Petite France and Nami Island, Seoul
Friday, August 15, 2014 South Korea 0 Comments

Petite France & Nami Island, Seoul

Yes, getting lost in a place can be pretty exhausting and daunting, especially if you are new to the travel scene. But, how does this translate to if you’ve been covering a considerable amount of miles in your life already? Well, let me tell you now that it still is exhausting and daunting. That’s still part of the equation, for sure!

I’ve been lost and I’ve wandered around countless cities for as long as I can remember. Got lost in Tokyo, nearly got mugged in Ho Chi Minh, and missed a few items on our itinerary in Paris. And now this: lost in Seoul – Petite France and Nami Island.

Didn’t get physically lost per se. It was more like, lost for words? But yes, we got lost too, because we told the cab driver the wrong stop, and ended up a few miles from our next destination.... yes, that’s the fun part, but actually it's more so in Petite France and Nami Island.

If you’re visiting Seoul for the very first time, and you want to get a surely good glimpse of the REALLY GOOD STUFF, you should spend a day in Petite France and Namiseom Island.

Petite France

The Petite France is about the ‘flowers, stars, and the Little Prince.’, where you can see a French cultural village set in the Korean countryside: 16 French-style buildings all for French food, clothing, and household culture. Spend a half-day here at least!

Petite France Details:

Operating Hours: 09:00 AM -6:00 PM* Last admission: 1 hour before closing

Available Facilities:

Exhibition hall, Saint-Exupery Memorial Hall, Grand Thearter, Small Theater, Orgel House, gallery, TV drama 'Beethoven Virus' fliming location, observatory, outdoor stage, studio, fountain, playroom, Bistro, cafeteria, Little Prince souvenir shop, orgel shop, photo zone, etc.

Admission Fees:

Adults: 8,000 won / Group: 6,000 won

Youths: 6,000 won / Group: 5,000 won

Children: 5,000 won / Group: 4,000 won

Directions

From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Sangbong Bus Terminal.

Take an intercity bus to Cheongpyeong (청평).

From Cheongpyeong Terminal, take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri (고성리).

* Bus Schedule: 06:30-20:00, runs 9 times a day

Or, from the Cheongpyeong Terminal, take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France.

* Bus Schedule: 08:30-17:30, runs 7 times a day

Namiseom Island

Ahhhhh, the half-moon shaped isle just a few kilometers away from Seoul. This has become well-liked because of all the Korean TV drama series being filmed here, but even more so cos of its history. It's where the grave of General Nami lies - he led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo.... But it doesn't show that much once you're here. Everything here is nature nature and creative creative! Spend the remaining half-day here, where you’ll see the entire tree lined roads, local bungalows, and a mini theme park.

Nami Island Details:

Operating Hours

Ferry Schedule: 07:30-09:00 (30min intervals), 09:00-18:00 (10-20min intervals), 18:00-21:40 (30min intervals)

Admission Fees:

Adults : 10,000 won

Youths, Seniors (over 70) & People with disabilities: 8,000 won (ID required)

Children (ages 3-13) : 4,000 won

Visitors arriving after 18:00 (Dec-Mar), after 19:00 (Apr-Nov): 4,000 won

Directions:

From Gapyeong Bus Terminal or Gapyeong Station, take a taxi to Namiseom parking lot. (Travel time: 10-15 min)

Take the ferry from Namiseom Dock to Namiseom Island. (Travel time: 5-6 min)

Shuttle Bus (From Seoul to Namiseom Island)