One of the most beautiful places to visit while in Seoul is Nami Island, a place filled with luscious nature and peaceful vibes. Located an approximately two hours drive away from Seoul, this island offers an escape from the noise bustling city and lets you truly relax as you stroll or bike through the island’s fairy tale wonders.
We had to take a boat to Nami Island, which is well-known in Korea for embodying the idea of a fairy tale. This half-moon shaped island is accessible by boat or the Nami Skyline ZipWire, a 640-meter zipline ride down onto the north side of the island. Although the zipline would have been really fun to do, our boat rides and entrance fees to Nami Island was included in a day trip tour. Maybe next time!
Nami Island contains impressive scenery year-round, and when we visited in the springtime it was obviously the cherry blossoms that steal the show! There is a spot called the Cherry Tree Lane that has a whole road lined with beautifully pink and white cherry blossoms, and the wind blowing the blossoms through the air made the scenery more dynamic. To see the blossoms, plan your visit sometime between early and mid-April.
Another famous spot is the Central Korean Pine Tree Lane. Nami Island contains many scenic paths, but this one is one of the longer ones and provides a lovely backdrop for some walking and talking.
If you are a fan of K-Dramas, a must-see spot is Gongsaengwon Garden. Here, there is a statue of the main characters from the 2002 drama “Winter Sonata” with a special photo zone for aesthetic pics. Nearby is the Riverside Paths, which are wooden bridges where you can take in the magnificent views of the lake and surrounding landscapes.
The island is home to many animals too. We looked at ostriches at Ostrich Village and saw a dozen or so wild peacocks around the island. There were also a handful of bunnies hopping around. It really did feel like nothing short of a fairy tale.
A fun activity that couples and families like to do is rent tandem bikes and quadricycles and ride around the island’s scenic roads. We could have rented a bike to see the island’s sights more quickly, but we took our time strolling to each of the attractions.
Fun Fact: The full name of Nami Island is actually the Naminara Republic, a micronation with its own flag and currency. Buying an entrance ticket is similar to getting a visa, and you can even get your passport stamped with a new location!
How to Get There
We managed to visit Nami Island as part of a guided tour package, which also got us access to the Garden of Morning Calm and Alpaca World. In addition, most tours will provide transport by car for the travel group. Check out the tour we took here!
Day Trip with Private Driver on Klook! → Nami Island One Day Tour
Check out other Klook Tours to Nami Island here! → Nami Island Guided Tours
If you are visiting on your own and not eager to join a guided tour, other options will include a private car hire or the shuttle bus. The bus fare is approximately 31,000 Korean won, or about $22 USD, for a round trip, and it departs from these three locations.
- Hongik University Station Exit 4
- Namsan Yejang Bus Parking Lot
- Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 10
Nami Island Ticket Info
The entrance fees for the island at the main ferry dock are found in the below table.
If you prefer to take the zip line, then you can book here on Klook for ₩44,000, which includes a one way zip line into Nami Island, the entrance fee, and the return ferry.
| Regular | ₩16,000 |
| Seniors(70+ yrs) / Students (Middle~High School Age) | ₩13,000 |
| Children (36 months~Elementary School Age) / Visitors after 6pm (Dec~Mar) / Visitors after 6:30pm (Apr~Nov) / Visitors before 8am | ₩10,000 |
| Under 36 months | Free |
| Round-trip ferry fares are included. |