Let’s Have the Best One Day in Incheon, South Korea
Have a layover at Incheon International Airport in South Korea or want to have the best day trip from Seoul? Consider visiting Incheon for one day! Located northwest of South Korea and neighboring city to Seoul (about 1 hour from the Seoul Station), it’s a destination that is easy to get to. As the third-largest city in South Korea, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Incheon. Plus, it’s a good excuse to escape fast-paced Seoul and/or a place to check out if you have a quick layover in Seoul.
We’ll share with you Incheon’s must-see tourist attractions which include the famous Chinatown, quirky street art, beautiful parks, and fun activities for the families at Wolmi Island. Many of the attractions are free to visit, within walking distance, and also perfect for all ages. You won’t be disappointed with the offerings in this city. Now, let’s head out to explore one day in Incheon.
Have a longer stay in South Korea? Check out our other Korea posts and add these places to your itinerary: 5 Days in Seoul, Top things to do in Jeonju, and Day trip to Gapyeong.
In this Incheon one day itinerary post, you’ll learn about the following:
- How to get to Incheon from the airport and from Seoul
- Transportation in Incheon
- Top things to do in Incheon in one day
- Additional places to visit in Incheon
Click on the map photo to see a larger view and the details of the various Incheon attractions. Credit: Map data: Google
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How To Get To Incheon From the Incheon International Airport
If you’re coming to Incheon from the Incheon International Airport, you’ll need to pass through immigration. Afterward, it’s time to head to Incheon in one day! There are three ways to consider depending on how much time you have and your budget.
1. Take the Subway
It’s easy to get to this city is to take the subway. To purchase tickets, there are two ways:
- Buy them at the subway station. You’ll need to pay a 500 KRW ($.44 USD) deposit for the paper ticket, but you’ll get the deposit back after usage. Look for the deposit change machines near the ticket area.
- Use your T-money card. If you plan to stay in South Korea for a while, buy a T-money card for 4,000 KRW / $3.54 USD at the convenience stores (even at the airport) and add funds to the card. The best part is that you can use the T-money card for buses, subways, taxis, and at convenience stores. Tap your card to when you get on and off the bus and/or the subway stations. T-money card users also receive a discount when transferring between subway stations in Seoul. You don’t have to worry about paying for each individual ticket. At the end of your trip, you can get a refund for any leftover amount on the card at convenience stores or refund stations.
From the Incheon International Airport to Incheon city. There are two ways to get to Incheon Station.
- Fastest way: Incheon International Airport to Geomam (Line: Airport Railroad) → Geomam to Juan (Line: Incheon 2) → Juan to Incheon (Line 1). Time needed: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Fewer stops: Incheon International Airport to Seoul (Line: Airport Railroad Express/AREX) → Seoul Station to Incheon (Line 1) – This is the simpler way to get to Incheon Station with fewer stops but takes more time. Time needed: 2 hours 15 minutes
>> Purchase the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) Tickets in advance.
Taking the train is easy in South Korea.
2. Take a taxi or pre-book a car
To travel more comfortably, consider taking a taxi to Incheon. You can also pre-book a private car pick-up options. These are more costly options but a good option if you have a larger group: Book a private car charter or private car to Wolmido Island.
3. Consider taking one of the free Incheon Transit Tour if you’re visiting on a layover.
The Incheon Transit Tours are free to those who are in transit through South Korea and tours are available in English. The two hour Incheon City tour goes to the Songdo Hanok village, Central Park, and Triple Shopping Street. Register ahead of time to secure your spot.
How To Get To Incheon From Seoul
Depending on where you’re staying in Seoul, use the subway and transfer to Incheon Station from Line 1.
Transportation in Incheon
We used a combination of the subway and also the local buses. It’s easy to use with your T-Money card. If you don’t have the T-Money card, you’ll need to have exact change when boarding the buses. More information about the Incheon buses and the cost is here.
Another option is to take the Incheon City Tour. You purchase a one day pass to hop on and off depending on your destination. You’ll get a tour of the various areas. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to go on this city tour, there are four routes to consider for your excursions: Harbor Line, City Line, Ocean Line, and Ganghwado Theme Tour.
Recommended Things to Do in Incheon in One Day
We’re headed to the Chinatown area which has many of the Incheon tourist spots for the day trip.
1. Chinatown
We love visiting various Chinatowns around the world, such as in Australia (Sydney and Perth), Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and the U.S. (San Francisco, Boston, Washington DC, New York City). Each has their own charms and uniqueness.
Incheon’s Chinatown is one of the main highlights of the city. You can’t miss the iconic gates when you exit the Incheon subway station. After crossing the gates, we noticed how empty it was in the mornings. Most of the restaurants didn’t open up until 11:30am to past noon for the crowds. The popular places at the time were the food stalls selling snack items (ice cream, Korean style okonomiyaki, and egg tarts) and the puffy looking fortune cookies. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any places selling dim sum or baked buns. Regardless, this is one of the cleanest Chinatowns that we’ve been to.
If you’re hungry, try one of the many places that sell Jajangmyeon, a Korean-Chinese noodle dish that has meat and vegetables and smothered in a black bean sauce. Check out this comprehensive post on Korean food to read more about jajangmyeon and other delicious foods. To learn more about the history of this dish, check out the Jajangmyeon Museum which is in the Chinatown area.
Otherwise, you can browse around and walk to the other nearby attractions, which we’ll mention below.
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You have to visit Chinatown during your one day in Incheon, South Korea. It’s a top attraction to do here.
2. Samgukji Murals
In the Chinatown area, colorful murals on Samgukji Street depicts the story of the “Three Kingdoms” along the wall. It’s helpful if you can read Korean, otherwise, you can admire the artwork like what we did. The story starts from the top of the hill to the bottom. During our visit, we saw many school children taking photos of these murals.
3. Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village
Can’t resist fun street art and colorful murals? Neither can we. You have to visit the Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village. In the same area of Chinatown, it’s a quirky area with sculptures and street art of Disney princesses and other characters, fairy tale characters, and more. Yet, you’ll leave this place with a smile. It takes a village to support the colorful walls and front yards. We suggest that you visit this place early in the morning as this place is a popular tourist spot in Incheon. The early risers also can get better photo opportunities too.
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4. Jayu Park
Now we’re headed to for some nature at the Jayu Park (also known as the “Freedom Park”.) Located on Mount Eungbongsan and behind Chinatown, it’s a beautiful and peaceful park to take a stroll. If you come during the cherry blossom season, the area is bursting with cherry blossoms and other pink flowers everywhere.
From Chinatown, climb up the steep set of stairs where you’ll see the 12 zodiac statues and another gate (see our featured image). The park highlights the Korean history and has a statue of General Douglas MacArthur and the U.S-Korea Centennial Monument to commemorate the treaty signed between the two countries. You can also see fun sculptures around the park and stunning views of Incheon.
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5. Wolmido Island
Let’s head for some theme park fun at Wolmido Island. Head back to the Incheon subway station area and take the local Incheon bus to go to Wolmido Island. You’ll need to check the bus signs to confirm which bus goes to Wolmido Island. You can either go on bus 2, 23, or 45. The ride takes about 10 minutes and the Wolmido Island is the last stop of the bus ride.
This is the place to hang out with families and friends. The Wolmi Cultural Street is along the waters and along the pier. The area reminds us of Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Santa Monica Pier in California. Walk around and feel the breeze from the ocean. Take a photo with the Incheon sign or other interesting sculptures, and play carnival games to win prizes. You can also see the Incheon Bridge illuminates in the evenings.
The street has plenty of seafood restaurants to choose from and waitresses waving at us to eat inside. If you fancy snack items (more amusement park type of food), food kiosks are everywhere selling fried skewered items – potato tornado rings, fried octopus, corn dogs, and more.
Want extra thrill rides? Consider the amusement park area with rides. We saw one ride spin in a circle at high speeds. Young kids screamed at the top of their lungs and some of them looked like they would throw up. Don’t worry. There are also low-speed and kid-friendly rides as well.
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6. Wolmi Traditional Park
Next to Wolmido Island is the Wolmi Traditional Park, a former military base of the Korean War. The park is another beauty (and even better than Jayu Park). You’ll huff and puff through the uphill paved roads to walk through the park. If you pass by the “Love bench” (the slanted inward bench has a heart painted on it), feel free to snuggle with your loved one. Also, write a note on the green ribbon and attach it to the railing. Other highlights of the park include the Observatory Deck to get incredible views of the surrounding areas, including Wolmido Island. Don’t forget to stop by the Wolmi Garden and see traditional Korean architectures.
Head back to the main street to find a bus stop and head back to Chinatown/Incheon subway station.
Optional Places to Visit in Incheon In Day Trip
With our day trip to Incheon, we couldn’t see everything. Here are some places that we’ll to visit on a return trip to Seoul and Incheon.
1. Sinpo International Market
We love the vibe of the local market. Sinpo International Market is one of the top destinations to visit in Incheon due to the shopping opportunities and the local street foods. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the Chinatown, or you can take the subway to get here. We’ll be back to try the famous dakgangjeong, crispy fried chicken, covered in a sweet and spicy sauce.
2. Sorae Pogu Fish Market
Looking for fresh seafood? Visit Sorae Pogu Fish Market, located in the Namdong area of Incheon. It will be awesome to see the place where locals purchase their seafood and try some seafood for ourselves. (We’ve been to the Noryangin Fish Market in Seoul and assume that the experience is similar.) Plus, you can purchase lots of pickled fish here.
3. Bupyeong Underground Shopping Center
Bupyeong Underground Shopping Center is located in Bupyeong area, so it’s farther out from Chinatown. This place is shopping heaven with over 1400+ stores. As you know, women’s fashion is taken seriously in South Korea. With the endless stores of clothes, cosmetics, and more, you can easily spend a few hours here.
Throughout South Korea, underground shopping centers are common to connect between subway stations. The underground connection is helpful if the weather isn’t great outside.
Whew! The day trip in Incheon is finally done! We’re thankful for the opportunity to spend one day in Incheon. Although it was a quick journey to see the Incheon tourist attractions, we had a good snapshot of the city. With lots of things to do in Incheon, you can easily spend 2-3 days here depending on your interest. Don’t skip out on visiting this city during your next visit to South Korea.
Have you been to Incheon? What would you like to do in this city? Let us know in the comments!
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Pin #2 top photo credit: Gabriela Bernal via Scopio Photo
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