Skip to Content

8 Best Things to do in Incheon You’re Going to Love

Whether you’re having a layover at Incheon International Airport or looking to explore the city with a day-trip from Seoul, there are plenty of places to visit in Incheon and loads of things to do near Seoul Incheon Airport.

Many things to do in Incheon are free, making it an ideal option for short trips on airport layovers and to squeeze in some sightseeing. If you’re looking for something a little less busy and fast-paced than the popular city of Seoul and its suburbs of Gangnam, Incheon is a great place.

With a city this steeped in history, it’s no surprise that the once-famous Incheon port is so interesting. This article shares the best things to do in the city, best places to go and activities to add to your Korea itinerary.

Things to Book Before You Leave Home
Few things are more frustrating on vacation than missing out on that amazing hotel or tour because it is sold out. Here are our top things to book before your vacation.

🏯 Book these popular Seoul Tours before you leave home to avoid disappointment. 
1. Half Day Guided DMZ tour from Seoul
2. Introduction to Seoul Tour
3. Korean Cooking Class


🛏️Where to Stay in Incheon:
1. Nest Hotel – first Korean hotel in Design Hotels
2. Grand Hyatt Incheon – closest 5 star hotel near Incheon airport

image 41

Things to do in Incheon

If you’ve ever traveled to South Korea, chances are that you’ve arrived at Incheon Airport. Incheon is the main site for the Airport of Korea and is often used for transferring between destinations. It is one of the busiest airports in the world. But the truth is, Incheon is just as incredible as the rest of the destinations in East Asia.

The city is most recognized as being a port. But there’s an array of cultural museums, rich history, adventurous activities, and island hopping to be enjoyed.

Many parts of Incheon South Korea are all within walking distance, with exciting restaurants, outdoor excursions, Incheon tourist attractions and family-friendly entertainment close by. While you’re adventuring around the area, you’ll simultaneously be soaking up all the Korean culture and history of this city.

image 35

Where is Incheon and How Do You Get There?

After Seoul and Busan, Incheon is the South Korea’s third-largest city. It’s situated just 32 km from the south of the demilitarised area between North and South Korea, in the north-western part of South Korea.

To get to Incheon, you can either fly directly into the city or arrive by public transport from the popular cities nearby. 

⇒ Flights to Seoul

If you’re travelling from Seoul or Busan, you can opt for a train ride (the AREX railway), journey on a bus or taxi, or travel in a booked car.

The other options for getting from Incheon airport to Seoul are the Limousine City Bus which takes 70 minutes or the Express Train (45 mins) or All Stop Train (60 mins). Personally I took the Express train from Incheon Airport to Seoul and this was an excellent option.

There is a free shuttle bus from Incheon Airport into the town of Incheon. There are some good places for luggage storage at Incheon Airport, making it easy to take a trip into Incheon.

➡️ I am a big fan of e-sims. So easy to set up, no messing around with sim cards and best of all you can still get messages on your “standard” number. I use Airalo.

image 31

Things to Do in Incheon

There are many fascinating, beautiful places to explore in Incheon such as the Grand Park, peaceful beaches and vibrant markets.

You’ll find 8 exciting Incheon things to do below.

1.    Fairytale Village of Songwol-dong

Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village is Incheon’s own unique twist on Disneyland. No matter how old you are, a trip to a Korean fairytale village will entice your inner child.

Instead of leaving dilapidated houses to crumble away, the government stepped in to transform the streets into a world of colour in this fairy tale village. Murals and Disney inspired decor run along the walls, climb up the street lamps and hang upon balconies in this Incheon village.

image 40

Along with the whimsical appearance, Disney characters wander along the streets. It is ideal for those of you travelling with younger kids and one of the top Incheon attractions.

  • Opening hours: The streets are open 24 hours a day
  • Things to note: Songwol-dong is only a short train ride from the airport. If you’re strapped for time or don’t have much time in Incheon, it’s great for a short visit.

➡️ Book a Private Layover Tour

2.    Incheon Chinatown

Well over a hundred years old, Incheon’s Chinatown is just 30 km from the popular city of Seoul. It’s also the only Chinatown in Korea, and well worth the visit. With numerous activities and a colorful aesthetic, it makes for an adventurous and memorable day in Incheon.

Wander along the Samgukji Mural Street, where you’ll be exposed to a vibrant display of artworks representing significant events from the Three Kingdoms Period.

image 37

As well as being a renowned history hub, Chinatown Incheon is known for its Korean and Chinese infused cuisine. There is no shortage of restaurants and street food. Firepot dumplings and noodles with black bean sauce are some of the tasty foods you’ll come across.

  • Opening hours: Chinatown is open 24 hours a day
  • Things to note: To further your understanding of the diverse culture, visit the Korean-Chinese Cultural Center.

You might enjoy reading some of my other articles on Seoul:
Seoul Itinerary 5 Days
Seoul Day Trips
Things to do in Gangnam
Things to do in Myeongdong
Best Seoul Boutique Hotels

3.    Incheon Korean Jeondeungsa Temple

Clearly, Incheon is a city that is rich in culture and history. This is precisely why I’d recommend a visit to Jeondeungsa Temple. Built over 1000 years ago, the religious temple is found in the Samrangseong Fortress.

image 38

Not only will you be visiting a temple, but you’ll have the opportunity to marvel at the impressive ancient architecture and great structures. The entire area around Jeondeungsa Temple Incheon is surrounded by colourful flowers and indigenous trees.

  • Opening hours: 8:30 – 18:00
  • Things to note: Upon entering the temple you’ll find the names of hundreds of soldiers who fought against the French Navy. The inscriptions are said to be prayers of luck and protection for their humble city.

4.    Incheon Grand Park

Located in Jiangsu-dong, Incheon, the nature park is an easy activity to include during your stay in the city. With views of Sangasan and Gwanmosan Mountains, Incheon Grand Park offers visitors the chance to enjoy the natural landscapes and rural forest away from city life.

image 45

This Incheon park also has a botanical garden, peaceful lakes around the park and light hiking trails. If you’re travelling with children, the park is a great outdoor option. There’s a children’s zoo and artificial playground for kids to enjoy.

  • Opening hours: 5:00 – 22:00 (November – February)
  • Things to note: Take this chance to grab some fresh air on a cycle, jog or relaxing stroll beneath the towering trees.

If you like parks you might also want to check out Jayu Park and Songdo Central Park in Incheon.

You might enjoy reading some of my other articles on Korea:
Korea Itinerary
Jeju Island Itinerary
Busan Itinerary
Things to do in Daegu
Things to do on Jeju Island
Beautiful Places in South Korea
Where to stay in Busan
Cherry Blossoms in Korea

5.    Sinpo International Market

Since Sinpo was once a hub for international trade, traders from all over the world would sell their best merchandise there. And so Sinpo International market gradually started forming, and that same market still exists today.

image 44

The traditional feeling of the Sinpo International Market makes it very appealing for travellers and is one of the most popular Incheon tourist spots.

Although it was once popular for selling crafts and general supplies, this Incheon market now thrives off of its delicious Korean street food. Sinpo market is especially famous for a dish called “Dakgangjeong”, a type of juicy fried chicken.

  • Opening hours: Open all week from 10:00 – 21:30
  • Things to note: Some of the other great things to eat at this South Korean market are spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), Korean pancakes (Nokdujeon) and fermented cabbage (kimchi).

6.    Ganghwa: An Incheon Island

For a longer venture, planning a day trip to Ganghwa Island from Incheon is worth a day of your travels. This South Korean island lies to the northwest of Incheon downtown, and you can get there fairly easily by bus. This is a particularly nice trip in the spring season.

image 34

Be sure to set aside a whole day for a visit to Ganghwa Island South Korea, because there are a number of important sites to be seen on the island.

Below are some fantastic things to do on Ganghwa island:

  • Jeondeungsa Temple: Aged at 1,700 years, this temple is the oldest on the island. Nestled in the thicket of trees, this Korean temple follows classic Korean layouts and architecture and is a popular spot on the island.
  • Ganghwa Dolmen Park: Ganghwa Dolmen Park is famous for the scattered giant stones that date back to the Bronze age.
  • Chamseongdan Altar: The Cheomseongdae Altar is said to be the place where the founder of Korea, Dangun, gave sacrifices to the gods.
  • Chojijin Fortress: This Korean fortress was built in 1656 to serve the purpose of defending the island from outside sea invasion. The fortress will transport you back in time and reveal parts of history that now seem so far away.

➡️ Book Your Ganghwa Island Tour

image 39

7.    Incheon Beach: Eurwangni

The warm weather in Incheon starts in July. And when temperatures increase, more and more people prefer to spend their days at the beach.

Eurwangni Beach is located relatively close to the city centre, which is why it’s often a hub for local university students and families.

image 30

Although it’s not the largest beach, there’s plenty of activities to get involved in on this beach in Incheon. Visitors can rent boats and take trips out on the water, partake in a variety of watersports, lounge on the beach, enjoy the natural beauty or go fishing at Eurwangni beach Incheon.

  • Opening hours: Open all-day
  • Things to note: The beach grounds are complete with a large lawn area and campsite that can be used for summer vacations and outdoor activities.
image 43

8.    Incheon Metropolitan City Museum

With a city oozing with history, a museum trip can really enlighten your knowledge. It can open your eyes to seeing why the city is the way it is.

Incheon Metropolitan City museum is also famous for being one of Korea’s first public museums. It houses a collection of pottery and artworks from the Three Kingdoms period, as well as significant historical displays.

This Incheon museum is located next to the Incheon Memorial Landing Museum, which is perfect for combining a visit to the two museums. These museums in Korea aren’t large, so you’ll easily have enough time to visit them both.

  • Opening hours: 9:00 – 18:00 (Wednesday – Monday)
  • Things to note: Both museums in Incheon are easy to get to, as most bus and train lines stop within walking distance to the entrances.
image 46

What to do in Incheon?

Incheon City hosts a collection of unique, must-see attractions that are absolutely perfect for travellers of all ages. Whether you’re touring the city with a group of friends and hopping from island to island, or planning a trip with the family, Incheon South Korea won’t disappoint you.

The laid-back attitude, delicious cuisine, gorgeous outdoors and colourful street art are some superb things you can look forward to. Many visitors to South Korea are keen to leave the airport and head to Jeju IslandDaegu or Busan

However, Incheon offers many wonderful attractions to visit before exploring the rest of South Korea. It’s the perfect destination for either longer trips or day layovers. And with the efficient public transform system, you’ll easily be travelling from one spot to the next.

image 33

Where to Stay in Incheon

1. Nest Hotel

🌟Rating: 8.3/10 I Class: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I 🏩View on Booking.com

For a great value stylish option you won’t do better than the Nest Hotel in Incheon. This Incheon hotel is the first Design Hotels property in Korea. The design theme is modernist meets cubanist.

image 32

All of the rooms of this boutique hotel in Incheon have been designed to maximise views of the pine trees and calming Yellow Sea. Nest Hotel Incheon also has a mini theatre, infinity pool and world class dining.

➡️ Check Prices and Availablity for the Nest Hotel

2. Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon

🌟Rating: 9.3/10 I Class: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I 🏩View on Booking.com

Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon

Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon has been built in line with traditional Korean architecture. The rooms feature traditional Korean style beds and underfloor heating. 

➡️ Check Prices and Availability for Gyeongwonjae Ambassador

3. Grand Hyatt Incheon

🌟Rating: 8.4/10 I Class: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I 🏩View on Booking.com

For a more Western-style option Incheon has a Grand Hyatt. Grand Hyatt Incheon is the nearest 5-star hotel to Incheon International Airport. This Incheon hotel has all of the amenities that you would expect from a Grand Hyatt as well as a generous happy hour. This may be the best of the airport hotels in Incheon. 

➡️ Check Prices and Availability for the Grand Hyatt Incheon

image 36

When to Visit Incheon

Incheon summers are long, hot and muggy and Incheon in winter is dry and freezing. Annoyingly summers tend to be cloudy and winters clear so it can be frustrating for photographers!

The ideal times to visit Incheon for comfortable weather are late May to early July and from late August to early October.

Do you need a Visa for your Korea Trip?

It can be a real pain trying to figure out if you need a visa for a country and then all the hassle of figuring out how to apply, how long you can go without your passport, when the embassy is open etc. 

image 42

iVisa has completely revolutionised this process and put it all online and make it super simple and paper and hassle-free! Using iVisa is one of my top travel tips!

NB: Citizens of the United States, Great Britain, Australia and Canada do not need a Visa for Korea if they are staying less than 90 days. Do double check that this still holds when you book your airfares.

⇒ Check if you need a Visa for Korea

image 29

I covered all of the costs associated with putting together this Incheon travel blog post. However, this post does includes affiliate links. That means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

NY

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

Thank you for sharing. Incheon is underrated. Lovely!

Teresa

Thursday 16th of July 2020

Incheon looks amazing! Those autumn colours are unreal! Would love to visit so I'm adding it to my list. Thanks for sharing! :)

Portia Jones

Sunday 12th of July 2020

I have always wanted to go to South Korea, it looks like such an interesting place to visit. What do you think would be the best time of year to visit? x

Alanna Koritzke

Saturday 11th of July 2020

Incheon looks like a fun spot with some fun gems! Thanks for sharing.

Kooky Loves to Travel

Saturday 11th of July 2020

Great guide! It is def on my bucket list!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Like this post? Why Not Share It?

Thanks for Sharing!