Wednesday 18 April 2012

Nami Island and Petite France

Last time, I went to Nami Island by tour bus. But this time, I tried different method. I took an ITX train to Gapyeong Station. It’s really worth try the train because the scenery along the way is very beautiful. I saw the mountain still covered with snow. 

How to go to Nami Island by ITX train

You need to take normal subway to Cheongyangni Station first. From there, take the ITX train to Gapyeong Station. The fare at that time was KRW 4,000. The normal price is KRW 5,700. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Gapyeong Station. From Gapyeong Station, take taxi or local bus or tour bus to Nami Island. In my case, I took tour bus because I want to go to Petite France also. The fare for the tour bus is KRW 5,000 to be pay to the bus driver. 

ITX train and the view along the way to Gapyeong Station
Tour bus ticket
Safely arrived at Nami Island
The view that I love most
My favorite picture. Did I look younger here?
Line of trees look very beatiful without any single leave
From Nami Island, I went to Petite France. Nami Island to Petite France is about 20 to 30 minutes. I took a cab because I missed the tour bus and don't want to waste time waiting for the next bus. The taxi cost me KRW 20,000. So, make sure don't miss the bus if you dont want to pay more.
Petite France is a French cultural village set in the Korean countryside. It consist of French style building. The Petite France is one of the filming location for Beethoven Virus and Secret Garden. The fare for this place is KRW 8,000 for adult. I got a discount coupon from the taxi driver. So, I paid KRW 6,000 only.

The entrance of Petite France


Beautiful roses painted on the wall
Snow, snow, snow...

Little Prince
French style buildings



Gallery in the Petite France

I love the flower motive paint on the wall
Heavy snow falling. I love it^^
Beethoven Virus filming location
Playing with the piano
Jang Geun Seuk autograph. One of the actor in Beethoven Virus
Secret Garden
Magic Show
From this place, I took the tour bus to go back to train station. Unfortunately, I missed the stop. I should stop at Cheongpyeong station instead of Gapyeong station.Cheongpyeong station is the closest station from Petite France. I ended up went to Garden of Morning Calm. This is the last station for the tour bus. I need to wait until the next schedule time to go back to the train station. Remember to stop at Cheongpyeong station instead of Gapyeong station. You can go back to Seoul and catch ITX in both station. But, if you use the tour bus, the best thing is to stop at Cheongpyeong Station because this station is the closest one. Don't waste your time to go back to Gapyeong station. It is because you need around one hour to reach there.
However, I think I was unlucky that day. When I reached to the station, the ITX have some technical problem and cannot operated. So, I took the normal train back to Seoul. The journey back to Seoul around 4 hours because of the technical problem even I took the normal train to Seoul.

25 comments:

  1. THank you veryy much for your informative story. We are going there today^^ It is so useful for us.
    www.suraysworld.blogspot.com
    check out our stories, too.

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  3. Hi, do you know where is the tour bus pickup stop at Gapyeong to go Nami Island?

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    1. Hi Si Ying,
      You can take the tour bus in front of tourist information center. Purchase the ticket from bus driver. I don't have the picture of the bus. Check out this page. They have picture of the tour bus. http://www.gptour.go.kr/tour/theme.jsp?menu=theme

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    2. Thank you for your help, sayang. Your blog has been informative! :)

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    3. Try to go out early. You can go to Garden of Morning Calm too. Take around 3hours at Nami Island, 1 hour at Petite France and another 2 hours at Garden of Morning Calm. Worth to go. I will blog my visit to Garden of Morning Calm soon^_^. Enjoy your holiday.(try to avoid weekend, less people there^_^)

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    4. Hi...
      I'm planning to go there on this coming Jan.. Is it possible if i go to Morning calm first and then to petite and nami by the tour bus? Since everyone said morning calm is very beautiful in the morning in winter.... ;)

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  4. Hi,

    i stumbled upon your blog when doing research on how to go nami island :)

    can i ask you a few questions? after u arrived at Cheongyangni Station, where is the place to take
    ITX train? Do we need to go out from Cheongyangni Station first?

    How do you buy the ITX ticket?

    Thank you!! :)

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    1. Hi Yunita,
      You don't need to go out from Cheongyangni station. all u have to do after you go out from subway train, just follow the ITX sign. You will see the itx ticket machine but you need to touch your t-money first. Follow the instruction written there and purchase the itx ticket from the ticket machine. Usually there have a staff there to help you to purchase the ticket. If you can't find any, not to worry. The machine have english menu.

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    2. hi, just came back from my korea trip :) thanks so much for your info. it was very helpful :D

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  5. Hi,
    I have plan to go to korea next month...
    Can i ask u some questions? I still doubt how to go to garden of morning calm from petite france? Is the city tour bus reach there also? And how to go back to seoul? (i have plan to use subway)

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    1. Hi, the answer of your question is Yes. The tour bus reach the garden. After visiting petite france, take the same bus to the garden in front of petite france. it will takes around 30-40 minutes to the garden from petite france. to go back to seoul, once again, take the same bus (tour bus) to Cheongpyeong station and take train back to seoul. 2nd stop from the garden if i'm not mistaken. but not to worry, just follow the other passenger because usually they will go to this station also. Enjoy your holiday!!! Hope this will help your journey to garden of morning calm^_^

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  6. The ITX (Intercity Train eXpress) travels from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Chuncheon, stops at four stations: Cheongnyangni, Pyeongnaehopyeong, Gapyeong, and Namchuncheon.So I can take the tour bus from which stop?

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    1. you can take the shuttle bus either from pyeongnaehapyeong or gapyeong station. but if you want to go to nami island first, you better take the bus from gapyeong station

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  7. the tour bus will reach Nami island? Is there a need to take a ferry?

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    1. the tour bus will take you to the nami island wharf only, you still need to take ferry to nami island.

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  8. Thank you so much for sharing us in your blog, it is so informative and it helps to visit all 3 places in 1 day.

    May I know in your opinion, which stop should we visit first and followed by which stop and end the day with our last stop (Nami Island, garden of morning calm & petite france)? Thanks

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    1. Hi Sue Wong,
      My advice is you go to Nami Island first from Gapyeong station, the next stop is Petite France, 1 hour should be enough and lastly to Garden of Morning Calm before going back to Seoul. Don't forget to go early in the morning so that you have more time to spend in this 3 places. Enjoy your trip!!!!

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  9. Hello,
    I stumbled upon your blog while planning my trip to korea in June.
    how does the tour bus ticket work? Is it W5000 per day or one way trip to petite france only?
    How much was the ferry ticket to Nami island? Does that already include the actual entry fee to the island itself?

    Thank you =)

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    1. Hi,
      The tour bus for one day use. You can use the ticket for many time you want in a day. The tour bus have many stops. The major attraction are Nami Island, Petite France and Petite France. The tour bus also stop at 2 train station which is Gapyeong station and cheongpyeong station.But make sure keep the ticket for inspection every time you board on the bus. The fare for Nami Island is KRW 8,000 inclusive entrance fee and return ferry.Hope this will help. Enjoy your trip!!!

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    2. Thanks for the information, very useful indeed =)

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  10. Hi there, i am going to seoul this coming september. just wonder whether i can use the t-money to take the ITX train? and which one is the closest to garden of the morning calm? nami island or petite france?

    Thanks for your advance help :)

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    1. hi, as far as I know, you need to buy separate ticket for ITX train. Petite France is the closest to garden of morning calm. Happy holiday!!!!

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  11. Hi, when I googled about tour around gapyeong, your blog appeared on one of the top results. I read it and checked the comments, and thanks to you it is very informative, no wonder it appeared as top result. However, I still have one simple question. I plan to go using ITX and I plan buy the ITX ticket using Korail mobile app. Can I go straight to the ITX platform by showing the ITX ticket in my phone? Or do I need to exchange to the physical (real) ticket. I also read you said you tapped your T-Money before purchasing the ITX ticket. Do I really need to do this if I buy the ticket using Korail? Thanks you for your attention :)

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  12. Hi. I wanna go to Nami island as earlier as possible. The first trip of the bus coming from Insadong station is 930am. Is taking the train will take me earlier than 930am? If yes, can you pls help me with the direction from Anguk station?

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