π Best Day Trips from Seoul: Nami Island, Petite France, and More
Planning a visit to Seoul but want to escape the busy city for a day? Good news: Korea’s capital is surrounded by charming nature spots, historical villages, and unique attractions just 1–2 hours away. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a K-drama fan, there's a day trip waiting for you. Here's your ultimate list of top day trips from Seoul.
π Table of Contents
1. Nami Island (λ¨μ΄μ¬)
Famous for tree-lined paths and the drama Winter Sonata, Nami Island is ideal for a relaxing stroll or biking along riverside trails. You can take a ferry or zipline to the island.
How to get there: ITX train from Yongsan Station → Gapyeong Station + shuttle or taxi
2. Petite France (μλ νλμ€)
A French cultural village with colorful buildings, puppet shows, and Le Petit Prince-themed exhibits. Popular K-dramas like My Love from the Star and Beethoven Virus were filmed here.
Nearby: You can combine this with Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm in one day!
3. The Garden of Morning Calm (μμΉ¨κ³ μμλͺ©μ)
A stunning botanical garden that changes beautifully with each season — cherry blossoms in spring, lights in winter, and foliage in fall.
4. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (μμνμ±)
A UNESCO World Heritage site with historic walls, archery experiences, and traditional Korean architecture. Great for history lovers!
How to get there: Subway Line 1 to Suwon Station, then local bus or taxi
5. Paju Book City & Heyri Art Village (νμ£ΌμΆνλμ & ν€μ΄λ¦¬ μμ λ§μ)
For bookworms and creatives, this area offers art galleries, cafes, bookstores, and peaceful surroundings. It’s a favorite spot for photographers and weekend explorers.
6. Gangchon Rail Park (κ°μ΄λ μΌνν¬)
Pedal a rail bike along an old train track through tunnels and scenic riverside views. A super fun group activity!
7. Incheon Chinatown & Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village
Visit Korea’s oldest Chinatown, snack on jjajangmyeon, then wander into a colorful neighborhood full of storybook murals and photo zones.
8. Yangpyeong Dumulmeori & Semiwon (λ물머리 & μΈλ―Έμ)
Dumulmeori is where two rivers meet — perfect for sunrise photos. Semiwon is a peaceful lotus flower park with traditional ponds and footpaths.
9. Gapyeong Zipline & Water Sports
For adrenaline seekers, Gapyeong also offers ziplining, water skiing, and banana boats near the lakeside resorts. Great summer option!
10. π€ Did you know?
The zipline to Nami Island is the longest zipline over water in Asia! It's over 900 meters long and lands you directly onto the island. It’s a popular bucket-list activity for adventurous travelers.
