Petite France and Italian Village: A K-Drama Fan’s Guide

Standing in the middle of Petite France, it’s almost impossible not to hear the soundtrack of My Love from the Star playing in your head. Tucked away in the mountains of Gapyeong, this pastel European complex isn’t just a quirky photo park. It’s a K-drama filming location that fans will recognize from the screen. Add the neighboring Italian Village, and visiting Petite France and Italian Village on your own takes a little strategy, from local bus connections to timing your day.

This Petite France and Italian Village Guide is my unvarnished, step-by-step account of finding the famous camera angles, navigating the area independently, and making a memorable solo trip out of it.

Petite France as a K-Drama Filming Location

The official site lists several dramas and entertainment programs filmed here, including My Love from the Star (2013), one of the most K-drama fans will recognize. Petite France appeared in Episode 15, including the memorable scene between Do Min-joon and Cheon Song-yi. After the drama aired, the location became even more popular with international visitors. Petite France was also used as a filming location for the Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won drama’s Secret Garden (2010).

Running Man at Petite France

And yes, I have to mention Running Man at Petite France because I’m a fan. Seeing Petite France listed as one of the filming locations made the place even more interesting to me. I could already imagine the cast running around these colorful buildings, disappearing around corners, and getting into the usual Running Man chaos.

If you’re coming to Petite France because you’ve seen it in a K-drama, you’ll probably find yourself stopping every few minutes for another photo. I know I did. The colorful buildings, staircases, little corners, and The Little Prince details make it hard to just walk through without reaching for your camera.

And if you’re a Running Man fan like me, you might find yourself looking at those same staircases and imagining the cast running around the place during one of their missions. Petite France really does have that kind of layout where you can imagine the chaos happening.

Inspired by The Little Prince, Petite France is a French-inspired cultural village in Gapyeong. Walking around, I could see how easily it could double as a K-drama setting. There are colorful buildings, little corners to explore, and enough storybook details to make the place feel different from the Korea I usually see in the city.

Seeing Petite France listed as one of the filming locations made me look at the place a little differently. It wasn’t just another pretty stop on my Gapyeong itinerary. This was somewhere I’d actually seen on one of my favorite shows.

Photo-Worthy Spots at Petite France

The pastel buildings are probably the first thing you’ll notice. They line the paths and climb up the hillside, which gives you plenty of different angles to work with. I found myself taking photos from different spots rather than looking for just one perfect view. The buildings look different depending on where you’re standing, and the mountain backdrop helps complete that little European-village feeling.

Colorful French-Style Buildings

If a scene calls for a little fairytale magic, Petite France already has plenty of it. You get pastel buildings, narrow walkways, European-style details, and mountains in the background, all in one place. I can see why it keeps showing up on screen.

I also enjoyed photographing the staircases, colorful walls, and the little spaces tucked between the buildings. You don’t necessarily need to know which drama was filmed in every corner to enjoy them. For me, that was part of the fun. I wasn’t trying to recreate every single K-drama scene. I was just walking around, recognizing a few familiar-looking spots, and taking photos whenever something caught my eye.

The Amphitheater

If you’re here for the K-drama connection, this is one of the spots I’d make time for. The amphitheater sits among the colorful buildings and gives you a good view of the village. You’ll also find standees of Do Min-joon and Cheon Song-yi from My Love from the Star, so yes, this is one of those places where you can have your own little K-drama moment.

As a K-drama fan, I definitely understood why people stop here for photos. And knowing that My Love from the Star was filmed around Petite France made the whole thing a little more fun for me.

The Little Prince Areas

Don’t just stick to the bigger buildings and photo spots. Keep an eye out for the Little Prince statues and other little details scattered around Petite France. They’re easy to walk past if you’re in a hurry, but I liked finding them along the way. Since The Little Prince is such a big part of Petite France’s identity, these smaller details are part of what gives the village its character.

The Little Prince is a big part of Petite France. You’ll find statues, illustrations, and other details from the story around the village. I liked that it wasn’t just one big Little Prince display that you see and move on from. The theme shows up in different parts of the attraction, so you’ll probably notice something else as you continue walking around.

Other Spots Worth Photographing

For me, that was part of the fun. I wasn’t trying to recreate every single K-drama scene. I was just walking around, recognizing a few familiar-looking spots, and taking photos whenever something caught my eye.

Visiting Italian Village After Petite France

Right next to Petite France is another themed village, this time inspired by Italy. Officially called Pinocchio and Da Vinci, Italian Village is built around the stories of Pinocchio and the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Instead of the French-style buildings and The Little Prince theme next door, you’ll find Italian-inspired streets, medieval-style buildings, Pinocchio displays, and exhibits dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. There are also areas inspired by traditional houses in Tuscany and a Venetian village.

I think it’s worth adding Italian Village, especially if you’re a K-drama fan. The two places are right beside each other and can be visited with a combined ticket. I paid ₩19,500 for the combined Petite France and Italian Village ticket when I visited in December 2023, so I didn’t have to decide whether Italian Village was worth paying extra for. It was already part of my ticket.

For current admission prices, show times, and events, check the official Petite France website.

Italian Village was also used as a filming location for Vincenzo. I was familiar with the drama, but to be fully honest, I hadn’t actually watched it when I visited. So I wasn’t walking around trying to spot filming locations. 😅 But if you’re a Song Joong-ki or Taecyeon fan, that gives you another reason to add Italian Village to your Gapyeong itinerary.

And honestly, I was glad I went. The two places have different themes, so Italian Village didn’t feel like I was simply walking through another version of Petite France.

How I Got to Petite France & Italian Village

I visited Petite France and Italian Village as part of my Gapyeong day trip after spending the morning at Nami Island. I started my day in Seoul, took the train to Gapyeong Station, and used the Gapyeong Tourist Shuttle Bus to get around the different attractions.

Since I’ve already covered the Seoul-to-Gapyeong train route in my Gapyeong Day Trip Guide, I’ll focus here on how I got from Nami Island to Petite France and Italian Village.

From Nami Island to Petite France & Italian Village

My route wasn’t Seoul → Petite France directly. I visited Nami Island first, then continued on to Petite France and Italian Village. After spending the morning on Nami Island, I made my way back toward the mainland and caught the tourist shuttle bus for the next part of my day.

This worked out pretty well for me because I was already using the shuttle to get around Gapyeong. I didn’t have to figure out separate transportation every time I wanted to move on to another attraction. If you’re planning to follow a similar route, I’d recommend checking the shuttle schedule before you go. You don’t want to finish exploring Nami Island and then realize you’re going to be waiting around for the next bus. 😅

By Gapyeong Tourist Shuttle Bus

The Gapyeong Tourist Shuttle Bus was my main ride between the attractions that day. If you’re planning to squeeze several places into one Gapyeong day trip, it makes things a lot simpler. I used it to connect Nami Island, Petite France, and Italian Village, and you can also use the same shuttle to reach other popular stops such as the Garden of Morning Calm.

For me, the biggest advantage was not having to worry about arranging a separate ride every time I finished exploring one place. I could simply check the route, wait for the next bus, and move on to the next stop. Just keep an eye on the schedule. You’re building your day around the buses, so a little planning beforehand can save you from spending your precious sightseeing time waiting at a bus stop.

Tips for Visiting Petite France

A little planning can make your visit to Petite France much easier, especially if you’re exploring Gapyeong independently. These are a few things I learned from my own visit that I’d keep in mind before you go.

• 👟 Wear comfortable shoes. The village is built on a hillside, so you’ll be walking uphill and up stairs.
• 🚌 Check the shuttle schedule. You’re relying on the buses to move between Gapyeong attractions.
• 📸 Give yourself time for photos. I kept finding another colorful corner or staircase worth photographing.
• 💵 Keep some cash handy. I paid my admission in cash, and clearly I also needed better memory when it came to that discount coupon. 😂
• 🐌 Don’t rush. Some of the smaller details are easy to miss if you’re only looking for the famous K-drama spots.
• 💡 Explore Petite France first, then head up to Italian Village for the views. Italian Village sits higher up, so you can take advantage of the views as you continue your visit. For me, it also made sense to see the two places in that order rather than going back and forth between them.

My Take: Is Petite France Worth It?

So, was Petite France worth the trip? For me, yes. I enjoyed it more than I expected, especially because I was already in Gapyeong and could pair it with Nami Island and Italian Village. I’m not someone who needs to visit every K-drama filming location just because it appeared on screen. But knowing that My Love from the Star, Secret Garden, and Running Man had been filmed here gave the place an extra layer of interest for me.

I also liked simply wandering around without trying to see everything in a hurry. The colorful buildings, Little Prince details, staircases, and mountain views gave me plenty to photograph and explore. Would I travel all the way from Seoul just for Petite France? Probably not.

But as part of a Gapyeong day trip, especially if you’re already visiting Nami Island, I’d say it’s worth adding. And if you’re a K-drama fan, you might have even more fun recognizing the places you’ve seen on screen. Just don’t forget your discount coupon, as I did. 😂

I wrapped up 2023 with an adventure to the land of K-Pop, a journey that felt like a dream, yet came with its own moments of truth. A few unexpected mishaps added some spice to the trip, but in the end, I was simply grateful to finally tick South Korea off my bucket list. Sometimes the places that once inspired our dreams are the same places that remind us how far we’ve come.
📅 Travel Dates: Dec 1–5, 2023

Ready for Your Own Petite France Adventure?
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