Nami Island Petite France: One Day from Seoul

Stop by Stop

You meet the bus at your chosen Seoul point: Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Exit 10 by 08:05, Namsan Yejang parking lot near Myeongdong by 07:55, or Hongik University Exit 4 before 07:15. The day then runs Nami Island first, then Petite France and the Italian Village next door, then the Garden of Morning Calm, before the bus returns to central Seoul in the evening. In winter the tour departs later so the garden visit lands after dark for the light festival.

Time at each site is not stated in the listing.

In the Price

Transport runs in an air-conditioned coach or minivan from central Seoul and back. English or Chinese speaking staff brief the group at each stop. The three tickets are the big saving: Nami Island admission is KRW 19,000 (about $14.19) with the regular ferry, and the Garden of Morning Calm charges KRW 11,000 (about $8.22) for adults, so buying them separately adds up.

Petite France and Italian Village admission is included on this listing, so you walk in without buying anything at the gate.

• Nami Island ticket with round-trip regular ferry
• Petite France and Italian Village ticket
• Garden of Morning Calm ticket
• Air-conditioned coach or minivan from Seoul
• English or Chinese speaking staff

Not in the Price

Lunch is not included, so budget for food on Nami Island or at one of the stops. The zip wire is not used on tour days, and it can only be ridden to enter the island anyway. Traveler's insurance and personal expenses are excluded.

On Nami you pay for extras yourself: bike rental from KRW 5,000 (about $3.74) per 30 minutes, the Charity Train at KRW 4,000 (about $2.99) and the Story Tour Bus at KRW 10,000 (about $7.47). No rail bike is included on this tour.

If You Only Want Nami Island

Three stops in one day means shorter time at each. If you want a long stretch on the island itself, the Nami Island Day Tour from Seoul gives about four hours on Nami with the ticket and transport covered.

The Ferry

The regular ferry from Gapyeong Wharf takes about 5 minutes after boarding, and from 09:00 to 18:00 it runs every 10 to 20 minutes. The tour ticket includes the round trip, so you just board with the group. Ferries run in rain and an icebreaker keeps them going when the river freezes, and the island opens 365 days a year.

Your Free Time on the Island

The listing gives you the island at your own pace. Walk Metasequoia Lane, the tree avenue whose trees were transplanted from Seoul National University's nursery in 1977, and find the Winter Sonata filming spots. Cycling round the island takes about one hour, and the Bike Center opens 09:00 to 18:00.

If you want a full day on the island instead of a shared itinerary, start from our guide to a Nami Island tour from Seoul and the things to do on the island.

Seasons

Cherry blossom usually blooms from mid-April to early May, and autumn colour runs from mid-October to early December, with ginkgo best late October to mid-November. These weeks draw the biggest crowds, so expect ferry queues and weekend traffic and pick a weekday if you can. In winter the garden visit falls after dark for the light festival, and from 20 December to 11 March the tour may add Eobi Ice Valley.

What to Bring and the Rules

Wear comfortable shoes, the island and the garden are walking sites. Bring cash or a card for on-site extras like bike rental and lunch, and warm layers in winter when the river wind is sharp. The rules: you cannot bring your own bicycle, e-bike or scooter on the ferry, drones are banned and tents are not allowed, though mats are.

Petite France is open 09:00 to 18:00 with free parking and no pets.