and travel essentials on Klook before your trip as most cannot be purchased on the day itself (e.g. tour packages usually have to be purchased 3 days in advance).
      Thank you.
      -Edelyn

  4. Hi Evelyn ,
    Is ur entrance tickets to Nami Island , Petite France , Gangchon Rail Park are purchased on the spot ? Do we need to do pre booking for the Gangchon Bike ?

    • Hi Amber,
      We bought our entrance tickets to Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of Morning Calm on the spot.
      For Gangchon Rail Park, we purchased our tickets through Klook beforehand, and we recommend purchasing the tickets in advance as they do get booked up quite fast.
      Hope this helps. Have fun! πŸ™‚
      -Edelyn

  5. Hi Edelyn,

    Can I ask regarding Korail pass, I will go to busan on a day trip only and here in Nami Island.. Would you know if what korail pass should I get? We are two, so saver pass will do with 2 day select pass. Is this right? I’m quite confused with Korail Pass. πŸ™ Is this the best deal, do you think. Thanks again and appreciate your response. πŸ™‚

    • Hi Alen,
      I’ll suggest the 2-day flexi pass @ S$112/pax for your trip to Nami Island and Busan. Single trip tickets cost β‚©5,200 (ITX Seoul to Yongsan) and β‚©59,800 (KTX Seoul to Busan) per pax. You’ll get to save about S$48 with the Korail Pass!
      Hope this helps, enjoy Korea!
      :)Edelyn

  6. Hi Edelyn,
    Does the shuttle bus goes to the zipline place to NAMI island? (as you stated the bus goes to NAMI island) So it’s at the zipline area or the ferry terminal? Because i want to add Bungee jumping into a part of my itinerary. Pls advice

    Regards,
    mingjie

    • Hi Mingjie,
      Yes, both the zipline and bungee towers are located at Nami Island shuttle bus stop β€” the same stop as the ferry terminal for people who wishes to take a ferry to Nami Island itself.
      Thanks & have fun!!
      πŸ™‚ Edelyn

  7. Hi Edelyn,

    According to your DIY itinerary, “7:00AM: Take the Intra-city (Green) bus for Gapyeong Wharf (β‚©1,100) or take a taxi for ~β‚©4,000”

    Is there a bus operating at 7 am? Am planning to pattern our itinerary to yours to make it to the first ferry at 730 am.

    • Hi Marco,
      When we were there in October last year, there were Gapyeong buses such as service 33-38 running from 7AM. But I did a quick check just now and it seems that as of 1st Jan 2018, the first bus departs Gapyeong terminal at 7:40AM instead. You might want to get to Gapyeong station early to try your luck if there are any other buses running at 7AM!
      So sorry we are unable to assist further with your itinerary planning!
      All the best & enjoy Korea~
      -Edelyn

  8. Hi Edelyn,
    We’re planning to follow your itinerary except for the rail bike tour which we intend to do after visit to Nami Island…Is there a bus or taxi that will take us back to Gapyeong rail park? Thanks.

    • Hi Charina,
      Yes, you can take the Gapyeong Intercity bus of opposite direction (the one we mentioned we took by mistake, lol)
      Buses come every hour, and it’s only a 10min ride from Nami Island’s stop to Gapyeong Rail Park.
      Hope this helps! Enjoy~
      -Edelyn

  9. Hi, thanks for sharing. But there’s something I don’t really understand, there’s only two ways to get to Nami Island? Ferry and zip-line? I have read many articles about Myeongdong -> Gapyeong, it seems like there’s shuttle bus to reach Nami Island (is it possible? or the bus will only reach the ferry terminal?) Thanks.

    • Hi Jay,
      Yup the shuttle bus stops at the ferry terminal, you’ll still need to take the ferry across to Nami Island itself.
      Hope this helps! πŸ™‚
      -Edelyn

  10. Hi Edelyn,

    My wife is quite excited to visit Nami Island. Our plan is from Nami island going directly to Garden of Morning Calm then back to Cheongpyong Train station. I’d like to know which particular bus stop are we going to take from Gapyeong Wharf??

    • Hi Rob,
      You’ll have to take the bus from across the road of the wharf β€” the side that goes to Petite France, Cheongpyeong stn, Morning Calm.
      From Garden of Morning Calm, take the opposite direction back to Cheongpyeong stn.
      There are directional signboards at the bus stops too.
      Have fun in Korea! πŸ™‚
      -Edelyn

  11. Hi!
    The last bus for Garden of Morning Calm is at 7.05 pm as per schedule. Do you happen to know if this bus will take us back to Gapyeong Station or is it only for drop off at the Garden? I have seen that there is 2 different schedules, 1 from the station and another to go back to the station. I wonder if this is still the case.

    Thank you in advance πŸ™‚

    • Hi Yana!
      Yup, you are right! There’s a shuttle bus route from Garden of Morning Calm towards Gapyeong station. From what I remember, the last bus leaves at 6PM from Garden of Morning Calm to Gapyeong station. Subsequent buses in that direction (last bus at 7:30PM) goes from the Garden to another station β€” Cheongpyeong.
      Thanks & Enjoy!
      πŸ™‚ Edelyn

  12. Hi Edelyn,

    Thank you for the detailed post, it’s helping me plan out my trip in Oct this year more easily.

    Do you know how long the shuttle bus from old Gangchon station takes? Does it go back to Gapyeong Station where we can take the ITX back to Yongsan Station in Seoul?

    • Hi Jessica,
      The bus service from old Gangchon station only goes to Gimyujeong station, it takes about 20mins and comes every hour.
      You’ll need to take one stop down from Gimyujeong to Gangchon station for the ITX back to Seoul.
      Thank you
      :)Edelyn

  13. Hi Edelyn.

    Im going to Seoul this end of month. I would like to ask you which is cheaper and more cost saving whether going on tour or diy tour?

  14. Hi, I really like your blogs! Kudos to you for the very detailed tips. ☺️
    I’m planning to treat my daughter for a South Korea trip next yr for her 18th bday which is Oct 5. I wanted to know if autumn is in full blast by then or do you suggest we go mid-Oct instead? What days in October were you there?
    Thank you.

    Best,
    Tin

    • Thanks Tin! Glad these were useful πŸ™‚ We did this trip in mid October last year and the leaves at Nami was only just starting to turn yellow. A week later, we had friends sending us pictures of all the trees covered in reds and yellows! If you can, the further into October you go will definitely increase your chances of catching the Fall foliage.

  15. Hi, I want to know how many hour does it take from Namiseon Island End Point to Petit France? and do you know how to back to seoul city from petit france? Thanks a lot, I need your information

    • Hello! Are you only covering Nami island and Petit France? It’s 25 minutes apart by the local bus. So probably, 3-5 hours depending on how much time you’re planning to spend at each place. But that excludes travelling time from Seoul. From Petit France, you’ll need to catch a bus back to Gapyeong Train station, then either take the KTX or ITX back to Seoul. You can also sign up for this tour: http://bit.ly/2LMfuo8 If starts from Seoul, brings you to both Nami Island and Petit France and also includes your trip back to Seoul.

  16. Hi guys, which day would be the best to go for all sites? And which tour did you choose for the trip? Thanks ! πŸ™‚

  17. Hi there, I wanna ask which subway you guys take to reach yongsan Station so early in order to sit for 6am itx? Since I stay at hongdae, if wanna go yongsan Station I would need to sit Gyeongui – Jungang line but than the 1st subway for this line is 6am sth..so are there any other way for me to reach yongsan before 6am?

    • Hi Stephanie,

      We stayed around Seoul Station so there was no problem for us as the first train to Yongsan departs around 5.14am.
      I searched on google and found that there are buses 7011, 7016, and M6117 operates in the early morning around Hongdae district that goes to Seoul station. From Seoul station, you can transfer to the train that goes to Yongsan station.

      Hope this helps! πŸ™‚
      Edelyn

      • Hi Edelyn,

        Thanks for the bus info. And another I wanna ask is what time is the last route for Gangchon Rail Bike to depart? Izit 5pm or 5.30pm? And do you recommend with book 1st for buy the ticket on the spot is better? Cause we scare we can’t make it on time than it will be wasted if we book 1st on Klook. So we plan to go Nami than Petite France than the Garden and lastly Gangchon rail bike. Do you think we can make it to the last ride? Or we should just stick to Gapyeong rail bike? Thanks!

        • Hi Stephanie,
          The last departure for Gangchon Rail Bike is at 5.30pm but you’ll have to reach half an hour before that (at 5pm). You should be able to make it for the last ride if you follow our itinerary accordingly, and spend not more than 2 hours at each location.
          Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip πŸ™‚
          Edelyn

  18. Hi Edelyn,

    I saw your plan from Seoul to Gapyeong Station using Korail pass(3days consecutive)took ITX train.
    But your have already used Korail pass(3days consecutive) to Jeonju and Busan, still can use for ITX train to Gapyeong?

    From, Chan

    • Hi Chan!
      Yes, it’s doable but rushed. Here’s what we did:
      First day of pass usage: Seoul to Gapyeong and back
      Second day of pass usage: Seoul to Jeonju and back
      Third day of pass usage: Seoul to Busan
      As we decided to stay a night at Busan, we couldn’t use the Korail pass to get back to Seoul and we bought single trip tickets instead. But it’s doable if you’re doing Busan as a day trip.
      If it’s too rushed, we’d suggest getting the flexi 4-day pass, or join a tour to Gapyeong.
      Hope this clarifies πŸ™‚

  19. Hi. I’m quite confused with the Korail Pass. It says there that you can only do 2 seat reservations per day. So if two us will go to Nami and Busan on a day trip, should we get two normal 2-day select pass and not the saver 2-day select pass?

    • Hi CJ,
      You should get two Flexible 2-day Saver passes if there are two persons travelling together – one for each of you. It’s slightly cheaper than getting two regular select passes. Each saver pass (as well as normal select pass) comes with 2 seat reservations per day.
      Hope this clarifies! Enjoy Korea πŸ™‚
      -Edelyn

  20. Hi Edelyn,
    Your post is really informative!! I would like to clarify with you on the two passes you mentioned:
    1)Nami Island ALL PASS (~S$45/pax)
    2)Nami Island Skyline ZipWire ALL PASS (~S$53.20)
    So the first one covers the admission, forest adventure, all transportation within Nami Island, sky bike, story tour bus, UNICEF charity train etc whereas the second one covers all just like the first pass but includes the ZipWire (should we choose this option)?
    Also, would you happen to know for those who have bags with them, if they opt for the zipline entrance, what happens to the bags?
    Thank you!!

    • Hi Jasmine,
      That’s right! The difference between the two passes is only the ZipWire. If you aren’t afraid of heights and would like an exciting entry into Nami Island, I’d say YES to choose the pass with the ZipWire option! πŸ™‚ But the pass is currently sold out on Klook, so you might want to check back on Klook’s site periodically to see if it’s available again!
      Your bags go with you on the zip line but there is a size limit so the staff may request for you to keep oversized or extra belongings in their lockers.
      Hope this helps! πŸ™‚

  21. Hi Edelyn. We are planning to do Nami – Garden of Morning Calm – Gangchon – Seoul. How do I get from Garden of Morning Calm to Gangchon and how do we get back to Seoul? Sorry, It’s my first time travelling, so I’m confused about the transportation system.

    • Hi Christine!
      You’ll have to take a bus from Garden of Morning Calm to Cheongpyeong Terminal, then transfer onto a train (via Gyeongchun Line) to Gangchon or Gimyujeong Station that’s nearer the Gangchon rail park.
      From Gangchon, get to Namchuncheon Station and take ITX back to Seoul.
      Hope this helps!

      • Is the “train (via Gyeongchun Line) to Gangchon” you’re referring to is KTX? Do we ride a bus going to Namchuncheon station? Also one more thing, if my I were to book a two-seater for my friend and I in klook, do I have to book for two vouchers? Or one two-seater voucher is already good for 2 people? Sorry if I have so many questions πŸ™

        • Hi Christine, sorry for the late reply, must have missed out on your msg! The train via Gyeongchun Line is the Subway. From Gangchon, you can walk to either Gapyeong stn or take the subway to Namchuncheon station for the ITX back to Cheongnyangni station. From Cheongnyangni, take the KTX back to Seoul. Hmm, I’m not sure which “Two-seater” voucher you’re referring to, could you reply with the link of the Klook product so that I can check? Thanks!

          • Hi Edelyn, do u have any photo ref for the journey from Garden to Gangchon Rail Park? and then back to Seoul? I’m still very confused T–T

            Love your blogs! <3

          • Hi NurFarahin! Sorry, the instructions weren’t clear, I’ve edited the article to make it clearer πŸ™‚

            From Garden of Morning Calm to Gangchon Rail Park:
            Take the Gapyeong City Bus from Garden of Morning Calm to Cheongpyeong Terminal, then take the subway to Gimyujeong Stn.
            From Gangchon Rail Park back to Seoul:
            Take the free shuttle bus at the endpoint of rail bike back to Gimyujeong stn, then take the subway to Namchuncheon stn and change to the ITX to Cheongnyangni station. From Cheongnyangni, take the KTX back to Seoul.

            Hope this helps πŸ™‚

  22. Hi,

    We would like to go to the Gangchon Rail park followed by Nami Island & Morning of Calm in the evening. In that case how do I get to Gangchon Rail park directly. Did you take ITX or Subway.

    Thanks

    • Hi Soak Peng, the fastest way to get to Gangchon Rail Bike Park from Seoul is via the ITX (Cheongchun Line) to Gapyeong or Namchuncheon station and change to the Subway to Gimyujeong Station. The Gangchon Rail Bike Park walking distance from Gimyujeong Station. Hope this helps! πŸ™‚

  23. Hi Edelyn!
    I am planning to DIY for this trip as I dont want to take up a whole day in gapyeong. I plan to reach around 7.30am and take the intra city bus to the wharf. Is there any way I can see the route for that bus? Where else does it go to? I want to visit Nami Island and Petite France only. Can the shuttle bus ticket be purchased from any shuttle bus stop? (as it only starts at 9am and I wouldnt be able to purchase at gapyeong stop first)

    • Hi Sabrina, tickets of the shuttle bus can only be purchased directly from the drivers when you board the bus, so you will not be able to take that shuttle bus to Nami Island at 730AM as it only starts at 9AM. You’ll have to take another bus, the Intra-city (Green) bus, from Gapyeong station instead. You may refer to this site for the bus routes, other places the shuttle bus stops by are Gapyeong Rail Bike, Interactive Art Museum, Cheongpyeong Station and Garden of Morning Calm. Hope this helps! πŸ™‚

  24. Hi, thanks a lot for this post. It seems like the shuttle bus schedule is a bit different now from your post (I saw it here http://www.gptour.go.kr/tour/citytour_A.jsp?menu=guide&submenu=theme). So the first bus from Gapyeong station departs at 9am, is that correct? And is Gapyeong terminal (in that link) the same as Gapyeong station? Because from your picture (the big grey arrow with the bus stop names), it seems like there are Gapyeong intercity bus terminal and Gapyeong station. I’m not sure which one is the Gapyeong terminal in the link.

    Also, I’m planning to only visit Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of Morning Calm. I will visit Nami Island before 9 am (so will not taking the intercity bus to Namiseom). Do you think it’s still worth it to get the bus pass? How much is it roughly from Namiseom to Petite France, then to Garden of Morning Calm, and back to Gapyeong station, individually? Thanks in advance!

    • Hi Steph,
      You’re right, the link you sent should be the most updated so you should refer to that timetable instead. (Our article was written in 2017, definitely needs an update soon!)
      – “Gapyeong Terminal” refers to Gapyeong Bus Terminal;
      – “Gapyeong Station” refers to the subway station.

      The bus pass is a one-time payment for unlimited rides. You’ll pay a flat rate of β‚©6,000 for the bus pass from the bus captain when you first board the bus. Just keep your bus ticket and show it to the bus captain every time you board the bus again.

      πŸ™‚

  25. Hello! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your articles.
    Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the
    same subjects? Thank you!

  26. Hi, very detailed and wonderful blog!! I saw u went for the Rail Bike on the 2nd day, may I know how much time u spend on this on the 2nd day? Because I am planning to go Alpaca world, Nami Island, Petite France and Gangchon Rail Bike, hopefully to be done in a day. Any suggestions? Thank you!!

    • Hi, we spent about 1.5 hours for the Gangchon rail bike activity. It does seem tight to cover all four locations in a day, especially if you’re going to rely on public transport within Gapyeong. We’ll recommend to choose three of the four spots, or consider hiring a private hire to cut down on travelling time. Enjoy your trip! πŸ™‚

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