Seoul Private ToursNami Island Tour from Seoul: What a Day Trip Costs and How It Works
A Nami Island tour from Seoul takes a full day: expect 8-10 hours door to door if you add Petite France or the Garden of Morning Calm, and about 1.5-2 hours of travel each way by public transport. The private day with lunch and entry fees runs $192 per person. Of all the private tours of Seoul, this is the one that leaves the city for the countryside, so below the private day sits next to the train and bus routes, with the ferry and the zipline explained before you book.
Quick answer Times, costs and the ferry rule in brief
A Seoul to Nami Island day trip takes 8-10 hours with a private driver-guide, or about 1.5-2 hours each way by public transport. Admission is $13.96 (₩19,000) for adults and includes the round-trip ferry, which departs Gapyeongnaru Pier every 10-20 minutes during the day. Plan 3-4 hours minimum on the island itself. A private car beats the train on convenience because the wharf, Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm sit far apart with patchy bus links.
Key takeaways
- Admission is $13.96 (₩19,000) and the round-trip ferry is included, with departures every 10-20 minutes from 09:00 to 18:00.
- The private Nami Island day trip with lunch includes entry fees, a driver-guide and hotel pickup.
- On your own, the ITX train from Cheongnyangni to Gapyeong costs $4.19 (₩5,700) and takes about 40 minutes.
- The zip wire is a separate add-on at $40.40 (₩55,000), with weight limits of 35-120 kg.
- For the rest of a Seoul stay, our Gyeongbokgung Palace tour guide covers the city's main palace day.
The Day at a Glance
Hotel pickup in Seoul puts you at the Gapyeong wharf without transfers, a run our route measurement puts at about 67 minutes from Myeongdong without traffic.
The round-trip ferry is part of the island admission, sailing every 10-20 minutes between 09:00 and 18:00.
Plan 3-4 hours minimum on the island, including the 500 m Metasequoia Lane of dawn redwoods planted in the 1960s.
A French-themed village of colourwashed buildings near Cheongpyeong, open 9:00-18:00 with last entry at 17:00.
A 330,000 m2 garden in Gapyeong with over 5,000 kinds of plants and a winter Lighting Festival.
Nami became internationally famous as a filming location of the 2002 drama Winter Sonata, and fans still photograph the same lanes.
The ferry is included in the Nami ticket. Photo: ::::=UT=::::, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nami Island Tickets, the Ferry and the Zipline
What Admission Costs and What It Covers
Nami Island sells its ticket as a 'Naminara Visa', and the round-trip ferry is included in it, so you never buy a separate boat ticket. The regular adult rate is $13.96 (₩19,000), with a discounted rate of $11.75 (₩16,000) and a special child rate of $9.55 (₩13,000). Infants 3 and younger enter free, but bring a passport because children under 36 months need proof of age and the discounted rate needs ID.
Pricing is by age category rather than nationality, and no current official foreigner discount exists, despite blog posts that repeat an old deal from 2016. The official Korea Tourism listing carries these rates.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Regular adult | $13.96 (₩19,000) |
| Discounted | $11.75 (₩16,000) |
| Special (child) | $9.55 (₩13,000) |
| Infants 3 and younger | Free |
| Zip wire Family Course | $40.40 (₩55,000) |
| Zip wire Adventure Course | $42.61 (₩58,000) |
Ferry Hours and Frequency
The ferry leaves Gapyeongnaru Pier every 10-20 minutes between 09:00 and 18:00, which is the window almost all visitors use. Outside those hours it runs every 30 minutes, from the first boat around 08:00 (07:30 in the autumn season) to the last return at 21:00. The island itself operates 08:00-21:00, with extended hours in peak seasons.
On autumn weekends and holidays the queues are long, and the earliest sailing is the quietest way onto the island.
- Passport for adults and proof of age for infants under 36 months
- ID for the discounted rate
- Book the first ferry in autumn if you hate queues
The Zipline and Its Limits
If you would rather fly in than sail, the Nami zip wire launches from an 80 m tower and runs either 640 m to Jarasum or 940 m to Nami Island, reaching up to 56 km/h on the Nami line. The Family Course costs $40.40 (₩55,000) and the Adventure Course $42.61 (₩58,000), and both prices include Nami admission and the return ferry, so you do not pay the gate separately. Riders must weigh 35-120 kg, stand 140-200 cm tall and be in good health.
The wire runs 09:00-18:00 and takes about 4 minutes from harness to finish, with queues building in peak periods, and parking at the site costs ₩4,000. Check the official zip wire listing before you go. One important note: the zip wire is not part of the private tour on this page.
It is a separate paid add-on you arrange yourself, and if it matters to your day you should plan it as its own activity.
Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm
Petite France
Petite France is a French-themed village at 1063 Hoban-ro in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong, a cluster of colourwashed buildings above the water that doubles as a cultural space. It opens 9:00-18:00 with last entry at 17:00. The adult fee is about ₩10,000 to ₩12,000 at the gate, and a combined ticket with the Italian Village next door is sold too.
On the private day the entrance fee is included, so the exact figure does not matter. Reaching it on your own takes some planning, since the Gapyeong Circle Bus from Cheongpyeong Station takes 30-40 minutes at $4.41 (₩6,000) per adult.
- Address: 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong
- Hours: 9:00-18:00, last entry 17:00
- Entrance fee included on this tour
The Garden of Morning Calm
The Garden of Morning Calm covers 330,000 m2 with over 5,000 kinds of plants at 432 Sumogwon-ro in Gapyeong. Adult admission is $8.08 (₩11,000), with teen tickets at ₩8,500 and child tickets at ₩7,500. The garden's big draw in the cold months is the Lighting Festival, which in its recent edition ran from early December to mid March with lights on 17:00-21:00 daily and until 23:00 on Saturdays at the same entry fees.
The next edition's dates are not yet published, so check the official garden listing closer to your trip.
Choosing Your Stops on This Tour
The private day on this page comes in three versions, and the choice is simply how much you want to fit in. The two-stop options pair Nami with either the Garden of Morning Calm or Petite France and run 8-10 hours, while the three-stop version adds both and runs about 10 hours. The table below compares the three so you can match the day to your energy levels and your children's patience.
All three include entrance fees, lunch and hotel pickup.
| Option | Stops | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Nami with Morning Calm | Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm | 8-10 hours |
| Nami with Petite France | Nami Island and Petite France | 8-10 hours |
| Nami with Petite and Morning | Nami Island, Petite France and Garden of Morning Calm | About 10 hours |
The Day on This Tour
How the Day Runs
The day is run by Outdoors Korea and rated 4.8 from 112 reviews. A fluent English speaking driver-guide collects you at your Seoul hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and drives you out to Gapyeong, so there are no train timetables to chase and no bus changes with children in tow. Entrance fees for the island and any second stop are included, and lunch is included too, which means you do not need to carry much cash during the day.
Infants can ride in a stroller, service animals are allowed and the vehicle and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, so the day suits mixed-age families rather than only keen walkers.
- Private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off
- All entrance fees and taxes included
- Lunch included
- Fluent English speaking driving guide
What You Pay and What Is Left Out
The card price is $192 per person, with infants aged 0-3, children 4-12 and adults 13-99 priced by that banding. Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure, which is a fair safety net for a countryside day at the mercy of the weather. The table below sets the inclusions against the things you handle yourself, most importantly the zip wire, which is a separate add-on rather than a tour inclusion.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Entrance fees for Nami and any second stop | The Nami zip wire (separate paid add-on) |
| Lunch | Personal spending |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off | Zipline parking if you drive separately |
| English speaking driver-guide | Any fourth stop beyond the chosen options |
See the Island Before You Go
Getting There on Your Own
By Train and Taxi
The ITX-Cheongchun is the fast way out. From Cheongnyangni it takes about 40-42 minutes to Gapyeong and costs $4.19 (₩5,700), and from Yongsan it takes about 60 minutes at $5.07 (₩6,900). Trains run every 30-40 minutes with reserved seats, so book ahead on busy autumn weekends.
The slower Gyeongchun Line subway from Sangbong takes about 50 minutes and pays by T-money, which suits travellers on the tightest budget. From Gapyeong Station the wharf is about 1.5 km away: a taxi takes 5 minutes at ₩5,500-6,500, local bus 10-4 costs ₩1,650, and walking takes about 20 minutes. Count on 1.5-2 hours door to wharf from central Seoul by public transport in total.
Comparing Every Route
The table below compares the main ways of covering the Seoul to Nami Island leg, from the shuttle bus through the train options to a private car. The car figure comes from our route measurement, without traffic, from Myeongdong to the wharf area: 66.4 km in about 67 minutes in free-flow conditions, which will stretch at rush hour. Nami also has 600 parking spaces at ₩6,000 for a small car if you rent a vehicle.
For a group of four, the private day removes four train fares, two taxi rides and the lunch bill from the plan.
| Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ITX from Cheongnyangni | About 40-42 minutes to Gapyeong | $4.19 (₩5,700) |
| ITX from Yongsan | About 60 minutes to Gapyeong | $5.07 (₩6,900) |
| Gyeongchun Line subway from Sangbong | About 50 minutes | T-money fare |
| Taxi from Gapyeong Station to the wharf | About 5 minutes | ₩5,500-6,500 |
| Local bus 10-4 from the station | Not stated | ₩1,650 |
| Direct shuttle bus, round trip | Pickups from 09:00, arrive 11:30, leave 16:30 | $22.99 (₩31,300) |
| Private car, Myeongdong to the wharf | About 67 minutes by our route measurement, without traffic | Not stated |
| Private tour day | 8-10 hours total | $192 per person |
Shuttle and City Bus Notes
A direct shuttle bus costs $22.99 (₩31,300) round trip and picks up at Hongdae at 09:00, Myeongdong at 09:40 and Dongdaemun at 09:50, arriving at Nami at 11:30 and leaving at 16:30, though the schedule can change, so verify before relying on it. Inside Gapyeong, the City Tour Bus is a circular hop-on hop-off service linking Nami, Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm, with an adult day fare of $4.41 (₩6,000) to $5.88 (₩8,000). Check the timetable on the day.
That uncertainty is the practical argument for a car: the three sites sit far apart, and the bus timetable decides your day rather than the other way round.
The landing gate on Nami Island. Photo: ::::=UT=::::, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Which Way Should You Go?
If You want one price, no timetables and lunch sorted
Take the private Nami Island day trip with lunch and entry fees included, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
If You are travelling solo or as a couple on a budget
Ride the ITX from Cheongnyangni at $4.19 (₩5,700) and add the 5-minute taxi from Gapyeong Station to the wharf.
If The zip wire is the reason for the trip
Plan it as a separate add-on at $40.40 (₩55,000) or $42.61 (₩58,000), remembering the 35-120 kg weight and 140-200 cm height limits, since it is not part of the private tour.
If You want peak autumn colour
Aim for late October to mid November when the metasequoia turns red-brown and the ginkgo lane yellow, book the earliest ferry and avoid weekends.
Nami Island and Gapyeong on the Map
The places this page talks about, pinned. Tap a pin for directions.
Nami Island Day Trip Questions
How long does it take to get from Seoul to Nami Island?
By public transport count on 1.5-2 hours door to wharf: the ITX from Cheongnyangni to Gapyeong takes about 40 minutes, then a 5-minute taxi and a short ferry ride. By car, our route measurement from Myeongdong to the wharf area is about 67 minutes without traffic, though real journey times run longer. A private day tour removes the transfers entirely with hotel pickup.
How much time do you need on Nami Island itself?
Plan 3-4 hours as a minimum, or 5 or more if you want to explore everything. The island takes 2-3 hours to walk at a steady pace, but cafes, bicycle rentals and the riverside paths fill the extra time easily. On a three-stop day the island gets the largest single block of your 10 hours.
How much does it cost to visit Nami Island?
Adult admission is $13.96 (₩19,000), with a discounted rate of $11.75 (₩16,000) and a special child rate of $9.55 (₩13,000). Infants 3 and younger enter free with proof of age. The ticket, called a Naminara Visa, includes the round-trip ferry. If you take the zip wire instead of the ferry in, its price already covers admission and the return boat.
How much does the Nami Island ferry cost?
Nothing separately. The round-trip ferry is included in the island admission, and departures run every 10-20 minutes from Gapyeongnaru Pier between 09:00 and 18:00, then every 30 minutes in the shoulder hours. The first boat leaves around 08:00 and the last return is at 21:00. You only need your admission ticket to board.
Is a private Nami Island tour worth it?
For families and groups of four or more, usually yes. Entry fees, lunch and hotel pickup are all bundled, so the $192 per person on the private Nami Island day trip competes with four train fares, taxis at both ends and a restaurant stop. It also removes the hop-on hop-off bus uncertainty between Nami, Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm. Solo travellers on a budget do better on the ITX.
Can children ride the Nami Island zipline?
Only if they meet the limits. Riders must weigh between 35 and 120 kg and stand between 140 and 200 cm tall, and be in good health. The Family Course costs $40.40 (₩55,000) and the Adventure Course $42.61 (₩58,000), both including Nami admission and the return ferry. The zip wire is not part of any private tour day, so arrange it separately and arrive early, since queues build in peak periods.
When is the best season for a Nami Island day trip?
Autumn is the headline season, with foliage peaking from late October to mid November when the metasequoia lane turns red-brown and the ginkgo lane yellow. September is still mostly green, and after mid November fallen-leaf carpets replace the colour. Winter brings snow-covered scenes that need very warm clothing, and the Garden of Morning Calm runs its Lighting Festival in the same months. Weekdays and the earliest ferry are the quiet times.
What else can I pair with a Nami Island day in Seoul?
Nami fills a full day, so pair it with a city day either side. Our Gyeongbokgung Palace tour guide covers the main palace with its own fee and timing details, and the DMZ tour from Seoul page handles the other classic countryside day out. Together they make a tidy three-day programme from a Seoul base.