South Korea / Seoul & Around / Nami Island & ChuncheonNami Island & Chuncheon
Tree-Lined River Island and Lake City
Nami Island, in the North Han River, is a small island of tree avenues (ginkgo and metasequoia) made famous by the drama Winter Sonata, reached by a five-minute ferry from Gapyeong; Chuncheon, the lake city 15 km on, is the place for dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), the Soyang River skywalk and the Garden of Morning Calm nearby. Most visitors come as a day trip from Seoul on the ITX-Cheongchun train; a night in Chuncheon makes it unhurried. Nami is in Gangwon province, but every trip there runs from Seoul.
Highlights
- Metasequoia avenue on Nami Island
- Ginkgo leaves in late October
- Zip-wire to Nami Island
- Garden of Morning Calm light festival in winter
- Gangchon Rail Bike along the old line
- Dakgalbi in Chuncheon
- Soyang River Skywalk
- Petite France
Things to do
- Nami Island tree avenues by bicycleMorning · 3h
- Zip-wire from Gapyeong Wharf to Nami IslandMorning · 1h
- Gangchon Rail BikeAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Garden of Morning CalmAfternoon · 2h
- Dakgalbi dinner on Chuncheon's dakgalbi streetEvening · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – May, October – November
Worth knowing
Jangma: the Summer Monsoon
The monsoon (jangma) brings days of heavy rain from late June to late July, hot and humid in between. Flash floods can close riverside parks, mountain trails and some roads. Plan museums, markets and indoor days, carry an umbrella, and keep hiking days flexible.
Worth knowing
Seollal (Lunar New Year) Travel Rush
Seollal falls on 6 February 2027 (holidays 5-7 February). Trains, express buses and Jeju flights sell out weeks ahead, expressways jam, and many small restaurants and shops close for the three days. Book every train and flight that week early, or stay in one city over the holiday.
Worth knowing
Chuseok Holiday Rush
Chuseok, the harvest holiday, falls on 15 September 2027 (holidays 14-16 September; in 2026 it was 24-26 September). KTX and bus seats for the holiday sell out within hours of opening, roads are gridlocked, and many shops and family restaurants close. Stay put over the three days and book any train before or after them.
Heads up
Autumn Foliage Season
Late October to mid-November is the most popular time of year: palaces, temples and tree-lined avenues (Nami Island, Gyeongju) are at their best and at their busiest at weekends. Book rooms early and visit the big sights on weekdays.
Heads up
Hard Winter Cold
December to February is dry and bitterly cold: Seoul averages around -2 °C in January with cold snaps to -15 °C and below, colder in Gangwon with the wind. Bring a down jacket, gloves, a hat and thermals; heated floors and hot soups make up for it. Sunny days are good for palaces and ski slopes.
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) — Three days of family holiday when much of Korea travels home: KTX, SRT and express-bus seats sell out weeks ahead, Gimpo–Jeju flights are full, and many small restaurants, markets and shops close. Palaces and the big sights stay open, often with folk games and free entry days. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last day.
- Chuseok (harvest festival) — Korea's biggest holiday: tens of millions travel to their home towns, trains and buses sell out the day bookings open, expressways jam, and many family restaurants, markets and shops shut for the three days. Seoul's palaces and folk villages hold events. Plan to stay put in one city over the holiday, and book any train before it.
- Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival — Ice-fishing for mountain trout on a frozen river at Hwacheon, about an hour north of Chuncheon, for three weeks in January when the ice is thick enough; foreigners have a separate fishing area. Dress for -15 °C.