When Does Nami Island's Foliage Peak?

Nami Island is a small, tree-planted island in the North Han River, about an hour east of Seoul. It belongs to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, but you reach it from the wharf in Gapyeong, on the Gyeonggi side of the river. That puts it right on the line between the two regions in Korea's autumn forecasts.

This year's foliage map, released by the Korea Tourism Organization with the Korea National Arboretum, gives both regions a late-October peak. For Gangwon, measured at the provincial arboretum in Chuncheon, it forecasts ginkgo around October 27 and maple around October 28. For the Seoul capital area, it expects maple around October 29 and ginkgo around October 31. The forecasts come from tree-by-tree observations by hundreds of citizen volunteers.

Read together, the island is at or near its best right now, and the color usually holds into the first week or two of November. Expect a mix that changes quickly. The ginkgo goes from lime to bright gold. The maples run from orange to deep red. The metasequoias, which the forecast doesn't cover, turn a rusty cinnamon-orange in the same weeks. Wind and rain bring the leaves down fast, so a cold, clear week is the one to grab.

If your dates fall later in November, look further south. Our Naejangsan foliage day trip covers the maple valley that peaks in early November. In the city itself, the Seoul fall foliage guide covers palaces and parks that stay colorful a little longer.

Forecasts are estimates. Nami Island posts seasonal updates on its official site and social channels, so check them the week you go.

The Ginkgo and Metasequoia Lanes, and When to Walk Them

The island is compact enough to walk end to end, and the autumn highlights sit close together near the middle. If you have already read our Nami Island day trip guide, this is the autumn version: fewer stops, timed for the color.

The Songpa Ginkgo Lane. This is the island's autumn signature, and it has a good story. Since 2006, Seoul's Songpa District has collected the fallen ginkgo leaves from its street trees each autumn and sent them to Nami Island. They are spread along a short lane of about 100 meters near the middle of the island, so it stays gold underfoot even after the trees above have dropped their own leaves. It is the most photographed path on the island, so go early.

The metasequoia lanes. Tall, straight metasequoias line several paths across the island, including the main avenue that most visitors head to first. In autumn their feathery needles turn a warm rust color, and late-afternoon light comes through them sideways. Walk the main lane, then look for the quieter ones behind it.

The birch grove and the ginkgo pond garden. White birches mixed with red maples and pines make the best blue-sky photo on the island. Nearby, ginkgo trees lean over a small garden pond, and on a still morning they reflect in the water.

When to walk them. Crowds are the one real problem in peak season, and timing fixes most of it.

• Take the first ferry. In the autumn season, from September 18 to November 22 this year, extra boats run and the first ferry leaves at 7:30 a.m. every day. Tickets bought before 8 a.m. for those early boats are sold at a discount. You get the lanes almost to yourself for the first hour.
• Go on a weekday. Weekends in peak foliage season bring tour buses and long lines at the wharf. A Tuesday to Thursday visit feels like a different island.
• Avoid late morning on weekends. From about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the ferry lines and the main lanes are at their fullest. Arrive before it, or come later in the afternoon.
• Or stay late. On Fridays, weekends and public holidays in the autumn season, the last ferry to the island leaves at 9:30 p.m., and tickets bought after 6:31 p.m. from April to November are cheaper. The color is gone after dark, but the paths are quiet.

To get around faster, bikes rent from 5,000 won for 30 minutes, and a small train runs from the wharf to the middle of the island for 4,000 won one way. In fall, the lanes are best on foot.

Getting There: Train, Shuttle, Ferry or Zip Wire

Every route ends at the same place: Nami Island wharf in Gapyeong, where you buy your ticket and board. The island ticket includes the round-trip ferry.

By train. This is the best choice for an early start.

• ITX-Cheongchun: about 60 minutes from Yongsan Station, or about 42 minutes from Cheongnyangni, to Gapyeong Station. Seats are reserved, so book in the Korail app, especially for a weekend return.
• Gyeongchun Line: the commuter line runs from Sangbong Station to Gapyeong in about 50 minutes. You can pay with a transit card, so there's nothing to book, but it can be standing room only on autumn weekends.

From Gapyeong Station to the wharf is about 1.5 km. A taxi or local bus 10-4 takes about five minutes, and the walk takes about 20. For the trip back, call a taxi through the Kakao T app before you leave the island, because the taxi line at the wharf can get long late in the afternoon.

By tour bus around Gapyeong. Gapyeong County runs a tourist loop bus that links Gapyeong Station with Nami Island and the other sights in the next section. Routes and timetables change by season, so check the current schedule with Gapyeong County's tourism office before you plan around it.

By shuttle from Seoul. A direct shuttle runs every day from central Seoul to the wharf. It leaves Hongik University Station Exit 4 at 9:00, Namsan Yejang bus parking near Myeongdong at 9:40, and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 9 at 9:50. It reaches Nami Island at 11:30. It returns from the island at 16:30 and reaches Hongdae at about 18:50. It's easy, with no transfers. The catch: you arrive right in the late-morning rush. Book through the operator listed on Nami Island's official site.

Ferry or zip wire. Ferries cross every 10 to 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ride takes about five minutes. For a faster arrival, a ticket that takes you over by motorboat and back by ferry costs 29,000 won. The motorboat goes when at least two people are aboard. Or fly in: a zip wire runs from a tall tower by the wharf car park, across the river and onto the island. It passed one million riders this year. It has its own operator, ticket and hours, so check its schedule and price before you go.

By car. The wharf car park costs 6,000 won for a small car for up to 12 hours, and it is card-only. On peak weekends, the roads into Gapyeong back up, which is one more reason to take the train.

The island has its own TV history, too: it was a filming location for the 2002 drama Winter Sonata, which first made it famous across Asia.

Make a Day of It: Petite France, the Garden of Morning Calm and the Rail Bike

The island takes three to four hours. With an early start, you have the afternoon for one more Gapyeong stop. Pick one, not all three. They are spread out, and the light fades by about 5:30 p.m. in late autumn.

The Garden of Morning Calm. This private arboretum in the hills of Sang-myeon is the strongest pairing for a foliage trip. In autumn it adds maples around a pond and pavilion, pink muhly grass and its annual chrysanthemum exhibition, which runs until November 15 this year. It is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and last entry is at 6 p.m. Adult entry is 11,000 won, and you don't need to book. If you come back in winter, its light festival usually opens in early December and runs to mid-March.

Petite France and Italy Village. These two hillside theme villages sit above the river. Petite France is built around The Little Prince, with pastel houses and a collection of rare music boxes. The Italian village next door follows the same idea, with a Pinocchio theme. Both were recently renovated. They usually open from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but check before you go, because hours change with the season and events.

The Gapyeong Rail Bike. If you want something more active, the rail bike runs an 8 km round trip from Gapyeong town to the old Gyeonggang Station. It crosses an old railway bridge high over the North Han River and passes through a tunnel of zelkova trees that turn color in autumn. The bikes are electric-assisted, so the pedaling is easy. Departures are at 10:00, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30 and 18:00. The last one is the evening "starlight" ride, with lights along the track. A two-seat bike is 36,000 won and a four-seat bike is 48,000 won. Book ahead on the operator's site for weekends.

A one-day plan that works:

• About 6:00 One of the first ITX-Cheongchun or Gyeongchun Line trains from Seoul (check departures in the Korail app)
• 7:30 to 11:00 First ferries, Songpa Ginkgo Lane, metasequoia lanes, birch grove
• 11:30 Lunch on the mainland side, in Gapyeong town
• 13:30 or 15:00 Rail bike, or the Garden of Morning Calm for the afternoon
• Evening Train back to Seoul

Rough costs per person, before food: 19,000 won for the island with the ferry, plus 11,000 won for the garden or half of a 36,000-won two-seat rail bike. Add train fares and a short taxi. Prices change, so check the official sites before you set out.