Namiseom Island

Address: Namiseom (Nami Island), Chuncheon area, Gangwon Province, South Korea

Website: https://www.namisum.com/eng

Hours: Island open daily; ferry schedules vary by season and operator

Admission: Ferry/boat + island entry fees vary by operator (small paid ferry from Gapyeong)

Namiseom, commonly called Nami Island, is a crescent-shaped river island in the Bukhan (North Han) River in Gapyeong County, Gangwon Province. The island is a popular day-trip destination known for its tree-lined avenues and landscaped parks.

A highlight is the tree-lined promenades - notably metasequoia and ginkgo rows - that create distinct seasonal experiences in spring blossom, autumn foliage and winter snow. The island also contains small gardens, sculptures, cafes and bicycle paths and is often visited on combined rail-and-ferry day tours from Seoul.

Namiseom is accessed by a short ferry ride from the Gapyeong riverfront; pedestrian circulation makes it straightforward to explore the compact island on foot or by rented bicycle.

The island sits in the Bukhan River near Gapyeong in northeastern Gyeonggi/Gangwon border area and is managed as a tourist park with ticketed entry at the ferry terminal.

• Ferry access: Reached by a short ferry from Gapyeong Wharf; the crossing and return ferry schedules are frequent during daytime tourism hours.
• Famous film location: The island became widely known internationally after serving as a primary filming location for the 2002 television drama Winter Sonata.

From Seoul: take the ITX‑Cheongchun train from Yongsan (or Cheongnyangni) to Gapyeong Station (about 1-1.5 hours). From Gapyeong Station you can walk (~20-25 minutes, about 1.5-2 km) to Gapyeong Wharf or take a short taxi (5-10 minutes). Ferries depart the wharf to Namiseom island.

By car: Nami Island is roughly 60-70 km northeast of central Seoul via the Gyeongchun Expressway (Route 60); driving takes about 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic to Gapyeong Wharf.

• Catch the earliest ferry from Gapyeong Wharf to Nami Island to see the Metasequoia-lined avenue before tour buses arrive; early arrivals get the best photos with far fewer people on the main paths.
• Arrive via Gapyeong Station (ITX/regular trains) and use the nearby Gapyeong Wharf entrance rather than joining large organized bus tours - it gives you flexibility on time and lets you avoid the biggest day‑tour crowds.
• Rent a bicycle near the landing area and cycle the quieter back trails and eastern shoreline most visitors skip; the island's smaller galleries and quiet groves are easier to reach by bike than on the central promenade.
• If you want fewer people in your photos but still good light, aim for late afternoon on weekdays rather than weekends or peak foliage days (autumn and public holidays draw the largest crowds).