Nami Island: a beautiful day trip from Seoul

Nami Island is beautiful to visit in any season. It’s a popular spot for those who like to be out in Nature, and taking a boat ride, or cycling around the Island is something so tranquil that it cannot be experienced in a large city such as Seoul.

If you enjoy fairytale villages, quirky architecture, and the famous French children’s book “The Little Prince” Then Petite France may be your top choice. If you’re looking for a stunning nature attraction that combines both traditional features and a light-up night-time experience, then the Garden of Morning Calm is for you, finally, if you’re an animal lover, then a trip to Alpaca World should be just the thing to add to your list.

As it is a long way from Seoul, a visit to Nami Island can become quite the trek, so in order to ensure that it’s worthwhile, combining stops at multiple of these gorgeous locations near the Island is the best way of ensuring your day here is everything you hoped it would be.

If you don’t have your own transport, consider taking an organized day trip with a reputable tour company. If you do choose to travel independently, it may be a good idea to stay in the area overnight.

Depending on which tour you choose to take, or which locations you choose to visit, here’s what you can expect to experience during your day trip to Nami Island.

Nami Island

You can’t plan a Nami Island day trip without, of course, visiting the beautiful Nami Island. Depending on which tour you choose, this will either be the first or second stop of the trip, and it will take around 2 hours to get here from Seoul.

If you’re planning the trip yourself, it’s important to note that admission to the Island also includes a round-trip ferry ride. That said, a ferry isn’t the only way to get there, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even zipline in!

Once you’ve arrived, there’s plenty to do on the island, and whether you’re looking to enjoy a long stroll, or rent a bike is totally up to you.

 K-drama fans can enjoy seeing the statues of characters from the iconic drama Winter Sonata, and nature lovers can enjoy smelling the fresh flowers (this is best during the spring and summer time) and spotting the animals. Nami Island is home to a few Ostritch, and various wild animals such as birds, squirrels, and rabbits.

If you get hungry, be sure to stop by the Nami Island Sonata cafe, where you can enjoy a traditional Korean ‘hotteok’ - a pancake-like snack filled with red bean.

Nami Island also has some great souvenirs. Having declared ‘cultural independence’ in 2006, this pretend country boasts its own currency, stamp, and telephone card. These are available at the tourism bureau and tourist information centre.

Petite France

Another spot that may be on your day trip itinerary is Petite France. This European themed park is, at first glance, a little ‘touristy’ but it’s rich in European history, thanks to its collection of vintage European artifacts and historical European-inspired performances from locals. With a backdrop of colourful buildings and picture-perfect scenery, it’s a stunning spot to visit for snap-happy individuals looking to discover somewhere new.

If you’re a K-drama fan, then you may recognise this quaint little village as the filming location for many famous Korean drama series, including Secret Garden and My Love from the Star.

This French cultural village boasts a wealth of vintage European items, including furniture, antiques, dolls and puppets that date back hundreds of years, and stunning musical instruments such as grand organs. Not only does a trip to Petit France feel like you’ve travelled to another country, but it also feels like you’ve been transported to another time in history.

It’s not only the gorgeous historical artefacts and quiet atmosphere which you can enjoy here. If you visit at the right time of day, then you can also enjoy a range of performances, all for free. These include a French hand puppet show, a Marionette Czech string puppet show, a demonstration of the Organ being played, as well as accordion performances from a street musician.

If you have a little extra time here, there’s even a butterfly garden to enjoy!

The Garden of Morning Calm

Nature lovers and those who enjoy strolling around in nature will simply adore the Garden of Morning Calm. Whether you’re visiting to take pictures, admire the flowers, or simply enjoy exploring these stunning themed gardens, there’s something everyone can enjoy at the oldest private garden in the country.

Contrary to its name, the Garden of Morning Calm isn’t just one garden. Instead, the garden grounds comprise 26 uniquely themed gardens, including notable attractions such as the Pond Garden and the Sunken Garden.

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, there’s always something new to see and do here. With seasonal exhibits and a range of diverse flora and fauna that keep the gardens in bloom through spring and summer, and the winter snow giving the landscape a ‘Winter Wonderland’ feel, the beauty of this garden is never-ending.

Those who love K-dramas and popular Korean variety shows also have plenty to see here, as these gardens have been used as the filming location for a variety of shows, including ‘Love in the Moonlight’ and ‘You’re Beautiful’.

The Garden of Morning Calm is a gorgeous spot to visit at sunset. This way, you can admire the flowers that grow here whilst there is still some daylight, and after the sun sets, take another walk around to enjoy the stunning light-up features of the gardens.

Alpaca World

Animal lovers will truly adore this destination. With a variety of petting opportunities and performances by a range of different animals all throughout the day, this is the only Alpaca theme park in the world.

Not only can you see a huge number of Alpacas here (so many that it’s referred to as the Andes of Korea), but also a range of other animals too! See the adorable coati climb, witness a spectacular parrot show, watch hawk hunting, spot a flight of doves, see eagles being fed, pet the guinea-pigs and watch them escape the maze, and many more!

If you’re planning on taking an organised day trip to Nami Island it’s important to be aware that different tour operators can include one or two of the other destinations from the above list. Be sure to check which are included before booking to avoid disappointment. 

Tours can be booked with a range of reputable and foreigner-friendly tour companies if you do not speak Korean. Most tours are on the larger side, with up to 20-40 people on the tour, however, there are small group and private tours available too.

If you’re planning on visiting independently, either via public transport or by renting a car, it’s a good idea to stay overnight and split the activities between two days. It's a good idea to book your entry tickets to the different places you plan to visit in advance. Trazy is a great website for finding foreigner-exclusive discounts for entry to a range of different attractions.

Nami Island is stunning all year-round. With picturesque winters, floral springtimes, beautiful summers, and scenic autumns, it’s difficult to say when is best to visit.

That said, planning for a trip during the late springtime or early summer will ensure the flowers will all be in bloom on Nami Island and at the Garden of Morning Calm. The good weather is also a huge bonus when walking around outdoors all day.

If you're looking at staying on the island itself, there is one hotel there: Hotel Jeonggwanru. The hotel can be booked directly with Nami Island from three months in advance of your travel date. For most travellers, however, it's more convenient to stay in a nearby campsite or in Chuncheon city center (this is the best option if you don’t speak any Korean or don’t plan on driving).

You can use this opportunity to also check out some of the sites located in the city centre, get out and about in the Korean countryside, or experience one of the popular nearby rail parks.

Some good hotels in Chuncheon are:

• Hotel Gongjicheon (parking available and near Legoland)

• Number25 Hotel Namchuncheon

• Browndot Hotel Namchuncheon