Incheon (인천)
Complete Travel Guide
(everything you need to know before visiting)
Incheon is one of the most overlooked places in South Korea. Even though almost everyone lands at the Incheon International Airport, most people completely skip it and head right to Seoul.
Incheon has a unique mix of skyscrapers, historic neighborhoods, beaches, a collection of islands, traditional markets, coastal views…really a little bit of everything. Because Incheon was opened as an international port in 1883, you can also find many areas that were once controlled by Japanese during colonization, as well as Korea’s largest Chinatown.
Unlike Busan, which can feel like a place you need at least a few days to explore properly, Incheon is an easy addition to any Seoul itinerary. You can go for just a day trip, or you can easily spend a few days there.
How Many Days to Spend in Incheon
I recommend spending at least 1 full day in Incheon if it’s your first time visiting.
One day is long enough to see some of the top attractions like Wolmido, Chinatown or Songdo Central Park.
If you’re staying for longer than one day, I’d recommend adding some day trips and taking the ferries to some nearby islands!
Because Incheon is so spread out, the longer you stay the more “off the beaten track” you’ll be able to go.
Best Time to Visit Incheon
Spring is a great time to visit if you want comfortable temperatures, spring flowers, and want to explore neighborhoods on foot.
Summer is great if you want to spend time at the beach or explore the coastal areas, but it’s also the busiest, hottest, and most humid time of year. However, all outdoor attractions are open for the season.
Fall has cooler temperatures and makes it much more comfortable to explore outdoors, but there aren’t as many spots in Incheon to enjoy fall colors.
Winter is colder and generally quieter than the other seasons, but it’s a great time to do some shopping, explore museums and enjoy some cafes.
Best Things to Do in Incheon
There are so many things to do in Incheon that sometimes it can be difficult to decide where to start. This one day tour from Seoul hits a lot of the top attractions, but some of my personal favorites include :
Chinatown
Incheon’s Chinatown is one of the most popular attractions and one of the easiest places to include in your itinerary because it’s right across the street from Incheon Subway Station.
It’s also one of the best places to try jjajangmyeon, a famous Korean noodle dish made with black bean sauce.
Open Port Area
Incheon’s Open Port area has historic buildings, museums, parks, and streets that give you a look at the city’s history as an international port. You can learn a lot about the area that was once the epicenter of government buildings during Japanese colonization.
Wolmido
Wolmido has lots to do, and is a fun coastal area that’s popular with locals and visitors. You can walk along Wolmi Culture Street, grab food or coffee overlooking the water, visit the local amusement park, take the ferry to a nearby island, or just enjoy the views of the coast.
There’s also the Wolmi Sea Train, a monorail that travels around the Wolmido area and offers another way to see the waterfront. It’s also a great way to get from Wolmido to Chinatown, and vice versa.
Songdo Central Park
Songdo Central Park is a great place to visit that shows off Incheon’s modern side, and its the perfect place to go if you want to spend an easy day outside. There’s lots of walking paths and waterways, a modern hanok village area, and fun boat rides on the river.
Eurwangni Beach
Located on Yeongjong Island near the Incheon International Airport, Eurwangni Beach is super convenient if you’re staying near the airport or have extra time before or after a flight.
Sinpo International Market
If you’re more of a foodie and enjoy Korean markets and street food, Sinpo International Market is definitely worth a stop and you can expect a lot less crowds than the more popular markets in Seoul.
Best Day Trips from Incheon
One of the biggest advantages of visiting Incheon is there are so many nearby spots that are perfect for a day trip.
Ganghwa-do Island is one of the best day trips in my opinion. There’s lots of history, temples, coastal scenery and traditional markets. If you go further to Gyodong-do Island, you can have some clearer views of North Korea than at the DMZ.
Yeongjong-do Island is another great day trip, and is home to the Incheon International Airport. Here you can find beaches, quiet cafes and interactive exhibits like Le Space.
Wolmido is another great day trip. You can take advantage of walking the Culture Street, riding the Sea Train, or enjoying amusement park!
My Favorite Incheon Experience
One of my favorite things about visiting Incheon is how quickly you can go “off the beaten path.”
You can spend the morning surrounded by the history of Chinatown and the Open Port area, then head to Songdo and suddenly find yourself surrounded by skyscrapers and modern architecture.
If you have enough time in your itinerary, renting a car and roadtripping through the different islands is an excellent way to explore the area.
Best Areas to Stay in Incheon
Incheon Airport
If you have an early flight or a long layover, staying near Incheon International Airport can make your trip much easier. There are lots of modern hotels in this area, and you’ll still have access to nearby attractions. If you have a short trip this is where I’d recommend basing for Incheon.
Jung-gu (Chinatown)
Staying around Jung-gu puts you close to many of Incheon’s top attractions like Chinatown, the Open Port area, and Wolmido, which makes it a super convenient area. Plus it’s right next to the Incheon Subway Station.
Songdo
Songdo is a great choice if you want a modern, clean, and relatively quiet area of Incheon that still has lots of cafes, restaurants, and more modern hotels that are easy for foreigners. If you want to explore Incheon for a few days, this is the area I’d recommend basing out of.
Wolmido
Wolmido can be a fun option if you want to stay near the coast. There are restaurants, cafes, entertainment, and waterfront areas nearby, and it’s great for anyone wanting a more relaxed coastal atmosphere.
How to Get to Incheon
For most international visitors getting to Incheon is one of the easiest cities in Korea to get to since Incheon International Airport is one of the main entry points into South Korea.
If you’re already in Seoul, Incheon is also easy to reach by public transportation like subway and buses. Of couse, there’s always taxis and ubers as well but these are usually more expensive.
If you’re heading directly from Incheon Airport to Seoul, the AREX Airport Railroad and the Airport Buses are some of the easiest options.
How to Get Around Incheon
Incheon has access to the same public transportation system that Seoul does – which includes subways, buses, taxis, and Ubers.
I always recommend using Naver Map or KakaoMap to plan all your routes, I personally rely on Naver almost 100% of the time.
Like most major cities in Korea, attractions can be more spread out than you think (and farther than they look on a map). I recommend planning to see attractions that are closer together rather than attempting to cross the city multiple times.
Where to Eat in Incheon
Incheon has a really interesting food scene, particularly because of its history as an international port. Even though there’s plenty of things to try, the Korean-Chinese cuisine here is the most famous.
Jjajangmyeon is one of the foods I highly recommend trying while visiting Incheon, it’s a black sauce noodle dish. Jjamppong is another popular Korean-Chinese dish, and there’s lots of fresh seafood options too, especially around Wolmido.
If you want to try some local Korean street food or snacks, I also recommend stopping at a traditional market, like Sinpo International Market!
Incheon Travel Tips
Don’t just think of the airport. There is a lot more to the city than just the international airport, and if you have time it’s worth staying in the area to explore.
Plan by area. Incheon is a super spread-out city, so I recommend grouping together attractions that are close together.
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap. These are my go-to navigation apps, Naver specfically.
Get a T-money card. Use it to tap on and off public transportation, whether you’re in Seoul, Incheon, Busan, or anywhere else.
Wear comfortable shoes. Chances are you’ll likely spend a lot of time walking – especially if you plan to explore Chinatown, Wolmido, or Songdo.
Try the local food. Incheon is particularly well known for its Korean-Chinese cuisine – a cuisine you can only find in Korea – so don’t leave without at least trying jjajangmyeon in Chinatown.
