Day trip from Seoul to scenic Nami Island

Korea is, deservedly, one of the world’s current “it” destinations, yet a huge chunk of its visitors still get no further than Seoul – which, though a truly spellbinding city, is a teeming megalopolis of 26 million people (plus, of course, the aforementioned visitors). For those who want to escape the urban sprawl and get a sense of the undulating, pine-lined terrain that covers 75% of the country, Nami Island is a great choice – a small, half-moon-shaped island located near Chuncheon in Gangwon province. 

Set in tranquil waters that eventually become the Hangang, the river that passes through Seoul, this scenic island is filled with lush forests, scenic walking trails and stunning gardens, all of which conspire to attract visitors from all over the world – there’s loads to do on the island, plus all sorts of attractions in the surrounding area, including the world’s first alpaca theme park, a cute “French village”, and a large Legoland theme park. 

Hunting down the source of the K-drama wave

Korean drama is now massively popular across the globe, but few know that the first ripples of this immense international wave arguably started right here on little Nami Island. Back in 2002, a series called Winter Sonata premiered; a love story between two diametrically-opposed characters, who shared their first kiss on Nami Island, male lead Bae Yong-jun got hearts racing all across Asia, and in the process became a continental superstar. 

Nowhere was he more successful than in Japan, where he remains revered as “Yon-sama”, a title roughly equivalent to an English knighthood; even today, you can still buy his face on posters, cups, plates, masks – and even socks, for those who want to wear their heroes on their feet, for whatever reason. 

All of a sudden, the default Asian male role model morphed from martial arts hero to the strong-but-sensitive type, and the world sat up to pay attention. So, to all those fans of Squid Game, Vincenzo or Crash Landing on You – you kind of have Nami Island to thank.

An autumnal sonata: bank on the “bank trees”

That Winter Sonata kiss, now immortalised in statue form, took place during (you guessed it) the winter, while building a couple of snowmen. However, the island is filled with lush forests, scenic walking trails, and stunning gardens, plus lines of chestnut trees, maples and white birches that change the colours of their leaves depending on the season. 

The tall, straight ginkgo trees are particularly photogenic – known as eunhaeng-namu or “bank trees” in Korean (“ginko” also means bank in Japanese, and is the source of the English word), they’re so named because of the rich, golden glow that they assume in autumn. 

It’s a good idea to plan your visit from September to November, when the trees are at their most ravishing. If that’s not a good time of year for you, think about spring instead, when the cherry blossom is out in full force.

Island sights and activities

Nami Island isn’t just trees, paths and kissing couples (it’s not just the statue), for there’s plenty to see and do during your visit to an island that sometimes likes to style itself the “Naminara Republic”, having declared “cultural independence” from the rest of the country. Here are a few highlights:

• Arrive on the island by zip-wire, for an even better view of the majestic surrounding mountains
• Take the Tree Coaster, a route allowing you to climb from tree to tree
• Enjoy a delectable Korean barbecue meal at Seomhyanggi restaurant (where veggie-friendly dishes such as buckwheat noodles or kimchi pancakes are also available)
• Sample Korean teas, such as ginseng, green tea or jujube infusions, at Chadam Tea House
• Stay at the charming Hotel Jeonggwanru, to enjoy the island after everyone else has gone (or simply use the pool while everyone else is on the island)
• And, if you’re here at the right time of year, you can enjoy the Nami Island International Childrens’ Book Festival

Getting to Nami Island

It’s quite possible to get to Nami Island by public transport from Seoul, though the process can be a little cumbersome for somewhere so popular – you’ll need to take one of the half-hourly trains from Yongsan station to Gapyeong, then a taxi, and finally a ferry to the island (though the adventurous can also zoom in on a zip-wire!). 

Many find it easier to go as part of a tour, which makes things a little more seamless; Klook has better pricing for tours to Nami Island than all of the other major online ticketing agencies, including the most affordable ticket and transport options, plus the highest ratings and volume of reviews.

Beyond the island: Petit Prince, railbikes, Lego and alpacas

In the area beyond Nami Island, there are even more sights to enjoy – following the river up to Chuncheon city, and delving beyond into the Gangwon countryside.

• Petite France: a nearby French-inspired village with traditional buildings, marionette shows and a Little Prince Gallery, plus (of course) a miniature Eiffel Tower
• Railbiking: one of Gangwon province’s most enjoyable activities, allowing you to pedal little buggies along an actual former railway line, past actual former railway stations
• Legoland: opened in 2022, this is the world’s first (and, so far, only) Legoland located on an island, set just across the lake from the city of Chuncheon
• Alpaca World: a large, leafy park offering encounters with everyone’s favourite Andean camelids, plus coatis, macaws and other guests from South America

All of these sights are accessible by public transport, but if you’d like to keep things within one day-trip from Seoul, it’s best to join a tour; handy options include a private day-tour to Nami Island plus Alpaca World, the same tour plus Petite France and railbiking or, for a really fun-packed day, you can even add on a visit to Legoland.