Gapyeong Day Trip to Petite France and Nami Island (Day 8)

Petite France is a charming French themed village built to enable visitors to experience European culture and arts. It is dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous character ''Le Petit Prince'' and there is even a memorial hall showcasing his life and works. 

 

    

This place is just so adorable and whimsical and we had a lot of fun wandering in and out of the cute colourful buildings that house museums, galleries and cafes. The other distinguishing feature of Petite France is the outdoor amphitheatre which is where French art performances such as marionette (hand puppet) shows and orgel demonstrations are held.

Petite France is an extremely photogenic place and it is no wonder that it played backdrop to many iconic Korean shows such as “Running Man”, “Secret Garden” and “My Love from the Star”.

Less than four km away from Petite France is also another must-visit for first-time visitors to Korea: Nami Island. 

Snowmen everywhere!

Buying ferry tickets to Nami Island from the Immigration booth

On the ferry to Nami Island

Inside the ferry - no seats, all standing room!

Excitedly getting off from the ferry

Cute sculpture at the pier

Nami Island is a beautifully cultivated park built in harmony with nature. It is also the first in Korea and the 14^th park in the world to be designated as a UNICEF Child Friendly Park.

The first impression I got when I disembarked from the ferry was how much greenery there is here! There are literally thousands of tall trees planted here, from metasequoia trees, gingko trees, cherry trees, pine trees, white birch and more. I’ve visited Nami Island twice, in spring and autumn, and I think I like autumn the best coz that’s when the tree-lined roads turn spectacularly golden and maple trees turn red.

Due to the truckload of tourists and locals that descend upon its shores every day, I think Nami Island is fast becoming more like an amusement park then a peaceful nature resort. The pictures on the website? I think those were taken before or after opening hours when there are no crowds! In reality, you can never take a photograph there without people milling in the background!

there are several gardens and walking paths to explore

a peaceful view of the lake

That said, there are still some lovely secluded spots to sit and relax especially along the shoreline. I am also particularly envious of the army of ahjummas who packed themselves a sumptuous picnic to share with their friends! Must try that next time for a more authentic Nami Island experience!

How to get there

Petite France and Nami Island are located in provinces outside of Seoul (Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do respectively). It is remarkable how a one hour subway ride brings you from the heart of metropolitan Seoul to a nature wonderland filled with scenic mountains, rivers and lakes. Due to the close proximity of these two locations, it is possible to visit both sites in a day if you plan carefully.

For our day trip, we took the Gapyeong Tourist Resort shuttle bus from Cheongpyeong Station to Petite France first, then later re-boarded the shuttle bus to Nami Island. The cost of this hop-on/hop-off bus service is 5,000 won and bus tickets can be purchased from the driver when you board the bus.