On my last day in South Korea, I decided to go on a day trip to Gapyeong, where Nami Island (a place made famous by the Korean drama, Winter Sonata) is located.
Nami Island is not very close to Seoul but it's quite accessible through the following means:
- Take a shuttle bus from Insadong in Seoul (KRW15,000 round-trip). The shuttle bus leaves Insadong at 9:30am and leaves Nami Island at 4pm.
- Take the subway. It takes around two hours to get to Gapyeong Station depending on where you're departing from.
- Take the ITX (high-speed train) to Gapyeong Station. The trip takes about an hour and costs between KRW8,200 to KRW9,600 depending if you're taking the reserved seat or the standing area and on which station you're departing from. If coming from Seoul, you can choose to depart from Yongsan or Oksu.
If you're taking the subway or ITX, you still need to take a bus or a taxi from Gapyeong Station. There's a Gapyeong bus outside that costs KRW5,000. The Gapyeong bus stops at famous landmarks (including the Nami Island ferry terminal) and the ticket is good for a whole day (unlimited rides). It's practical to buy it if you're going on a day trip to Gapyeong. Just make sure not to lose your ticket and to check the bus schedule.
At the Nami Island ferry terminal, I lined up and bought an admission ticket (KRW8,000) and then proceeded to the docking area.
I was in awe by the surrounding mountains. I had no idea Gapyeong was this beautiful.
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| Beautiful houses across the island |
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| Sequoia trees |
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| Books in the restroom |
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| Autumn colours! |
There were lots of people in Nami Island, even on a Monday, but it was not crowded. The weather was nice and cool, albeit windy. I didn't spend a lot of time there because I think Nami Island is a place that's better enjoyed when you have company. It would have been really nice to have a picnic by the lakeside. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed exploring Nami Island.
