Hi readers,
We have seen many foreign travelers who wanted to visit both Namisum (Nami Island) and Petite France in a day.
However, many of them didn’t know how to make the trip because they didn’t have enough information of local transportation. As a result, many of them visited either Namisum or Petite France only.
To help our friends, BnBHero has done small study and would like to share tips ‘ how to visit Nami Island and Petite France in a day! ‘ ^ ^
Let’s start with this map and get an idea where we are going. You should be able to find Nami Island and Petite France on the right upper side of the map (click map image for large image).
Note] all maps in this posting is available online at
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z-zKr34a3OuM.k-7kCWjDAamI
Now, you may think that ‘oh, this is quite far away!’.
Yes, it is not very near from Seoul. We will make about 1.5 hours trip to Nami Island from Seoul.
For a day trip to 2 places, we will take train which is called ‘ ITX 청춘(Cheongchun)’ from Yongsan Station or Cheongnyangni Station which are respectively second and third largest train station in Seoul after Seoul Station.
Our logistics plan recommendation for this day trip is as followings:
1. Yongsan Station or Cheongnyangni Station ⇒ ( ITX 청춘 Train) ⇒ Gapyeong Station
[40/55 minutes]
2. Gapyeong Station ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus or Taxi) ⇒ Namisum [5 minutes]
3. Namisum ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus) ⇒ Petite France [25 minutes]
4. Petite France ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus) ⇒ Cheongpyeong Station [25 minutes]
5. Cheongpyeong Station ⇒ ( ITX 청춘 Train) ⇒ Cheongnyangni Station [40 minutes]
Does it sound like a plan? 🙂
1. Yongsan Station or Cheongnyangni Station ⇒ ( ITX 청춘 Train) ⇒ Gapyeong Station
For step 1, let’s zoom in above map and take a look at Seoul area only.
Can you see where Yongsan Station and Cheongnyangni Station are? Then, you should be able to find which station is easier to reach from your ‘home away from home’.
Note] all maps in this posting is available online at
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z-zKr34a3OuM.k-7kCWjDAamI
You can book ITX 청춘 Train tickets online if you want to make sure comfort seats. Otherwise, you can buy tickets at station. However, we strongly recommend earlier online booking!
To book train tickets online, please read following blog posting. It is very comprehensive and easy to understand!
http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.sg/2012/10/how-to-purchase-itx-train-ticket-to.html
For planning, let’s see train time table and train fare.
Price? It’s not expensive at all!
We strongly recommend to take ITX train at 8:00(Yongsan)/8:16(Cheongnyangni) to make sure enough time in Namisum and Petite France. If you are not keen to spend more time at each destination, take 9:00/9:16 train.
We will skip ‘how to take ITX 청춘 train’ because you can find many blog postings about it. Search from Google!
2. Gapyeong Station ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus or Taxi) ⇒ Namisum
Once you arrive at Gapyeong Statation, you need to check whether you can take Gapyeong Tour Bus soon (fare and time table as below). If you have to wait more than 20 minutes, just take taxi. It is 5~10 minutes ride and fare should be 3,000~4,000 won only. Let’s save time~
Note] Don’t be confused. This table has Typo ‘Nam-E Island’ which should be ‘Nami Island’ or ‘Namisum’.
After you arrive to Namisum, enjoy the island as this web site tells.
3. Namisum ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus) ⇒ Petite France
To visit Petite France, you need to take Gapyeong Tour Bus at 13:15, 14:15 or 15:15 (bus leaves at the bus station after ferry jetty and car park). Please consider return ferry waiting and boarding time which sometimes takes quite long.
Bus at 14;15 looks reasonable in our view.
After you arrive to Petite France, you enjoy the little France as this web site introduces.
4. Petite France ⇒ (Gapyeong Tour Bus) ⇒ Cheongpyeong Station
5. Cheongpyeong Station ⇒ ( ITX 청춘 Train) ⇒ Cheongnyangni Station
Not to miss ITX 청춘 train to Seoul, you have to take Gapyeong Tour Bus again (to Cheongpyeong direction) and get off at Cheongpyeong Station. As you see train time table below, you have 2 options.
- option 1: take bus at 17:40 and take train at 18:09 (you have to move fast as soon as you get off the bus) -> dinner at Seoul
- option2: take bus at 18:40 and take train at 21:09 -> dinner at Cheongpyeong
To minimize risk, we strongly recommend to book train ticket earlier at www.letskorail.com (choose your language on the top right, then click ‘Rail Tickets’ instead of ‘KR Pass’).
If you don’t encounter any unexpected accident, you will be arriving at Cheongnyangni Station at 18:43 or 21:43. You still have enough time before going to bed. ^ ^
How do you think about our schedule suggestion?
Trust us and just try. Locals know the local best! ^ ^
We would welcome your blog posting after the day trip.
Please leave our URL link in your blog posting to share useful information with others~
Now we are offering a shuttle bus from Seoul to Nami Island and Petite France!
Lowest Price but Different and Excellent Tour Program !!
The shuttle bus will pick you up from Hongik Univ. (Hongdae) Station, Myeongdong Station, Dongdaemun H&C Station, and take you to both destinations!
Check out this shuttle bus service on our website for further details:
At part 5, what you mean by ‘Not to miss ITX 청춘 train to Seoul, you have to take Gapyeong Tour Bus (to Cheongpyeong direction) again and get off at Cheongpyeong Station. As you see train time table below, you have 2 options.’
Hi,
It just meant that you have to take right bus on time to catch train to Seoul.
You can take either of following options on the way back to Seoul.
option 1: take bus at 17:40 and take train at 18:09 (you have to move fast as soon as you get off the bus) -> dinner at Seoul
option2: take bus at 18:40 and take train at 21:09 -> dinner at Cheongpyeong
Happy Korea trip!
How much the taxi cost from nami to petite france?
Approximately KRW 20,000 won
HI,
Can I check with you, when i come back from Petite France, can i take back to Gapyeong Station instead of Cheongpyeong Station and I can take ITX to Yongsan station as it is closer to my hotel? Or is it a one way train route?
If Shuttle bus schedule fits, you can go to Gapyeong Station and take ITX. Otherwise, Cheongpyeong Station would be better to take shuttle bus. Anyway, both stations are on the one way train route but ITX stops at Gapyeong only. You have to take normal train at Cheongpyeong station but the trains is still quite nice. 🙂
Hi, can i check if the KR Pass can be used on the ITX Cheongchun Line? Thanks.
Yes.
You can use KR Pass to ITX Cheongchun line.
Thanks for your useful information. Like it.
I tried to book the train from from Cheongpyeong station to Cheongnyangni Station but only got 14.39pm and 20.07pm timing. I have to choose 20.07pm instead. Is there any place for dinner at Cheongpyeong Station?
Even if tickets are sold out, you can still buy flexible ticket (you can sit any vacant seat, otherwise standing) at train station ticket box. If you want to have dinner near Cheongpyeong Station, There are restaurants alley near Exit 1.
Happy Korea trip!
Tks very much!! Would you suggest to take train from Gapyeong instead if there are earlier slots? We have 15 of us so trying to arrange properly.
Yes, whichever earlier shuttle bus would be better than waiting. However, I’m not sure if there is a shuttle bus to Gapyeong at proper time. Good luck! ^ ^
thanks alot for the infor!
hi! what if i want to include the garden of morning calm in my itinerary to watch the lighting festival at night.. do you think it’s possible? what would be the best route to take? thank you! 🙂
Hi bluefairie,
GMC is bit far from public transportation and other places. If you want to visit GMC as well, you will need 2 days. Many people say that GMC is to far for a day trip using public transportation from Seoul although they didn’t visit other 2 places.
Can we use t-money in all of those transfers?taxi cab and buses?
Hello Ierie,
There has been discussion between Seoul and Gyeonggi-do government about T-money compatibility but we are not so sure whether it has already been implemented. We recommend to prepare cash payment. 🙂
hihi^^
Would you advise if we can do Petit France first then Nami Island?
because there are more ITX timing from Gapyeong back to Seoul City than from Cheongpyeong :'(
Hello summer, We would say that it will be depending on your interest level for both places and Gapyeong tour bus time table. If you can make clear transport schedule including Gapyeong tour bus, it shouldn’t be a problem to visit PF first. However, having lunch at Nami Island would be quite good. 🙂
i see^^
or is there any other way that u recommend for returning to Seoul from Petit France (other than ITX)?!
Hi, I will be going for Miasageori station, do you still recommend to go to Yongsan Station to take ITX to Gapyeong Station?
Then Cheongnyangni Station will be closer than Yongsan station.
Hi,
Beside using Gapyeong Tour Bus from Namiseom to Petite France, is there City Bus to go there? And how about taxi? How much cost to have pay from Namiseom to Petite France.
For your info that I will go in a group (4 people).
Thank you 🙂
Hi, Yuni Yanti.
They have public bus from Nami to Petite. But you have to transfer 2 times to get there.
So we recommend you to take a taxi or city tour bus.
It will costs KRW 20,000 won approximately.
If you use tour bus only 1 time, take a taxi would be better for 4 people.
Hi! I would like to ask if there is a need for a credit card in booking for ITX? Is it difficult to get a ticket by the counter?
Hi Dom,
You can get a ticket at station counter but you would be better to book online earlier if you want to secure seats in high season or weekend. In case of seats sold out, you will still be able to get flexible ticket (which may mean standing ticket) at the counter.
You can book ITX at http://www.letskorail.com .
Happy Korea trip!
BnBHero
Hi, thanks for your comprehensive guide. Can I ask for the Gapyeong tour bus, is the 5000 won ticket for the whole day or just for one trip (meaning I need to buy each time I get on the bus)? Do you also have the link for the Gapyeong tour bus website? Thanks so much!! 🙂
Hi Aj,
It’s a daily ticket. You can ride tour bus as many as you want in a day.
Its website is http://www.gptour.go.kr but it doesn’t seem to be down at the moment.
Happy Korea trip!
BnBHero
Hi,
Are the buses generally on time/reach on time and is it easy to find the way to the train back to Seoul @ Cheongpyeong? On the way back to Seoul from Petit France, the bus will arrive at Cheongpyeong at 6:05pm. The train to Seoul is 6:09pm. That means 4mins to play around only. Is that too short?
Thanks.
ZH
Hi ZH,
Buses usually runs on time but you’d be better to consider some buffer.
Even if you miss ITX train at 6:09, there are many other trains before next ITX train. You can take one of them and come back to Seoul. ^ ^
BnBHero
Hi,
May I know what you mean when you said “there are many trains before the next ITX train”? I understand that there is an ITX train arriving at 18:09 and the next one is at 21:09. Do you mean to say that between 18:09 and 21:09, there are other trains arriving as weLL?
Looking forward to your reply as it would greatly help in planning my trip. 🙂
hi, can we only buy the gapyeong tour bus ticket at the gapyeong station? wondering if we could buy the ticket at the cheongpyeong station and hop on the bus from there to go to GMC first? thank you so much! 🙂
Hi, jxss.
Of course you can buy on the bus.
Hi, after leaving Petit France, can I take taxi to Gapyeong station and take ITX from Gapyeong station back to Ichon station as I stay nearby there. The taxi fare from Petit France to Gapyeong will roughly cost how much ? Thank you so much
Hi,
if you take a taxi from Petit France to Gapyeong station, it will cost KRW 15000(USD $13).
Thanks
Hi
Would like to know if I go from Gangnam station. Which station near to proceed to Nami island thereafter to Petite France? Take how long from Gangnam station to Yongsan station??
Hi mandy,
We recommend you to take ITX in Cheongnyangni Station. It’s more closer than Yongsan Station from Gangnam station. It will take 30 minutes from Gangnam to Cheongnyangni Satation.
Have a nice day!
BnBHero
Thanks
if from Hoehyeon (Namdaemun Market) station which one is near to proceed (yongsan or cheongnyangni station) and how long? Go on Saturday to nami island and petite OK? ?
Hi which station is near the station Nadaemun market station to nami island and petite? How long from Nadaemun to the station??
Hi, can you pls advise how long is the bus ride from PF to Gapyeong station?
It will takes 40 min.
Hi Bnbhero,
If my friend and I would like to go back to Seoul from Nami Island,
Do we take the ferry/bus to Gapyeong station instead of Cheongpyeong station.?
Thankyou
jasmine
Hi. Would it be possible to add Garden of the Morning Calm to this itinerary? In other words, Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of the Morning Calm can be visited in one day from Seoul.
Hi! it’s possible to include the garden of morning calm. When i visited S.Korea last January, we visited nami island, petit france and garden of morning calm in just one day. Just don’t forget to be time-conscious to be able to get on the last trip of the Gapyeong tour bus to Cheongpyeong Station.
Hi, can I take normal train from Cheongpyeong back to Honggik University (with transfers in between), are there many timings for the normal train between 6 – 10pm on a weekday?
Hi, is it possible if we want to include morning calm garden in one day trip? Any advise ? Thank you!!
This is a really good tip particularly to those new to the
blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Thanks for sharing
this one. A must read article!
hi..
can i use itx train to gapyeong from seoul station? and the station name is “seoul” on booking online website?
Yes, you can!
Hi,
Are the tour buses usually packed with people? I’m travelling with 5 other adults and 2 children. Wouldn’t want to miss the bus due to shortage of seats.
Would appreciate your reply on this!
On weekend, there is lots of Korean tourists. But on weekday, we think there is available seats on the bus.
Hi there! I will be travelling from Myeongdong to Gapyeong station. Is it a must to travel to Gapyeong with ITX? Thank you.
Hi, Kuan Yau.
You can take a subway to Gapyeong station, but it takes really long time.
So we recommend you to take ITX train.
Hi..thanks for this blog. It helps me alot..
I planning to visit the morning calms garden during lightning festival this coming january2017. Do you have any idea, if there’s still available train or bus after 8 pm back to seoul?i will be staying at Incheon hyatt hotel. What city is nearest to nami island seoul or busan?pls help thanks alot.
Ps:if i will be in incheon hyatt hotel what train or bus station that close to the hotel going to nami?do u recommend a day bus tour ?thanks for your reply.
Hi, GHINA.
You can find more information about the transportation in this link.
http://www.morningcalm.co.kr/_ENG/html/transportation.php
Also, Seoul is more closer than Busan. Incheon is west area of Seoul. But Nami island and morning calm garden is east area of Seoul.
I think you should better book the hotel in Seoul, not Incheon.
If you have other questions, please let us know 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Hi,
I would like to ask that, if lets say i go according of your itinerary. And when i take the tour bus again to petite france from namisum, do i have to pay ₩5000 again? or is it just one time payment from where i get on from?
Hi, Alvin Chua.
It is just one time payment.
Hi,
I would like to ask that if i go according to your plan from namisum to petite france via gapyeong tour bus. do i have to pay ₩5000 again when i take the tour bus? or is it just one time fee thing? 🙂
Hi, ahmeng89.
just 1 time, you can take a bus all day.
Hi BnB,
Would like to ask for your suggestion on what would be the transportation that we’re going to ride from Petite France to Nami Island? Thank you. 🙂
Hi, There is public transportation, but you have to take 3 buses to go Nami island.
So we recommend you to take a taxi.
It will costs KRW 20,000won and take 30 min.
Thank you 🙂
How much approximately the taxi cost from Nami Island to Petite France and from Petite France to Cheongpyeong Station? I have been there twice, and the Gapyeong City Tour Bus is always crowded. I will go there again with my friends, and her child. So I want to consider ride taxi from Nami Island to Petite France, and also from Petite France to Cheongpyeong Station. Thank you
Hi, annawong.
It will cost KRW 20,000won by taxi from Nami island to Petite France.
Also, similar price from Petite France to Cheongpyeong station.
Hi! Thanks so much for the comprehensive information. I’m planning to go to nami + petite this June 29. But btw, do you know how much it will cost to take a taxi from nami to petite? Just in case we want to spend more time in nami and don’t want to worry abt the shuttle bus schedule. Thanks!!
Hello I want to ask why we should go down at cheongpyeong station rather than gapyeong station to go back to seoul? I’m really slow 🙁 help me understand. 🙂 Thanks!!