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Nami Island for First-Time Visitors: Ferry Tickets and the Naminara Passport

Level
A2
Type
Guide
Theme
Travel
작성자
Y
Yanghwa
작성시각
The bus from Seoul stops at Gapyeong, and from there the road just ends. There's no bridge onward; the last stretch to Nami Island is only by boat. A few words at the ferry terminal and the ticket booth cover most of what you'll need.

Getting There

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
남이섬 가는 배
na-mi-seom ga-neun bae
the boat that goes to Nami Island
왕복이에요
wang-bo-gi-e-yo
It's round trip
Nami Island sits in a river northeast of Seoul, and cars can't cross to it; most visitors get there on 남이섬 가는 배, a ferry ride of about five minutes from the terminal near Gapyeong. Most visitors take the subway or an ITX train to Gapyeong Station, then a local bus or shuttle to the ferry pier. The standard adult ticket is 왕복이에요, meaning the round-trip boat ride is already included in the price you pay at the booth.

Buying Your Ticket

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
어른 한 명이요
eo-reun han myeong-i-yo
One adult, please
여권처럼 써요
yeo-gwon-cheo-reom sseo-yo
It's used like a passport
어른 한 명이요 covers the adult ticket at the booth window if you're buying in person rather than online, though booking ahead through the island's own site or a travel platform often comes with a small discount. There's a small extra with the ticket: since Nami Island declared itself the self-styled "Naminara Republic" in 2006, complete with its own stamps and coins as souvenirs, the entry ticket is 여권처럼 써요, checked at a gate the way a passport gets checked, before you board the boat.

Once You're on the Island

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
자전거 빌리고 싶어요
ja-jeon-geo bil-li-go si-peo-yo
I'd like to rent a bike
메타세쿼이아 길이 어디예요?
me-ta-se-kwo-i-a gi-ri eo-di-ye-yo
Where is the metasequoia road?
The island is flat and walkable, but 자전거 빌리고 싶어요 is worth knowing if you want to cover more ground, since bikes are available to rent on the island. Ask 메타세쿼이아 길이 어디예요? and you'll be pointed toward the tree-lined avenue that most people recognize from photos online, made famous by the 2002 drama Winter Sonata and still one of the most photographed spots on the island, especially in autumn when the leaves turn.

Timing Your Visit

Korean
Pronunciation
Meaning
마지막 배가 몇 시예요?
ma-ji-mak bae-ga myeot-ssi-ye-yo
What time is the last boat?
단풍이 예뻐요
dan-pung-i ye-ppeo-yo
The autumn leaves are pretty
The island closes in the evening, and ferries run less often outside the busiest daytime hours, so 마지막 배가 몇 시예요? is a fair question to ask at the terminal if you're planning a longer visit. For an autumn trip, 단풍이 예뻐요 fits well, since the metasequoia and other trees usually peak in color sometime in October, though the island also draws crowds for snow scenes in winter.
Either way, plan for the ferry ride both ways when you're timing your day trip.