One-day tour from Seoul
Both attractions, Nami Island and Petit France, are almost mandatory programs for tourists who want to spend one day outside Seoul. Nearly all local travel agencies offer organised trips to both places, so many offers exist. Sometimes the trip proposals include a visit to the Garden of the Morning Calm, but the trip we participated in did not have this place in the program.
Even though both attractions can be reached from Seoul by public transport, we went there with the local travel agency Klook Nami Island Tour*. The main reason for choosing an office offer was the commuting time and the distance between the two attractions. The organised trip offers integrated transport, a guide, and entry tickets. So instead of worrying about where to get in, where to get off, where to go and where to buy tickets, we could concentrate on resting and taking pictures. In a word, such an organised tour is a pure pleasure. It gives you time to relax and the possibility of a pleasant way to spend the time.
The offer we chose included exploring the Island of Nami and visiting the town of Petit France, but an additional “bonus” during this trip was a ride on the “Gangchon rail bike.”
Contrary to our earlier expectations that during the trip we would see mainly foreigners, it turned out that Koreans themselves love all these places and often come to them to relax with their families. Thanks to the time spent with “local” tourists, I had the opportunity to get to know them better. It’s the most valuable experience I’ve brought from South Korea.
Nami Island
Nami Island is 63 kilometres from Seoul in Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province. There are two ways to reach the island: traditional or more modern.
The traditional method is a ferry. The average travel time to Nami Island is from 5 to 6 minutes.
The ferry departs from the island every day between 7.30 a.m. and 9.40 p.m. During peak hours (between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.), it runs every 10-20 minutes, and during other hours, every 30 minutes.
The modern method is flying at a height of 80 m, with the “Nami Skyline ZipWire Zip Rider” one of Asia’s most extensive zipline facilities.
Although the ride is quite expensive (KRW 40,000 / about 35$), you must stand in a long queue to get there as it is a popular attraction. The ride takes only 4 minutes and the route is 940 meters long. You should book a ticket in advance via the website, which will allow you to skip the long queue. More about this offer can be read on ziprider.com
General Nami
Nami Island has an area of 460,000 m2 and a coastline of 5 km. Although there are no mountains on the island, there are “trees so tall that they touch the sky.” Walking between the forest paths, you can meet hares, ostriches, squirrels, ducks, and numerous species of birds.
The island’s name is Nami in honour of General Nami, a national hero who made a name for himself in Korean history. Unfortunately, he died on the battlefield at the age of 26. His grave is on the island.
In 1944, due to the construction of the Cheongpyeong dam, an artificial island was established on the river. In 1965, thousands of trees were planted on it, so today you can feel there, as if you were in the middle of the forest.
It is believed that the magic of this place lies in the fact that people, animals and nature meet here to create harmony and peace away from the noise of the big city and civilisation.
It is also a favourite place for Koreans. They often come here for family picnics or numerous festivals, performances, or exhibitions. The popular Korean soap opera Winter Sonata was also filmed on the island. In this case, fans of this film constitute a large group of visitors.
Attractions on Nami Island
The official name of the island of Nami is “Republic of Naminara“.
This name was given to her after the local authorities declared her cultural independence from the Republic of Korea through her diplomatic and cultural policy. The Naminara Republic celebrates the imagination, and numerous fairy tales, songs, and poems for children are created here.
The island has many attractions that attract tourists throughout the year. In truth, however, visiting this place is an exciting experience. In my opinion, the most valuable thing here is nature, and this makes this place so attractive. But what else can you do here?
Nature and recreation
On the island, there are forest avenues overgrown with interesting trees. There is an avenue of cherry, larch, pine and rare species such as metasequoia.
Also, there are numerous small themed gardens and several small ponds.
Throughout the park, there are many works of art by local and international artists. Here, you can find romantic sculptures of couples in love, sculptures of gnomes, trees with human faces, a gallery of goblins, and numerous forest “sprites.”
For the youngest, the Water Garden Swimming Pool is a real attraction.
In 2010, Nami Island was recognised as a UNICEF child-friendly park.
It was the first park in Korea and only the 14th park in the world to receive such a marking. Nami was chosen because of UNICEF’s ongoing financial support and cultural activities for children, such as the Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival (Nambook).
The Human Rights Forum of People with Disabilities in South Korea also awarded the island of Nami. It was rewarded for its ease of access.
Happy Garden Sculpture Gallery – by Yu Quingcheng
Nami Island has a special art gallery named “Happy Garden Sculpture Gallery”. The gallery presents clay sculptures made by a popular artist from China, Yu Qing Cheng. However, these are not ordinary sculptures; they are a tribute to mothers, their children, and family life. In China, the author received the title of “Pioneer of folk art“. UNESCO gave him the title: “Master of folk art“. The author himself says: “sexuality is the essential need of man”, therefore the characters depicted by him are naked with clearly oversized sexual attributes.
However, sculptures are presented very positively: they show a happy family life, playing with children, the joy of life and the warmth of the family home.
On Nami Island, in addition to the gallery itself, there are many sculptures by this author scattered throughout the place. Watching them makes everyone smile and feel good.
How to commute on Nami Island
Various transport options are available on-site. Although there are no cars, the offer is very wide. The rental point is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Bicycle. Renting for 30 minutes costs 4000 WON (approx. 3,5$)
- Three-wheel electric scooter. 30 min. costs 12,000 WON (about 10$)
- “Sky-bike” – a railbike for 2-4 people moving on rails, in some places suspended high above the heads of passers-by. The cost of the trip is 3000 WON (about 2,5$)
- “UNICEF Charity Train,” or a journey on a coloured electric train with wagons. A one-way trip costs 3000 WON (about 2,5$) and the journey time is about 15 minutes.
- You can also rent a speedboat and sail around the island. Cost for five people – 40000 WON (about 35 USD)
For the children, you can rent a stroller for 3000 WON (about 2.5 USD per day). You can also borrow a wheelchair free of charge.
The island can also be visited on foot. We’ll have 2 hours to see it all at a slow pace. On the spot, you can get a map of the whole area, which helps you plan your route or choose only the places that interest you the most.
Map of Nami Island
Where and what to do?
On Nami Island, there are several cafes and restaurants serving Korean and Asian cuisine. There is also a restaurant specialising in spicy grilled chicken and Italian pasta. The attraction in cafes is ice cream desserts made of frozen water or frozen milk in the shape of a snowman. Also, cookies in the shape of a snowman or snowflake are served with sweet toppings and seasonal fruits.
Is it possible to stay there for longer?
On the island, you can stay longer, as several places offer accommodation. You can rent a room for 2 or 4 people at the Jeonggwanru Hotel, located in the complex’s main building. Here you can choose a room with a traditional bed or sleep on the mat on a heated floor – in traditional Korean style.
You can also rent holiday houses on-site where you can stay with your dog.
How to get by public transport?
Shuttle bus
There is a special shuttle bus that drives from Seoul directly to Nami. Buses leave on Saturdays and Sundays.
- 9.00 – bus departure from Gangnam Station Exit 1
- 9.30 – bus departure from Jamsil Station Exit 4 (in front of Lotte Mart)
- 10.40 – bus arrives at Nami station
The return from Nami is at 4.30 p.m.
- 5.40 p.m. – bus arrives at Jamsil Station
- 6.10 p.m. – bus arrival at Gangnam Station
Tickets are available online and by the Klook – Seoul – Nami Island Shuttle Bus*. The price is 21 euros (price from 2024)
Train
You can reach Nami by ITX train from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul. The travel time is approximately 40 minutes. You need to get off at Gapyeong Station, from where you need to reach the ferry harbour on foot—about 2 km (20 min).
Nami Island entry tickets
A one-time entry ticket is 13,000 WON (about 11$). For those who visit this place regularly, attractive discounts are provided. A year-round entry pass costs 45,000 WON (about 38$) and offers unlimited entrances.
Tickets are available online and are offered by the Klook – Nami Island Ticket*
More about Nami Island / Republic of Naminara, you can read directly on the website: namisum.com
Gangchon Rail Park
Railbike is a fantastic adventure. This entertainment is perfect for everyone, regardless of age. Pedalling does not require any special effort, for most of the route, the trolleys slide downhill or move using electronic assistance. Fun and travel experiences are unforgettable and fantastic.
We were on the Gimyujeong—Gangchon route, which is one-way. After approximately 45 minutes, the trolleys stop at a place where they cannot go further for safety reasons. There, a train is waiting for all passengers. After getting on the train, you reach the final station after 20 minutes.
The trolleys start every full hour, between 9.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. In the winter season (November – February), the last departure is at 4.30 p.m.
A 2-seater trolley costs 30,000 WON (about $38$), and a 4-seater wagon costs 40,000 WON (about $34$). The ticket is paid for the car, not per person.
Gangchon Rail Park Route
On the route, there are some interesting attractions and beautiful views.
Along the way, there is a real railroad crossroads. A guard guards traffic on the road. All cars must stop before the railway barrier to let the entire group of trolleys pass. It is worth mentioning that there are about 80 trolleys taking part in a single ride. That means the whole “peloton” and car waiting time at a crossroad is long.
During the journey, you drive through several tunnels, each of which offers various attractions. In one tunnel, there was total darkness, but it looked like a starry Milky Way. You could not see the rails, only a shadow of the people riding in front of you. In the background, a romantic song was playing. That experience gave us great emotions and shivers down our spines.
In another tunnel, there were colourful strobe lights, lasers, and deafening K-pop music. We all drove through this tunnel dancing and singing 😊.
In the third tunnel was a land of happy bubbles, meaning that colourful soap bubbles were flying in the air.
For those willing, it is possible to rent VIR glasses. In the last-fourth tunnel, passengers carrying special glasses see an alternate reality. With those glasses, they can see dangerous monsters that must be killed. They are earning points for each killed creature. Costs for renting VIR glasses are 5000 WON (about 4,5$ per person).
Part of the route runs along the high bank of the cliff, and a wide river meanders below.
What to watch out for when travelling
During the whole trip, you must be careful about only two things.
- First one: You should keep your distance and not hit the stroller in front of you.
- Second, hold your cap firmly because strong gusts of wind may take it away.
Along the route, there are a few information boards. They notify people about the length of the approaching tunnel or about bubbles in the tunnel that are harmless to the human body.
Or about the fact that in a moment, there will be a point where the machine will take a picture of us. Of course, such a photo can then be bought and packed in a frame with the name of the tour operator. The photo cost is 10,000 WON (about $8.5).
I give this attraction a very high rating. It is great entertainment and the perfect way to have fun and relax.
Those who want to enjoy this attraction without an organised tour can purchase tickets on Gangchon Rail Bike*.
Petit France
Petit France is a French-style theme park that opened in July 2008. This small French town is dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the famous hero of one of his fairy tales, the Little Prince.
The park has several art galleries, small museums, colourful sculpture-themed exhibitions and handicraft workshops.
Of course, there are several places where you can eat something good or drink coffee. In the middle of the town, there is a small amphitheatre, where there are exhibitions with puppets.
When we arrived at the Petit France village, there was a concert on stage 🙂
Of course, the park’s central motif is the Little Prince, so he is a character who can be found in almost any place and any form.
The whole park is very colourful, with fragrant gardens and houses painted in vibrant colours. The town is built on a small hill, so you must climb many stairs to walk around the park.
In the park, there are several designated zones for taking ” selfies.” There are also viewpoints from which one can enjoy a picturesque view of the forest, lake, and mountains.
Nevertheless, Petit France is an attraction mainly aimed at children, but I do not regret visiting this place. First, I did not expect to see a small, colourful French town because I was in Korea. This is an interesting attraction and a good moment to remember when we were children :-).
Petit France – worth KNOWING
There is also a short educational path in the town, running through the middle of the forest. Spectacular views and a very relaxing walk.
- Visiting the park is possible between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. (the last entrance at 5.00 p.m.).
- Admission ticket –10,000 WON (about 8,5$).
- Tickets are available online and are offered by the Klook – Petite France & Italian Village Ticket in Gapyeong*
Nami Island and Petit France – how to get to individual attractions
All the attractions mentioned above (Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Petit France and Gangchon Rail Park) are located in Chuncheon, close to each other.
It’s best to get to Gapyeong Station from Seoul. From Myeong-dong or Seoul Station, travel time with transfers will be around 90 minutes. Directly from the station’s exit is the Gapyeong Shuttle Bus stop, which travels between all attractions in the region. The whole-day ticket costs 6000 WON (about 5$) and can be bought directly from the driver.
The journey time from Gapyeong to Petit France station is about 30 minutes.
Worth knowing:
- Note that these buses run quite rarely (once every hour).
- However, this is convenient transport, because you can get on and off the bus several times during the day.
- One ticket can cover everything. However, it’s worth checking the exact departure time so you don’t have to wait another hour for the bus.
- If you miss the bus or don’t want to wait, you can take a taxi.
- For example, a ride from Petit France to Nami Island costs 18,000 WON (about 15$). It takes about 20 minutes to get to the spot.
Nami Island and Petit France – my overview
I think this one-day trip was interesting. We did not focus on any important monuments, religious sites or cultural heritage from the UNESCO list. There were no historic sites to visit, nothing serious to remember. Instead, this trip was full of fun, well-being and children’s joy. From time to time, each of us deserves just such a day! 🙂
SOUTH KOREA – MY OTHER POSTS
I also encourage you to read my other posts about Seoul and South Korea:
South Korea – tailor-made travel plan
TRIPS:
- Busan – the summer capital of South Korea
- Gyeongju Historic Areas
- Seoul – the most important tourist attractions
- Suwon Fortress day trip from Seoul
*Links to the offer from Klook are affiliate