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If you’re planning a day trip from Seoul, Nami Island and its surrounding attractions should be at the top of your list. While nearby highlights such as the Garden of Morning Calm and Petite France are well worth a visit, it’s the island’s natural beauty, famously featured in numerous K-Dramas, that makes Nami Island the centrepiece for most day-trippers

How to Get There 🚆

Nami Island is located about 40 miles east of Seoul, so you won’t be able to reach it directly by metro. Instead, several train routes can get you there. We chose to depart from Cheongnyangni Station, where you can purchase tickets to Gapyeong Station, the closest stop to Nami Island. The journey takes roughly 40 minutes, and if the train isn’t too crowded, you may be able to reserve seats. On busier trains, however, standing might be necessary. A one-way ticket costs just 5,700 Won (around £3), making it an affordable and convenient option.

When you get to Gapyeong Station, head to the front to catch a taxi. The station’s pretty small, so it’s hard to get lost. Just look for the big, colourful ‘Gapyeong’ sign in the plaza, and you won’t have to wait long before spotting an orange taxi. Say ‘Nami Island,’ and your driver will know exactly where to go. In about 10 minutes, you’ll be by the riverside, ready for your next adventure!

Getting into Nami Island 🛂

The island itself is located in the middle of the Bukhan River, so you’ll need to make one final short trip before reaching your destination. Follow the crowd to the ‘immigration’ counter to purchase your ‘visa’ for the trip! The ticket offices are styled like border control, which is a charming touch. A return ticket for an adult costs 16,000 Won. Once you have your ticket, simply wait for the ferry and hop on!

Getting Around 🌲

The iconic half-moon-shaped island is easy to explore on foot, measuring around 4 km in total. You can comfortably see everything the island has to offer by walking, but if you’d prefer a more relaxing option, bicycles are also available for hire.

You’ll arrive at Nami Wharf on the western tip of the island, where you’ll find a few shops and rest areas before heading toward the central path. This leads to the enchanting Pine Tree Lane, where rows of lanterns stretch across towering pine trees, one of the most picturesque scenes you’ve likely seen on social media.

After spending a good half hour snapping photos, we decided to press on. By this stage we were getting hungry, and luckily the center of the island is filled with restaurants, cafés, and gift shops—perfect for a lunch stop.

Our next destination was Metasequoia Lane, made famous by the K-Drama Winter Sonata. There’s even a statue commemorating the show. The path itself is lined with towering redwood Metasequoia trees, creating a dramatic yet romantic setting—it’s easy to see why it became such an iconic filming location.

We followed the path down to the southern coast of the island before continuing along to the far eastern tip of the ‘half moon,’ where we reached Changgyeongwon Platform. From there, the panoramic views of the river and valleys on either side were absolutely stunning, well worth the walk to the far side.

There are lots of other sights to enjoy on the island—from filming locations you might recognize to the peaceful, maple-lined avenue—but we were running out of time to catch our train back from Gapyeong. On the way to the eastern wharf, we took a different path and soaked in the pond life, wildlife, and quirky decorations scattered around

Final Say 🍁

Nami Island was absolutely worth the trip. Seoul has its green spots, but there’s something special about escaping the city and being surrounded by this kind of natural beauty. With the easy train connections and short taxi ride, it’s a super simple day trip—and one that leaves you with memories you’ll carry long after you’re back in the city. Honestly, you’d regret skipping it!”

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