Introducing Seoul, South Korea’s capital and a dreamland that many teenage girls yearn to visit. Known for its popular dramas and drop-dead gorgeous guys, this modern metropolis is one that is worth visiting.
The dynamic city is the perfect blend of modern and traditional, a mixture that not all cities can pull off. Day or night, Seoul will never be a bore. From an early morning temple visit in Bukchon and non-stop shopping in Dongdaemun, to partying until dawn at Hongdae, get blown away by the culture that Seoul so carefully follows and the fun that Seoul never misses out on. With so many fascinating things to see and do, this is one city that has more soul than you can ever imagine.
Even if you just have a few hours on a layover in Seoul you can have some fun. Here’s how to make the most of your time with a layover at Incheon International Airport:
Incheon International Airport
Despite Seoul having two international airports, Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the main airport serving the Seoul Capital Area. It is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the whole world. Each year since 2005, this stunning airport has been rated as the best airport worldwide by Airports Council International. Additionally, Skytrax rated Seoul Incheon International Airport as both the world’s cleanest airport and the world’s best international transit airport.
Hence, if you are only in Seoul for a short stopover and are unable to leave the airport, there are tons of activities for you to kill time right inside the airport. There are several pay-to-use lounges, as well as comfortable rest and seating areas. There are also showers, prayer rooms, and numerous restaurants and shops. If you need to catch up on sleep, there’s an airport hotel. Relax in a massage chair or be pampered in the spa. There’s free Wi-Fi to stay connected, or you can visit the well equipped IT Experience Center.
Several pretty gardens provide a soothing place while you wait for your next flight, and there’s even cinemas, a golf course, a skating rink, and a casino! Young flyers can have fun in the various kid’s play areas. Alternatively, learn a little more about South Korea with the Korean Culture Experience, which has a museum and a cool interactive area.
For information, the other airport that serves Seoul is Gimpo International Airport (GMP). It serves mainly domestic destinations, as well as several locations in China, Japan, and Taiwan. Be sure to check which airport you fly in and out of.
Incheon International Airport
Website: Seoul Airport
No visa requirements for most, so knock yourself out!
The good news for most international travelers in transit at Incheon International Airport is that with a layover of 72 hours or less you can now tour Korea without having the burden of getting a standard issued entry visa. If staying at the airport it is not enough, you can explore the city’s vibrant culture and sights, but be sure to come back when the time is right! It is only open to people who join a special transit tourism program as designated by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the fee is 10,000 KRW (8.80 USD), which pays for immigration assistance.
Visa For Layovers
Website: Transit Guide
Less than 12-hour layover
1. Visit not one movie theater, but two!
If the movies and shows on the plane weren’t enough to satisfy your inner film fanatic, film buffs will be elated to find out that they can watch the latest blockbuster in not one movie theater, but two! Both theaters are under Korea’s culture giant, CGV. Worried about the language barrier? The cinemas have films with seven different languages to choose from.
CGV Movie Theater
Address: Gate 1B, Incheon International Airport
Price: from 7.12 - 8.12 USD (weekdays) and 8.12 - 9.12 (weekends) *Prices may vary depending on the movie type *Early bird price also varies depending on the movie type
Opening Hours: 9 am - 1 am (weekdays), 9 am - 2 am (weekends)
Access: Transportation Center (CAT and KTX Station)
Contact: 82-32-743-8580
Website: CGV Movie Theater
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2. Be at one with the ice!
Be (almost) at one with the ice on this all-season skating rink. Though there isn’t exactly ice on the rink, you can spin and skate as though you are a world champion on the synthetic ice. It’s free to enter, though you will need to pay for skate hire. You’ll also get a set of gloves and a helmet. Children of six years and under must be accompanied by their parent or guardian in order to skate. What are you waiting for? It’s time to hit the rink!
Ice Forest Ice Rink
Address: Travel Center(Public area, B1F)
Price: from 1.78 USD (children) 2.78 USD (teenagers) 3.78 USD (adults)
Opening Hours: 10 am - 8 pm daily
3. Win some, lose some at the casino
Located a very short distance from Incheon International Airport, Paradise Casino is a top tourist spot for foreigners. Unlike general casinos, it is obvious how it got its name; with its state-of-the-art interior to keep you engaged and special heating to keep you toasty and warm, this casino is one that you can rightly call paradise. It also constantly gives off a special forest-like effect that will definitely calm your nerves as you play the various games. The games include Blackjack, Baccarat, Russian Roulette, and Tai Sai, as well as over 50 slot machines to keep you wanting more.
Paradise Casino Incheon
Address: 208, Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon
Price: No entrance fee
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Access: 2-minute shuttle bus from Incheon International Airport
Contact: +82 32 745 1234
Website: Paradise Casino
4. Unwind at Spa on Air!
For those feeling tired after a long-haul flight, head over to Spa on Air and experience a time of tranquility and relaxation. Enjoy the sauna, soaking tubs, private sleeping rooms, meeting rooms, a snack bar, and Thai aromatic massages all in this one spot. Even better, the spa operates 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about getting chased out when you are just about to doze off. Feel free to keep your baggage here as you sweat out all the toxins and relax.
Spa on Air
Address: 271, Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
Price: Around 13.35 USD for daytime use and 17.80 USD for night time use
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Access: Landside, B1F, East Side
Contact: +82-2-1330
5. Relax a little, play some golf!
The Sky72 Golf Club has a 330-yard (302-meter) driving range and an 18-hole putting course. Though it is not technically in the airport itself, it is only a 5-minute free shuttle bus ride away. It is considered as one of the many airport facilities. Fares depend on the days of the week and the type of course you would like to do. For example, the fee for one person on a weekday will be 26.70 USD for a 9-hole game and 53.40 USD for an 18-hole game. On weekends and holidays, prices are slightly higher, starting at 42.72 USD for one person for nine holes and 85.44 USD per person for 18 holes. Golf cart and caddie fees are extra.
If you don’t have time to do the whole golf course you can just try out your golf swings at the driving range. The driving range prices are also significantly cheaper, starting at 1.70 USD for 30 minutes on a weekday and 5 USD on a weekend.
Sky72 Golf Club
Address: 2029-1 Woonseo-Dong, Joong-Gu, Incheon, Korea
Price: Varies depending on which course you choose
Opening Hours: 5.30 am - 11 pm
Access: Take a free 5-minute shuttle bus from Arrivals Exit 3 (third floor) and get off on the third stop, named International Business Complex
Contact: +82 32-741-8200
Website: Sky72 Golf Club
Layover of 12 hours and more
Downtown Seoul
Experience the vibrant culture and the rich traditions first hand, even if it is just for 24 hours! Any time is still precious time, so how about a teaser before you embark on a fully fledged trip to Seoul the next time?
1. Take a train to the city
If you are restless and have time to spare, how about heading to downtown Seoul for some fun? It is very simple and straightforward to get to Seoul Station; all you have to do is use the Airport Express (AREX). AREX is the fastest and most convenient option for transit passengers to explore Seoul at their own time and pace. Despite having two lines that go to Seoul Station from Incheon International Airport, we recommend the non-stop express train. Compared to the normal commuter train that will take you a 53-minute journey, the non-stop express train is only 43 minutes. However, the express train departs Seoul every 30 minutes, so be sure to be on time!
Seoul Train Guide
Website: Train Guide
2. Shop till you drop!
With the wide-spread popularity and influence of many K-stars and idols, there is no surprise that Korea is also counted as one of the trendsetters in the world. Experience first hand the styles that are trending right now; this is one shopping spree you cannot miss out, no matter how short of a time you are staying in Seoul!
Shop in one of the most popular departmental stores in Seoul, Lotte Outlet. Offering more than 140 brands at very affordable prices, you can find clothes, cosmetics, shoes, and accessories. You name it, they most probably have it!
Lotte Outlet at Seoul Station
Address: 405, Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 am - 9 pm, Friday - Sunday 11 am - 10 pm
Contact: +82 2-6965-2500
3. Satisfy your cravings for authentic Korean food
All that walking and shopping must be making you hungry! Plus, it’s only right that you try the authentic taste of Korea when you are right in Seoul!
Yedam Table Namsan is just 400 meters (1,312 feet) away from Lotte Outlet. Just a quick walk and you will be there in a jiffy! With three main mouth-watering set meals that you can choose from, this restaurant has 15 years of tradition to offer you an authentic experience of Korean cuisine. Feel the charm of Korea with the top chef’s recommendations of the raw crab set, the marinated beef set, and the barbecued pork belly set. All have a taste that will leave you wanting more!
Yedam Table Namsan
Address: 11, Sowol-ro 2-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04326
Opening Hours: Open till late
Access: 400 meters (1,312 feet) from Lotte Outlet / Seoul Station
Contact: +82 2-6489-8286
Website: Yedam Table Namsan
4. It's all about the view at N Seoul Tower
The hustle and bustle of city life sure is great, but we all need some tranquility and serenity in our life sometimes. Head up the 236.7-meter (777-foot) N Seoul Tower that sits atop Nansam Mountain (243 meters / 797 feet). Witness the panoramic views of the city and its surrounding areas. First opened in October 15, 1980, this tower has constantly been a major tourist attraction. Thirty years and countless visitors later, this tower has been renamed as N Seoul Tower, the letter ‘N’ meaning a new look, as the tower was refurnished in December 2005 with a whopping price tag of around 15 billion KRW (13 million USD). With a new lighting system and changes to the tower’s overall color scheme, event coordinators are now free to decorate the tower for the different seasons or events.
Walk up, take a bus, or take the cable car to get to the highest point in Seoul. We recommend you to take the cable car if there isn’t a long queue, but you can hike up if you are looking for good exercise. Visitors are encouraged to try the N Grill, a western-style revolving restaurant that rotates every 48 minutes, and the Sky Restroom. Both places provide spectacular views of the cityscape.
N Seoul Tower
Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Price: More details on the website
Opening Hours: 10 am - 11 pm
Access: 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) from Seoul Station
Contact: 02-3455-9277
Website: N Seoul Tower
5. Locks of love on the Rooftop Terrace
Lastly, the most romantic spot in the tower would have to be the Rooftop Terrace, a spacious wooden viewing deck that gives visitors breathtaking views of Seoul. It sure is even more romantic if your significant other is there to witness the views with you. Couples can now pledge their love for one another by attaching a “padlock of love” to the fence, and wish that their love will last forever.
Thanks to TV dramas and many infotainment shows, the “Locks of Love” is one of the must-visit sites in Seoul. Tourists from all over the world travel to witness the beauty and power of love, the fences brimming with multilingual messages on stained padlocks.
Locks of Love
Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04340
Price: More details on the website
Opening Hours: 10 am - 11 pm
Access: 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) from Seoul Station
Contact: 02-3455-9277
Website: Locks of Love
Seoul many things to discover
The list of things to do in Seoul goes on and on. While just one day isn’t really enough for you to experience Seoul’s full beauty and vibrant culture, a long layover can give you just the inspiration and incentive to return for longer! Arrive at the airport and there are already so many activities that are welcoming you with wide smiles. Have a great layover in South Korea’s cool capital of Seoul.