Caught in between autumn and winter in Nami Island

If this is the first time of your visit in South Korea, make sure to add Nami Island into your itinerary. Nami Island is one of the must visit place in South Korea.

Nami Island is located in Chuncheon, South Korea. Along with Nami island, there are more places you can visit while you there. You have to spare one whole day to at least come to these places around Gapyeong. I am not going to share about the other places here, because this is Nami Island’s edition. Read the previous one here. Nami Island is 63 km away from Seoul in the direction of Chuncheon, and is famous for its beautiful tree lined roads. The island is 30 minutes away from Chuncheon and an hour away from the suburbs of Seoul.

I always spent around 1 hour 15 minutes from Seoul to Gapyeong. Since I always stayed in a guesthouse near Ewha Woman’s University, I will just share the route I take from the station near my place.

From Ewha Woman’s Univ. Station in Seoul, take Line 2 [towards City Hall] to Wangsimi Station, and transfer to Gyeonggui Junggang Line [towards Yongmun] to Mangu Station. In Mangu Station transfer to Gyeongchun Line, get off at Gapyeong Station. You might need to take a seat because it usually takes almost 1 hour. The one way trip costs around 2400 won. You can take the shuttle bus if you are alone, or taxi if you are coming in with 3-4 friends, it is cheap costs only ₩3000 and take around 5 minutes from Gapyeong station to Nami Island ferry dock. The shuttle bus shelter is on the opposite side of Gapyeong Station.

Once you arrived at the Nami Island ferry dock, find a locket to buy a ticket, you might need to walk a bit from the bus shelter to the locket. The ticket costs 10000 won which you can pay it cash or card is also acceptable, but if you are foreigner and if you are lucky you will get discount becomes 8000 won. Once you got your ticket, then proceed to the gate to get queuing to board the ferry. After a five-minute ferry ride, you will arrive in a forest of verdant trees holding up the sky and open grassy areas where ostriches, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks and peacocks that warmly welcome visitors in the midst of wild flowers. It is Nami Island.

Nami Island is quite a big island if you walk around. You might need around 2-4 hours for the first time visitor. There are also small car, small train, and bike rented if you are lazy to walk. Charges are following which kind of service and how many hours you want to use. Unfortunately, I couldn’t share about it more since I never use it. I prefer to walk around to capture more pictures, but I will tag it below the price list for those facilities.

I have captured a lot of pictures in Nami Island during autumn. Yes, during autumn. My favorite season is autumn. I have been to South Korea in all season, but I love autumn the most. On my previous visit I was hoping to see how is winter starting in Korea, but unfortunately I was caught in the between of end of autumn and earlier winter but feels more like autumn. The leaves were still red and yellow.

My favorite picture from Autumn 2015

I already prepared myself to welcomed snow shower, but it turned that nothing even as close as snow. The weather was cold and windy yet the snow was not coming. I took my camera with the tele lens and decided to capture moments of people in Nami.

These are Nami Island through the lens.

NOTICES:

You can also go to Nami Island using its special shuttle bus from Seoul, which arranges to go around Nami Island, Petite France, and Morning Calm. The fare is included with the entrance ticket. More info about it here.

Ferry Operating Hours 
07:30-09:00 (30 minute intervals)
09:00-18:00 (10-20 minute intervals)
18:00-21:40 (30 minute intervals)

Admission Fees 
Adults 10,000 won
Discounted: 8,000 won
Special Rate: 4,000 won

My favorite spots
The Song Museum, UNICEF Hall, Free Stage, UNICEF Eco Stage, Sonata café, Nami Island book café, All Small Gardens, and the Picture Book Library.

Facility Utilization Fees 

[Bike]
One-person: 4,000 won (30 min) / 7,000 won (1 hour)
Tandem: 8,000 won (30 min) / 14,000 won (1hr)
Electronic bicycle: 10,000 won (30 min) / 18,000 won (1 hour)
Sky bike: 2,000 won (elementary school students and younger) / 3,000 won (middle school students or older)

[Zipwire] Fare: 38,000 won
Operating hours: April – Oct 09:00-19:00 / Nov – March 09:00-18:00
Operation may be discontinued in the case of snow, rain, or strong winds

[UNICEF Train] One-way: 3,000 won (Boarding platform: Seonchakjang Station / Jungang Station)

[Electronic car tour] 5,000 won (20-30 mins)
Boarding site: Across from Naminaru Tourism Organization

[Motor boat tour] 40,000 won (5 seats per boat)

They even prepare many of this place around the island. I love how they manage to provide the books inside of every restroom so you will not get bored when you do your nature call.

Drop me some messages if you get lost, I will be very happy to guide you or tell me if you find it, so we can cherish the joy together. Oh, by the way, this is my first post in 2017, Happy new year people!

Stay traveling!