It’s a place so famous that almost everyone knows about it: Nami Island.
I seem to visit every 2 to 3 years or so. Admission isn't particularly cheap, and there isn't such a vast array of activities to go very frequently, but whenever I do go for a day trip, I always feel like I had a really great day out. Visiting after a while was so satisfying—there were new things to see and the facilities had improved even further.
Three years ago, we stayed overnight on Nami Island. This time, the kids wanted to stay overnight again, but since we suddenly changed our plans to go to Nami Island while on our way to Samcheok, we ended up doing a day trip instead. If you want to stay overnight inside Nami Island, reservations are a must. It still seems to be very popular!
How to Get to Nami Island
1. By Car
Just set your GPS to "Nami Island" and you're good to go! :) We usually grab a meal at a Dak-galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant near the Nami Island ferry wharf and leave our car in their parking lot before heading to the island. There are many Dak-galbi restaurants around the area, and several of them allow you to park for the entire day if you dine with them. Alternatively, you can use the paid parking lots at the wharf.
2. By Public Transportation
You can take the ITX train from Cheongnyangni Station, get off at Gapyeong Station, and take bus 10-4 to reach the Nami Island ferry wharf. You can also take the ITX from Yongsan Station. The train ride takes about an hour, and the bus takes around 10 minutes, making it very accessible from Seoul.
From Cheongnyangni Station to Nami Island, it takes less than an hour, and the transit fare comes out to around 7,350 KRW.
I've noticed this for a few years now, but there are truly a lot of international tourists visiting Nami Island. This time, it felt like the crowd was split almost 50/50 between Koreans and foreign visitors. Some came in group tour buses while others came individually, and you could really tell how diverse their nationalities have become.
Nami Island Admission Fee
Since you need to take a ferry to enter Nami Island, the admission fee is basically the ferry fare.
- Adults: 19,000 KRW
- Youth (Middle & High School Students): 16,000 KRW
- Children (36 months to Elementary School): 13,000 KRW
- ※ The admission fee includes the round-trip ferry ticket.
You can also enter the island via a zip wire, which costs 55,000 KRW. (Naturally, you take the ferry on your way out.)
There are two zip-wire courses. However, for the direct course into Nami Island, individuals below a certain weight limit aren't allowed. My kids wanted to zip-line in, but my second child weighed 38 kg, which was below the minimum weight requirement for the direct route. To use the zip wire, they would have had to go to Jara Island first and take a boat from there to Nami Island, so we all decided to just take the ferry together.
The ferry ride is very short—about 5 minutes?—so you don't need to worry about motion sickness at all.
The very first ones to greet us were the rabbits! Nami Island is still full of rabbits, squirrels and peacocks. You'll see them very often while strolling around :)
Nami Island is just amazing on a sunny day. It's a place I highly recommend if you have young children. It’s an ideal spot to let them run around freely. Bring a small ball with you!
If you bring a few pieces of carrots, the rabbits eat them right up. The rabbits aren't scared of people and don't run away.
I couldn't take any photos, but my kids rented bicycles and had a blast. So many people were riding bikes there!
There are single-rider, tandem (2-person), and family bikes available to rent starting from a 1-hour minimum. While the kids were riding around exploring the island, my husband and I enjoyed some free time in the shade.
When the sun started to set, Nami Island finally turned quiet and peaceful.
After having fun until late, we headed back.
While Nami Island is a great spot for couples to take a romantic stroll, it’s also fantastic for families with young children thanks to its library, playgrounds, and expansive natural environment.
We're planning to visit again this fall or next year. I highly recommend Nami Island for a fulfilling day trip near Seoul!
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