REVIEW · SEOUL
Nami Island and Petite France – Filming location
Book on Viator →Operated by SEOUL CITY TOUR CO. LTD. · Bookable on Viator
Three K-drama stops in one smooth day.
This Seoul-area outing packs Nami Island and Petite France together with included admission, so you spend less time hunting tickets and more time walking sets and taking photos. It’s designed for a change of pace from the city, with round-trip hotel transport and a real guide on hand.
I especially like the way this tour handles logistics: hotel pickup and drop-off, plus skip-the-line style entry with admission included at both stops. I also like the included spicy Korean chicken lunch, which saves you from deciding where to eat when the day is moving fast.
One heads-up: the time at each place is limited, so if you want long, slow strolling (or you’re traveling purely for shopping), you may find the schedule a bit tight.
In This Review
- Key highlights worth clocking
- A K-drama day trip that’s built around walking
- Hotel pickup and the 8:00 am start rhythm
- Nami Island: the Gapyeong ferry and 1 hour that actually counts
- Petite France: Secret Garden filming energy in a French-themed village
- Lunch and transport: saving your energy for the walking
- Ginseng center stop: part cultural stop, part shopping time
- Price and what you truly get for $125
- The sweet spot: who this tour fits best
- A simple packing mindset for Nami + Petite France
- Should you book this Nami Island and Petite France day trip?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
- How long do you spend at Nami Island and Petite France?
- What’s included in the price?
- Is lunch included, and what is it?
- Do you get mobile tickets, and is cancellation free?
Key highlights worth clocking

- Skip ticket lines with admission included for every main stop
- Nami Island by mini ferry from Gapyeong Wharf (about 5 minutes)
- Petite France’s K-drama film connection and the French-style streetscape
- A guide staying with you and helping with on-the-ground decisions
- Included lunch featuring a Korean spicy chicken meal
- A ginseng center stop to round out the day
A K-drama day trip that’s built around walking

This is one of those Seoul outings that works well when you want “outside Seoul” time without turning the day into a travel puzzle. You start early, then you move through three offbeat stops: Nami Island, Petite France, and finally a ginseng center (plus a shopping component as part of the plan).
What makes it compelling is the mix: Nami Island brings nature + film-styled scenery, while Petite France gives you a themed European village look that’s directly tied to popular Korean drama filming. Put them together, and you get variety—trees and calm on one side, colorful streets and sets on the other—without the stress of arranging transport or buying tickets on the go.
The tour also caps at a maximum group size of 40, with a minimum of 3 per booking. In practice, that tends to mean a “manageable group” vibe instead of feeling like you’re in a stadium line—though you’ll still be moving with a schedule.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Seoul.
Hotel pickup and the 8:00 am start rhythm

The plan begins at 8:00 am, and that early start matters more than it sounds. You’ll get a hotel pickup, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, and then you’ll be ready to hit both attractions in a single day.
For me, the payoff is simple: you avoid the big-city commute headache. If your main goal is photos, walking, and enjoying the set-like atmosphere at each location, being picked up and dropped off is a big deal. You also get a professional guide who can answer questions while you’re on the move.
There’s also a practical advantage to going early: you’re more likely to arrive before the day crowds fully build. That doesn’t mean it’ll be empty, but it helps you enjoy your time at each stop instead of feeling rushed by arrival delays.
Nami Island: the Gapyeong ferry and 1 hour that actually counts

Nami Island starts with a mini ferry ride from Gapyeong Wharf to Nami wharf. The crossing is short—about 5 minutes—which keeps it from feeling like a “ferry day,” and gets you onto the island quickly.
Once you arrive, you get about 1 hour on Nami Island itself. That hour is the core of the experience: walking the tree-lined paths that made the island a favorite for movie and drama productions, then using that film-ready look to guide where you stop for photos. The island’s appeal is that it feels like a set, but it’s still nature—so you can enjoy the view while you’re enjoying the vibe.
Here’s the realistic trick for getting value from a short visit: don’t try to cover every corner. Instead, choose a few photo angles you care about (main paths, the most iconic tree sections, and any quieter lanes you spot), then give yourself time to wander between them at an easy pace.
In reviews connected to this kind of day trip, the guide effect shows up a lot—people highlight how the guide stays energetic and keeps the group moving with good suggestions. That matters on Nami Island because you’ll naturally want to ask where to go next once you’re there.
Petite France: Secret Garden filming energy in a French-themed village

Next is Petite France, where the big hook is the K-drama connection. The village-style setting is tied to a Korean drama called Secret Garden, and the overall theme comes from the idea of a small French village.
You get about 1 hour here too. The place is designed for wandering: multi-colored buildings, little boutiques and galleries, and a lot of “set dressing” that makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a story. There are also snacks with a French style, plus performances in the main hall on a frequent schedule.
Two practical notes:
- If performances are a priority for you, arrive ready to shift your timing on the spot, since the main hall schedule runs frequently rather than being one fixed showtime.
- If shopping is your goal, you’ll likely want to move with purpose. With only an hour, you can browse, but you should avoid getting stuck in one shop for 45 minutes unless you’re really shopping.
The value here isn’t just the photos. It’s the way Petite France gives you a different mood from Nami Island. Trees and calm outdoors turn into bright buildings and themed streets right away, which keeps the day from feeling repetitive.
In the reviews, guides like Lily and Lizzy come up with praise for being fun and helping people make decisions once they’re on site. Even if you’re a drama fan, you’ll still appreciate someone pointing out what to prioritize so the time doesn’t evaporate.
Lunch and transport: saving your energy for the walking
Lunch is included, and it’s described as a traditional Korean spicy chicken meal. That’s a real advantage because you don’t have to plan food while you’re traveling between stops.
If you’re sensitive to spice, you’ll want to pace yourself and consider asking the guide or checking how spicy it’s expected to be. The tour doesn’t mention an alternative meal option, so it’s smart to think about it before the day starts.
Transport is handled in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide riding with you. One review detail that stuck with me: the driver Danny is praised for safe and careful driving. That’s exactly what you want on a day trip where you’ll be dealing with early departures, ferry time, and multiple transitions.
Also, because you’re moving between places, snacks and water are worth thinking about—but the tour data only says lunch is included and other food and drinks aren’t. So build in a little flexibility. If you like having a small snack during walking breaks, plan for it.
Ginseng center stop: part cultural stop, part shopping time

The day is rounded out at a ginseng center, and there’s also one shopping center included in the overall plan. The tour doesn’t lay out a detailed schedule for this final stop, but it’s clearly part of the experience design.
Here’s how I’d approach it so it stays enjoyable: treat it like a short “learn and look” stop unless you’re actively shopping. You can usually get more out of these centers by going in with a mindset of browsing and asking questions—then deciding whether anything is worth buying before your time runs out.
If you love Korean product culture, you might enjoy the stop more than you expect. If you’re not shopping-focused, you can still use it as a break before the ride back to Seoul.
Price and what you truly get for $125

At $125 per person, this isn’t a budget “grab a bus and go” deal, but it also isn’t just paying for transport. What you’re paying for is a bundled package:
- hotel pickup and drop-off
- a professional guide
- air-conditioned vehicle
- admission fees to the main attractions
- lunch
And because admissions are included at the key sites, you reduce friction on the ground. That’s not glamorous, but it’s valuable when you’re on a tight 8-hour timeline.
I also like that the tour is structured to keep your day moving without making you constantly problem-solve. For many visitors, the biggest cost of a day trip isn’t the ticket price—it’s the time spent coordinating logistics. This tour buys you back time.
If you’re traveling solo and prefer flexible pacing, you might question the fixed schedule and limited hours at each stop. But if you want a guided, efficient day built around two major “film-location style” attractions, the value tends to make sense.
The sweet spot: who this tour fits best

This works particularly well if:
- you want a K-drama themed day outside the city
- you’d rather spend energy walking and photographing than arranging transport
- you like having a guide to explain what you’re seeing and keep the day flowing
- you want included admission so you’re not juggling tickets
It may feel less ideal if you:
- want long, slow wandering with no time pressure
- are very shopping-focused and need more time than the day offers
- dislike spicy food and need a guaranteed mild alternative (the tour only specifies spicy chicken lunch)
A simple packing mindset for Nami + Petite France
Because you’ll be outside and walking, think practical:
- comfortable shoes (you’ll do more steps than you expect)
- light layers (weather can change quickly)
- a phone charger or portable battery for photos
- cash or card for anything beyond lunch (the tour says food and drinks aren’t included unless specified)
Also, because the tour uses a mobile ticket, make sure you can access it offline or with reliable data on the day.
Should you book this Nami Island and Petite France day trip?
Book it if you want a clean, guided day that combines Nami Island, Petite France, and a ginseng center stop with minimal hassle. The included admissions and lunch are the biggest reasons this can feel like good value, and the guide-driven experience (with praised guides like Lily and Lizzy, plus careful driving highlighted in one review) can make the day feel smoother than DIY.
Skip it or consider another option if you hate early starts, want more than 1 hour at each site, or you’re mainly in it for deep shopping time at the end. In that case, you may feel constrained by the schedule.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 8:00 am.
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle.
How long do you spend at Nami Island and Petite France?
You get about 1 hour at Nami Island and about 1 hour at Petite France.
What’s included in the price?
The price includes a professional guide, lunch, admission fees, and round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off.
Is lunch included, and what is it?
Yes, lunch is included. It’s described as a traditional Korean spicy chicken lunch.
Do you get mobile tickets, and is cancellation free?
Yes, the tour uses a mobile ticket. Cancellation is free if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
If you tell me your travel month and whether you care more about photos, drama filming spots, or shopping, I can help you judge if the 1-hour-per-stop format will feel right for your style.

























