How To Go To Nami Island From Seoul – Updated 2020
This article will show you exactly how to go to Nami Island from Seoul. There are five methods: ITX, Subway, Shuttle Bus Package, Shuttle Bus, and Private Car. I took the ITX train (method 1) and it worked very well for me. The cheapest way is to take the subway (method 2). However, if you prefer convenience you can check out this Nami Island shuttle bus package (method 3) which will bring you direct to Nami Island and back to Seoul fuss-free. The shuttle bus transfer (method 4) and private car charter (method 5) are also convenient ways that are relatively affordable. You can find more details below. This article was last updated on 18 April 2020.
Table of Contents
Method 1. By ITX
Method 2. By Subway
Method 3. By Shuttle Bus Package
Method 4. By Shuttle Bus
Method 5. By Private Car
Method 1. How To Go To Nami Island By ITX
The ITX train is a high-speed train in Seoul. Personally, I find that taking the ITX is the best way for getting to Nami Island because it is fast and affordable. The train ride takes about 60 minutes. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to take the ITX.
Step 1: Buy the ITX Tickets Online
A. Go to the KORAIL booking page
Travel Category: Normal Type
Travel Type: Direct
Departure Time: Fill in your departure date. Set “Hour” at 0 so that you can get the full list of times.
Departure / Arrival: Yongsan /Gapyeong
Train: ITX-Cheongchun
Passengers: Fill in accordingly
Please note that if you have already purchased the KORAIL Pass, you do NOT need to buy separate ITX tickets to Gapyeong. You can just visit the Korail website and reserve your tickets under the “My Reservation” tab.
B. Click on the “Inquiry” button and Select your Tickets
After clicking the “Inquiry” button, I was shown the train schedule between Yongsan and Gapyeong. We chose the early timing of 8am as we wanted to avoid the crowds. This turned out to be a correct decision because when we reached Nami Island, it was still relatively tourist-free and we could take many beautiful pictures. However, about an hour after we arrived, other tourists started coming in.
Please also take note that other than Yongsan, you can also choose Cheongnyangni as your “From” station. This station is nearer to Gapyeong and the ITX journey will be about 15 minutes faster than if you depart from Yongsan. The choice between Yongsan and Cheongnyangni depends on where you are staying. Our hotel was nearer Yongsan Station which was why we chose that station.
C. Fill in your Particulars*
*Do not forget the password because you will need it to reissue or cancel your booking. If you are travelling as a group of two or more, you only need to fill in the particulars of ONE passenger.
D. Fill in Payment Details
Each adult ticket costs KRW 5,900 for a ONE-WAY trip. Please remember to book your return tickets too!
Note that kids (4 to 12) fare cost around half of adult fare. Children under 4 ride free of charge, but they must have a guardian accompanying them. One guardian is allowed to accompany only one child, and the guardian must be over 13 years old.
E. Save AND Print out the Confirmation
You will see the above screen after you make payment successfully
Adult Ticket
Child Ticket
After you see the confirmation screen, click on the “Print” button and print out the physical tickets.
Then, save the tickets as PDF (or screenshot) and save them in your phone too.
You will need to let the ticket conductor scan the QR code on your ticket if they request for it. It should be fine to just show the copy on your phone. However, I think it’s safer to print out the tickets, in case technology fails you, or if your battery goes flat.
Take note of your car and seat number (eg “6 / 4A”), and make sure you go to the correct seat on the day itself. It is not possible to select your seats.
F. Refund or Reissue of Ticket
Enter your particulars and password
Select ticket
Success!
It is very easy to cancel your ITX ticket booking. You just need to click on the REISSUE/REFUND tab and then enter your particulars and password.
You will get a full refund as long as you cancel anytime before the train departure.
If you cancel after train departure, you will need to collect your refund from the KORAIL counter in person. There will be a small refund fee (around 10%) which will be deducted from the full ticket price.
You can also request for a “Reissue”, which is to simply generate your ITX ticket again.
Step 2: Take the Metro to Yongsan Station
KORAIL counter
One the day of departure, we took the metro to Yongsan Station on Line 1.
We tapped out of the subway, and then followed the signs to the ITX KORAIL counter.
We looked at the digital signboard above the counter to find out our ITX train gate number, and then went to the ITX boarding gate (it’s very near the counter).
There was an officer at the gate who checked our tickets before letting us in. If there is no officer at the gate, you can just push the gate to go in.
Note that you can also buy your tickets on the day itself at the KORAIL counter, but it is highly advisable to buy online in advance. This is because the tickets may sell out on weekends and during peak hours.
Step 3: From Yongsan Station, Take the ITX Train to Gapyeong Station (60 minutes)
At the platform, make sure you board the correct train! This is because the normal metro runs along the same track too. We almost wrongly boarded the metro instead. The ITX train will arrive at the stipulated time, and you can look at the screen at the platform to double check that it’s the correct train.
Our ITX-Cheongchun train arrived and we boarded it to go Gapyeong Station. The trip took roughly 60 minutes inclusive of waiting time.
Step 4: From Gapyeong Station, go to Nami Island Stop (5 min). Then walk to Gapyeong Wharf (2 min)
Bus timetable for Gapyeong City Tour Bus
Option 1: Gapyeong City Tour Bus
After we reached Gapyeong Station (highlighted in yellow above), we took the “Gapyeong City Tour Bus” for one stop to the Nami Island stop. The bus stop is located just outside the station, near the Information Center. From the Nami Island stop, we walked for about two minutes to Gapyeong Wharf.
We bought the ticket directly on the bus using our T-Money Card for KRW6,000 (it is possible to use cash too). The ticket allowed us to take unlimited rides within the day. We kept the ticket and showed it every time we took the bus. It is not possible to buy the tickets online. The child (4 to 18) fare is KRW4,000.
Above is a picture of the Gapyeong City Tour Bus timetable. You can check out the latest schedule here (you will need a browser that can do English translation).
We chose to take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus because we wanted to go Petite France after visiting Nami Island, and this bus allowed us to take unlimited rides to all the Gapyeong attractions listed in the schedule above.
Option 2: Intra-City Bus
You can also take the “Intra-City Bus” for one stop to the Nami Island stop.
This option is more economical if you only want to visit Nami Island. The adult bus fare is just KRW1,300, but unlike the Gapyeong City Tour bus, you can only take it once. It runs daily from 7.40am to 8.20pm.
The bus stop is NOT the same as Gapyeong City Tour Bus. Instead, it is located across the road from Gapyeong Station (for Gapyeong Wharf, it is located in front of GS25, a Korean convenience store).
You can click here to see the schedule. It is in Korean but I have translated it and the five bus stations are: Gapyeong Bus Terminal → Gapyeong Station → Nami Island → Gapyeong Station → Gapyeong Bus Terminal.
Option 3: Taxi
Finally, you can consider taking a taxi if you are travelling in a group, since you can share the cost. The taxi fare is around KRW 5,000 from Gapyeong Station to Gapyeong Wharf. There are usually plenty of taxis waiting near Gapyeong Station.
Step 5: From Gapyeong Wharf, take the zipline or ferry to Nami Island (5 minutes).
At Gapyeong Wharf, we originally wanted to take the zipline to Nami Island. It sounded pretty fun and seemed like a good way to enjoy a different view of Nami Island from above!
The zipline costs KRW 44,000, which includes admission to Nami Island and a ferry ride back. You need to leave your bulky bags in the lockers at the reception area.
You will reach Nami Island in less than 2 minutes! To take the zipline, you need to weigh between 35kg and 120kg, and be between 140cm and 200cm tall.
However, as the weather was too cold, we decided to go for the ferry ride instead. It was a scenic five-minute ride and we enjoyed the beautiful views of Nami Island and the tranquil waters.
The ferry ticket costs KRW 8,000 for adults. It is a roundtrip ticket that also includes the admission fee to Nami Island. For children aged 4 to 13, the ticket costs KRW 4000. For children aged 3 and below, the ferry ride and admission is free. We bought our tickets from the ticket counter at Gapyeong Wharf. It is not possible to buy the the tickets online. The ferry runs daily from 7.30am to 9.40pm.
Step 6 (Going Back to Seoul): From Nami Island Stop, take Gapyeong Tour Bus back to Gapyeong Station – 5 minutes.
From Nami Island Stop, take the Gapyeong tour bus for one stop back to Gapyeong Station Terminal (3rd last stop above). The trip will take just 5 minutes.
We got to the bus stop about 20 minutes early because we wanted to ensure that we could get up the bus. Since the bus only runs once per hour, it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends and public holidays. If you are unlucky, you may even have to wait for the next bus.
Step 7 (Going Back to Seoul): From Gapyeong Station, take the ITX train to Yongsan Station – 60 minutes.
From Gapyeong Station, take the ITX-Cheongchun train back to Yongsan Station. The trip will take about an hour.
(Make sure you plan your return timing properly. I had bought ITX tickets for 8pm departure from Gapyeong Station, but finished exploring both Nami Island and Petite France by 5pm. In the end I took the subway instead from Gapyeong station back to Seoul station.)
Summary of ITX Method
Step 1: Buy the ITX Tickets Online
Step 2: Take the Metro to Yongsan Station
Step 3: From Yongsan Station, Take ITX Train to Gapyeong Station (60 minutes)
Step 4: From Gapyeong Station, Take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Nami Island Stop (5 min). Then walk to Gapyeong Wharf (2 min)
Step 5: From Gapyeong Wharf, take the zipline or ferry to Nami Island (5 minutes).
Method 2. How To Go To Nami Island By Subway
If you want to save some money, it is also possible to take the subway to Nami Island. However, it takes around 90 minutes, which is slower than the ITX by about half hour. Below is a ste-by-step guide on how to take the subway from Seoul to Nami Island.
Step 1: Take the subway to Gapyeong Station
– From Seoul Station –
Click to enlarge
- From Seoul Station, I took Line 1 for ten stops to Hoegi Station.
- From Hoegi Station, I changed to the Gyeongchun Line and took it for sixteen stops to Gapyeong Station.
The total trip took around 90 minutes, inclusive of transits and waiting times. I paid about KRW2500 using our T-Money Card.
I transferred train once. At the interchange, I had to walk a short distance to get to the other platform. I used the signages to get to the correct platform.
The subway was quite crowded and we had to stand for most of the journey.
– From Myeongdong –
Click to enlarge
- From Myeongdong Station, take Line 4 for three stops to Dongdaemun Station.
- From Dongdaemun Station, change to Line 1 and take it for five stops to Hoegi Station.
- From Hoegi Station, change to the Gyeongchun Line and take it for 16 stops to Gapyeong Station.
The whole journey will take around 90 minutes and cost about KRW2500.
– From Hongdae –
Click to enlarge
- From Hongik University Station, take the Gyeongui–Jungang Line for 15 stops to Mangu Station.
- From Mangu Station, change to the Gyeongchun Line and take it for 13 stops to Gapyeong Station.
The whole journey will take around 95 minutes and cost about KRW 2500.
– From Gangnam –
Click to enlarge
- From Gangnam Station, take Line 2 for ten stops to Konkuk University Station.
- From Konkuk University Station, change to Line 7 and take it for seven stops to Sangbong Station.
- From Sangbong Station, change to the Gyeongchun Line and take it for 14 stops to Gapyeong Station.
The whole journey will take around 100 minutes and cost about KRW 2500.
Step 2: From Gapyeong Station, Take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Nami Island Stop (5 min). Then walk to Gapyeong Wharf (2 min)
Refer to Method 1, step 4 for more details.
Step 3: From Gapyeong Wharf, take the zipline or ferry to Nami Island (5 minutes).
Refer to Method 1, step 5 for more details.
Method 3. How To Go To Nami Island By Shuttle Bus Package
If you prefer convenience or are travelling with children, you can consider this Nami Island Shuttle Bus Package that brings you direct to Nami Island and back to Seoul.
It is quite expensive compared to taking the ITX or subway, but it is very convenient and includes trips to other Gapyeong attractions like Petite France, Gangchon Rail Bike and Garden of Morning Calm. Breakfast and lunch are provided too.
You can board the bus in Myeongdong, Hongdae, or Dongdaemun.
Method 4. How To Go To Nami Island By Shuttle Bus
You can also consider this very affordable shuttle bus round trip transfer that includes the admission fee to Nami Island. The bus will bring you from Seoul (Insadong, Namdaemun or Myeongdong) to Nami Island in two hours. However, it does not include trips to other attractions near Nami Island (Petite France, Garden of Morning Calm, etc).
You can board the bus in Myeongdong, Insadong, or Namdaemun.
Method 5. How To Go To Nami Island By Private Car
For the most flexibility and convenience, you can check out this 10-Hour Private Car Charter Service that offers pick up and drop off from your hotel. It will bring you to the popular attractions of Nami Island, Petite France, Gangchon Rail Park, and The Garden of Morning Calm.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, I feel that taking the ITX (method 1) is the best way to get to Nami Island because it is fast (60 minutes train ride) and not too expensive. However, if you want to save some money, you can take the subway (method 2) which will take about 90 minutes. Finally, if you are travelling with your family, you can consider booking the convenient Nami Island Shuttle Bus Package (method 3).
I personally find this Seoul subway planning website to be very useful. You can also download this Seoul metro app for iPhone users (Android version is available as well). The app will help you to plan your trips between the numerous stations. The Seoul metro system has 18 lines with hundreds of stations, so this app will definitely be helpful.
If you wish to stay overnight on Nami island, you can stay at the only hotel there, the Hotel Jeonggwanru, which has decent reviews.
Remember to get the KORAIL Pass if you will be taking multiple train rides around South Korea.
And this is the full breakdown of how to get to Nami Island and back to downtown Seoul. I hope you found it useful!
This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Seoul Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?
Map of Gapyeong
339 Comments and Questions
Hi, if I already have the KORAIL PASS 5-day pass, do I still need to purchase separate ITX Cheongchun line ticket to Gapyeong station? Is the fare included?
Hi gyma, according to the korail website the fare for ITX-Cheongchun is included inside the 5-day pass. Therefore you do NOT need to purchase separate tickets.
Hi there, may I know where do you buy the Korail pass? Inside Korea or outside Korea (like Japan rail pass). Thank you.
Hi silvia, you can buy it on Klook or through the official Korail website.
Hi, any difference between taking the subway and ITX in terms of value and time? We are planning to go Nami island and Gangchon Rail Park. However I have difficulty deciding which route to take as we will be departing from Korea University Station with a toddler onboard. Do you mind sharing your opinion? Which is more practical? We are trying to avoid the crowd so we prefer to depart at 7am.
Hi Loh,
You have two options.
Option 1. Take the subway from Korea University Station to Cheongnyangni Station (20 minutes). Then take the ITX train from there to Gapyeong Station (60 minutes). The total fare will be 1350 (subway) + 5900 (ITX) = KRW7250.
Option 2. Take the subway from Korea University Station to Gapyeong Station (80 minutes). You will need to transfer twice along the way. The fare will be KRW2350.
In my opinion, if you plan to leave early, then I think it’s all right to choose Option 2 since you will be able to avoid the crowds, and it is significantly cheaper.
However, do note that you will need to walk between 5 and 10 minutes at the subway interchanges to change trains. I am not sure if this will be inconvenient for you with a toddler in tow.
Thanks for the informative post. May i know how much was the cost for the subway that you took from Cheongpyeong station to Seoul station? And how long was the journey roughly?
Hi! Apologies I can’t remember the exact cost, but it should be cheaper than taking the ITX. The journey took about 90 minutes.
Hi,
I took the subway from Cheongpyeong station back to Yongsan last month. It was around 25 stations. It was a 1 hour plus journey with no seats.
Hi KA WO,
Thanks for sharing the information with us =)
Hi, Evan. Thanks for your detailed explanation. It will be such a great help to me during my visit in October. Mind if I ask, is there any way we can go back to Gapyeong Station using Gapyeong Tour Bus to Yongsan Station (just the way we came to Nami) instead of going to Cheongpyeong Station? Thanks for your prompt reply =)
Hi Aisya, yes you can do that, the Gapyeong Tour Bus runs in reverse direction as well. You can refer to this reverse schedule of Gapyeong Tour Bus for the exact timings. The bus will take you back to Gapyeong Station where you can take ITX-Cheongchun back to Yongsan Station.
Thanks for this great post! We are going to visit nami tomorrow and you made it easy to plan out our day!
thanks Tracy! Hope you had fun!
This really helps! Thank you for the info, very easy for readers and aspiring travelers to understand. More reliable than some of the pages I’ve been reading vide certain travel columns.
Hi Ajax, thank you very much for your kind words. Have fun on Nami Island!
Hi I’m staying in Sindang, can I take the metro from Sindang to Gapyeong station direct? Do I still need to buy a ITX ticket? This is how I intend to go back from Nami Island too. Is it ok?
Hi G! Yes you can take the metro and no you do not need to buy the ITX ticket.
From Sindang to Gapyeong Metro Station:
1. From Sindang Station, take Line 2 for two stops to Wangsimni Station.
2. From Wangsimni Station, take the Jungang Line for five stops to Mangu Station.
3. From Mangu Station, take the Kyeongchun Line for eleven stops to Gapyeong Station.
You can use the same method above to get back to Sindang too. Just take the metro back in the reverse direction. You can refer to this map to see where the respective stations are.
Thank you so much for this very detailed blog. I will definitely use this as my guide when I go to Nami.
You are very welcome Mel. Have a great time! 🙂
Hi there! Do we need to book the Gapyeong station shuttle bus in advance? Or can we just buy the tickets when we arrive? Thanks!
Hi Xingwen! There is no need to book the tickets in advance (in fact I am not even sure if you can do that). You can just buy the tickets directly on the bus using your T-Money Card or cash.
Hi! Thank you for the very informative post. My family and I will definitely use this when we go to Korea next month.
Thank you for your kind words and hope you and your family have loads of fun in Korea 🙂
Hi!
Thank you for your informative and detailed post!
I was thinking of taking a rented car to the Ferry terminal, then take the ferry to Nami Island, as I will be doing my wedding shoot there. Would you happen to know if that is possible? Because I checked Google Maps for the driving duration, and this message “Sorry, your search appears to be outside our current coverage area for driving. ” keeps popping up.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Liang Pei,
Thanks for dropping by and a big congratulations on your wedding! Yes it is possible to drive to Nami Island ferry terminal. You can check out this 9 hour private car charter.
Wow! Thank you! your post was very informative =)
You’re very welcome Mitzibelle =)
Hi Evan,
I would like to ask about the KTX ticket. I’m purchasing tickets for two people. But the system only requires one person’s information when booking online right?
Please assist. Thanks.
Hi Randy,
Yes you are right! I have indicated this in the article as well under Step 1C. Thanks!
Can you go to Gapyeong Station without booking an ITX train ticket? Is there a normal metro that lets you use T-Money?
Hi Shawnie! Yes it is definitely possible to go to Gapyeong Station by taking the Seoul metro. The trip will take around 100 minutes and will cost about KRW2500.
Hello thanks very much for this article. My family went to Nami island and followed the tips you posted here. Everything was accurate and we never had problems on our way there. It’s a wonderful place! Thanks for this post it was very helpful!
Hello! Thank you for this! It’s really helpful. I just wanted to ask, is the ticket automatically round trip from Yongsan to Gapyeong and back? Or do we have to book a separate ticket back to Yongsan? Thank you!
Hi Chiara! You would need to book a separate ticket.
Hi Evan!
This is a great post for people who want to go to Nami island.
However, I would like to recommend a shuttle bus service that is a more convenient way to get to Nami Island. This bus operates directly from Seoul (Insadong , Namdaemun and Myeongdong) to Nami Island, so you do not need to transfer several times.
If you want to get more details,you can check out the below website.
http://namibus.araweb.kr/client/reserve/info.php
Hi! I was just wondering how much did it cost you to take the Metro subway to go back?
Hello Malory the trip between Gapyeong and Seoul Station cost around KRW 2,400, which is about USD 2.00
Is it necessary to book the ferry tickets online? or the ticket is always available at the ticket counter at nami island station?
Thank you!
Hi Mia!
The tickets are always available.
Hi thank you for this informative post! It really helped with planning my way to Nami Island next week. Just wondering, I have already booked the ITX train going to Nami Island but I haven’t booked the way back because the timing is too late for us. You have mentioned using the metro and I’m curious if we can pre-book it (online like the ITX) and if it also has specific departure times. Thank you!
Hi Erika! I have just checked the ITX schedule for Gapyeong going back to Yongsan, and I see many departure times at hourly intervals between 2pm and 10pm. Therefore I don’t think you should be having any problems with timings. As for the metro, it is a typical subway train. You are not able to pre-book it online, and it runs at regular intervals like any other subway system.
Hello, thank you for your informative post! We are planning to go to Nami Island and Petite France this September. We want to skip the crowd too, but we only have the weekend days left. Do you think we can skip the crowd if we caught the 8am train? Thanks!
Hi Lindsey! Like most attractions, it would be better to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowd. For us, we took the 8am train on a Tuesday and the island was practically empty when we reached. Therefore, even though you are going on a weekend, I think the island should still be relatively peaceful if you caught the 8am train.
Hi, your article is really useful. We are planning to go Nami Island this November. I have two questions.
Firstly, is the ticket for Gapyeong Tour Bus a day ticket? Or is it just a one-way ticket?
Secondly, if we go to Nami Island using the zipline, how do we bring our baggage across?
Thank you!
Hi Gordon!
First question: The ticket for Gapyeong Tour Bus costs KRW 6000 and it is a day ticket, meaning you can get off and get on at each stop freely.
Second question: If you are planning to take the zipline, you would need to leave your bulky bags in the lockers at the reception area, and collect it later when you take the ferry back to Gapyeong Wharf.
We have to print out the confirmation?? What if we book last minute?
Hi Kelly, printing out the confirmation is safer. If not, I have read somewhere that the staff can scan your passport to print the ticket.
[…] was shot at the beautiful Nami Island. I will not elaborate how to go there. There are blogs like this one which will tell you how to reach there or you can check with your hotel concierge and they will […]
Hi, I will be staying near to Chungmuro station, and I want to take the ITX train to Gapyeong. Since the Cheongnyangni Station is nearer to Gapyeong, is it better to go to Cheongnyangni rather than Yongsan to take the ITX? Do you know what’s the rough cost of the ITX ticket?
Hi Shirley! Yes if you prefer, you can also take the ITX train from Cheongnyangni Station. It is nearer to Gapyeong Station. The ticket costs around KRW5000.
I forgot to print the confirmation while booking the ITX train from Yongsan to Gapyeong.
Would that be ok?
Hi Althea,
I am not sure but I think it should be ok. I have read elsewhere that the counter staff can print your tickets by scanning your passport.
Hi! I have the same concern too! Would that be okay? I’ve already reserved and paid for it, but unfortunately, I forgot to print the confirmation. 🙁
Hi Angelica, it should be ok. Just remember to bring along your passport. The staff should be able to print the ticket by scanning your passport.
Hello, do we need to show our passports to enter Nami Island? Or do we just need to buy a train ticket?
Hi, you need to show your passport when collecting your train ticket for the ride to Gapyeong Station. However, you do not need it to enter Nami Island. To enter Nami Island, you need to pay an admission fee. If you take the zipline in, the cost is KRW 38,000 which includes the admission fee and a ferry ride back. If you take a round-trip ferry ride, the price is KRW 8,000 (including admission fee).
Hi Evan, we are planning to go Nami Island and Petite France, etc in December. I am a little confused about whether I should take the metro or ITX to go there. Which is more convenient, the ITX or metro if we are going from Seoul Station?
Hi Joanne!
ITX: From Seoul Station, you would need to take the metro to Yongsan, before changing to the ITX train. An adult ITX ticket costs KRW5900. The train journey would take about 1 hour, no transfer is required.
Metro: Taking the metro from Seoul Station to Gapyeong Station will take around 100 minutes, and will cost about KRW2600. The metro will require at least two transfers.
Therefore, if you are willing to spend more to save time, I would recommend taking the ITX train. If not, the metro will work too.
Hi, thank you for the very useful information! This will help me a lot.
Hi Mysara, you’re very welcome! Enjoy your trip.
Hi, great post and I’m definitely using your recommendation to plan for the trip. Are the subway and ITX platforms in Gapyeong Station close to each other? If you can help to indicate the time taken to walk from subway to ITX platform it would be great.
In addition, are there English signages to guide us to the platform? Thank you.
Hi Jacqueline! After we tapped out from the subway, we followed the signs to the ITX platform and it was just a short walk. Yes there are many English signs so you do not have to worry!
Is it easy to get taxis early in the morning at Gapyeong?
Hi Min, yes it is easy because there are plenty of tourists coming to Gapyeong.
Hi, thanks for this information. =) I have a 3 year old daughter, is it free for her to ride the train? The child indication in the booking process only shows 4 to 12 years old.
Hi DJ, yes it is free for her! Children under 4 ride free of charge if they have a guardian accompanying them. Only one child per guardian is allowed, and the guardian must be over 13 years old.
Hi and good day!
Thank you for your very informative post. We are actually traveling on 27th December and will definitely visit Nami Island, perhaps on the 29th or 30th December. Would it be advisable to make the reservation while I’m still here in the Manila, all the way from Geumcheon-gu to Nami Island? Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi Reden, yes you should make the reservation in advance. In fact, it’s better to reserve early in case the seats run out.
Hi,
When you took the train ride from Gapyeong to Mangu station, did you prebook the ITX ticket or did you just use the T-Money card?
Because I tried finding Mangu station on Korail.com, but the station is not listed.
Much thanks!
Hi Vivian! I believe you are confused. There is NO ITX train service between Gapyeong and Mangu station. I took the metro between Gapyeong and Mangu station, and NOT the ITX train. Therefore, I used my T-Money card.
Thank you so much! Your blog post is very informative for people like me who are going to South Korea for the first time. Is it possible to do Nami Island and Jade Garden in a day? I am also planning on visiting Jade Garden because of the drama “That Winter, The Wind Blows”, but Jade Garden is not part of the shuttle bus route. Are taxis abundant in Nami Island and Jade Garden? I am planning on taking a taxi from Nami Island to Jade Garden, and also taking a taxi from Jade Garden back to Gapyeong Station. Do you know also where can I locate the taxi stand at Nami Island?
Hi Marife!
Yes it is possible to do Nami Island and Jade Garden in one day. I read up on the drama and it seems really good!
The taxi stand is located at Gapyeong Wharf (also known as Nami Island Wharf). Yes it should be easy to get taxis at Gapyeong Wharf because there are many tourists coming here on taxis.
If you want to take public transport instead, you can walk from Gapyeong Wharf back to Nami Island Station. Then take the Gapyeong Tour bus to Gapyeong Station. From Gapyeong Station, take the metro for one stop to Gulbongsan Station. From Gulbongsan Station, take the free shuttle bus to Jade Garden, which runs daily between 10.45am and 4.20pm at hourly intervals. You can check out this picture to see the exact schedule. The left column is from Jade Garden to Gulbongsan Station, and the right column is from Gulbongsan Station to Jade Garden.
If you prefer convenience, you can check out this fun day tour which covers Jade Garden, Alpaca World, and Gubongsan Café Street.
Hi,
Since I plan to visit the Garden of Morning Calm, the 9th bus tour from there only goes as far as Cheongpyeong Terminal. Is it ok if I buy the Cheongpyeong-Yongsan tickets by ITX-Cheongchun?
Hi Emily, yes that is the case if you choose to take the last bus from Garden of Morning Calm at 7.30pm. Yes, you can definitely buy ITX-Cheongchun ticket for travelling from Cheongpyeong station to Yongsan station. Make sure you alight at the “Cheongpyeong Station” bus stop and NOT the “Cheongpyeong Terminal” bus stop.
Hi, I want to ask if I’m going to Nami Island without booking the ITX train ticket, is it fine? Thank you.
Hi Norliza, yes it is possible to use the Seoul subway to get to Nami Island. The trip should take around 90 minutes. You can refer to the article above for more details.
Hi,
How can we go to Nami Island easier if we are going from Jongno-Gu?
Hi Carol! You can take the metro from City Hall station on Line 1 for three stops to Yongsan station. Or if you are staying nearer to Gwanghwamun station, you can take the metro from this station on Line 5 for four stops to Gongdeok. Then change to the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and take it for two stops to Yongsan station.
From Yongsan station, you can follow my steps in the article above to get to Nami Island!
Hello! I would like to know if we have to go back to Gapyeong station to go to Garden of Morning Calm, or is there a direct route? And also does the Gapyeong Tour Bus ticket really give you unlimited rides? Which means you only have to pay once and you’re good to go? Thank you so much!
Hi Juliene! No you do NOT have to go back to Gapyeong Station. You can simply continue to take the Gapyeong tour bus from Nami Island station to Garden of Morning Calm station. Yes you just need to pay once for the bus ticket and it will give you unlimited rides on the Gapyeong Tour Bus. I would be very unwilling to pay 6000KRW for just one bus ride! Enjoy your trip =)
Hello. Would you know if it’s possible for us to just hop on the bus and pay the driver (going from Nami Island to Petite France), if ever we were so early to arrive in Gapyeong and decided to just take the taxi to Nami Island? Thanks!
Hi Cat! Yes that is possible, you can just buy the tickets on the Gapyeong Tour Bus direct using the T-Money Card. You can pay using cash as well.
Hi, can I ask if it is better to go Nami island first then Petite France? Or should it be the opposite? And how do I go back to Seoul from Petite France? Thanks in advance!
Hi Veronica! It is better to go Nami Island first then Petite France. From Petite France, you can take the Gapyeong Tour bus to Cheongpyeong Station, and catch the ITX-Cheongchun train back to Yongsan Metro Station. The train ride will take about one hour. From Yongsan Metro Station, you can transfer to the normal Seoul metro.
Hi Evan,
I read your article on getting to Nami Island by ITX and I have booked the ticket online already. Thank you =)
Could you please advise me how to redeem my ticket at Yongsan station:
– Is Yongsan subway station the same place for taking the ITX? Or do we have to transfer to another station or go outside the station?
– If it is the same, is the KORAIL counter easy to find? As I have heard that the Yongsan station is big with subway lines, train lines and the KTX line connecting here, and I’m worried I may get lost.
Thank you very much for your help as I will be going to Seoul next week.
Hi Nguyen,
You’re welcome!
First Question: Yes, the Yongsan subway station is the same place to take the ITX train.
Second Question: Yes, we found the KORAIL counter very easily using the signs in the station.
Hope this helps!
Hi Evan, can I take normal metro (MRT) from Euljiro 3-ga station to Gapyeong station without taking the ITX?
Hi Sally! Yes that is possible. It will take about 90 minutes and cost around 2400KRW. You can use the Seoul metro website to plan your trip. For your info, we took the metro BACK from Nami Island to Seoul Station. You can refer to the article above to see how we did it.
Hi Evan! Thank you very much for this very informative post. My husband and I will be visiting Seoul this 3rd week of May. May I ask, do you have a post to visit other tourists’ spot in Korea such as Everland, Petite France and the likes? Again, thank you so much for the help.
Hello Precy! You’re very welcome. I only have one post on what to do in Nami Island. You can check it out if you’re interested!
What a LIFESAVER! Thank you so much!
You’re very welcome Axel! =)
Hi Evan, how do I go Petite France from Nami Island?
Please advise.
Hi Jess! From Nami Island, you can simply take the Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France station. The ticket cost KRW6000 but you can use it for unlimited rides on the bus.
Hi there, I will be visiting Nami island and Petite France next month.
This is my current planned schedule:
– Gapyeong station to Gapyeong wharf (taxi)
– Nami Island
– Nami Island to Gapyeong Bus Terminal for Petite France
– Petite france to Gapyeong Station
Is there another way to go back to Seoul without go back and forth to Gapyeong Station? I want another way to save some time.
(Travelling between Gapyeong Bus Terminal and Petite France takes 20 minutes, and travelling back from Petite France back to Gapyeong Station takes another 20 minutes.)
Thank you so much.
Hi Elvilia, I would suggest the below instead:
– Gapyeong station to Gapyeong wharf (taxi)
– Nami Island
– Nami Island to Petite France (Gapyeong Tour Bus. Cost: KRW6000)
– Petite France to Cheongpyeong Station (Gapyeong Tour Bus. You can reuse your earlier ticket)
– Cheongpyeong Station to Seoul (Metro)
You can refer to my article above (step 3) for the Gapyeong Tour Bus schedule. Hope this helps!
Hi I am Raini from Indonesia. I read your blog about travelling to Nami island by ITX from Yongsan. I’ve already bought the ticket for June 14 but failed to print the ticket because my browser crashed. And I have no email confirmation from KORAIL too. I only can print the payment reservations, but there is no seat information, ticket details, name, etc. Do you have any suggestion on what I should do? Thanks.
Hi Raini! Thanks for your question. I think it should be ok. In this case, you must bring along your passport so that the counter staff can scan it and print out your ticket.
Hi! I’m staying in Seodaemun. I was thinking if it is possible to take the metro from Seodaemun to Gapyeong metro station directly, and then take the Gapyeong tour bus to Nami Island bus station (and going home with this route too). Would this be a better route as compared to going to Yongsan station, and then going to Gapyeong metro station by ITX?
Do we have to book the ferry to Nami Island in advance?
Thank you so much!
Hi Jacy! Yes, it is possible to take the metro from Seodaemun to Gapyeong station, and then take the Gapyeong tour bus to Nami Island station. The trip from Seodaemun to Gapyeong should take about 95 minutes, and you would need to transfer twice. The fare should be around 2500KRW. On the other hand, if you take the metro from Seodamun to Yongsan station, it would take about 20 minutes and cost 1500KRW, followed by a 60 minute ITX ride (4800KRW) to Gapyeong. The total fare should be around 6300KRW.
Therefore, taking the metro from Seodaemun to Gapyeong direct would take about 15 minutes longer and you would need to transfer two times. In comparison, the ITX method would be faster and more convenient, though it will be slightly more expensive (6300KRW vs around 2500KRW).
No, you do not need to book the ferry in advance. You can just buy over the counter on the day itself.
Hi,
I have already booked the shuttle bus service (including entrance fee for Nami Island) which operates from Myeongdong to Nami Island.
Would just like to check if there is any way that I can head to Garden of Morning Calm too? Given that the shuttle bus will pick me up from Nami Island and that I will not be passing by Gapyeong station to get the Gapyeong tour bus tickets.
Thank you!
Hi SQ! You can just buy the tickets directly on the Gapeyong tour bus using the T-Money Card.
Hi Evan,
I am planning to visit Nami Island, Petite France, Gapyeong Rail Park and Garden of Morning Calm if possible.
How should I plan my itinerary? I can reach Gapyeong station at 8.50am.
May I know how many buses run at the same timing? I am worried that if the queue is too long, I would have to wait for another hour?
Thanks,
Ashley
Hey Ashley,
In this case, you should visit Gapyeong Rail Park, followed by Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of Morning Calm. Since you are visiting quite a few places, 8.50am would be a good time to start your day. The Gapyeong Tour Bus runs at hourly intervals, and I believe there is only one bus at each interval. To ensure you get a seat on the bus, you can try to reach the bus stop earlier so as to be at the front of the queue. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Evan
Hi there, I was wondering if it is possible to purchase the ITX ticket at the counter directly a few days before I go to Nami Island.
Hi Norzah, I would strongly advise you to book the ITX ticket online as early as possible to ensure availability.
Hi,
I love the Airbnb at Seoul Station that you stayed at. May I know if the ceiling is very low for the loft bed?
Your wonderful post is very clear and helps me to understand so much better!
Thanks!
Hi Irene, yes the ceiling was actually quite low, but it was definitely still acceptable.
Hi, thanks for the clear explanation. May I ask, if I have bought the Korail Pass in advance, how do I buy the ITX tickets to Gapyeong? How do I reserve seats then?
Thanks a million. =)
Hi Irene! Since you have already gotten the Korail Pass, you do NOT need to purchase additional ITX tickets to Gapyeong. You can visit the Korail website to reserve your seats under the “My Reservation” tab.
May I ask, from Nami island if we want to go to Petite France, do we need to take the ferry back to Nami island station? What is the way to go to Petite France after visiting Nami Island?
Hello Lim, yes you would need to take the ferry back to Nami Island, this return ride is included in the ticket price. From Nami Island station, you would need to take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus for two stops to Petite France.
Very helpful article. Thank you so much !
No problem Nurul! Glad you found it useful = )
Hi Evan, thank you for the detailed information, but I’m still confused with the passes they use for trains.
Are T-pass and KORAIL pass different passes? Or can KORAIL be used like T-pass (Seoul city tour)?
Hi Shamki! I believe you are referring to the T-Money card instead of the “T-Pass”. Yes the T-Money card is very different from a KORAIL pass.
The T-Money is a prepaid card that is mainly used to pay for the subway and public buses WITHIN the city. It can also be used for taxis and convenience stores.
The KORAIL pass is used for long distance trains BETWEEN cities, such as the ITX-Cheongchun train mentioned in this article.
There is also a “Seoul City Pass” that lets you take 20 rides per day on buses and trains, as well as unlimited rides on the Seoul City Tour Bus.
Lastly, the “Seoul City Pass Plus” card is essentially a T-Money card but with a specific design printed on it. You can show participating retailers or attractions this design to get discounts. Note that this card does NOT provide Seoul City Tour Bus rides.
Hi. Can we just purchase the ITX train ticket at the station on the day of our tour?
Thanks.
Hi Krizzia, yes you can do that, but there is a risk that the ITX tickets will be sold out.
Hi I’m not sure why the confirmation email that you included in your article after payment is different from the one I received? Mine looks like a ticket already as opposed to a confirmation message. Is it the same? Thanks!
Hello Alec, thanks for pointing this out! I have updated the article to reflect the latest booking procedure.
I was planning to purchase a package to nami islands and petite france. But this blog changed my mind =)
Thank you =)
Hello Nicky, happy my blog helped with your travel planning. Have fun at Nami Island! =)
Hi Evan,
Thank you so much for this detailed sharing and explanation! Will definitely use it for our Korea trip this November.
Hi Miera,
You’re very welcome! I hope you have a wonderful time in Korea.
Hi I have a question about the ferry ride. Is the price that you indicated per person? And is it going to take us back or do we have to pay again to go back? Thank you!
Hi Audrey! Yes the price is for one person. It is a round trip ticket so you do not need to pay again.
Hi Evan,
I am curious to know if luggage can be kept safely at the Gapyeong Wharf for a day-trip to Nami Island. I am thinking of going from Seoul to Nami Island and then to Chuncheon, and would like to have a place to store my luggage so I don’t need to lug it around the island. Is the place to store bulky baggage only for zipliners or also for ferry users?
Thanks kindly!
Hi Joyce!
Yes, non zipliners can rent the lockers at Gapyeong Wharf too.
There are also lockers ON Nami Island, if you prefer to store your luggage on the island instead. These are located behind the ticket office, at the right corner of Nami Shop, and near the Bike rental shop.
The locker dimensions for both Gapyeong Wharf and Nami Island are:
Small: 32cm(h) x 37cm(w) x 47.5cm(d) (1,000KRW)
Large: 81.5cm(h) x 37cm(w) x 47.5cm(d) (1,500KRW)
Enjoy your holiday in Seoul and Chuncheon! =)
Hi, can I know whether you can get a refund for the ITX ticket that you did not use? Thanks!
Hello Mira, yes it is possible to get a refund for your ITX ticket booking anytime before your train departure. You can just click on the REISSUE/REFUND tab and proceed from there. If you want to get a refund AFTER train departure, you will need to do it in person at the KORAIL counter in Yongsan Station. A 10% fee will be deducted from your ticket price.
Hi Evan. I want to know if Nami Island and Jumunjin beach are nearby each other? I want to go to Nami Island, Petite France, Gangchon Rail Park and Jumunjin Beach. Is it possible to go on the same day? If it’s not possible, may I know what’s the best way? Thank you.
Hi Mary! Nami Island and Jumunjin Beach are NOT nearby each other, and it would NOT be possible to visit both places in the same day. I would suggest the below itinerary instead:
Day 1: Visit Nami Island based on method in my article above. After that, take the Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France. From Petite France, take Gapyeong Tour Bus onwards to Cheongpyeong Metro Station. From the metro station, take the metro for 6 stops to Gimyujeong Station. From the station, get out from Exit 1 and walk about 4 minutes to Gangchon Rail Park. To get back to Seoul, you can take the metro from Gimyujeong Station to Seoul station direct. It will take about 2 hours. *This schedule will be quite packed and you will need to leave from Seoul for Nami Island very early in the morning. Alternatively, you can consider taking this day tour package which will bring you to Nami Island, Petite France, and Gangchon Rail Park.
Day 2: From Seoul Metro Station, take the KTX train to Gangneung Station. The trip will take about 2 hours and cost about 33 SGD. From the station, take bus 300 or 302 to Jumunjin Beach. The bus ride will take about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can consider taking this Gangneung day tour package.
Hi, I just want to ask if I booked my ITX ticket from Yongsan Station to Gapyeong Station, is it possible to schedule my return ticket from Cheongpyeong Station back to Yongsan Station, after my tour in Garden of the Morning Calm?
And also, is the price of the ITX ticket per ride or does it include the return ticket too? Thank you very much, I’m just a little confused.
Hi Ana! Yes it is definitely possible to take the ITX from Cheongpyeong Station to Yongsan Station after visiting Garden of the Morning Calm. When you are buying your return ticket on the KORAIL website, under “Departure / Arrival”, type in “Cheongpyeong” in the Departure field and “Yongsan” in the Arrival field. You will then see the list of ITX train timings available.
The price of 4800KRW is for a ONE-WAY ITX train ride. You would need to buy another return ticket at 4800KRW as well.
Hi, thanks for the information, it’s very helpful. But I want to ask how long does it take from Nami station to Petite France if taking the tour bus? How long usually is each interval for the bus from one stop to the other?
Hello Weng, you’re welcome! It takes just 5 minutes. The bus comes once every hour. You can check out the bus timetable in the article above!
Very informative! Thanks!
You’re welcome Kimmy!
Hi, thank you for the detailed blog post – really helps me out for planning! Do I have to pick up my ITX tickets on the departure day or would I be able to pick it up the day before I leave? If I do have to pick it up on the day, is there a long line and how early do you suggest I arrive? Thanks!
Hi Jessica you’re very welcome! Picking up the tickets the day before is fine (it’s a good idea actually). We collected our tickets about 60 minutes before the train departed and there was a short queue at the counter.
Hi
Thank you for your detailed info. It’s really very beneficial to people like us planning to go to Nami Island on our own. Very wonderful blog.
I plan to do Gapyeong Rail Park, followed by Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of Morning Calm. Do I need to go back to Gapyeong bus terminal to take the bus to each destination? Meaning, to get to Nami Island from Gapyeong Rail Park, I will need to take bus from Gapyeong Rail Park to the bus terminal to catch a bus to Nami Island?
I will be staying near Hoehyeong station.
Thanks.
Hi Janet! Thank you for your kind words.
No, you do NOT need to go back to Gapyeong bus terminal after visiting each attraction. For example, if you want to go to Petite France from Nami Island, you can simply continue taking the Gapyeong tour bus for two stops from Nami Island Bus Station to Petite France Bus Station.
For your specific itinerary, I would suggest the below route:
From Hoehyeong Station, take the metro on line 4 for one stop to Seoul Station, then change to line 1 and take it for 2 stops to Yongsan Station. From Yongsan Station, you can follow my instructions in the article above to get to Gapyeong Station.
From Gapyeong Station, take the Gapyeong tour bus for 2 stops to Gapyeong Bus Terminal. Then walk for about 10 minutes to Gapyeong Rail Park.
From the Rail Park, walk back to Gapyeong Bus Terminal and take the Gapyeong Tour Bus to Nami Island station. Then walk for 2 minutes to Gapyeong Wharf and take the zipline or ferry to Nami Island.
From Nami Island station, take Gapyeong Tour Bus again to Petite France.
From Petite France, take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Garden of Morning Calm.
To go back to Seoul, from Garden of Morning Calm, take the Gapyeong Tour Bus to Cheongpyeong Station. Then take the ITX back to Yongsan station. Or you can also take the metro back to Hoehyeong station.
If you prefer convenience, you can check out this shuttle bus package that includes Nami Island + Petite France + Gapyeong Rail Bike + Garden of Morning Calm.
Hope this helps and have fun! =)
Thanks. Your information is very useful.
I may have missed the info, but where should I exit from Gapyeong Station to take the Gapyong tour bus to Gapyeong Bus Terminal?
Did you go to Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street? If you did do you still have the directions?
Hi Janet, if I’m not wrong there is only one exit at Gapyeong Station. The bus stop should be quite obvious once you leave the station.
No, I did not go to Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street, but you can take the ITX train to Chuncheon Station, and then take a bus to the street. Let us know if it is worth going! =)
Hi Evan! I will be going to Korea in December and want to visit Nami Island. Does the Gapyeong tour bus include Nami Island and Petite France? What should I do if I want to go Garden of Morning Calm garden as well? Hoping for your response. Thank you in advance.
Hi Marycris! Yes, the tour bus will stop at Nami Island and Petite France. It goes to Garden of Morning Calm too! But you should start your day early if you want to visit all three locations.
Hi, I visited the KORAIL website and tried to book a ticket for Yongsan to Gapyeong on 07 Nov 2018 but after I clicked the inquiry there’s no result. It just says “Reservations in this system maybe made from 30 minute up to 1 month in advance from new”. Is it possible that the train ride has been fully booked? Thank you.
Hi Phoebe! It’s because today is 04 Oct and the KORAIL tickets can only be booked up to 1 month in advance. 07 Nov is more than one month away, which is why the website is showing you that error message. You can try again in a few days’ time =)
Hi. I wanted to ask if the Gapyeong tour bus timetable is available online? I couldn’t find it. I’m going to seoul at the end of this October. Also, does the bus stop at Gapyeong rail bike ? As I could not see it in the timetable that you provided.
Hello Shirley. You can click here to see the latest bus timetable. You will need to use your browser to translate it to English. Yes, according to the website, it stops at Gapyeong rail bike.
Hi! Thank you for sharing.
I would like to know, if I travel with my 5 year old kid, do i need to buy her ticket for the train or bus? Or is there any kid’s fare? One more question, can she ride the zipline to Nami Island, either by herself or with us? Thank you ?
Hi Synthia! Kindly see below:
ITX Train: Kids (4 to 12) fare cost half of adult fare.
Gapyeong Tour Bus: Adult fare costs KRW6,000. Kids (4 to 18) fare costs KRW4,000.
Zipline requirement: You need to weigh between 35kg and 120kg, and be between 140cm and 200cm tall. Your daughter can ride the zipline if she meets these requirements, subject to the ground staff’s approval. I do not think they have tandem zipline for Nami Island so she will probably need to ride alone.
Hi, I came across your blog while researching for my trip to Nami and would like your advice. If I follow your route and itinerary accordingly by taking the ITX-Cheongchun train from Yongsan Station to Gapyeong Station, will I be required to change at any station? Or does the train go straight directly to Gapyeong? Will this be the same for the return as well? =)
Hi Tash! The ITX-Cheongchun train goes direct to Gapyeong Station, therefore you do NOT need to change at any station. It’s the same for return too. Enjoy your Nami Island trip =)
Would Nami Island be good to visit during winter season?
Hello zhihui, it will be beautiful because of the snowy landscape. Therefore, you should find plenty of photo opportunities. However, take note that the trees will be bare and the ground will be quite wet from the snow, so it may be a little difficult the walk. There will still be plenty of tourists around though.
Hi! My friends and I are planning to take the 6am train out, any idea what time should we be at the ITX station?
Hi Charm! Ideally you should reach the station half to one hour earlier. The ticket counter also allows you to collect the tickets one day in advance (or even earlier) if that’s possible for your schedule.
Hello, apart from booking ITX train tickets, we do not have to pre-book the tour bus and ferry tickets right? Since the tour bus only operates once every hour, would we happen to miss it or would there be insufficient seats/space?
Thank you =)
Hi Lela! It is not possible to pre-book the tour bus and ferry tickets. You can buy the bus tickets on the bus itself, and you can buy the ferry tickets at the Gapyeong Wharf ticket counter. Yes, there is a chance that you cannot get up the bus because it is too crowded. Therefore, I would advise you to get to the bus stop at least 20 minutes before the departure time!
Hi, what is the cheapest mode of transport for 5 pax from Myeongdong Station to Nami Island?
Hi Nat, the cheapest way would be to take the Seoul Metro to Gapyeong Station (KRW2500, around 100 minutes). From the station, you can share a taxi (KRW5000) or take the Gapyeong Tour Bus (KRW6000) to Nami Island station. Either way will take you about 5 minutes. Then, walk for 2 minutes to Gapyeong Wharf and take the zipline or ferry to Nami Island.
Hi,
I just want to ask, when you collected your tickets at Yongsan Station, did you collect for your return ticket (Gapyeong to Yongsan) as well, or just the one-way ticket (Yongsan to Gapyeong), then the return ticket is to be collected at Gapyeong instead?
Thanks!
Hi Wani!
We collected both tickets (to and fro) at Yongsan.
Hi,
This is very helpful and we will be planning our Nami trip based on this article. Thank you so much! Just a quick question – is there a direct subway line from Myeongdong to Yongsan?
Hi Jen!
I’m happy you found the article useful. No there is no direct line from Myeongdong to Yongsan. From Myeongdong, you would need to take Line 4 for two stops to Seoul Station, then change to Line 1 at Seoul Station, and take it for two stops to Yongsan.
Hi, this is a very detailed and amazing blog. But I would like to ask whether the price for ferry to Nami Island is KRW8000? For both adults and kids?
Hi Yan! The adult ticket for the ferry ride costs KRW 8000. It is a roundtrip ticket and ALSO includes the admission fee to Nami Island.
For children the prices are per below. It is also a roundtrip ticket and includes admission fee too:
Age 4 to 13 – KRW4000
Age 3 and below – Free
This blog literally saved time and money. We followed it step by step and never missed any detail. Although the prices have changed, generally it led us in the right direction. From the travel time, online reservation (which by the way was really necessary as it gets fully booked easily), all I can say is thank you thank you thank you for this.
Hi Jaymee, you’re welcome and thank you for your kind words! =) May I also know if there was a big difference in the prices? Thanks!
Hi Evan!
How about when you go to Petite France? How much will it cost? Because I’ll be going there after Nami Island.
Hi Cio, we took the Gapyeong Tour Bus from Nami Island to Petite France. It cost KRW6000 and let us take the bus unlimited times.
Hi, this blog is very helpful! I’m planning to take the zipline to Nami Island. If I take a shuttle bus from Myeongdong or Insadong, is it possible to take a zipline or should I take a train instead? Since the shuttle bus includes fee of ferry to Nami Island.
Hi Amalia! Yes it is still possible to take a zipline, just that you have to pay an additional KRW 38,000.
Hi, may I know what is the difference between taking the ITX route to Nami compared to taking the normal subway? It seems the ITX kind of limits the timing flexibility so was just wondering. Is it faster?
Thanks.
Hi Mark! The ITX route takes about 1 hour and costs KRW 5,900. The subway takes about two hours and costs around KRW 2,500.
To a slight extent, ITX does limit the timing flexibility, but to be fair it has quite a wide range of timings. It’s just that you will need to go and return at your selected timings.
At the end of the day, it depends on your personal reasons whether you want to take the ITX or subway. Taking the ITX is faster but more expensive, and is slightly less flexible. Taking the subway is slower but cheaper, and is flexible in terms of timings.
Hope this helps!
I just came back from Nami Island last Friday and I have some extra information to add. Just like the writer has mentioned, if you are planning to visit other areas, a tour bus would be preferable as you can use it unlimited times.
However if you are just planning on visiting Nami island alone, you can use the public bus instead. It’s cheaper than taxi but there is waiting time involved. If you arrive at Gapyeong at the correct time, then there is minimal waiting time. The bus stop is located just opposite the road in front of Gapyeong station and in front of GS25 (Korea’s equivalent for 7-eleven) for Nami Island Wharf.
It is Bus no 33-5 for the morning bus, while for the evening bus it is 33-24. I have taken the picture of the bus schedule which I can share. Maybe I can email the writer and he can upload it here.
There is also an info center at Gapyeong Station and Nami Island Wharf where tourists can enquire for more information.
Thanks a ton for the very useful information Eugene! I have updated the article as well with your information. Thank you!!
Hi Evan,
If I purchase ITX tickets to Gapyeong online, am I allowed to reserve seats? Where do I choose the seats?
Thanks in advance,
Judy
Hi Judy! Reservation of seats is not possible on ITX trains. It is by free seating only.
Thank you so much for all the details! This gives me the confidence to attempt the trip on public transport which is much more fun. Thank you again!
you’re welcome Diana!
Hi there, would like to ask on the Gapyeong Shuttle Bus. Understand that the bus fare is 1,100 KRW from Gapyeong Station to Nami Island Station. Is this the hop on and hop off bus which I can take in Nami Island?
Thank you for your informative guide =)
Hi Shydah! The Gapyeong City Tour Bus costs KRW6000. Yes it is a hop on and off bus which you can take unlimited times. The Intra-City Bus is a public bus that costs KRW 1300. However, you can only take it once.
Hi Evan
I’m so glad I chanced upon your blog on Nami Island. Almost spent double if I were to proceed with tour packages. Much appreciated!
Don’t mind, can I double confirm that from Garden of Morning Calm, I’d just need to take the tour bus to Gapyeong Station Terminal and then ITX to Yongsan Station, correct?
Because when you need to go to Nami Island, you need to take a ferry so I thought in order to go back to Gapyeong Station, we need to take a ferry from Nami Island to Nami Island Station and then to Gapyeong Station.
Plus the ferry is a round trip ticket. Hence, the confusion. Hahaha
Thank you for reading this!
Hi Jun,
You’re welcome!
Yes, you just need to take the tour bus to Gapyeong Station Terminal followed by ITX to Yongsan Station.
To get from Nami Island to Garden of Morning Calm, you need to take the ferry back to Nami Island Station. Then you have to take the tour bus directly to the Garden. You do not need to go backwards to Gapyeong Station.
Hi,
For the collection of ITX tickets which we booked online, is it possible to collect them at other stations in advance (eg. Seoul station)?
Thank you,
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I don’t think that is possible. You can only collect the tickets from the ITX counters at Cheongnyangni Station or Yongsan Station.
Hi I want to ask if I reserved ITX ticket and choose credit card payment, is it just to secure the booking or is the price of the ticket already paid from my credit card, so I don’t have to pay anymore when I collect my ticket at Yongsan station? Thank you very much
Hello jin-ah, once you enter your credit card details you will be purchasing the tickets. Therefore, there is no need to pay anything at Yongsan Station. Also, you will not need to collect your tickets because you will be issued with an electronic ticket immediately after payment.
Hello came across your blog, I’ll be going next week. Are there any eateries beside pancake on Nami Island?
Hi k, yes there are various other eateries on the island. You can also check out the roasted corn, Snow Cafe (pastries), Book Cafe (ice cream and books), Yeongajiga Lunch Box (Korean lunch box), Swing Cafe (croissant and gelato), and Dongmoon (Asian fusion cafe).
Hey,
Are the tickets that we purchased from Cheongnyangni to Gapyeong return tickets? Or do we have to purchase another ticket going from Gapyeong back to Cheongnyangni again?
Thank you!
Hi Trevor,
Those are NOT return tickets. You would need to purchase another ticket going back. Enjoy your trip!
Hello, I want to ask if the Gapyeong Tour Bus ticket of KRW 6,100 includes all destinations, including round trips? From Gapyeong to Nami Island to Petite France, and back to Nami Island and Gapyeong?
Hi angelasanusi! Yes the Gapyeong City Tour Bus fare covers all the Gapyeong destinations, and you can take the bus in any direction unlimited times.
Hi! May I know if the KRW6000 bus is valid for going back from Petite France to Gaypeong station?
Hi Aretha! Yes it is valid. You can take the bus unlimited times in either direction.
Hi, what is the difference between taking the ITX from Yongsan to Gapyeong versus taking the metro? Is it the pricing, time taken, or amount of walking (between train transfers?) I am trying to figure out if the savings from going myself via public transport is worth it compared to joining a day tour to Nami Island, the Rail-Bike and Garden of Morning Calm. Thanks in advance!
Hi Entrery, taking the ITX from Yongsan to Gapyeong takes about 60 minutes, while taking the metro will take about 100 minutes. The ITX costs KRW5900 for an adult ticket, while the metro trip will cost about KRW2500. The ITX does not require any transfer, while the metro will require at least two transfers. Hope this helps!
From Myeongdong train station to Gapyeong train station, it takes approximately 1 hr 45 mins and costs KRW2,350 one way?
So when I arrive at Gapyeong train station, do I need to take another bus to Gapyeong Bus Terminal to buy the KRW6,000 ticket for whole day usage under Gapyeong City Tour Bus?
I read there are 2 types of buses? Intra City Bus and Gapyeong City Tour Bus? I read that the Intra City Bus only goes to Nami Island and costs KRW1,300? My understanding is that Gapyeong City Tour Bus KRW6,000 also goes to Nami Island? Or should I just buy the Gapyeong City Tour Bus which will go to Gapyeong Wharf to take ferry to Nami Island? Very confusing! Please help!
As I plan to stay late to watch the lights at Garden of Morning Calm (after 6pm no more bus going back to Gapyeong station), I’ve to take the last Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Garden of Morning Calm to Cheongpyeong train station?
During winter the last Gapyeong City Tour Bus leaves at 7.30pm from Garden of Morning Clam to Cheongpyeong train station?
From Cheongpyeong train station do I take the Jungang or Gyeongchun line back to Myeongdong? How late do the Jungang and Gyeongchun lines operate until at night?
Hi Vivian, my replies below:
“From Myeongdong train station to Gapyeong train station, it takes approximately 1 hr 45 mins and costs KRW2,350 one way?”
–> Yes that is correct.
“So when I arrive at Gapyeong train station, do I need to take another bus to Gapyeong Bus Terminal to buy the KRW6,000 ticket for whole day usage under Gapyeong City Tour Bus?”
–> NO you do not need to do that. The Gapyeong City Tour bus stop is located very near the Gapyeong Station. “Gapyeong Bus Terminal” is a completely different station.
“I read there are 2 types of buses? Intra City Bus and Gapyeong City Tour Bus? I read that the Intra City Bus only goes to Nami Island and costs KRW1,300? My understanding is that Gapyeong City Tour Bus KRW6,000 also goes to Nami Island? Or should I just buy the Gapyeong City Tour Bus which will go to Gapyeong Wharf to take ferry to Nami Island? Very confusing! Please help!”
–> Yes you are right, there are two types of bus. If you plan to visit Nami Island ONLY, then you should take the Intra City Bus since it is cheaper. But if you are planning to visit two or more destinations (eg Petite France, Garden of Morning Calm), then you should take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus. This is because it allows you to take the bus unlimited times to all the Gapyeong attractions for just KRW6,000. FYI there is no bus that goes DIRECT to Nami Island; it is an island and you will have to take a ferry / zipline to cross the river.
“As I plan to stay late to watch the lights at Garden of Morning Calm (after 6pm no more bus going back to Gapyeong station), I’ve to take the last Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Garden of Morning Calm to Cheongpyeong train station?”
–> Yes that is correct. You would then need to take the ITX or subway back to Seoul from Cheongpyeong train station.
“During winter the last Gapyeong City Tour Bus leaves at 7.30pm from Garden of Morning Clam to Cheongpyeong train station?”
–> Yes that is correct.
“From Cheongpyeong train station do I take the Jungang or Gyeongchun line back to Myeongdong? How late do the Jungang and Gyeongchun lines operate until at night?”
–> You would need to take the Gyeongchun Line. The last train from Cheongpyeong train station towards Mangu departs at 11.58pm. See my article above for exact details on how to take the subway back to Seoul Station / Myeongdong.
Hi, would you know if there are taxis at Gapyeong Station going to Wharf that are earlier than the bus? Thanks.
Hi Xtine! Yes there will be taxis waiting at Gapyeong Station that you can board immediately.
Hi, after reaching Gapyeong Station, how do I go to Gangchon Rail Park?
Thanks.
Hi Cheryl,
You can take the metro for 4 stops to Gimyujeong Station. Go out from Exit 1 and walk for about 4 minutes to Gangchon Rail Park.
Hi! We are planning to get a KORAIL Pass which I believe we can use to take the ITX to go Nami Island. Now do you happen to know if one of us is a holder of Korea Alien Registration Card (ARC), would he be eligible to purchase one?
Hi Belle! Sorry I am not too sure about that too. I understand that the ARC is required for foreigners who need to to stay in Korea for more than 90 days. And according to the Korail website, “Korean citizens including PR holders are not allowed to use” the KORAIL Pass. My guess is that ARC does not fall under the category of “Korean citizens including PR holders”; BUT this is just my conjecture and you should definitely call the Railway CS center (+82 1599 7777) to clarify.
Hi! Thanks for your super informative and helpful post!
If I were to travel there from City Hall (Seongsu Station), is it true that in order to get to Gapyeong station, I’ll just need to get to Wangsimni Station and take 5 stops(Jungang Line) to Mangu Station and then take the Kyeongchun Line for eleven stops to Gapyeong Station? I saw this from you earlier reply to G.
So, I don’t have to book tickets for the ITX from Wangsimni to Gapyeong Metro station straight? =)
Hi scriptor, you’re very welcome =)
Yes you are correct, you will need to make two transfers.
No, you do not have to buy ITX tickets since you will be taking the metro all the way.
Hello and thank you for this very helpful article!! =)
Can I ask the cost if we are using the lockers at Gapyeong wharf?
Hello Mary louis you’re very welcome =)
The small lockers cost KRW 1,000 while the big lockers cost KRW 1,500.
Hi! Your blog is very helpful! However, I came across a problem and I hope that you are able to help me! I booked the tickets to Gapyeong from Yongsan, just as your blog describes. However, I am unable to find the booking confirmation pop-up or page! Are you able to help me? Thank you very much!
Hi Kaylynn! You just need to click on the REISSUE/REFUND tab and then enter your particulars and password to regenerate your tickets.
Hi Evan,
Thanks for your very helpful article up there.
For the return ITX ticket to Yongsan, is it possible to book online on the day of returning? I’m worried about the ticket selling out. If the tickets are really sold out, will metro be the only option?
Hi Sylvia,
Is there any particular reason why you do not want to book online in advance? Technically it is possible to book the return ticket online on the same day, but like you said there is a risk that the tickets will be sold out, especially during peak periods or weekends. Yes, metro will be the only option if you are unable to buy an ITX ticket.
You are awesome!!! I’ve been searching for these information for more than 24 hours. So glad I came across your blog. Thank you!!!
You’re very welcome Kazey, glad you found the information useful! Have a wonderful time on Nami Island =)
Hi,
Is Gapyeong tour bus the same as the Gapyeong city tour bus? I’m planning to visit the Garden of Morning Calm after Nami Island. If it’s the same bus, would it be better to buy the day pass at 6,000 won ?
Many thanks,
Grace
Hi Grace!
No they are NOT the same. Gapyeong City Tour Bus is a shuttle bus that brings you to popular attractions within Gapyeong. The ticket costs KRW 6000 but you can take the bus unlimited times. The Gapyeong Intra-City Bus is a public bus that costs KRW1300, but you can only take the bus once. Since you are planning to visit multiple attractions, I would recommend taking the Gapyeong City Tour Bus for convenience. Hope this helps!
I am visiting Korea this August 2019 and hopefully going to Nami Island.
Thank you for this great advice on how to get there as I was stressing over how to do it with out getting stranded haha. I didn’t realise you can go all the way there by subway, even though it will take 1 Hour 47 Minutes. I think this is the best option as you can leave when you want; as you mentioned you finished a lot sooner than you expected.
I also did this when i visited Jeonju; I finished seeing JeonJu and had to wait 3 hours for my pre booked KTX train back to Seoul. Therefore, using the subway to go Nami island gives you the freedom to leave when you want. And it costs a lot less.
Hi Tony! Thank you for your detailed comment! Yes taking the subway is cheaper and gives you the freedom to leave whenever you want, as compared to the ITX train. However, take note that it is significantly slower than the ITX.
And if you plan your time well (and do not mind the higher price), you can still take the ITX back at the most suitable time for you. The train schedule has quite a wide range of timings.
Do the Intra city bus and Gapyeong Tour bus fetch passengers at the same bus stop? If yes how do I know which bus it is, as I’m planning to take the Intra City Bus, since I’m going only to Nami Island. And is there any other alternatives to Gangchon Rail park besides taxi and going back to the subway? Thanks in advance!
Hello Nunu thanks for your question!
The bus stops are different. See below.
Intra City Bus: Bus stop is located across the road from Gapyeong Station.
Gapyeong Tour Bus: Bus stop is located just outside the Gapyeong Station, near the Information Center.
I believe the only other alternative is to go on an organised day tour, though it will be slightly expensive. It will be very convenient though.
Hope this helps and have a wonderful time in Gapyeong =)
Hello. Thank you for your information.
I already booked the ticket, but I forgot to print the ticket with barcode. When I checked my reservation there is no ticket with barcode, only the details of ticket. What can I do to get the ticket with barcode?
Hello Dep! I believe you are referring to the QR code instead of the barcode. To retrieve your ticket, you can refer to step 1F in the article above. Basically, you just need to click on the REISSUE/REFUND tab, select the “Reissue” checkbox, and then enter your particulars and password. This will let you regenerate the ticket with QR code. If you’ve forgotten your particulars, you will need to call the railway company at +82 1599 7777.
Hello, good day! Thank you for the detailed information, so helpful! I will be in Korea this April 24th to 29th, and was looking for ways to go Nami Island. May I ask if you have information on how to go to Petite France and Garden of the Morning Calm from Nami. Thank you so much in advance!
Hi lea! You are very welcome. Enjoy! This is a great period to visit Korea. To visit Petite France, you can take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Nami Island stop for two stops to Petite France stop. The ticket costs KRW 6,000 but you can take the bus unlimited times. To get to Garden of Morning Calm, you can simply take the same Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Petite France stop for four stops to Morning Calm Garden stop.
Hi! Thanks for the information! I’m going on 20th October and was wondering if we need to reserve tickets for the zipwire, or if we can buy ticket on the spot. Also, is a bag considered bulky item?
Hi Kim! You can buy the tickets on the spot, though I recommend buying the package deal online because it will be cheaper. You should be able to carry your handbag / backpack with you if it’s not too big.
Hey! Your ITX was from Yongsan to Gapyeong right? Or was it Cheongpyeong? I’m confused! I mean you can also take ITX from Gapyeong back to Yongsan right?
Hi Grace! Yes we took the ITX from Yongsan to Gapyeong. Yes, it is possible to take the ITX from Gapyeong back to Yongsan. You just need to purchase the train tickets.
Thanks for your post =)
Next April I’ll be for my first time in Korea.
A curiosity: when I collect my ticket from the Korail counter at Yongsan station, do I need a printed (that is, on paper) confirmations to get the tickets or can I just show them a PDF from my smartphone?
Hi Roberto, you’re welcome! You can just save the ticket as PDF on your phone, and board the train directly. The ticket conductor will scan the QR code on your ticket when they do their checks.
Hi,
First of all, thank you for your post as it was very detailed and informative! But I would just like to enquire if I have to book the ITX ticket to return from Gapyeong to Yongsan, or do I just purchase the ticket on the spot at the counter?
Thank you,
Russell
Hi Russell, I recommend booking the ticket online in advance. It is also possible to buy at the counter, but there is a risk that the ITX tickets will be sold out.
Hi Evan,
This is my second question. Haha sorry..
For returning to Yongsan/Cheongnyangni Station by ITX, can I choose to board from either Gapyeong or Cheongpyeong Station? Which station is better?
Hello Sylvia,
No worries at all!
Yes you can board from either station. If you are returning from Nami Island, then of course Gapyeong Station will be better because it is just one stop away from Nami Island Station.
Hi!
Thanks for all the information! It is really detailed and helpful for my planning, as it will be my first time heading there next month!
I have a few questions and was wondering if you could help me with them.
1. Do they still have Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Cheongpyeong Metro Station if I decide to stay late for the night lights at Garden of Morning Calm? If so, what time should I book my ITX at Cheongpyeong to Yongsan?
2. How long do you think it will take if I plan to visit Nami Island, Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm (including the night lights), and what is the best time to arrive/leave?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Grace, you are very welcome!
1. Yes the city tour bus will still be in service at night. However, the last bus from Garden of Morning Calm leaves at 7.30pm, so you will only have around two hours to view the night lights. The bus will arrive at Cheongpyeong at around 8pm, so you should book your ITX train for 8.10pm onwards.
2. You should aim to arrive at Nami Island as early as you can, ideally before 8am. In that way, you will have ample time to tour Nami Island and Petite France, and arrive at Garden of Morning Calm at around 5pm, just in time for the night lights.
If you want to stay later or prefer more flexibility, you can consider booking this 9 hour private car charter.
Hi!
Thank you for the informative post! As I will be staying in Myeongdong (near Chungmuro station), what is the fastest way to get to Nami Island? Thanks!
Hi Amanda! The fastest way would be to take the metro to Cheongnyangni Station, followed by the ITX train to Gapyeong.
Great information! I am concerned about where to disembark though. Does the bus stop at every attraction as scheduled, or do we like have to be alert on where to alight? Just worried I might miss certain stops. I’m referring to the Gapyeong city tour bus. Thank you!
Hi Octavia, yes don’t worry, it will stop at every attraction as scheduled. But you should still be alert so that you do not miss your stop!
Hello! Thank you for this informative post! I have two questions, please:
1. If our starting point is Myeongdong, how do we go to Yongsan to take the ITX to Gapyeong?
2. Will there be less transfers if we take the Myeongdong-Yongsan-Gapyeong route vs. if we take the metro?
Thank you in advance! =)
Roda
Hi Roda, you’re welcome! My replies below:
1. From Myeongdong, you can just take the metro for two stops on line 4 to Seoul Station, followed by two stops on line 1 to Yongsan.
2. Yes there will be less transfers if you take the ITX.
Hi Evan,
As you have travelled to Nami Island on a weekday, may I know if I really need to book the ITX ticket in advance?
And also, is Nami Island very crowded that day?
Regards
Hi Ka wo,
Yes I would recommending booking the ITX ticket in advance just to be safe. Nope, it was not very crowded, but there was a significant number of tourists around, especially as the day went on.
Very informative for me who will travel the first time to Seoul, and Nami island is one item in my bucket list. Thanks, good luck to your next adventure and I will look forward to that.
Thanks Dorothy =)
Hi! How long do you recommend staying at Nami Island? Would love your recommendation!
Thanks,
Jen
Hi Jen! I would recommend spending at least three hours exploring Nami Island at a leisurely pace.
Hi Evan,
Thank you so much for the informative and detailed post. This is very helpful to me and my friends visiting Nami Island in November.
Mind if I ask on the ITX fare from Yongsan to Gapyeong which was mentioned on your post? ITX fare cost you 5,900 KRW. Was that a return train ticket fare for 1 pax?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Ju,
You’re very welcome!
No, KRW 5900 is a one-way ticket fare for one adult.
Hi Evan, thank you so much for your information!
This October will be my first international trip and the first country I’ll travel to. So, I’m excited and scared at the same time. I’m scared I’ll be lost. Your information is very detailed but the name confuses me every time I read it hahaha (I blame myself because I’m too scared).
I have a few questions:
1. Can I possibly not book ITX tickets early? Because I’m scared I’ll be lost and late.
2. I will stay in Hongdae. I will need to take a train from Hongik Uni Station to Seoul Station and then to Yongsan station. From Yongsan Station, I will need to take ITX heading to Gapyeong Station. Next, I will need to go to Gapyeong Wharf to take a ferry to Nami Island, right? The ferry will stop us directly at the island, right? Please correct me if I’m wrong.
3. If I take ferry to go to the island, does it mean I need to take ferry back to Gapyeong Station?
I’m so sorry for maybe asking you some silly questions. But I would be really happy if you can help me with my questions.
Again, thank you so much Evan!
Hi Lily!
Wow all the best for your first ever overseas trip! Don’t worry, I’m sure you will enjoy yourself very much =)
My replies to your questions:
1. Yes you can buy the ITX ticket on the day itself. But there’s a small risk that the tickets may be sold out.
2. No, from Hongik University Station you can take the metro for four stops directly to Yongsan Station instead of transferring at Seoul Station. The rest of the steps are correct.
3. Yes, you will need to take the ferry back to Gapyeong Wharf.
Enjoy yourself at Nami Island and let me know how it goes!
Hi there!
I’m so lucky that I found this site because I found that this article was so helpful. You have such good writing! Okay, here’s the thing. I want to purchase the ITX tickets online for my family of 5. Since my mom can’t stand too long so I think it is necessary for me to buy it online but whenever I tried to complete the booking, error occured. You may refer to this link.
Do you have any idea why this happened? I even tried with different information but it doesn’t work. I would be grateful if you know anything about this. Thanks!
Hello Khairul!
Thanks for your kind words. It’s probably because you entered some of the information wrongly. You just need to follow my instructions in the article exactly and it will work =)
Very informative, I will definitely follow your way to Nami Island if we plan to go.
Did you enjoy Nami island ? Is it worth going?
How many hours do we need to explore Nami Island and Petite France? So I can estimate the return tickets time (ITX Train).
I plan to go this coming October, which day is better to travel? Tuesday or Friday, I prefer no crowd..
Hi chin yen!
Yes I enjoyed Nami Island very much, especially because I am a Winter Sonata fan. Even if you are not a fan of this Kdrama, I’m sure you will like exploring the beautiful island too.
I would give Nami Island and Petite France at least 3 hours each. In this way you can explore the places at a leisurely pace and take photos along the way.
I would think that Tuesday is better, since Friday is closer to the weekends so there may be more visitors.
Hi, I’ll be travelling to Seoul and would like to visit Nami Island! Thanks for the informative post. I would just like to check, is this route that I’m planning feasible?
I’ll be residing near City Hall Station.
From City Hall to Gapyeong Metro Station:
1) City Hall to Cheongnyangni Station
2) Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeoung Station
OR I would need to take this route:
1) City Hall Station to Dongdaemun History Culture Park to Wansimni to Mangu to Gapyeong? (This route will it take very long?)
The above route are just alternatives in case I miss the train from Yongsan Station ( ITX 청춘 Train) to Gapyeong Station, or if the tickets are sold out. As I cannot confirm my confirmed route for the day yet, I would not like to buy tickets via online first. Thanks =)
I’m kind of confused! Appreciate your assistance! =) Thanks!
Hi Jasquek! The below metro route is definitely the more efficient one! It requires just one transfer. The other route will require three transfers and will take a significantly longer time.
From City Hall to Gapyeong Metro Station:
1) City Hall to Cheongnyangni Station
2) Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeoung Station
Hi!
Would like to check is it only the person whose name is on the confirmation must bring the passport when collecting the tickets?
Thanks!
Hi carol!
You do not need to use your passport to collect the tickets now. You can just show the ticket conductor the ticket, either by digital copy on your phone or using a printed copy.
Hi,
I saw from the picture you posted on the coach schedule, at the Gapyeong station, they have the shuttle to “The Garden of Morning Calm” as well?
Hi Nick,
Yes the Gapyeong City Tour Bus goes to Garden of Morning Calm too!
How much is the one way ITX train from Yongsan to Gapyeong? And how much is the 2 way?
And you were saying the earliest time slot for the ITX train is 8pm. Is it because the other earlier timings are sold out? Or is it because the standard earliest timing is 8pm?
Thank you.
Hi Tricia, it’s KRW 5,900 for a one-way trip and KRW 11,800 for a return trip (no discount).
Nope the earliest timing is NOT 8pm, there are plenty of departures before 8pm. We bought the 8pm tickets because we overestimated how much time we would need to spend at Nami Island.
Hi.. was reading your travel tip.. I was wondering if the MPASS 5 days validity can be used also for this route or do we need to buy separate tickets? Thank you.
Hi Cathy, you can use the MPASS for taking the metro. However, you will need to purchase separate tickets for the ITX train.
Hello, do you happen to know if taxis at Gapyeong Station going to Gapyeong Wharf are available earlier at probably 7am? I plan to catch the first ferry at 7.30 am. Thanks a lot.
Hi Christine, yes there will be taxis waiting at Gapyeong Station even in the early morning.
Hi!
Thank you for your detailed and very informative posts! I will be in South Korea next week and this is really helpful in planning my trip. I just encountered a problem while purchasing the ITX ticket to Gapyeong, it does not show Gapyeong as an option from the list of stations. Is there anything I’m doing wrong? I’ve been on their website for half an hour now and still can’t figure it out. Thank you!
Hi Ville!
You’re very welcome. You have to type in the station manually as there is no drop-down list.
What’s your opinion about my chosen route to nami island which is from Myeongdong > Ichon > Sangbong > Gapyeong? I chose this route because it has lesser transfers. And can I ride ITX from Sangbong Station? Thank you in advance.
Hi GORGEOUS, yes technically you can take the metro from Myeongdong to Sangbong (via Ichon), followed by an ITX from Sangbong to Gapyeong Station. However, I just checked the KORAIL website and it seems the earliest ITX from Sangbong to Gapyeong only departs at 6.27pm, which is of course too late for your day trip.
Another route would be Myeongdong > Ichon > Yongsan > Gapyeong. You will take the metro from Myeongdong to Yongsan, followed by an ITX train from Yongsan to Gapyeong. This route will take around the same time as the Sangbong route and there are ITX trains departing Yongsan at all times of the day.
Hi Evan,
I am visiting Korea for the first time and I am planning to go Nami Island. I read your review and thank you for your information.
Are there any attractions in the Gapyeong area? I plan to visit with my elder sister and my niece. How can I take train from Myeongdong area to get here? Are there any recommended activities after we visit Nami Island, such as Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm? Thanks.
Hi Win,
Sorry for the late reply! Within the Gapyeong area, you can check out attractions like the Gangchon Rail bike, Garden of Morning Calm and Petite France. If you are travelling with a young child, I recommend going for this type of package tour.
From Myeongdong Station, you can take the metro to Dongdaemun Station. Then change to Line 1 and take the train to Hoegi Station. From Hoegi Station, change to Gyeongchun Line and take it to Gapyeong Station. The journey will take around 90 minutes.
If you prefer to take the high speed ITX train, you can take the metro from Myeongdong Station to Yongsan Station, then change to the ITX train and take it direct to Gapyeong. The journey will take about 1 hour.
Hi Evan, when you take the metro back to Seoul we can use T-money for all transport right? I plan to use metro to go back too.
Hi azlina, yes that is right, you only need the T-Money card to take the metro.
Hi Evan, how about your payment method, I’m just wondering, did you pay using your local bank card, and pay in WON? So the bank will convert based on rate on that day yes?
Thank you =) Can’t wait for my trip in November.
Hi Danial! Yes I paid for the ITX ticket using my local bank credit card in KRW, and it was converted to my local currency based on the bank’s conversion rate in my credit card bill.
Hi Evan! You indicated that a single trip via the intra-city bus costs KRW1300 per pax. If my travel route is Gapyeong → Nami Island → Petite France → Gapyeong, does this mean a total of KRW3900 per pax? Thus will this be a better option than taking the city tour bus?
Hi Jae!
Unfortunately the intra-city bus does not go to Petite France. It only runs in a round trip from Gapyeong Bus Terminal to Gapyeong Station to Nami Island.
The bus will reach Gapeyong station terminal at 5.20pm but the ITX train timing is 5.24pm and 6.28pm. Is it possible to catch the train with 4 mins walking time?
Hi Jenny, the Gapyeong City Tour Bus stop is located just outside the station, so it is possible (assuming your bus arrives on time).
Hi Evan,
I am going to Seoul in November and plan to visit Chuncheon. What I would like to ask is, can I incorporate a trip to Nami Island, Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm, as well as visit Chuncheon on the same day? Or do you think it would be too much?
Thank you in advance,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Technically it is possible but it will be a very packed, rushed, and tiring day. And you must NOT miss any of the buses or trains. Here’s how you can do it:
8am to 11am – Explore Nami Island
11am to 11.30am – Bus to Petite France
11.30am to 2pm – Explore Petite France
2pm to 3pm – Bus to Garden of Morning Calm
3pm to 5pm – Explore Garden of Morning Calm
5pm to 6.30pm – Bus to Gapyeong Station
6.30pm to 7pm – Metro to Chuncheon Station
7pm to 7.30pm – Bus to Chuncheon
7.30pm to 9.30pm – Explore Chuncheon
9.30pm to 11pm – ITX to Yongsan
If you only have a limited number of days in Seoul, you can follow this super packed one-day itinerary. If not, ideally it would be better to split the trip into two days. Hope this helps!
Hi Evan,
Thank you so much for your detailed and valued reply.
We are only in Seoul for 8 days so time is sadly limited.
I think we will give Petite France a miss but try to visit Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm.
We will then make our way back to Gapyeong Metro Station in mid afternoon and then travel on to Chuncheon, take a look around and then make our way back to Seoul on the metro.
Do you think that is feasible? Also is Chuncheon worth visiting?
Thank you,
Paul
Hi Paul,
You’re very welcome!
Yes taking out Petite France will make the itinerary a lot more feasible. You might want to consider taking the ITX from Chuncheon back to Seoul because the metro ride will take over two hours.
I can’t advise if Chuncheon is worth visiting because I have not been there myself before. However, it seems rather popular from the few travel blogs I came across, and apparently Chuncheon Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street is a great place for eating delicious Dak Galbi.
Let me know how is it if you visit!
Cheers,
Evan
Can we use MPASS from Seoul station to Nami island and not take ITX train?
Hi Michael, yes that is possible, you can use the MPASS to take the metro directly from Seoul Station to Gapyeong Station.
Hi Evan,
I read your reply to Lily on taking the ITX-Cheongchun Line at Yongsan from Hongik Univ via Seoul station. However, I noted there’s this Gyeongui-Joungang line connecting Hongik Univ Station and Yongsan Station. Can’t I take this line directly from Hongik Univ Station to Yongsan? Isn’t this a subway line too? Thanks for your advice.
B.R,
Agnes
Hi Agnes,
Thank you so much for pointing that out. Yes you are correct, you can take the subway on the Gyeongui-Joungang line directly from Hongik University to Yongsan Station. I have amended my reply to Lily too. Thanks again for spotting my mistake!
Best regards,
Evan
Hi Evan,
Thank you very much for your kind confirmation on feasibility from Hongik to Yongsan via Gyeongui-Joungang line. So, I assume this Gyeongui-Joungang line is part of the Seoul Subway/Metro which we can use T-money card to tap in and out, right?
Based on the information from this blog, the last Gapyeong City Tour Bus departs Garden of Morning Calm at 7:30pm to Cheongpyeong Station, where I can take the subway back to Hongik or ITX to Yongsan then Hongik, right? So, would you please advise will it be too packed / tiring if I am going three attractions eg. Gangchon Rail Bike -> Nami Island -> Garden of Morning Calm in one day if I indeed would prefer a more relaxed mode?
Thanks!
Agnes
Hi Agnes,
Yes you are right, you can use the T-Money card to take the metro / subway on the Gyeongui-Joungang line.
Yes it is definitely possible to visit those three attractions in one day. Below is a sample itinerary:
9am to 11am: Gangchon Rail Bike
11am to 12pm: Travel to Nami Island
12pm to 3pm: Nami Island
3pm to 4.30pm: Travel to Garden of Morning Calm
4.30pm to 6.30pm: Garden of Morning Calm
Alternatively, you can consider going on this package tour which will bring you to the above three attractions. There is less flexibility but you do not have to worry about logistics at all.
Cheers,
Evan
Hi Evan,
Thank you very much for your confirmation on the Gyeongui-Joungang line as well as the feasibility on the three attractions in one day. Your suggested itinerary looks good.
I indeed prefer to have more flexibility. Plus, with all your detailed information on this blog, trust that I should be able to go by my own without any problems. Thus, I will not consider going with the package tour.
Thank you very much again for your informative blog. Hope I would have a smooth and enjoyable trip this coming Oct =)
BR,
Agnes
Hello Agnes,
No problem at all! Yes a DIY itinerary will definitely give you much more flexibility.
Thanks for your support too. Have a wonderful trip and let me know how it goes =)
Cheers,
Evan
Hi Evan,
How many hours do you suggest to visit Nami Island and Petite France?
As I don’t want to overestimate like you did.
I have a plan to go to Nami Island from Myeondong in the morning around 8am or 9am.
And do the payment methods support credit card by Visa / Mastercard? Thanks!
Hi Jasson,
3 hours on Nami Island should be enough for you the explore the whole island and eat some snacks too. If you like to spend time taking beautiful photos, then maybe you can add in 30 more minutes.
As for Petite France, I think 2.5 to 3 hours would allow you to explore the attraction at a very leisurely pace.
Other than the online ITX tickets, I do not think the other transport methods mentioned in this article allow for credit card payments. You will need cash or the T-Money card (for metro).
Hi, first of all wonderful explanation. Do you think it is possible to collect the ITX ticket a day before departure date? For example if my ticket is on 12th May, can I collect my ticket on the 11th May? And as I understand it, ITX ticket can be collected at any KORAIL station?
Hi Elyysa, thank you! The ITX ticket can be saved as PDF (or screenshot) in your phone, so you do not have to collect the physical ticket.
Hi, may I know if it’s possible to take the subway from Cheongpyeong Station (after taking the tour bus from Garden of the Morning Calm) directly back to Myeongdong?
Thank you in advance =)
Hi sophia, yes it is definitely possible to take the subway back to Myeongdong, see below:
– From Cheongpyeong Station, take the GyeongChun Line to Hoegi
– Change train and take Line 1 to Dongdaemun
– Change train and take Line 4 to Myeongdong
The journey will take around 80 minutes and cost about KRW2,200.
Hi Evan,
Wonderful information! Thanks for this!
Meanwhile, I would like to know if I travel from Gapyeong Station to Gapyeong Wharf directly with a taxi, can I still buy the Gapyeong City Tour Bus ticket as I would want to stop by other tourist attractions such as Petite France & Morning Calm Garden.
If yes, where can I purchase the Gapyeong City Tour Bus ticket?
Thanks much, Evan!
Hi Belinda,
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you found the information useful.
Yes you can still buy the Gapyeong City Tour Bus ticket. You just need to walk from Gapyeong Wharf to Nami Island Bus Stop and board the bus there. You can buy the ticket on the bus directly using cash or your T-Money card.
Hi,
Is the walk when changing train back from Nami Island a very long walk?
Understand that I will need to change train twice, so do both changes require long walks?
Thanks in advance as I am thinking of taking the metro there.
Hi Jason,
Actually if you are taking the subway from Seoul Station, you only need to change train once. However, if you are going to Nami Island from Myeongdong, you will need to change train twice. You can refer to Method 2 above for more details.
Yes I had to walk for about 5 minutes to the other platform when transferring trains. However, there are signages to guide you along the way.
Hello!
Would you know if we can use M-Pass in Nami Island – Petite France – Garden of the Morning Calm from Myeongdong and back?
Thanks!
Hi B!
You can use the M-Pass for taking the subway to Gapyeong Station. You can also use it for taking the Gapyeong City Tour Bus when travelling between Nami Island, Petite France and Garden of the Morning Calm, BUT those rides will NOT be counted under the 20 free rides per day. You will need to top up your M Pass card and pay the regular Gapyeong City Tour Bus fare.
Cheers,
Evan
Hi Evan, thanks for your write up. My siblings and I will visit Korea next year in Spring. We plan to take the shuttle bus with entrance fee package, but I have a question. Is it possible to get off from the bus at different places? For example, if I depart from Insadong to go Nami Island, but on the way I want to get off at Gangnam, is it possible? I tried searching online but didn’t get the answer. I hope you can help me.
Hi Iza Za, you’re very welcome. I do not think it is possible to get off the bus along the way because this will affect the arrival time at Nami Island. May I know why you want to get off at Gangnam?
Oh, I see. Then I need to change my plan again. I have 4 days in Seoul, so I need to make sure that every day is used well. I just wanted to drop by at the COEX mall and K-Star Road. I heard the journey back from Nami Island will pass by that place. Thanks for your reply ✌️
Hi Iza za, oh perhaps you can check with Klook? They have an “Ask Klook” page where you can post inquiries. Or you can check with the bus driver directly that day, he might be able to drop you off along the way back to Seoul. Have a fun trip =)
Hi, as my friends and I are visiting Nami Island in 1 day, we decided to buy the ITX tickets online from Yongsan to Gapyeong. Do I need to purchase the return tickets together as well? Or can I buy the return tickets at the station itself with a guaranteed slot? Thank you!
Hi Alston! I would suggest buying the return tickets together, in case it sells out on the day you visit. Alternatively, you could take the subway back if the tickets are sold out that day.
Hello! This is a really great help in planning our itinerary! We’ll be going to Nami Island on December 19 and your blog post made me more excited 😀
Just a quick question re: city tour bus from Garden of Morning Calm back to Gapyeong Terminal. It seems that the last bus to leave the Garden is at 19:30, but there are no other stops after Cheongpyeong Terminal. Does it mean that it won’t go to Gapyeong Terminal anymore? We’re planning to stay until dark at the Garden to enjoy the light show. Thank you! Any response will be appreciated. ^_^
Hi Odee! I’m happy you found the article useful.
Yes the 7.30pm bus does not go to Gapyeong Terminal. You can take it to “Cheongpyeong Station” (NOT “Cheongpyeong Terminal”) instead.
From Cheongpyeong Station, you can either take the ITX or subway back to Seoul. If you are taking the ITX you will need to book your tickets in advance. If you are taking the subway, you can refer to the article above for directions.
Hi Evan
I contacted you on 25th September for some information which you kindly answered for me.
It is getting close to my trip to Seoul now and I have noticed on another website that the Gapyeong City Tour Bus runs at 2 hour intervals and not every hour as you have mentioned. Is this correct?
What I think I am going to do is travel straight to the Garden of Morning Calm using the City Tour Bus and once I have seen this, get back on the tour bus and travel back to Nami Island to visit, and then finally travel back to Gapyeong Tube Station to go back to Seoul.
The reason I want to do this is because I am worried about not being able to get on the last bus back from the Garden of Morning Calm. Do you think this is a good idea?
Thank you,
Paul
Hi again Paul!
No, that is not correct. The Gapyeong City Tour Bus departs at least once every hour. You can check out the latest official schedule here. You will need a browser that can translate Korean.
Yes your itinerary is feasible, but note that in December there is a Lighting Festival at The Garden of Morning Calm. If you only go in the day, you will not be able to see these beautiful lights at night. Click here for more details.
After viewing the lights, you can catch the last City tour bus at 7.30pm. If you are worried about missing the last bus, you can aim to catch the earlier buses at 6.30pm or 7pm. Note that the 6.30pm, 7pm, and 7.30pm buses will not go to Gapyeong Station (refer to the schedule in article or the link I provided). However, you can still take it to “Cheongpyeong Station” (different from “Cheongpyeong Terminal”), where you can catch the metro back to Seoul.
If you do not wish to see the lights, or are not travelling in December, then you can go to the Garden of Morning Calm first instead. However, Nami Island may be quite crowded by the time you reach.
Hi Evan
Thank you once again for your valuable information, I really do appreciate it.
We travel from the UK to Seoul today and are really looking forward to it.
Now that I know the buses run at hourly intervals, we will travel to Nami Island first and then onto the Garden of Morning Calm afterwards.
I didn’t realise that we can travel back to Seoul from Cheongpyeong Station so it makes sense to take the one bus stop after visiting the Garden of Morning Calm.
We are going to visit Chuncheon on a separate day so I will let you know what I think and whether it’s worth visiting.
Thank you once again for all your advice Evan, it’s well appreciated.
Paul
Hello Paul!
You’re very welcome! I hope you have lots of fun in Seoul, enjoy your trip and let me know how it goes =)
Cheers,
Evan
Hi Evan,
Thank you for the sharing! Power! Great help as I’m going in December.
Did you visit Alpaca World?
Hi JT!
You’re very welcome, glad you found the article useful =)
No I did not visit Alpaca World, but if you are interested you can check out this day tour that brings you to Alpaca Pasture, Nami Island, and The Garden of Morning Calm in one day.
Hi I’m planning to go to Nami Island with ITX, how do I book the ITX train round trip directly in one purchase? Thank you.
Hi salman! Currently it’s not possible to book a round trip in one purchase, you would need to book the two trips separately.
Hi I’m planning on going to Nami Island and Petite France this 20th, was just wondering if the journey from Yongsan to Gapyeong station is direct? No transfer? And based on readings I’m assuming that the ITX line is different from the subway? When I use the Seoul subway app for my journey it suggested this Chungmuro station(closest to my hotel) – Oksu station – Sangbong station – Cheongpyeong Station (stopping here as I plan to go Petite France before Nami Island)
Hi Aleez! Yes the one-hour ITX journey from Yongsan to Gapyeong is direct without any transfers. Yes the ITX is a high-speed train, completely different from the subway. Yes your subway route is correct. Alternatively you can also do Chungmuro – Dongdaemun – Hoegi – Cheongpyeong Station.
Very helpful, btw I’m going from Mapo-gu Office Station, what is the best way to get to Nami Island?
Hi Maisarah! From Mapo-Gu Office Station, you can take Line 6 for six stops to Hyochang Park, change to the Gyeongui-Joungang Line and take it for twelve stops to Mangu Station, then change to the Gyeongchun Line and take it for thirteen stops to Gapyeong Station. From Gapyeong Station, you can take the city tour bus to Gapyeong Wharf followed by a ferry to Nami Island.
I’m considering Method 5. By Private Car as I’ve elderly and children. However, I’m not sure if cars can reach Nami Island and stay on the island so it can ferry us around?
Hi Chan! Private cars are not allowed on Nami Island. You will need to take a ferry to reach Nami Island, and your car will not be able to go over.
However, it is possible to rent bicycles, four-person electric cars, golf carts, go on a cart tour, or take the mini train on the island. Don’t worry, Nami Island is a very family-friendly destination.
Hi Evan!
Great post! I really appreciate all the useful information you’ve given us.
I’m actually planning a solo trip to Korea in 4 days and was thinking of seeing Nami Island too. Do you have any insight on how much time I would be spending there? I’m trying to book a return ticket but am unsure about which time slot to choose. I will also be following your time frame of taking the early 8am ITX train.
Any more advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
– Jen
Hi Jen!
You are very welcome, glad you found the information useful.
I suggest spending around three hours. This will give you enough time to explore Nami island at a leisurely pace and take many beautiful pictures.
If you only plan to visit Nami Island, then you can catch the 1.30pm ITX train back to Seoul. Nami Island is gorgeous in winter, but it is really cold. Therefore, remember to wear more layers!
Cheers,
Evan
Hi, we will be travelling to South Korea on February 3, 2020. We intend to go to Nami Island on February 5, 2016. We will be staying in Han River Guesthouse in Mapo-gu. How do we get to Yongsan Station?
Hi myra!
From Han River Guesthouse, you can walk a short distance to Mapo Station. From there, take Line 5 (purple) for one stop to Gongdeok Station. Change to the Gyeongui-Joungang Line and take it for one stop to Yonsan Station.
Terima kasih,
Sangat membantu..
Hi KHADIJAH!
Terima kasih!
– Evan