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Gapyeong: Things to Do Around Nami Island
The top things to do around Nami Island in Gapyeong are Nami Island itself, the Garden of Morning Calm, the Gapyeong Rail Bike, Petite France and Jarasum Island. Gapyeong sits about an hour from Seoul by public transport, so all of them fit one day trip.
Quick answer Top Gapyeong sights, costs and access at a glance
Regular ferry admission to Nami Island is KRW 19,000 per adult including the return ferry, and the Garden of Morning Calm charges KRW 11,000 for adults. Gapyeong is about an hour from Seoul by public transport, and the county runs a tourist shuttle bus between the main stops.
Key takeaways
- Ferry times and tickets: nami island ferry
- Getting there from the capital: how to get to nami island from seoul
- Budget the whole day: how much does nami island cost
- Or let a driver do it: nami island day trip
What is Gapyeong famous for?
Gapyeong is famous for river and mountain scenery around Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm and rail bikes, plus quirky theme villages and K-drama filming locations.
Gapyeong County sits in Gyeonggi Province, covering 843.6 km2 with a population of 62,448. Rivers, pine-covered hills and small theme villages make it Seoul's easy nature fix, and it is one of Korea's most used K-drama filming locations. The Gapyeong rail bike starts in town, next to the 5-Day Market.
Jara Island, the riverside park next to Gapyeong town.
The headline sights
Tripadvisor ranks The Garden of Morning Calm (4.5), Gapyeong Rail Park (4.3) and Petite France (3.4) as the county's top attractions. Nami island, the most visited name in the area, draws nearly 2 million people a year.
The county also hosts the annual National Makgeolli Festival, held since 2011, and its lakes and mountains fill a calendar of seasonal outdoor festivals.
| Place | What it is | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Nami Island | Resort island with tree-lined lanes and 27 gardens | Half a day |
| Garden of Morning Calm | Twenty themed gardens | 2 to 3 hours |
| Gapyeong Rail Bike | 8 km rail track ride across the Bukhangang River | 2 hours |
| Petite France | French theme village with music box concerts | 1 to 2 hours |
| Jarasum Island | Three river islands for camping, festivals and walks | 2 hours or a full day |
Map of Gapyeong and Nami Island
Gapyeong Station, the town and Jara Island sit within a few kilometres of the Nami Island ferry. Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm lie to the southwest, Eobi Valley further south.
- 1 Gapyeong StationAbout 1.5 km from the wharf: 20 minutes on foot, 5 by bus 10-4 or taxi.
- 2 Gapyeong WharfFerries to Nami Island run 08:00 to 21:00, about 5 minutes across. Buy the island ticket here.
- 3 Nami IslandEvery tour on this site stops here.
- 4 Jara Island (Jaraseom)Open 24 hours, free. Home of the Jarasum International Jazz Festival in October.
- 5 Gapyeong Rail Bike station14 Jangteo-gil, next to the Gapyeong 5-Day Market. Six departures a day, the last at 18:00.
- 6 Petite France and Italian VillageTwo theme villages side by side above Cheongpyeong Lake.
- 7 Garden of Morning CalmGardens in the hills west of Nami, lit up in the evening during the Lighting Festival.
- 8 Eobi ValleyFrozen waterfalls in midwinter, the winter stop on the seasonal tour.
- 9 Cheongpyeong StationLake stays near Petite France.
Numbers match the pins on the map.
Coordinates: OpenStreetMap. Straight lines join places, they are not the road.
How do I get from Seoul to Gapyeong?
Take the ITX-Cheongchun from Yongsan or Cheongnyangni, the Gyeongchun Line subway from Sangbong, or a direct shuttle bus to Nami Island.
Trains are the simplest option and a paid shuttle bus connects Seoul with Nami Island directly.
By train
From Yongsan, the ITX-Cheongchun to Gapyeong Station takes about 60 minutes. From Cheongnyangni it takes about 42 minutes. The slower Gyeongchun Line from Sangbong takes about 50 minutes.
| Train | From | Time to Gapyeong Station |
|---|---|---|
| ITX-Cheongchun | Yongsan | about 60 minutes |
| ITX-Cheongchun | Cheongnyangni | about 42 minutes |
| Gyeongchun Line | Sangbong | about 50 minutes |
By direct shuttle
A daily Seoul to Nami direct shuttle run by Ktourstory leaves Hongik Univ Station Exit 4 at 09:00, Namsan Yejang in Myeongdong at 09:40 and DDP Station Exit 9 at 09:50, reaching Nami at 11:30. It returns from Nami at 16:30 and drops off at DDP, Namsan Yejang and Hongik Univ. The service is round trip only and pets are not allowed.
Our round-trip shuttle bus from Seoul covers the same route.
By car
Korea Tourism Organization describes Gapyeong as a 90-minute drive from Seoul Station. At Gapyeong Wharf, parking costs KRW 6,000 for a small vehicle and KRW 10,000 for a large one for the first 12 hours, then KRW 1,000 per extra hour, card payment only. Kakao T app pre-registered parking costs KRW 5,500 small and KRW 6,000 large.
Source: Nami Island.
Is Gapyeong part of Seoul?
No, Gapyeong is a county in Gyeonggi Province, not part of Seoul, but it is only about an hour away by public transport.
That short travel time is why so many Seoul visitors come for the day.
Cheongpyeong Lake in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, in August. Photo: Choi2451, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How long is it from Seoul to Gapyeong?
By public transport it is about an hour, with the fastest ITX-Cheongchun from Cheongnyangni taking about 42 minutes. By car, count on about 90 minutes from Seoul Station. Nami Island itself belongs to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, but the ferry leaves from Gapyeong Wharf, so the island is part of every Gapyeong itinerary.
Source: Nami Island.
How do I get to Nami Island from Gapyeong station?
Gapyeong Station to the wharf is about 1.5 km, about 20 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by the No.
Nami Island is the main reason most travellers come to Gapyeong, and the connection from the station is easy.
From the station to the boat
The ferry entry wharf is at 1024 Bukhangangbyeon-ro, Gapyeong-eup. Use that Gapyeong address in your navigation, because a Chuncheon search sends you to a wrong road, as there is no land route to the island.
| Mode | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | about 20 minutes | 1.5 km |
| No. 10-4 bus | about 5 minutes | also taxi |
Tickets and times
Regular admission with the round-trip regular ferry is KRW 19,000 per adult, KRW 16,000 discount (middle and high school students, severely disabled card holders, national merit holders, ages 70+) and KRW 13,000 for children aged 36 months to elementary school, per the island's own ticket page. Children under 36 months enter free. Ferries run from 08:00 to 21:00 and the crossing takes about 5 minutes.
The island is open 365 days a year, and an icebreaker keeps ferries running when the river freezes.
On the island
Korea's largest private garden since 2024, the island holds 27 gardens and named lanes including Metasequoia Lane, the Central Korean Pine Tree Lane, a ginkgo lane about 100 m long and a tulip tree lane of about 300 m. Bikes from the central Bike Center cost from KRW 3,000 for a Sky Bike to KRW 18,000 per 30 minutes for a family bike, and riding round the island takes about one hour. The 2001 drama Winter Sonata was shot here.
See our full nami island guide for more.
Sources: Nami Island, Nami Island, Nami Island.
Is the Gapyeong rail bike worth it?
Yes, if you like easy outdoor fun: it is an 8 km electric rail bike ride from Gapyeong Station across the Bukhangang River and back, rated 4.3 on Tripadvisor.
The route passes a 30 m-high iron bridge and a zelkova tree tunnel, and the station sits next to the Gapyeong 5-Day Market and Jatgoeul Market.
A street in the centre of Gapyeong town. Photo: hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Price and access
A 2-seater costs KRW 36,000 and a 4-seater KRW 48,000, per the operator's schedule page. Get there by train to Gapyeong Station then a taxi of about 10 minutes, or walk about 10 minutes from Gapyeong Intercity Bus Terminal. Guests get 2 hours of free parking at the public lot.
Discounts are 20% for Chuncheon and Gapyeong residents and disabled visitors, and 10% for groups of 8 or more bikes outside May and October.
| Bike | Price | Route |
|---|---|---|
| 2-seater | KRW 36,000 | 8 km round trip |
| 4-seater | KRW 48,000 | 8 km round trip |
Cancellation and hours
Refunds are 100% three days before, 80% two days, 70% one day and 50% up to one hour before, with no date changes. Booking ahead is wise in foliage season, when Gapyeong is busiest.
Source: Gangchon Rail Park.
Tours That Fit
These tours cover several Gapyeong sights in one day with transport from Seoul included.
Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm Tour from Seoul, Rail Bike Optional
The classic Gapyeong day: three and a half free hours on Nami, the Garden of Morning Calm and an optional rail bike ride. Nami and garden tickets are in the price.
- Category
- Nami and the Garden of Morning Calm
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- TOURSTORY Korea
Nami Island, Petite France and Italian Village and Garden of Morning Calm Tour
Nami Island, the French and Italian theme villages at Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm in one day, with all three tickets in the price.
- Category
- Nami and Petite France
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- TOURSTORY Korea
Alpaca World, Nami Island and Rail Bike or Garden of Morning Calm Tour from Seoul
Feed alpacas at Alpaca World in the morning, then Nami Island and a choice of the rail bike or the Garden of Morning Calm. Group tours end at Hongdae.
- Category
- Nami and Alpaca World
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- S.A. Seoul
What is the Garden of Morning Calm like?
It is a garden complex with twenty themed gardens, the most popular being Hakyung Garden, and it featured in Love in the Moonlight and You're Beautiful.
Tripadvisor gives it the county's best score at 4.5, and in winter the Lighting Festival takes over.
Tickets, hours and the Lighting Festival
Adult admission is KRW 11,000, teen KRW 8,500 and child KRW 7,500, and a Garden plus Zoo package is KRW 19,500 adult, per Korea Tourism Organization. Hours are 08:30 to 19:00, and 10:00 to 21:00 in winter from December to March. The Lighting Festival runs 17:00 to 21:00, and until 23:00 on Saturdays, in the winter season.
The address is 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | KRW 11,000 |
| Teen | KRW 8,500 |
| Child | KRW 7,500 |
| Garden + Zoo, adult | KRW 19,500 |
How it fits the day
The garden sits in Sang-myeon, on the same side of the county as Petite France, so most travellers pair the two. Taxis are preferable to buses in Gapyeong because buses arrive infrequently, and the county runs shuttle buses between the sights.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization.
Is Petite France in Gapyeong worth visiting?
It is worth a short stop if you like themed villages and K-drama locations, though its Tripadvisor score of 3.4 is the lowest of the county's top three attractions.
Petite France is a French-style village on a hillside above the Bukhan River, open 09:00 to 18:00 all year with free parking and no pets allowed.
The Bukhan River beside Bukhangangbyeon-ro in Gapyeong. Photo: Phong Phat G, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What you see there
The Orgel House hosts music box concerts five times a day. The village appeared in My Love from the Star, Secret Garden and Running Man. Its official site says to get off at Gapyeong or Cheongpyeong station and board the Gapyeong Tourist Circulation Bus, and admission prices are not stated on the pages reviewed here, so buy at the gate or through a tour.
Our Nami Island Petite France tour pairs the village with the garden and the island in one day.
Source: Petite France.
What else can I do in Gapyeong?
Beyond the headline sights, Jarasum Island, Jade Garden and Homyeong Lake Park fill extra hours, mostly for free or cheap.
These quieter stops suit travellers with a second day or a slower pace.
Jarasum Island
Three main islands sit in the river by Gapyeong: Seodo for camping with a pool, Jungdo for photos and festivals, and Namdo for walks. Jara Island is open 24 hours all year and is free, with parking and restrooms. The Jaraseom Island Auto Campground rents caravans from KRW 60,000 on weekdays to KRW 120,000 on weekends for a caravan sleeping 4, check-in 15:00, per Korea Tourism Organization.
Jade Garden and Homyeong Lake Park
Jade Garden is an arboretum with 26 themed gardens and over 4,000 plant species. Homyeong Lake Park makes an easy green walk. Korea Tourism Organization groups Yongchugyegok Valley, the Muljoeun Barge water leisure, Jara Island and the Garden of Morning Calm into one Gapyeong course if you want an official route.
Alpaca World, if you have a car
Alpaca World charges KRW 18,000 admission for ages 36 months to 64, with an alpaca healing walk at KRW 15,000. It opens 10:00 to 18:00 and closes every Monday and Tuesday, per its own info page.
Source: Alpaca World.
How do I fit Nami Island and the other stops into one day?
Ride the first train, do Nami Island in the morning, the rail bike after lunch, then the Garden of Morning Calm or Petite France before the last ferry or train back.
This order works because the rail bike starts at Gapyeong Station, so you loop back to the station mid-afternoon and continue by taxi or the tourist shuttle.
The main square of Petite France in Gapyeong. Photo: 陳 中昇, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The plan, step by step
Take an ITX-Cheongchun arriving Gapyeong Station mid-morning, then the No. 10-4 bus or a taxi to the wharf. Spend two to three hours on Nami Island, allowing time for lunch. Return to the station area and ride the rail bike, about 2 hours.
Finish at the Garden of Morning Calm or Petite France, both reachable by taxi or the county shuttle, and catch an evening train back. If you prefer not to drive the timetable yourself, the Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm tour from Seoul with optional rail bike follows the same loop with transport included.
| Stop | Time needed | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Nami Island | 2 to 3 hours | No. 10-4 bus or taxi from Gapyeong Station, 5-minute ferry |
| Gapyeong Rail Bike | about 2 hours | Taxi about 10 minutes from the station |
| Garden of Morning Calm | 2 to 3 hours | Taxi or tourist shuttle |
| Petite France | 1 to 2 hours | Taxi or tourist shuttle from Cheongpyeong |
Sources: Nami Island, Petite France.
What should I eat and when should I visit?
Eat dakgalbi, spicy grilled chicken, and makguksu, buckwheat noodles, and visit in autumn or spring for the best scenery.
Gapyeong's food is simple and famous, and the county's seasons are strong ones.
Local dishes
Dakgalbi and makguksu are the two dishes to order in Gapyeong, and Chuncheon dakgalbi a short train ride north is the classic version. For festivals, Nami Island runs Friendship Blossoms Party in April, an Acoustic Festival in June, Somewhat Splash in July and August, and Winter Wonder in January and February.
Best seasons
Nami Island is especially known for its autumn scenery, which usually runs from mid-October to early December, with ginkgo at its best late October to mid-November. Cherry blossom usually blooms from mid-April to early May. Winters are cold and dry, summers hot and rainy.
Our guide on the best time to visit nami island breaks the year down month by month.
Source: Nami Island.
Gapyeong FAQ
Where can I find a Gapyeong map?
The rail park and Nami Island publish their own maps online, and an official English leaflet with the island map is posted under Download Materials on the Nami Island English site. For day-to-day navigation, use a Korean map app with the wharf address 1024 Bukhangangbyeon-ro, Gapyeong-eup.
What is the weather like in Gapyeong?
Gapyeong has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate with cold dry winters and hot rainy summers, so spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.
Is there a water park in Gapyeong?
Not stated. The closest water fun named in official material is the Somewhat Splash festival on Nami Island in July and August and the Muljoeun Barge water leisure on the river.
What is the Gapyeong City Tour Bus?
The county runs shuttle buses between the main sights, and Petite France directs visitors to board the Gapyeong Tourist Circulation Bus from Gapyeong or Cheongpyeong station. No official fare for the city tour bus is printed, so ask at the county bus terminal, phone 031-582-2308. Separately, the Story Tour Bus on Nami Island itself costs KRW 10,000 for a 20-minute loop.
Can I bring my dog to Nami Island?
Yes, leashed dogs under 20 kg may enter and listed aggressive breeds are barred, with assistance dogs always allowed. The shuttle bus from Seoul does not take pets.
Is Nami Island open all year?
Yes, it is open 365 days a year and ferries run in rain, with an icebreaker keeping the crossing open when the river freezes.
What does a Gapyeong day trip cost?
Ticket budgets start at KRW 19,000 for Nami Island with the return ferry and KRW 11,000 for the Garden of Morning Calm, while guided day tours run from $23.81 per person for the shuttle bus to $192 per person for a private tour.
More Guides
- Gapyeong Rail Bike: Course, Times and Tickets
Gapyeong rail bike in 2027: an 8 km round trip by the Bukhan River with six daily departures from 10:00. See tickets, times and Nami tips.
- When Is the Best Time to Visit Nami Island?
Plan the best time to visit Nami Island in 2027: peak foliage mid-October to early December, ferries 08:00 to 21:00, and tips to beat crowds.
- Car Rental in Seoul for a Nami Island Day Trip
Car rental Seoul in 2027: IDP rules for foreigners, rental companies, the drive to Gapyeong Wharf and ferry parking. Plan your Nami day.