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Options For Free Incheon Airport Transit Tours (2024)

Updated: Feb 14, 2024 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

When planning a trip that includes a layover at Incheon International Airport , you were probably excited to learn about the free transit tours offered by the government. These tours offer a chance to explore Korea's history, culture, daily life, and even go shopping opportunities without too much time or effort on your part.

Right now the nearly dozen government-run transit tours range from short 1-hour jaunts to longer 5-hour excursions, giving you plenty of options to choose from, depending on your layover duration. With themes like entertainment, hands-on experiences, nature walks, and traditional Korean sites , there's an option for every interest, most of which are kid-friendly.

As you prepare for your trip, also keep in mind that you can only join one tour per layover, and you'll need a valid visa or an approved K-ETA to join a transit tour, regardless of your reservation status.

Korea Visa Information

About incheon airport transit tours, free cultural transit tours in seoul, free dmz transit tours from incheon, free tours for shopping in korea, paid layover tours from incheon airport, transportation and access, apply for a k-eta.

Before joining an Incheon Airport transit tour , you must have a valid visa or an approved K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), even if you make a reservation online. The good news is that there's a temporary exemption of K-ETA for travelers coming from 22 countries/regions between April 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, making a layover tour even easier for many visitors.

To apply for a K-ETA , follow these simple steps:

• Visit the K-ETA official website and create an account.
• Fill out the required personal information and travel details.
• Pay the processing fee (if applicable) and submit your application.
• Check your email for the K-ETA approval notification within 48 hours.

Remember that transit tours are subject to seasonal availability and run on set schedules, so make sure to check the eligibility criteria and any restrictions for your chosen tour. When planning for a shorter layover (under 4 hours), keep in mind the duration of the tour and the time it takes to get through customs at the airport.

Korea Transit Tour Overview

During your layover at Incheon Airport, tour offerings both within and away from the airport can give you a taste of Korean history, culture, and daily life. Available options include a short 4-hour Glimpse into North Korea Tour, as well as various full-day tours from Incheon Airport to Seoul.

To reserve a spot on a transit tour, you can visit the official transit tour website and pick out one that works for your schedule and sign up right then. Keep in mind that you will still have to complete the K-ETA process to enter Korea for these transit tours, so this does not take the place of a visa or K-ETA.

Also note that even if the booking system says that a tour is sold out, you can always just join the exact same tour when you arrive, as they allot less than half the available spaces to the online booking system. Each tour is covered in more detail below, as well as on the official site linked above.

Free Shuttle Bus

As part of the transit tour offering, Incheon Airport also provides a complimentary shuttle bus service for passengers. To board the free shuttle bus, simply show your tour reservation and ticket to the driver.

Remember to double-check the shuttle bus schedule and plan your tour accordingly to ensure you have enough time to enjoy your layover tour before returning to the airport. During your time outside the airport, please also make sure to explore responsibly and always follow local rules and regulations.

Gyeongbokgung & Insadong

Immerse yourself in Korea's rich history by visiting the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace and the vibrant cultural district of Insadong. At Gyeongbokgung ( gung means palace, so the full name is technically just 'Gyeongbokgung'), marvel at the traditional architecture and witness the changing of the guards ceremony.

Surrounding the palace grounds, which are the largets in the country, the neighborhood of Insadong offers an authentic Korean experience filled with art galleries, tea houses, and traditional souvenir shops.

Hanji Experience Workshop & Sinpo Market

Get hands-on with the traditional Korean craft of Hanji , a unique type of paper made from mulberry bark, in a workshop where you can create your own souvenirs. Later, experience local flavors at Sinpo Market, known for its delicious Korean street food ; this option tends to be rather popular with kids.

Yonggungsa Temple

Especially beautiful in the spring and fall, discover the picturesque Yonggungsa Temple, nestled amongst the lush greenery and tranquil mountains surrounding the city. The temple grounds house a remarkable stone pagoda and large Buddha statues that are a must-see for any visitor, and certainly inspire return trips for many.

Jeondeungsa Temple

Alternately, visit Jeondeungsa Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple with over 1,000 years of history and arguably just as beautiful grounds to wander. This tour leaves time for visitors to appreciate the serene atmosphere, traditional architecture, and discover the fascinating stories behind the temple's artifacts.

Hyundai Motor Studio & Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory

It may seem a bit random, but Korea's manufacturing sector is what pulled the country up out of poverty in the latter half of the twentieth century, so companies like Hyundai have been integral to Korea's economic growth.

Car enthusiasts in particular will enjoy a visit to Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, where you can learn about Hyundai's car manufacturing process and immerse yourself in the automotive industry's rapid advances. Finish the tour by taking in the city's panoramic views from Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory, particularly impressive around sunset.

Nuri Park & Dokgae Bridge (DMZ)

This DMZ tour takes you to the symbolic Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park and the colorful Dokgae Bridge, both representing the hope for peace and reunification between North and South Korea. The park is adorned with colorful flags and captivating sculptures, while the bridge is covered in ribbons inscribed with wishes for peace, and on sunny days you can even see into North Korea.

Third Tunnel & Dora Observatory (DMZ)

This is a different, more historical and battle-focused experience at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. This particular tour covers some of the strategy and realities faced by soldiers on both sides of the war.

It includes a visit to the Third Tunnel and the Dora Observatory, from where you can catch a glimpse of North Korea through binoculars, and a remarkable drive through the countryside to arrive at the DMZ.

Paradise City Art-tainment

Art and fashion lovers will enjoy visiting Paradise City Art-tainment, a complex that combines art and entertainment. It's not a venue as frequented by Seoulites, but you could easily pass an afternoon there exploring the various exhibitions, installations, and performances that blur the lines between reality and imagination.

Hongdae Street

This pick takes you to stroll through the bustling streets of the Hongdae neighborhood, named for the local arts university and known for its youthful energy, street art, and vibrant music scene. When you need a break from shopping, you can stop to savor delicious Korean food on the cheap and experience the dynamic culture in one of Seoul's most popular neighborhoods.

Hyundai Premium Outlet & Triple Street

This is the most straightforward shopping tour of all of the options. It allows you to indulge in some retail therapy at Hyundai Premium Outlet, with both luxury and affordable brands, and Triple Street, a trendy shopping complex with a unique mix of stores and cafes.

If none of the free transit tours from Incheon Airport interest you or fit your schedule, there are a number of paid tours you can reserve ahead of time. These are also better for larger groups (6 people or more), as some of them can be customized or even just chosen to fit everyone's tastes.

Viator Private Seoul Layover Tour

For those with DIY tastes, Viator offers a private layover tour to Seoul which includes a guide, transportation fpr the duration of your tour, and visits to top attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Namsangol Hanok Village.

Admission fees are included in the price of the tour, but if you want to go to any other stops nearby, you must coordinate it in advance. 

DMZ and Observatory Tour

Viator also offers a more intense but even more short DMZ tour with a trip to the famous tunnels dug by North Korea. It takes you to explore the Korean Demilitarized Zone more hands-on, though Viator also offers a version of the DMZ tour with a North Korean defector .

This particular DMZ tour takes you to several of the most important sites during the war, including the Third Tunnel and the Dora Observatory, though it does not take you to the JSA. Note that stops are also carefully regulated, so no schedule changes are permitted. 

Gondola DMZ Tour

Viator also offers a more family-friendly DMZ tour with a Gondola ride and a trip to the DMZ Museum rather than crawling around in the actual tunnels.

This particular tour of the DMZ also takes you an observatory in Paju, the town along the border, where you cna buy North Korean-made products and look at the DPRK through a telescope, though more bespoke DMZ tours are also available .

Private Seoul Tour w/ Meal

Somewhat comparable to the tour from Viator, GetYourGuide also offers a private layover tour from Incheon Airport that generally includes a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace and a few nearby attractions. However this option includes a traditional Korean meal, and is generally more customizable than other options, meaning it can be tailored to your or the group's interests. 

Korean Folk Village Tour

Another option through GetYourGuide is the Korean Folk Village tour, which takes you to a living museum where you can experience traditional Korean life. This tour includes a visit to the museum's various exhibits and performances, and shows you a stark contrast to the many skyscrapers dotting the city. 

Seoul Metro (Slower)

If you're planning to strike out on your own for your layover, taking the Seoul Metro to the city center is your best bet. This is both because it's cheaper and because it won't be as affected by traffic as the other options, with the exception of the Airport Railroad (caught from the same place).

Both Terminal 1 (제1여객터미널) and Terminal 2 (제2여객터미널) at Incheon Airport have access to the metro lines, with Terminal one ever-so-slightly closer to the city. The travel time from the airport to Seoul is approximately an hour to an hour and a half, depending on where you're headed, and the time between trains is around 10-12 minutes.

Airport Railroad (Faster)

The Airport Railroad (AREX) is another convenient way to get to Seoul from Incheon Airport, though it's slightly more expensive than the regular metro. It has two types of trains: the express train and the all-stop train, both of which are still faster than the regular trains.

The express train directly connects the airport to Seoul Station, with a travel time of approximately 43 minutes, while the all-stop train stops at sevral stations and takes just under an hour to reach Seoul Station. Both types of trains can be boarded at boarding gates in Terminals 1 and 2, so buy your train or metro ticket carefully.

Airport Limousine (Slower)

You can also choose to take an Airport Limousine bus to reach your destination in Seoul, which is actually how I first went into the city when I moved to Korea. It sounds bougie, but they're not actually limos; they're nice buses which offer a comfortable ride to designated stops throughout the city.

The tickets are affordable and the stops include several popular tourist areas and major hotels. While the distance and travel time may vary depending on your destination, you can expect a journey of approximately 60 to 80 minutes unless there's traffic (I'd recommend taking the metro if you'll be leaving the airport between 4pm-6pm).

Taxi into Seoul (Expensive)

If you prefer a more direct and private mode of transportation, you can always take a taxi into Seoul. There are taxi stands located outside both terminals, and depending on the distance and traffic conditions, a taxi ride into the city can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Keep in mind that this option is generally the most expensive among all methods of transportation from the airport, and many locals now exclusively use the Kakao Taxi app to call for rides, so some of the taxis may be claimed quickly. Just look for the red sign in the taxi window.

In addition to these transportation options, if you need to get between the terminals, there's a shuttle train service that operates from 4:45am to 11:30pm, with roughly 6 to 8 minutes between trains.

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Excellent Transit Program

Korean Air turns waiting into a wonderful experience. At Incheon International Airport, take full advantage of our Excellent Transit Program, a grouping of services and opportunities designed to turn "boring" into a wonderful experience.

Transit Tours

Free tour programs to get a taste of Korean history, culture, and daily life

Grand Hyatt Incheon

Luxuries and services to help transfer passengers refresh and relax

Rail & City

Non-stop train service between the airport and inner-city Seoul

• Passengers staying at Incheon International Airport for four hours or longer
• Entrance fees and meal expenses to be paid by participating passengers (tour guide and bus fees included)
• Same-day registration processed (reservation recommended as registration is closed on first-come first-served basis)
• Implementation Period: April 1, 2023 ~ December 31, 2024
• Check K-ETA temporary exemption Countries/Regions : Access to K-ETA Homepage → Click ‘Apply for K-ETA’ on the upper menu → Choose your passport Country/Region → If your country is eligible for K-ETA exemption, notice pop-up will be displayed.
• For more details, refer to the K-ETA homepage.
• Transfer Desk, 2nd floor of Terminal 2, Incheon International Airport
• Tel. +82-32-741-0060
• Email: [email protected]              [email protected]
• facebook : LINK
• Instagram : LINK
• Transit tours observe the regulations of the Korean immigration authority.
• Passengers who are denied entry cannot participate in transit tours. For visa- and immigration-related inquiries, please contact the Ministry of Justice. Visit Korea Immigration Service under Ministry of Justice  Open in a new window
• Partner firms and passengers hold all liability for any problems arising form or related to the services/products provided.

• Eligibility : Passengers boarding Korean Air for the entire itinerary and transferring at Incheon Airport
• Benefit : 20% discount + free sauna access for 1 hour                (Please bring your boarding pass or e-ticket itinerary with you for benefits)
• Board at Gate 2A, 1st floor of Terminal 2 (arrival area), Incheon International Airport
• Business Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (SPA open hours)
• Tel.  +82-32-745-2321

Airport Railroad

• Fare discount from KRW 9,500 → KRW 8,000
• Incheon International Airport (Terminal 1/Terminal 2) ↔  Round trip  Seoul Station (express train)
• Reserve in advance through the Airport Railroad reservation page below
• All fare of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is same
• Tel. +82-1599-7788

Incheon Airport Transit Tour

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Transit Tours

Home Transportation Useful Tips Transit Tours

* Some attractions subject to closure or limited access due to COVID-19, please check ahead before visiting.

If you have a long layover at Incheon International Airport, don't just sit around and miss out on a taste of local culture. Joining one of the exciting transit activities and tours is a splendid way to experience some of the popular sights and sounds of Korea. Whether you have a couple of hours or longer until your next flight, there are plenty of options to suit your travel schedule and interests. Visitors who were not able arrange their transit tours before their flight may still stop by the airport Transit Tour Desk and consult with the staff upon arrival. Choose from a wide variety of activities that range from visiting Korea's historical treasures to shopping in the trendiest districts. Instead of sitting at the gate and waiting for the next flight, travelers can turn their short stay into a great experience!

Free Transit Tour

[Incheon International Airport Transit Tour Desk Map]

Incheon International Airport provides a wide range of free transit tours, ranging from entertainment to lifestyle to business, temples, shopping, and tradition. Travelers can choose among the different tours available: 1-hour, 2-hour, 4-hour, and 5-hour tour courses. Each transit tour is led by an English-speaking tour guide and can be signed up for in advance online or upon arrival in the case of available seats. All tour participants must present their passport along with their flight ticket when signing up for the tour. All tours in the transit tour program are provided for free. However, tourist site admission fees and meals are excluded and must be paid individually.

Transit Tour Program

• Inquiries: +82-32-741-3139 (Korean, English) / [email protected] (Korean, English)
• Websites Transit Tour Program (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) Incheon International Airport (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Independent Travel via the Airport Railway

For those who do not want to make use of the travel packages provided by travel agencies, we recommend taking the Airport Express (AREX). AREX is the fastest and most convenient option for transit passengers to explore Seoul at their own time and pace.

Related page: From Incheon Airport to Seoul

15 Things to do on a Layover in Seoul: Incheon Transit Tour

Home > South Korea

Flying can be a draining experience, especially when faced with long layovers. However, an often overlooked gem during a layover in Seoul Airport in South Korea is the opportunity to explore and enjoy Seoul for a few hours without even having to worry about the cost. The Incheon Transit Tour offers free and paid Seoul layover tours of the city for passengers with extended layovers, making it a fantastic chance to break up the monotony of air travel and immerse oneself in the vibrant Korean culture.

During my time in Seoul, I was amazed at how easily accessible these tours were. The Incheon Transit Tour makes for perfect opportunity to get a taste of Korean history, culture, and daily life, all without breaking the bank. And who knows, it just might inspire you to book your next trip to South Korea ! From breathtaking ancient palaces to bustling city streets, the tour allows you to see the highlights of Seoul, making your layover in Seoul much more enjoyable than simply waiting in the airport.

Incheon Transit Tour Overview

Tour options.

Incheon Airport offers free transit tours for visitors on a layover in Seoul. These tours provide a great opportunity to explore the city and its surroundings without having to worry about planning your own itinerary or sitting at the airport not having much to do. There are several options available, ranging from short 1-hour tours to longer 5-hour experiences. Some of the popular tour options include visiting cultural and historical attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Insadong, or exploring the bustling streets of Myeongdong and Gangnam. I highly value these tours, as they help make the most of my layover in Seoul.

Here is a list of the 15 tours in the Incheon Transit Tour offer:

K-culture zone: hanbok experience, hangeul craft (airport tour) – 30 min, free.

Free Experience Korean culture without leaving the airport at K-Culture Zone. Try on traditional Korean costumes, known as hanbok, and learn about the country’s unique writing system, Hangeul, while crafting your own souvenirs such as bracelets and scrolls.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 (4F East Transfer Lounge) 09:00~16:30

Past and Present: Cheongwadae (Blue House), Tongin Market – 5 hr, Free

Explore the historical landmarks of Cheongwadae and Tongin Market on this 5-hour tour. Cheongwadae served as the official residence and office of the president of the Republic of Korea, and now serves as a museum for art and history exhibitions. Tongin Market is a marketplace for delicious food and fresh ingredients.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 08:00~13:00 (Mon)

Tradition: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insa-dong – 5 hr, $3

Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first palace of the Joseon dynasty, and Insa-dong, a neighborhood filled with old yet invaluable items. Gyeongbokgung Palace was restored in 1867 after it was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of Korea. Insa-dong is a maze of alleyways filled with galleries, traditional crafts shops, ancient art stores, traditional tea houses, cafes, and more.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 08:00~13:00 (Tue~Sun)

Peaceful Korea: Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, Dokgae Bridge: 5 hr, $4

Visit Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park and Dokgae Bridge, important places in Korean history. Imjingak Park was created in 1972 to comfort those who were not able to return to their homeland following the division of Korea. Dokgae Bridge was the only bridge that connected the north and south prior to the Korean War.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 09:00~14:00 (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun)

DMZ: The Third Tunnel, Dora Observatory 5 hr, $4

Explore the Third Tunnel, a cave dug by North Korea to invade South Korea, and the Dora Observatory, situated within the DMZ. The Third Tunnel is often called the Seoul Tunnel due to its proximity to Seoul. Dora Observatory guards the northernmost post of the western front and offers a view of North Korea.

Schedule: Terminal 1, 2 09:00~14:00 (Tue)

Future: Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory 5 hr, $5

Visit Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, the largest automobile theme park in Korea, and Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory, which boasts endless mudflats with skies where planes take-off and land.

History: Jeondeungsa Temple 5 hr, $2

Visit Jeondeungsa Temple, which was established in 382 and gained state protection by the Joseon royal family as it started to store The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty from 1678.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 09:00~14:00 (Thu)

Street: Hongdae Street – 4 hr, Free

Explore Korea’s foremost youth street filled with countless cafes, clubs, graffiti, fashion streets, underground music, and art festivals. This 4-hour tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport.

Schedule: Terminal 1,2 14:00~18:00.

Experience: Hanji Experience Workshop, Sinpo Market – 3 hr, $0-20

This 3-hour tour takes you to Sinpo Market, which was created during the late 19th century and is known for its sweet and sour fried chicken with spicy sauce. You can also visit the Hanji Experience Workshop and make your own traditional Korean hanji. The cost of the tour is $0~$20, and it starts from Incheon Airport.

Schedule: Terminal 1 15:0018:00 (Tue, Sun).

Shopping: Hyundai Premium Outlet, Triple Street – 3 hr, Free

If you love shopping, this 3-hour tour is perfect for you. Visit Hyundai Premium Outlet, which features a wide array of luxury and trendy brands, and Triple Street, a booming shopping street with many things to see, eat, and enjoy along with cultural facilities. The tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport.

Schedule: Terminal 1 15:00~18:00 (Mon).

Temple: Yonggungsa Temple – 1 hr, Free

This 1-hour tour takes you to Yonggungsa Temple, which is said to be a temple constructed by the Buddhist priest Wonhyo Daesa during the Silla dynasty. The temple was the temporary residence of Heungseon Daewongun for ten years before King Gojong’s coronation. The tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport.

Schedule: Terminal 2 08:00~09:00.

Entertainment: Paradise City Art-tainment – 1 hr, free

If you are looking for entertainment, this 1-hour tour is perfect for you. Visit Paradise City, the first resort complex in northeast Asia that provides enjoyment and cultural experiences such as convenient accommodation, casinos, art gallery, clubs, and more. There is also an art gallery that exhibits more than 2,700 works by famous artists from across the globe, such as Yayoi Kusama and Damien Hirst. The tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport. 

Schedule: Terminal 1 1F 3C every 05, 35 minute, Terminal 1 1F 14C every 10, 40 minute, Terminal 2 1F 2A every 45 minute

Landscape: Yedanpo Trail and Haneul Garden – 2 hr, Free

This 2-hour tour takes you to Yedanpo Trail, located near Incheon Airport, where you can enjoy a comfortable walk in the park and breathe in the fresh air. You can also visit Haneul Garden, a place where you can enjoy the beautiful sky and the vast flower garden. Seasonal flowers will bloom beneath you while airplanes cross the blue skies. The tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport.

Schedule: Scheduled to operate in the second half.

Songdo: Songdo Central Park and Tri-bowl – 2 hr, Water Taxi $4

This 2-hour tour takes you to Songdo Central Park, the first-ever park to use seawater. Visitors can not only enjoy a comfortable walk in the park but also experience water taxi rides, canoeing, moonboats, and more. You can also visit Tri-bowl, one of Songdo Central Park’s landmarks, which has a unique flat ceiling and a round floor. The cost of the tour is $4, and it starts from Incheon Airport.

Cave Theme Park: Gwangmyeong Cave – 4 hr, Free

This 4-hour tour takes you to Gwangmyeong Cave, formerly known as Siheung Mine, which was constructed starting in 1912 with the purpose of resource exploitation by the Japanese. It was used as a warehouse for salted shrimp for 40 years since it was closed in 1972. Gwangmyeong Cave became Korea’s greatest cave theme park in 2011 after the city of Gwangmyeong transformed it into a historical and cultural tourist spot attracting 1.4 million annual visitors. The tour is free of cost and starts from Incheon Airport. Schedule: Scheduled to operate in the second half. (Note: Gwangmyeong Cave is closed every Monday and may be replaced with a different course.)

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for participating in the Incheon Transit Tour may vary slightly depending on the tour option. Generally, passengers with a layover of at least 6 hours at Incheon Airport are eligible. The passengers must be in transit to a third country or their country of nationality, and not just entering South Korea as their final destination. The tour spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s important to reserve a spot as soon as possible upon arrival at the airport.

Visa Requirements

Incheon Transit Tours are designed to accommodate a wide variety of nationalities. For many travelers, a visa may not be required to participate in these tours, as long as they remain within the designated tour areas. Passengers who are eligible for visa-free entry or transit through South Korea can take advantage of the Incheon Transit Tour without having to obtain an additional visa. Remember that the exact visa requirements will depend on your nationality and the tour you choose, so make sure to double-check the requirements before planning your visit.

Booking and Registration Process

Reservation methods.

To secure a spot on the Incheon International Airport Transit Tour on your layover in Seoul, it’s important to make a reservation in advance. There are a few options available for making reservations:

• Online: The preferred method is to register online through the official website or email.
• Transit Tour Desk: Alternatively, you could book a tour at Incheon International Airport’s Transit Tour Desk located near Gate 8. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bear in mind that most of the tours will be available to people with 6 or more hour long layovers in Seoul. So if you have a 5 hour layover in Seoul or a 3 hour layover in Seoul, the best thing to do is probably just the hanbok experience inside the airport.

Passport Control and Immigration

To take part in the Incheon Transit Tour oj your layover in Seoul, you will be required to pass through passport control and immigration. As a participant of the Transit Tourism Program, passengers from most countries can enjoy visa-free entry to South Korea. However, it is vital to check if your country qualifies for this exemption before booking the tour.

When you arrive at Incheon International Airport and proceed through immigration, you should carry your transit tour reservation confirmation as proof of participation. After going through customs and immigration, you can then proceed to the starting point of the tour, ready to explore Seoul!

I hope you enjoyed this free guide to everything you need to know about the Incheon transit tour and how to best spend your layover in Seoul. For more information visit Incheon Airport’s website.

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Janis Paster

Saturday 4th of November 2023

On Friday, November 17 I arrive in Seoul by plane @ 7:25 am. My flight to LAX the same day @ 2:30 pm Is it possible to have a private car tour of the city for about 2 hrs and arrive back to the airport around 11:30. I’m flying delta Airlines operated by Korean airlines

Monday 13th of November 2023

Seoul is a big city and traveling by car can mean being stuck in traffic a lot. Even coming from the airport can sometimes take 2 hours. So I would probably try and go to Incheon instead, maybe see the Paradise plaza? It's a really cool yellow building often featured in kdramas :)

How to Spend 12 Hours in Seoul on Long Layover

Posted By: theweekendjetsetter January 17, 2020

When I went to the Philippines , my ultra-cheap flight came with a 15-hour layover in Seoul, South Korea. At first I thought, no big deal. I can entertain myself for one day anywhere, right? But then I found out that Seoul is literally the best place one could ever schedule a long layover. Here’s why a 12 hours layover in Seoul went above and beyond my expectations.

Why Plan a Layover in Seoul: Because Incheon Airport is Amazing

Incheon Airport is one of the nicest airports I’ve ever been to. Not only do they have tons of great shops and restaurants (hello Taco Bell… Kidding. Kind of… true story, I ate Taco Bell in Korea), but they offer tons of other amenities as well, including…

• A “Rest & Relax” area complete with comfy lounge chairs and couches for napping
• A hotel that can be rented for as short as 6 hours if you really need to crash
• Golf course
• Ice skating rink (yes, seriously)
• Indoor gardens
• Museum of Korean culture

You could spend an entire 15-hour layover at Incheon Airport. However, I only decided to spend about 3 hours of my layover there, leaving 12 hours in Seoul. First things first? The Rest & Relax area. I had flown overnight from Manila and wasn’t quite ready to wake up yet!

12 Hours in Seoul: Free Tours of Seoul for Layover Travelers

The absolute best thing about a layover in Seoul? The free city tours, aka “Transit Tours,” provided by the airport. At absolutely NO COST, you can take a tour that fits into your schedule (from 1 to 6 hours) and see a bit of the area before boarding your next flight. They provide transportation and a guide.

When you arrive, simply find the info desk for Transit Tours and look up the next convenient time. You’ll have to meet the guide there and they’ll help you exit the airport (note: you’ll have to go through customs). You can also email them at [email protected] to make reservations in advance, although we didn’t need one.

The first stop was Gyeongbok Palace or Gyeongbokgung, a royal palace that was built in 1395. It’s known as one of the most beautiful palaces of the Joseon dynasty (there are five) and served as the home for the kings of the dynasty and the government. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a changing of the guards ceremony.

Next, the bus took us to Insadong Street, a famous shopping street in Seoul, for lunch. We ate a typical Korean lunch with fellow tour attendees.

After lunch, the tour was headed back to the airport. But with a few hours still left before our flight, we asked the guide if it was OK if we stayed behind and took public transit for our return. No problem!

12 Hours in Seoul: Refuel at the Cat Cafe

I’ve been intrigued by the idea of cat cafes for a long time. A former kitty owner myself (RIP Misty, my childhood pet), I love cats so of course I couldn’t resist when we stumbled upon one on Insadong Street after lunch.

These cafes ask you to pay for a coffee in exchange for your time with the cats. Caffeine and cats… what more could one want?

The cats were either very friendly and playful, or asleep. Seems like a pretty good gig to me.

The cafe is filled with toys to engage your new furry friends with. All in all it was quite an entertaining way to kill an hour and refuel for more city exploring.

12 Hours in Seoul: Street Eats at Gwangjang Market

One of the most famous sights in Seoul is the Gwangjang Market, a traditional Korean street market is filled with vendors selling everything from textiles and linens to handmade crafts but is most known for its food stands. It’s one of the oldest markets in South Korea and a must-visit for foodies during a layover in Seoul.

If you know me, you’ll know I was there for the food even though I’d just eaten lunch.

I’m not going to pretend that spending 30 minutes here turned me into a Korean food expert, but these dumplings were yummy. If I wasn’t facing an 11-hour flight back to the U.S. shortly, I would have been a little more adventurous. Either way, Gwangjang Market was a fun place to explore for a bit during our 12 hours in Seoul!

12 Hours in Seoul: Walk Along Cheonggyecheon Stream

After eating a double lunch, it was time for some exercise so we decided to walk from Gwangjang Market to the train station where we’d catch a ride back to the airport. It turned out to be quite a hike and took us about an hour. If you’re not up for a long walk, subway and taxi options are also available.

I love seeing how different cities build unique public spaces for people to escape from the hustle and bustle for a moment and  almost (key word: almost) feel like you’re somewhere lovely. In Seoul, it’s the Cheonggyecheon Stream, an 11 km (about 7 miles) walk that’s popular with both locals and tourists. It’s actually located  below much of the city.

It was a nice place to stretch our legs before the long haul back to Chicago.

Oh, and getting back to the airport was quite the adventure. We couldn’t figure out how to add money to our train cards, but luckily a nice man helped us when he saw us struggling. I’d recommend figuring this out right away when you ditch your tour bus back to the airport to avoid our last minute panic 🙂

Suggested Further Reading if You Have a Seoul Layover Planned

• Seoul: A Travel Guide for Your Perfect Seoul Adventure (written by a local – and it’s only $2.99 for the Kindle edition!)
• Seoul City Subway Tour: Complete Guide to Getting Around Seoul’s Top Attractions by Just Taking the Subway (a good idea to read if you don’t plan on returning to the airport with the bus – plus the Kindle edition is just $3.95)
• Top 10 Seoul (A little more expensive at $7.99, but this guide gets straight to the point on Seoul’s top 10 attractions for time-crunched travelers)
• Got another question? Join the Weekend Jetsetters community on Facebook to ask fellow travelers (including me!) and get a quick response.

Disclosure: the above links are affiliate links. 

Subscribe to The Weekend Jetsetter — You’ll Instantly Get a Free 22-Page eBook of My Top Travel Tips!

79 comments on "how to spend 12 hours in seoul on long layover".

This sounds ah-ma-zing!! We are traveling to US via Korea in September. May I ask firstly where you kept your luggage whilst exploring and secondly did you need any type of Visa to leave Seoul airport? Loved your blog, fantastic tips we will definately be doing!! -Nicolle

Hi Nicolle, thanks so much! There was a place to leave your luggage in the airport. I don’t remember the exact location, but there were signs (and an information desk). Hope you have a great trip!

I love your blog!

I have a clarification though, for a 15-hr layover, as it’s with the same airline, i don’t have to worry about my checked-in luggage as i won’t see that until i get to the US, right? (I’m traveling from Manila) .. i plan to just bring a purse as my carry-on bag as i want to roam around Seoul without having to worry about my bags.

Thanks! No, they should keep your luggage checked. If you need to check something, there is also a place to store luggage at the airport.

Thank you for responding! You are amazing. I am a fan. 🙂

I just have one more question. How much Korean Won should i prepare to make sure i will be able to eat and perhaps buy a simple remembrance of my short visit to Seoul? I don’t think i will be going back any time soon so i don’t want to have too much Korean Won. How much did you spend during your 12-hr layover including the commute to the airport? (If you don’t mind me asking) thanks!

This is so helpful! I was hesitant about 14 hour layover in Korea! I am so excited now that I can have this great opportunity to explore this country in such a short time!

Glad to help!

Thank God I stumbled upon this amazing blog! I have a 13-hour layover in Incheon, Seoul Korea this coming March and I’m traveling alone. I am so excited and anxious at the same time. Questions like, is the “Transit Tour” really legit and FREE? Can I do it alone? How much Korean won do I need to have exchanged? What documents do I bring when I leave the airport? hehehe I’m just worried I don’t get back to the airport in time for my flight to the US.

Hi Samantha, Yes, the transit tour is legit! Especially if you have a 13-hour layover – you can safely take the longest tour. When you get off the plane, just look for signs/brochures that detail where and when to meet for the tour at information. You’ll definitely need your passport. It also depends on where you’re traveling from (as Americans we didn’t need a visa or anything). I can’t remember exactly how much money I brought, but all you really *need* is money for lunch. Any extra is for shopping, etc. as the tour is free.

I am glad that I found this blog post! I am having a 13-hour layover this coming May and this just gave me an idea! I was wondering if you paid cash while taking the bus? or should i buy a bus ticket/pass somewhere? I am traveling by myself so I just wanted to be prepared while strolling around the city. Thanks!

Hi Jade! The bus tour of the city was free and you can sign up when you arrive at the airport (Transit Tour). The only money I needed was for lunch. We also ended up taking the train back instead of the bus as we wanted to stay in the city longer, so if you’re planning to do that, I’d bring a little extra. Unfortunately I can’t remember exactly how much money I spent, but it wasn’t anything crazy. Maybe the equivalent of $30 USD on lunch, train, and a cat cafe?

Hello. Great blog. I will be in this airport in a couple of days. From Seoul I head to Vancouver so just an 11 hour lay over. Thinking my luggage will be checked so would like to take in all the great things inside the airport! Where are all these services in relation to my arrival and then departure? Also reading security lines long and slow do would think best to get in line early? Also lots of English going on in this airport? Thanks for your help

Hi Shelley,

Thanks! We didn’t have any trouble finding people who spoke English. We arrived back at the airport two hours before our flight, leaving plenty of time to get back through security. When you land, you should be able to find signs pointing out all the airport’s amenities, or ask at the info desk. Have a great trip!

Thank you for sharing your experience! I wanted to ask, my layover is in on my way to the Philippines and I have about 2 checked-in luggages, do I check them all out? How will I deal with it? Obviously, I only plan to carry one purse with me while on the tour. Please advise! I appreciate your help!

If your bags are checked, you won’t need to remove them from checked during your layover. Have a great trip!!

Thank you! Please keep on posting your amazing trips!

Will do! Thanks for reading!

Thanks for the article, always happy to read you!

Hi! I am thinking about taking the free tour but I will be arriving in Korea at around 7 pm. Do you know if they have night tours? I have a 17 hour layover and wouldn’t mind looking around a little at night.

Hi Michelle, I’m not sure if they have night tours (I don’t think so) but you can also take the train into the city on your own. Just double check schedules to make sure you’ll be able to get back if you planned to sleep at the airport!

Wow thank you for this amazing blog post! I have a 12 hour layover in Seoul tomorrow and this is exactly what I was looking for to help me make the most of the time there. I love the information you gave on booking a transit tour and exploring the city – that is so awesome! Thank you so much I am so excited (versus dreading) this layover now! 🙂

Hope you were able to enjoy the layover, Julia! Thanks for reading!

thank you for this blog! Is the transit tour offered even in late afternoon? My flight has an overnight layover, but might just stay in the “hotel” airport for few hours as my flight leaves at 8am.

Hi Chrissy, I’m not 100% sure, you can check when you get there though! If you’re planning to stay in the hotel, try and reserve in advance. We tried that and it was sold out when we arrived for our layover!

I’m going to take one of the free tours and wanted to know when we get back, do we have to go through customs, immigration, and security? Also, my plane leaves at 5:30 pm and my tour gets back at 3:00. Do I have enough time to get back to my gate? Thanks

Hi Peter, yes you’ll have to go through immigration on the way out (the tour guide will show you how to get there and meet you on the other side). Then, when you get back, you need to go through security again. I would think 2.5 hours would be plenty of time!

what if I plan to buy some skincare while on transit? Will I be able to carry that with me when I go back to the airport? Since I will only have my carry on luggage and usually they do not allow liquids from outside. Is there a way to shop in seoul and bring it to the airport?

Hi Yoongi, I’m not sure if you would be able to check an additional bag on your way back into the airport. You should check with your airline. Have a good trip!

hi! I wanted to ask for your advice. I will be lay overing for my manila to London flight. but I’m worried about my checked luggage. will my checked luggage have to go with me when I go out of the airport? I am booked with Asiana. I just wanted to ask about your experience regarding this as I have never done a layover. Thanks!

Hi Stephanie, I did not have to retrieve my checked luggage during the layover.

Hi! Thanks for sharing your layover experience. I’ll be having our 13 hour layover with my daughter after our vacation in Manila ( How was that experience for you?). I was wondering how much you’ve spent and if we needed some Wons but I’ve seen your replies to the others. We’ve been to Korea before but my daughter has been so young back then and this would be a great opportunity for her to experience Korea again even if its for a short while.

Thank for reading, Ida! I didn’t spend any time in Manila except for the taxi ride between airport terminals. My only memory from that was a LOT of traffic. Hope you enjoy it!

Hi! i’m having a layover in Korea on my way back to manila from San Francisco. But my layover is from 530pm to 8am. Do they have tours at that time?

Unfortunately I don’t think they have tours at night, but you could always take the train into Seoul if you wanted to explore these sites on your own!

HI, DO I NEED ANY TYPE OF VISA OR PERMISSION TO RE-ENTRY THE SEOUL AIRPORT ?

Hi Erika, All normal entry/visa requirements apply. After signing up for the tour, you will go through customs on your own and meet the guide outside. Since I’m from the US, I didn’t need a visa but I recommend you check the requirements before you go.

no visa needed for passengers w/ layover and wishes to tour around outside?

All normal entry/visa requirements apply. After signing up for the tour, you will go through customs on your own and meet the guide outside. Since I’m from the US, I didn’t need a visa but I recommend you check the requirements before you go.

After having such a great time during our long layover in Seoul, I think it d be nearly impossible to convince me to fly through Tokyo or Beijing ever again.

Hi! You’re the coolest for posting this. I never knew about this before and now, the 14-hour layover in ICN doesn’t sound so bad after all. But, question– so I’m trying to get a round trip flight from JFK-MNL in the morning since I figured, it’ll be best to do a free day transit tour in Korea, but is there a place in the airport to shower and get yourself camera ready before the tour? Thanks. I would really appreciate your response!

There is a hotel where you can rent rooms by the day/hour, so if there’s availability when you arrive (or book in advance) that should be good!

Our layover will be from 4 PM until 9 AM the next day. Do you happen to know what the transit tour hours of operations are, or whether it’s 24/7? Thanks! Great info, BTW, very helpful blog!!

I actually emailed the Korea Transit Tour customer service and unfortunately, the tour only lasts until 3p.

This is the response I got from them, “Thank you for your e-mail.

I’m sorry to inform you that our last tour departs at 15:00, and we don’t provide a night tour. If your arrival time is later than 14:00, it would be difficult to join our tour.

We have free shower and transfer lounge on the 4th floor. Please visit information desk if you can not find it.

Every tour starts from airport and finish at Incheon Airport.

For the reservation

We have an on-line reservation system. You can make a reservation on the website as below; http://www.cyberairport.kr/pa/en/t/2/3/5/index.jsp ”

Hope this helps!

Hi Mien, Thank you! I don’t think they offer tours at night, but if you’re feeling adventurous you could take the train to the city, or just explore around Incheon on your own (there is an interesting temple, I believe).

Hi, I am traveling to Vancouver in a few moths and I am planning to take a flight layover at Inchon for about 12 hrs.. and have some sight seeing tour around Inchon. What are the requirements needed for me to avail of the free trips and to have a safe pass in and out of the airport?

hi, I am traveling to Vancouver few days from now and I am selecting KAL flight and get a 12 hour layover. What are the requirements needed for me to get a free trip around Inchon and a safe pass in and out of Inchon Airport?

Hi, what airline did you fly with? Also, how did you find a cheap flight with a long layover in Korea? I am going to the Philippines next year and I would love to know!

We flew with Asiana. And found the deal via Orbitz’s email newsletter!

Hi do you need visa for the free tour?

Thanks for the info. Im going to need your expert advise on a 12 hr layover from 10pm-9am in December. We are an adventurous family of 5. Any tips on exploring Seoul at night on our own during the holiday season? Best place to go and how to get there? Is there an uber? Thanks!! Soo excited…

Hi Tin – I spent my night in the airport so unfortunately I’m not sure about things to do. I have heard that there are some night markets and restaurants/bars open late (duh!). There was a train to/from the airport that was pretty quick, and Uber is also available. You might also want to consider checking out the city of Incheon, which is much closer to the airport than Seoul.

I found your info to be very helpful and it somehow eased by worry about travelling to Korea for the first time. I, too, have a 15 hour layover to Incheon but unlike yours, I arrive at 5pm on Oct. 27. I was wondering whether it’s easy to take the train instead of taxi going to Seoul. I plan on going to Namsan Tower and The Coffee Prince Cafe in Hongdae. i just want to know about your experience with their train system.

I took the train back to the airport and it was very efficient! It was a little hard to figure out the machines and signs in Korean, but some nice people helped me out 🙂

Thanks for the information, I have a question! I have a 10 hour layover, do you think this is still doable??

They have some tours that are as little as 2 hours, so if you are there while tours are happening, yes!

Informative and useful input . I just hope travellers read similar questions before posting. Also would help if we get feedback from travellers as it wil surely be helpful. Thank you for your infos. I feel better having to save tons of $$$ from my cheap ticket and no more frowning face due to long layover. Now long lay over will be like having a free tour to another country aside from my destination. GREAT!!!

I could still do the tour even if I only have Philippine passport?

Thank you so much for all of this information. I am shopping for a plane ticket to visit family in Asia, and the cheapest ticket had a 23 hour layover in Seoul. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to see the city or anything during the layover. After reading your travel entries, I feel confident that I can have my cake and eat it too! I am really looking forward to taking a mini-tour in Seoul. The fact that the airport runs it makes me feel comfortable I can get back TO the airport! So I went ahead and booked the ticket. Thanks!

This article is great information. I am traveling and purposely chose a long layover in Korea to explore for a bit. When coming back to the airport, how long does it take with customs and etc. to get back to the gate? Should I stick to my 2 hours before boarding time be enough to go through customs and make it on time?

We completed this exact itinerary last week !!! It was AMAZING! although it is currently freezing in South Korea at this time of year . I will definitely be looking into visiting Korea for a longer time next vacation Iplan .!!

very helpful information. thank you also i have one question when you stay over in korea do you need korean visa? my family are going on vacation we we have 13 hours layover in korea. thank you in advance

I’d recommend checking with your government’s travel website to confirm! I only know that Americans do not need a visa.

Awesome article! My wife and I have a long layover in Seoul in January and we were excited to take one of the free Seoul City Transit Tours offered by the airport. Unfortunately, it looks like all of the tours are already filled to capacity on the airport’s reservation site!

Do you know if you’re still able to sign-up for a tour on the day you arrive? If not, are there any alternative tours you can take from the airport into Seoul for 5-7 hours?

Thank you! I signed up for the tour when I arrived, and it wasn’t a problem. It’s been 1.5 years since my trip, so the reservation system may have changed. However, even if the tour is not available, you can always take a taxi or public transit to Seoul or Incheon to explore on your own (it just won’t be free transportation!).

This was SO helpful. Thank you! We have a 15 hour layover in Seoul in March. Reading this has made me so excited for it!

Glad you found it helpful Jessica!

Hi! your blog is so helpful! You mentioned that the tour ends at 15:00.What time does it start? Do you have the site where i can make reservation for the city tour from the airport?

Hi Lisa, there are multiple start and end times. I signed up when I arrived at the airport!

I’m planning to go back to the Philippines and have a layover at SoKor just ’cause I didn’t do it last time when I was going here in the US. Now I’m planning a little trip to Seoul and so I am planning a 15hr layover this summer! I’m happy I found your blog! I have always wanted to go to Seoul because of kpop, the palaces, the food, and their stationary! Thank you!

How many hours layover Chicago?your blog helpful.thank you

I have a Philippine passport travelling to the US with 12 hours Lay over in south Korea… Can I also join the free tour? Are there limitations? In case a friend would like tohave free lunch or will serve as my tour guide, is that possible also?

Thank you for the enlightenment…

Hi Ester – I’d recommend checking with South Korea immigration to see what’s required for you to entry the country. You have to go through immigration, same as getting off anywhere, before the tour! The tour is pretty structured with a guide, so unless you’re planning to leave the group and travel back to the airport on your own (which we did) there isn’t much flexibility.

this is perfect. looks like ill be there for 14 hours and I got tired of reading the ‘we went to neaby temple” reports. You did exactly what Ill do – take the guide then walk off on my own. Thanks a lot for the write up

It looks like you had a great time in Seoul. Your food photos look delicious! In such a big city it would be hard to see everything, but you’ve picked some great highlights to see. Great article.

Great blog post, thanks for sharing. I’m actually a little scared of cats so that may be one place for me to avoid but the rest of your quick stopped looked fab-u-lous.

The place looks beautiful, thanks for sharing your journey with us 🙂

Though I never get a achnace to visit Seoul myself, but when ever I do I believe this would come really handy:)

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Golf tour-1.

Orange Dunes Golf Club 5 hr ￦170,000

Orange Dunes Golf Club   According to it's name(Dunes), Orange Dunes Yeongjong Golf Club pursue a challenging and strategic course attack as a course built between large and small dunes on the coast and inland. * Green fee, Cart fee, Rent equipment for Free ** For more information, such as reservations for tours, please refer to the relevant Orange Dunes Golf Club website(www.orangedunesyj.com) or contact the reservation front (+82-32-745-3001).

Golf Tour-2

Club72 (Hanul Course) 5 hr ￦180,000

Club72 (Hanul Course)   The course is created with the best bent grass on a rock and utilizes natural rock beds. (Bent Grass is on the all Green, Fairway and Teeing ground.) It is a tournament course attuned with all natural elements including Grand Canyon-like rock cliffs, valleys and wide fairways. You can play a shot towards the wide view of the ocean. * Green fee, Cart fee, Rent equipment for Free ** For more information, such as reservations for tours, please refer to the relevant Club72 website(www.onetheclub.com/eng/swp/use) or contact the reservation front (+82-32-270-7137).

K-Culture Zone

Hanbok experience, Hangeul craft (Airport tour) 30 min Free

K-Culture Zone   You can directly experience Korean culture without leaving the airport at K-Culture Zone.

Hanbok Experience   At K-Culture Zone, you can wear hanbok (traditional Korean costume) to become a king, queen, or scholar of the Joseon dynasty.

Hangeul Craft   At K-Culture Zone, you can learn Hangeul, Korea's unique writing system, and write your Korean name as well as craft your own souvenirs, such as bracelets and scrolls.

Past and Present

Cheongwadae, Tongin Market 5 hr Free

Cheongwadae   Cheongwadae served as the official residence and office of the president of the Republic of Korea. It has been open to the public as a museum for art and history exhibitions of May 10, 2022.

Tongin Market   Tongin Market was established in 1941 as a marketplace for delicious food and fresh ingredients. Visitors can stop by various stores along the long stretch of alleyway and shop using old currency coins.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insa-dong 5 hr $3

Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed every Tuesday and is replaced with Changdeokgung Palace.

Gyeongbokgung Palace   Gyeongbokgung Palace, constructed in 1395 (25 years before China's Imperial Palace), is the first palace of the Joseon dynasty, and it was restored in 1867 during King Gojong's reign after it was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of Korea.

Insa-dong   Insa-dong is a neighborhood filled with old yet invaluable items, and its alleyways are intertwined centered around the main road like a maze. Within the alleyways, there are many galleries, traditional crafts shops, ancient art stores, traditional tea houses, cafes, and more.

Peaceful Korea

Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, Dokgae Bridge 5 hr $4

Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park   Imjingak is an important place in Korean history. Imjingak Park was created in 1972 to comfort those who were not able to return to their homeland following the division of Korea.

Dokgae Bridge    The Dokgae Bridge was the only bridge that connected the north and south prior to the Korean War. The bridge is currently broken due to a bomb that was dropped during the Korean War.

The Third Tunnel, Dora Observatory 5 hr $4

The Third Tunnel   The Third Tunnel truly reveals the reality of a divided country. It is often called the Seoul Tunnel due to its proximity to Seoul. As a cave dug by North Korea to invade South Korea, it is 2 m wide, 2 m tall, and 1,635 m long, which can transport up to 30,000 soldiers every hour. If you walk through the tunnel, you can enter the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) just 170 m away from the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Dora Observatory   Dora Observatory is situated within the DMZ, and guards the northernmost post of the western front. Located 1.5 km from the MDL, you can see the lives of North Koreans as well as the statue of Kim Il-sung as well as Kijong-dong and the outskirts of Gaeseong.

Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory 5 hr $5

Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang   Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang is the largest automobile theme park in Korea, offering a new journey to experience the mobility. Visitors can see, hear and touch to experience how cars are manufactured and how the mobility develops in the future. If you're a car lover, you will love this tour!

Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory   The Yeongjongdaegyo Observatory, home to the fortune bear, boasts endless mudflats with skies where planes take-off and land.

Jeondeungsa Temple 5 hr $2

Jeondeungsa Temple   Jeondeungsa Temple was lost to two series of fire after its establishment in 382, and it was reconstructed in 1625 during the third year of King Injo's reign. It gained st ate protection by the Joseon royal family as it started to store The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty from 1678, the fourth year of King Sukjong's reign. There are two ginkgo trees that are over 600 years old within the temple premises.

Hongdae Street 4 hr Free

Mangwon Market   Mangwon Market is a major traditional market near the World Cup Stadium as a transportation hub that connects the Hangang Park and Mangwon region to pleasant environment and riverside paths to urban centers.

Hongdae Street   Hongdae Street is Korea's foremost youth street with countless cafes, clubs, graffiti, fashion streets, underground music, and art festivals.

Hanji Experience Workshop, Sinpo Market 3 hr $0~$20

Sinpo Market   Sinpo Market was created as it started to sell food to the surrounding settlers during the late 19th century. Recently, its sweet and sour fried chicken with spicy sauce has become a specialty.

Hanji Experience Workshop   Hanji Experience Workshop allows visitors to make their own traditional Korean hanji.

Hyundai Premium Outlet, Triple Street 3 hr Free

Hyundai Premium Outlet & Triple Street   Hyundai Premium Outlet features a wide array of luxury and trendy brands, and Triple Street is a booming shopping street with many things to see, eat, and enjoy along with cultural facilities.

Yonggungsa Temple 1 hr Free

Temple   It is said to be a temple constructed by the Buddhist priest Wonhyo Daesa during the Silla dynasty, and was the temporary residence of Heungseon Daewongun for ten years before King Gojong's coronation. After it was reestablished by Heungseon Daewongun following King Gojong's coronation, it was renamed to Yonggungsa shown by the plaque written by Heungseon Daewongun himself.

Entertainment

Paradise City Art-tainment 1 hr Free

Terminal 1 1F 3C every 05, 35 minute

Terminal 1 1F 14C every 10, 40 minute분

Terminal 2 1F 2A every 45 minute

Paradise City   Paradise City is the first resort complex in northeast Asia that provides enjoyment and cultural experiences such as convenient accommodation, casinos, art gallery, clubs, and more. There is also an art gallery that exhibits more than 2,700 works by famous artists from across the globe, such as Yayoi Kusama and Damien Hirst.

Yedanpo Trail, Haneul Garden 2 hr Free

Scheduled to operate in the second half

Yedanpo Trail   Yedanpo Trail, located near Incheon Airport, is a great place to walk and enjoy the fresh air due to its well-preserved nature.

Haneul Garden   Haneul Garden is a place where you can enjoy both the beautiful sky and the vast flower garden. Seasonal flowers will bloom beneath you while airplanes cross the blue skies.

Songdo Central Park, Tri-bowl 2 hr Water Taxi $4

Songdo Central Park   Songdo Central Park is the first-ever park to use seawater. Visitors can not only enjoy a comfortable walk in the park, but also experience water taxi rides, canoeing, moonboats, and more.

Tri-bowl   Tri-bowl is one of Songdo Central Park's landmarks which has a unique flat ceiling and a round floor.

Cave Theme Park

Gwangmyeong Cave 4 hr Free

Gwangmyeong Cage is closed every Monday and may be replaced with a different course.

Gwangmyeong Cave (formerly Siheung Mine)   Gwangmyeong Cave was constructed starting in 1912 with the purpose of resource exploitation by the Japanese. It was used as a warehouse for salted shrimp for 40 years since it was closed in 1972. It became Korea's greatest cave theme park in 2011 after the city of Gwangmyeong transformed it into a historical and cultural tourist spot attracting 1.4 million annual visitors.

Layover in Seoul: Free Incheon Airport Transit Tours

Have a long layover in Seoul? Definitely take advantage of the free Incheon Airport Transit Tours !

Transit tours are a great opportunity to easily get out and see an area near the airport without having to arrange your own transport, navigate the local language and currency, and figure out where to go. It’s a particularly great option for Seoul, South Korea where taxis can run $100+ and take an hour each way from the airport to downtown. Scroll down for my tour experience.

Incheon Airport Transit Tour Options

They offer a few options to accommodate various layover times, the shortest being an hour in length, the longest taking 5 hours. If you have a  really long layover it is possible to do multiple tours on the same day.

• Yonggungsa Temple (1 hour)
• Heungryunsa Temple, Incheon Grand Bridge, Memorial Hall (2 hours)
• Incheon City (3 hours)
• Songdo City (4 hours)
• Seoul City Tour 1 — Gyeongbok Palace & Insadong Street (5 hours)
• Seoul City Tour 2 — Bukchon Hanok Village & Kwangjang Market (5 hours)
• Seoul City Tour 3 — Changdeok Palace & Samcheong dong (5 hours)
• Seoul City Tour 4 — Myeongdong & NSeoul Tower (5 hours)

Making Tour Reservations

The free Korea Transit Tour desk definitely takes walk ups, but if like me, you plan the length of your layover specifically to take advantage of the tours, you’ll want to make your reservations in advance via the website . Two of the Seoul City Tours require a $10 fee for lunch, but fortunately no advance payment is required.

My Experience: Seoul City Tour 1, 8AM

Our flight landed at 6:30, which I thought was plenty of time for an 8AM tour. They had provided a map to get to the tour desk and requested you get there 30 minutes in advance. With an hour to kill I assumed we’d have time to stop by a lounge and grab some breakfast and hopefully a shower. First mistake.

We cleared transit security and headed towards our terminal, stopping at the transit tour desk at the head of the escalator to confirm that’s where we’d meet for the tour at 7:30. Wrong!

Our guide was very nice and earnest, but the accent made it a little hard to understand her on the microphone. She was very clear at the very beginning of the drive we had to be on time at the meeting points — that late arrivals would be left behind. She even provided details on how to get a cab back to the airport and what it was likely to cost. It takes a full hour to get into Seoul, so after she finished a brief overview of the area most people slept.

As soon as we could extricate ourselves we headed out to Insadong Street known for its antique shops and folk art. We had about an hour to wander the fairly modern street, enough time if you want to shop, too much time if you don’t. I was wishing I’d done more research about what else was in walking distance.

Our guide did not stick to her policy of leaving people behind, one guy got away with holding us up about 15 minutes, but we made good time on the way back to the airport and arrived before the scheduled 1PM drop off.

Was it the most amazing tour experience? No. Was it a great alternative to sitting in an airport lounge for 5 hours killing time? Absolutely, I would definitely go again.

Tips for a Better Incheon Airport Transit Tour Experience

• Make a free reservation in advance .
• Fill out the immigration and customs forms on the plane. Transit passengers don’t need the documents, but transit tour participants do. Use “TRANSIT TOUR” as your accommodation in South Korea on the immigration form.
• The transit tour desk is outside immigration which can take awhile. Unless you have 2+ hours before your tour, go through passport control immediately after deplaning, do not go to the lounge or get food first.
• Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the bus if you choose a Seoul tour. It’s a solid hour each way to downtown Seoul which only leaves you time to see 1-2 sites.
• Remove all valuables from your carry on suitcases and keep them with you.
• If you’re not crazy about shopping, research the sites around the market streets so you know in advance where to go.

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Such a helpful post, thank you!

I did this same tour a couple years ago. A brilliant PR scheme for Seoul, and I’ll be coming back to play. Appreciated the jackets loaned to us, as it was winter and we came from Thailand. Nicely done. Thanks for the memories.

Very helpful post. Thank you! I followed your “Make a free reservation in advance” link but it seems I cannot change the date of the tour. As I am writing this, it is 3/11/2018 and the only date available for tours that I can sign up is 3/14/18. The calendar allowed me to select the date I want but it won’t actually change. If I click on a tour and try to make a reservation, the date is 3/14/18 and I cannot change it at all! Did you or anyone had this problem when trying to sign up? Thank you in advance for your help!

Update: I emailed them and they’ve done something to fix the system so now I can select the date I want on the form itself when I reserve. Just FYI in case anyone else has the same problem.

Hi, I would like to confirm if they also have tour in the evening? will arrive in Incheon at 5:30 pm. Thanks for the help!

You made a note that transit passengers don’t need immigration or customs forms. What about people who are just connecting to another flight (with a different airline) but have to recheck luggage with the new airline. Is there a streamline process to get this done?

Very Helpful Info Keri. Very much appreciated

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• December 18, 2021
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If you’ve got a few hours to spare in Seoul’s busy Incheon Airport, you might want to take advantage of a great feature here. Incheon Airport has free transit tours of Seoul.

Depending on how long you have to spare, you may be able to take a tour (or multiple tours) of popular attractions around Seoul, the capital city of South Korea.

There are plenty of things to do on a layover in Incheon, but if you have the time, I highly recommend a transit tour or Seoul.

From casinos to caves, shopping markets and ancient temples – there’s something for everyone on Incheon Transit tours.

What are the Seoul transit tours from Incheon?

Seeing parts of Seoul on a guided transit tour from Incheon Airport is simple and a great way to see specific sights of Seoul with a knowledgeable guide to fill you in on the history and significance of some great sights.

The short and sweet of a transit tour from Incheon is:

• Once landed and done any immigration or baggage collection processes, you head to the Transit Tour Information Desk , located in both terminals of Incheon International Airport.
• This is where the tour will meet and leave from. If you haven’t booked a tour online, remaining reservations on the transit tours from.incheon are on a first-come, first-served basis.
• You may have a little free time before your tour leaves. You can freshen up, change or exchange money if needed. Otherwise, check out my.guide to Incheon International Airport.
• Your guide will then instruct you to follow and you’ll be lead to a coach-style bus.
• Depending on how long you have, some tours may be too long in duration for your layover. Make sure you double-check with desk information staff.
• Depending on what tour you decide On, you may have a decent amount of transit time until you reach your destination. While the casino is only a 5-minute drive away, getting into Seoul can take about an hour due to traffic.
• That’s all you need to worry about on your transit tour from Incheon. Your coach shuttle bus will take you from the airport in Seoul, to the transit tour sights in Seoul, back to Incheon Airport.
• Many of the tours will give you time for lunch, but you will need to bring some money – also if you want any souvenirs make sure you bring some local currency.

For more information on specific tours, you can read all about the tours offered in Incheon International Airport.

What are the different guided transit tours from Incheon Airport?

Currently, 9 desperate tours are offered from Incheon Airport into various places around Seoul.

Each tour from Incheon into Seoul goes to separate places around Seoul and none of the tours overlap attractions. Meaning if there’s something on offer below that you must-see , you have very limited options of the tours you can take.

Some of the Incheon transit tours are available at multiple times throughout each day to make planning the best transit tour for you a little easier.

Below, I’ll give a quick rundown on each of the 9 tours from Incheon Airport.

Entertainment

Paradise City Art/Entertainment

2 hours long -, leaves at 7am

There’s a whole range of activities and sights in this Korean-style resort. From a casino, to an art museum with over 2700 exhibits on display. There’s a wide range of activities to do in Paradise City in Seoul, from various entertainment to cultural experiences, there’s something for every Incheon Airport layover tour visitor.

Incheon City

Songdo Hanok Village – Triple Shopping Street – Central Park

2 hours long – leaves at 9am, 3pm and 5pm

This tour holds a little bit of everything. Traditional mixes with modern skylines at Songdo Hanok Village, with Songdo Central Park being within close proximity, it’s a uniqe mix of old, new and green. Lush greenery is flanked by skyscraping towers that stretch into the sky. Triple Shopping Street is more than just stores, the culture of Korea is showcased in cultural points of interest.

Gwangmyeong Cave

4 hours long – leaves at 9am

This 4-hour tour visits an old gold mine. Gwangmyeong Cave was closed in 1972, even though gold deposits still exist throughout the cave system. This cave embodies modern industries of Korea established after gaining independence from Japan.

Jeondeungsa Temple – Deokjinjin

4 hours long – leaves at 8am

Built in the late 4 th century, Jeondeungsa is Korea’s oldest temple. Home to a beautiful  Daewoongjeon (Main Buddha Hall), this temple is a beautiful attraction on a Seoul Transit Tour. The second stop on this tour is to Deokjinjin. One of the most important and strategic points in the outer castle wall. This section of the wall was vital in protecting the  Ganghwa Straits during the Goryeo Dynasty.

Cheonggyechon Stream – Jogyesa Temple

4 hours long – leaves at 2pm

Your first stop on this tour, Cheonggyecheon Stream is historically important to Korean history, dating back 600 years. The final stop on this temple transit tour of Seoul from Incheon is Jogyesa Temple. Being the center of the Korean Buddhist movement it’s a great stop on Incheon International Airport’s transit tour itinerary! Make sure to check out the 500 year old white tree that lives here! The temple also holds an annual lantern festival in celebration of Buddha’s birthday

Myeong-dong – Namdaemun Market

5 hours long – leaves at 1pm

Myeong-dong Is hone to plenty of shops, including duty-free outlets and street food opportunities, it’s one of  Seouls most popular shopping districts. Your final stop, Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea. If you can think it, chances are you can find it here!

Traditional Sites

Gyeongbokgung Palace – Insa-dong

5 hours long – leaves at 8am and 10am

Gyeongbokgung Palace was restored in 1867, and was originally built in 1395. It was burned down in 1592 during an invasion by the Japanese. To end this Incheon Airport layover tour, you’ll head to Insa-dong. Filled with antique stores and folk art, this popular neighborhood is a great place to visit from Incheon Airport.

Incheon Airport Maglev Train – Eurwangi Beach – Lottemart

2 hours long – leaves at 1pm

Incheon Airport’s Maglev Train is your first stop on this tour, linking the Transportation Center of the airport and Younyu Island. Eurwangi Beach is second, with beautiful white sands and plenty of water sports, it’s a popular attraction in Seoul. Finally, Lottemart is one of Seoul’s largest supermarket discount stores. Plenty of Baggins to be found here!

Eurwangi OR Masirang Beach

1 hour-long – leaves at 8am or 11am

A short beach visit to either Eurwangi Beach, with water sport and white sand, OR to Masirang Beach, pine trees and wetlands as well beautiful sand are all mixed together.

How do I book a transit tour from Incheon Airport?

It’s super easy to book a transit tour from Incheon Airport. All spots are divided up between online bookings and first come first served in person bookings.

To book your Incheon International Airport transit tour, you need to make your way to the basement floor, or B1, on either the 1 st or 2 nd terminal. Look for the Transit Tour Reservation Desk, this is where transit tours in Incheon  Airport are booked from.

Who is allowed to take a transit tour from Incheon Airport?

Anyone that is allowed to enter Korea is allowed to take a free tour from Incheon Airport.

You must have a connecting flight from anywhere outside of Korea, and a flight exiting Korea within the next 24 hours to be eligible for a transit tour of Seoul. This is the typical definition of a layover.

How much does the transit tours into Seoul from Incheon Airport cost?

The tours from Incheon International Airport are free for the most part. The guide and transport are all complimentary. However, any lunch or souvenirs you want to buy will have to be paid for by you.

There are ATMs in Incheon Airport you can withdraw money From, or exchange currency as well. You should allow a little bit of time to get access to Korean Won to Make sure you’re ready to leave when the tour is ready to begin.

What to expect from a transit tour from Incheon into Seoul

During my layover in Seoul I was lucky enough to take a transit tour from Incheon Airport.

I didn’t need a visa to enter Korea, so I didn’t need a visa to take Incheon International Airport transit tour. After arriving in Seoul, and customs were cleared, my partner and I rushed to the basement of terminal 1, to the transit tour desk in Incheon. (Remember, these tours operate on a first come first served basis, and they are popular!).

We were able to get aboard a 5 hour tour of Seoul. Before the tour left from Incheon Airport we had a few minutes to freshen up and exchange some U.S. Dollar to Korean Won. We set off at 9am sharp, so don’t be late back to the meet up point to depart for your transit tour.

Led out onto a modern coach and set off towards our first destination on this tour of Seoul. It takes around an hour to get into the city due to traffic. So sit back and relax and take in the sights of outer Seoul.

First stop on this city transit tour of Seoul

Almost an hour later, the coach rolled to a stop at Bukchon Hanok Village. This 600-year-old network of alleyways and residential areas is a beautiful insight into ancient Korea and what the country would have looked like.

This narrow streets weave around giving a great view of surrounding suburbs. Please be respectful as this area is just That, people live here, and a group of 25-30 tourists can be quite loud. There are plenty of signs dotting the doors and alleys where your voice will echo through the narrow alleys.

As you look over the rooftops of the ancient Bukchon Hanok Village, there are a few notable things to keep an eye out for:

• There is a man selling traditional-style pansies made from pumpkin. He even gave out small samples and photos to anyone for free.
• The roofs of many ancient Korean houses have small little round discs attached to the edges of the ruling. These little decorated discs are known as Wadangs, and if you would like to paint your own, visit a culture center inside Incheon International Airport.
• It is a common sight for the traditional style dresses, Hanbok’s, are common around these ancient streets as tourists pose in photos.

The second stop on Seoul’s city transit tour – Gwangjang Market

The trip to Gwangjang Market doesn’t take long at all, and you’re there before you know it.

This busy market is a great place to shop for a souvenir of your short trip to South Korea, and also to try some local food. There’s plenty of stalls selling a variety of food, clothing and snacks.

Bibimbap is similar to a salad and one of the most well-known dishes in Korea. It’s served with rice and super filling. There are plenty of stalls selling this popular meal for around 5,000₩. There’s also wonton soup and dumplings if you’re looking for some more tasty things to eat.

All up, you get around an hour to explore the narrow paths of Gwangjang Market. Be careful, scooters/motorbikes are allowed to ride through the congested alleys.

If you’re looking for something else and all shopped out, one of the exits of Gwangjang Market leads to a peaceful river for a quiet walk.

The bus left a little late as it we needed a replacement shuttle bus, there was some issue with the brakes of our original bus. It was a little stressful in making sure we had time to make our connecting flight. The replacement bus was well organized and only set us back around half an hour – in the end, I’d rather be safe, so I was glad to wait around.

In the end, the tour was supposed to finish at 2pm, and my partner and I made our connecting flight at 430pm easily. Even had time for a FREE hot shower at Incheon Airport!

Can I take more than one tour from Incheon Airport?

Yes, you can take as many transit tours as you want from Incheon International Airport. As long as you have enough time in your layover and the tours have spots on then, you can jump on to as many guided tour as you want!

So, is visiting Seoul on a transit tour worth it?

Yes. If you only have a limited amount of time in Seoul, taking a transit tour from the Incheon International Airport is a great way to get a feel for this vibrant city.

Depending on what time you arrive and how long your layover is, your transit tour options from Incheon may be limited, but there are plenty of fun and interesting options to choose from.

If you have the time in Seoul on a layover, and want to go visit a few parts of the city, take a transit tour from Incheon Airport is super easy and worthwhile!

Have you visited any parts of Seoul on a guided transit tour from Incheon Airport? I’d love to hear what you thought of the experience below! Any questions or comments? Drop a comment below as well!

Enjoyed this article? Well here’s what you should do next:

• Share this post to social media to help others enjoy the tours from Incheon Airport
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• How to enjoy a culture shock
• Why you need travel insurance
• Here are plenty of travel tips!

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown

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Explore Korea On A Free, Visa-Free Transit Tour

October 7, 2019 October 7, 2019 by KKday

Seoul is such a big, vibrant city—why stop at the airport? Now, travelers passing through Incheon International Airport don’t need to suffer long layovers bored out of their minds. Instead, it’s possible to squeeze in a quick sightseeing session with the Free Transit Tour Program .

  Hoards of international travelers pass through Incheon International Airport for connecting flights on their way to other destinations. With these travelers already at the country’s doorstep, Incheon International Airport and the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) are taking the opportunity to pull back the curtain and showcase the top attractions in South Korea.

With the Transit Tour program, tourists who are in the airport for a layover can explore South Korea for free, even without a visa, for a day. Choose from a variety of tours present different sides of the country, each one lasting from one to five hours.

1-Hour Tours: Visit Yonggungsa Temple or Paradise City

Step out of the airport for the Temple Tour or the Paradise City Tour, which are only an hour-long and perfect for travelers who only have a short time to kill.

It’s a quick trip to the 1,300-year-old Yonggungsa Temple, a Buddhist temple with an 11-meter Maitreya statue. Stroll along the expansive grounds and see the pair of ancient zelkova trees, which is said to be as old as the temple itself.

On the other hand, Korea’s new multi-complex resort Paradise City is the place in Incheon to indulge in world-class entertainment facilities, including a casino, spa, and a kids’ zone. Marvel at over 2,400 artworks in the art gallery, which displays works from renowned artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Damien Hirst.

2-Hour Tour: Discover Incheon’s Old and New Attractions

If you’ve got a little more time, sign up for a tour that takes you on a two-hour journey of Korea’s past and present. Wander around Songdo Hanok Village, a charming neighborhood where streets are lined with houses featuring the traditional hanok architecture.

Then, head to Triple Street to explore the premium shops, restaurants, and cafés at this shopping hub.

4-Hour Tours: History, Adventure, and K-Culture

Travelers who can spare a longer tour can embark on a more comprehensive four-hour tour during their layovers.

See another historic temple in the country, the beautiful Jeondeungsa Temple , which dates back to the late 4th century when Korea was first introduced to Buddhism. Visit Deokjinjin, a fortress that defended the Ganghwa Straits during the Goryeo Dynasty and various invasions.

Another four-hour tour is a trip to the Gwangmyeong Cave , a unique attraction at a former gold mining site before it was shut down in 1977. While it’s still believed to contain gold deposits, the cave is now a popular tourist spot as a cave theme park with unique experiences, cultural events, and even a wine bar.  

For fans of Korean entertainment, the K-Culture tour stops by the hip Hongdae , where many of the urban, music, and entertainment hotspots are found. It’s known as one of the havens of indie performers in Seoul with a fantastic selection of vintage shops, clothing stalls, clubs, and restaurants. Drop by the World Cup Stadium to tour the largest football stadium in Asia.

5-Hour Tours: Tradition and Shopping

With a five-hour tour, travelers can more fully immerse themselves in the Korean culture. Get to know the traditions of the country by traveling to the stunning Gyeongbokgung Palace , the first and largest royal palace built during the Joseon Dynasty in 1395. Then, head on over to the neighborhood of Insa-dong to delight over antique shops and folk art galleries.

Meanwhile, shopaholics will enjoy the tour that takes them to popular shopping districts such as Myeong-dong and Namdaemun Market.

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Free tours for transit passengers at seoul-incheon airport.

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Are you in transit at Seoul-Incheon airport in South Korea? Do you have a few hours of time between your flights? Why not take advantage of a free service that the airport makes available to its passengers? In fact, you should know that the efficient and ultra-modern Seoul-Incheon airport offers to its passengers in transit a series of free tours of varying duration.

WHAT ARE THE FREE TOURS AVAILABLE?

There are various possibilities based on the time you have available, you can choose between free tours of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours. If you have 5 hours of time there is the possibility to visit the city of Seoul through four different tours. These itineraries will take you to Gyeongbok palace and Insadong street (tour 1). Or at the Bukchon HanokVillage and Gwangjang market (tour 2). Or at Changdeok Palace and Samcheong dong (tour 3). And finally to Myeongdong and Namsan Seoul Tower (tour 4).

If instead you have less time available you can opt for the 4-hour tour, what we did, which will allow you to visit the Songdo Central Park, the Ocean Scope and the Singi Market. The 3-hour tour takes you to Gwangmyeong Cave. While the 2-hour tour takes you to visit Heungryunsa Temple, the Incheon Grand Bridge and the Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation. The shortest tour is the one-hour tour that allows you to visit the Yonggungsa Temple.

Finally if you have just over an hour you can take the cultural tour inside the airport (Incheon Airport Culture Tour) which will allow you to visit the Culture Street, the Security Screening, the Traditional Craft Gallery, the Walk of the Royal Family, the Traditional Korean Culture Center and to finish with a nice Classical Music Concert.

THERE ARE FEW PLACES AVAILABLE, SO BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE

There are not many places available for free tours so we recommend booking well in advance (we booked a few months earlier). To book your free tour, the procedure is simple, you need to visit the official page of the airport transit tours and choose the tour you prefer. After making your reservation you will receive an email which you must print and present at the free transit tour desk of the airport.

Once at the airport you have to go through customs for passport control (2F), then go downstairs 1F exiting gates C or D, and then go to the free tour desk (Transit tour desk) which is located between exits 8 and 9 of terminal 1F. Once you arrive at the counter, wait for your turn and show your reservation (go to the counter at least 30 minutes before the start of the tour). You will be given a pin with written “Free Korean Transit tour” and your guide will be introduced to you. Tours are conducted in English, Chinese and Japanese. You are ready for your free tour !

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How To Book Your Free Korea Transit Tour

Incheon Airport near Seoul in South Korea continues to impress on an international level and win awards year after year for being among the best airports in the world. This is largely due to the convenient and tasteful design, impeccable service and plentiful facilities. For example, there is a Korean culture center, a museum showcasing Korean artifacts; plus: if you have a long layover in Seoul , you can even book a free Korea transit tour – and here’s how!  

If you have a long layover and want to leave the airport and explore Seoul on your own accord, check out these helpful articles:

25 Free Things To Do In Seoul

Seoul Travel Essentials You Can Pick Up From Incheon International Airport

8 Views of Bukchon 북촌 8경 – The Best Photo Spots in Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul

Things To Know Beforehand

Free korea transit tours at a glance.

There are a total of 9 different transit tours available leaving from Incheon Airport and taking passengers back to the airport after the tour has ended, ranging from 1 to 5 hours in tour length. Check out all tour options below.

Tradition Tour – 5 hours

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace built in the Joseon Dynasty and is considered one of the greatest tourist attractions in South Korea today.

This is a very popular part of Seoul and also one of the oldest districts in the city. There is a lot to do in Insadong : You will find dozens of antique shops, folk art galleries and small shops selling traditional items in this neighborhood.

Shopping Tour – 5 hours

If you are a shopping lover, Myeongdong is a must-go-to destination, filled with shopping centers, boutiques and duty-free stores. This is also a great place to stock up on Korean skincare and make-up products!

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun is one of the largest traditional markets in South Korea. This is the perfect place to try Korean snacks, drinks and purchase some traditional items, such as handcrafted paper art or small souvenirs.

Temple 1 Tour – 4 hours

Jeondeungsa Temple

Considered to be the oldest temple in Korea, Jeondeungsa Temple was built in the ate 4th century when Buddhism was first introduced to Korea. The main buddha hall of the temple is a national treasure and a must-see when visiting.

Deokjinjin Fortress

This fortress was a strategic defense point for the outer castle wall during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Deokjinjin Fortress was also an important site for several battles, such as the French Invasion (1866) and the American Invasion (1871).

Temple 2 Tour – 4 hours

Jogyesa Temple

Jogyesa is the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and considered the center of Korea’s modern Buddhist movement. Various important Buddhist festivals take place at Jogyesa Temple during the year.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Once a small watercourse hidden by an overpass, Cheonggyecheon Stream is an important part of downtown Seoul today. With a 600-year-old history, the Seoul government decided in recent year to undertake a massive urban renewal project.

Industry Tour – 4 hours

Gwangmyeong Cave

This cave used to be a gold mine from 1955 to 1972. Today, it’s considered a historic place preserving the modernization of Korea after its independence from Japanese colonialization. 

Entertainment Tour – 2 hours

Paradise City Art-Tainment

As the first Korean-style resort complex in Northeast Asia, Paradise City has a lot to offer. Visitors can enjoy a variety of entertainment and culture experiences, including casino games, a club, an art gallery and retail facilities. The art gallery showcases over 2,700 artworks from world-renowned artists, including Yayoi Kusama and Damien Hirst.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Paradise City (@paradisecity_seoul) on Jul 16, 2019 at 7:23pm PDT

Incheon City Tour – 2 hours

Songdo Hanok Village

The term hanok refers to traditional Korean houses made of wood. The Hanok Village in Songdo features several stores, restaurants and a hotel.

Songdo Central Park

A green oases in the middle of futuristic skyscrapers in Songdo, this park is a great place to experience Korea’s mix of old and new.

Triple Shopping Street

This splendid shopping walkway offers a lot of things to see, things to eat and things to enjoy. Do some shopping and try local Korean food.

Sea & Shopping Tour – 2 hours

Incheon Airport Maglev Train

Fancy a ride on the world’s first urban maglev train? You can try it out right at Incheon Airport. An experience you don’t want to miss!

Eurwangni Beach

Because of its beautiful white sand and gentle slant, this beach is a popular place to hang out throughout the whole year and famous for camping and shellfish.

This discount store and hypermarket is a great place to shop for local food, groceries, household supplies, appliances and much more with a global refund scheme for tourists.

Seaside Tour – 1 hour

Eurwangni Beach or Masian Beach

This tour either stops at Eurwangni or Masian Beach near the airport. Both beaches are popular among locals to hang out throughout the whole year and famous for camping and shellfish BBQ.

Take Advantage of Free Korea Transit Tours

Whether you have a short or a long layover, it’s definitely worth checking out one of the free Korea transit tours at Incheon airport. This gives you a chance to see a little bit of South Korea during your long-haul flight. 

Travel Insurance for South Korea

I’m always surprised how many people travel without travel insurance . For me , it’s as essential to travel as buying a plane ticket, backpack or accommodation, and I never go without it.

Although Korea is very safe, unexpected disasters, accidents or other kinds of damage can always happen.

Adequate insurance not only provides you with medical coverage (if you get sick or break your leg), but also covers things like your camera full of epic shots getting damaged or stolen, your flights getting cancelled, or you getting caught up in a natural disaster.

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Things to Do On a Layover at Incheon Airport (2024)

Last Updated: Feb 28, 2024 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 83 Comments

As a traveler, one of the most common dilemmas is an unplanned extended layover. It’s happened to me more than once, and what was supposed to be just a quick, hour-long stay turned into a 7-hour distressful wait. This is not what I want for you on your Seoul layover.

If you find yourself experiencing a layover at Incheon Airport, fret not, but be aware that you will need to fill out a K-ETA and Q-Code before arriving at Incheon Airport. You're still going to have a great time because there are tons of things to do in Incheon Airport to have fun while awaiting a flight.

Read on to learn how to make your layover in Incheon Airport a worthwhile experience!

Basics of Travel in South Korea

Before a layover in incheon airport (tips), what to do inside incheon airport, how to sleep at incheon airport on a layover, what to do on a layover in seoul.

Visa: Most travelers will need a K-ETA ( Korean Electronic Travel Authorization ), applied for at least 72 hours before departure. If you needed a visa before, you'll need a K-ETA now. Note that from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, passport holders from 22 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and several EU nations, can visit visa-free – no K-ETA required!

Currency: South Korean won ( KRW or ₩ )

Arrival in Korea: all international flights arrive at Incheon Airport (ICN), one of the best-rated airports in the world. It usually takes about 1 hour to get through security & pick up checked bags.

Getting Around: Korea has an extensive & reliable public transport system. A refillable T-Money card is your ticket to buses and trains across the country; you can buy and refill yout TMoney card at any subways station or convenience store in Korea.

Internet & SIM Cards: Rent a Wi-Fi egg or purchase a prepaid Korean SIM card at the airport, available for up to one month of connection.

Travel Insurance: always recommended, though some credit card companies offers limited coverage when booking.

If only visiting Korea on a layover, you only need the following two documents, in addition to your passport and boarding pass.

Visa or K-ETA : This is the document required by Korea for you to go through customs and/or leave the airport. If you visited Korea before September 2021, even if you didn't need a visa back then, you will need a K-ETA now.

Check the official site to sort out whether you need a Korean visa or K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization). These are good for 2 years, and you must apply at least 72 hours before your departure.

Note that from April 2023 to December 2024, citizens of 22 countries will temporarily NOT need a K-ETA or visa to visit the Republic of Korea: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK, and the US (including Guam).

Q-Code : This is part of the covid tracking system Korea has implemented since the end of 2019. Even though they no longer require you to be vaccinated or take a covid test, they still want to be able track you down if you at some point do test positive for covid. You can fill this out when you arrive.

If you don't want to leave the airport on your layover, for example if your bags are checked on, you don't need either of these documents, though I'd recommend a K-ETA, regardless.

I'm sure that if you find yourself stuck in an airport after a long flight, the first thing that comes to mind is food. It's good then that Incheon Airport boasts a range of restaurants with affordable food you can try.

From fast food to local and traditional delights, you can find these stalls throughout the airport, and most of them are open 24 hours. Lounges also frequently offer one-day access to their buffet tables. 

If you're craving something a bit fancy, there are also a few restaurants which serve gourmet cuisine. For those in the mood for relaxation, passengers can visit any of the airport’s facilities without issue– and you'll be happily surprised to learn that this airport has features not seen in an ordinary airline terminal. 

Exciting activities to do in Incheon Airport include watching a movie in their CGV theater, touring the golf course, or gliding in their massive ice skating rink.

A layover at Incheon Airport may mean that you arrive in Incheon during the wee hours of the morning. Since the airport accommodates flights 24/7, it's pretty natural to expect that there are sleeping zones for weary travelers from around the world.

Within the terminals you can keep your eyes peeled for the designated Nap or Relax Zones to sit in their comfortable reclining chairs, padded benches, and even beds. 

All of this is free for transit passengers who aren’t rechecking bags in Seoul, a fact which often surprises visitors. Because this is Korea , generally these are quiet spaces which encapsulate you from the world. There’s plenty of space where you can park your things, especially on a weekday or during the day.

You needn’t worry about thieves, either, because Incheon Airport has a state-of-the-art security system. You can even safely take a shower after getting your much-needed sleep, though there is a time limit for shower use.

While the standard airport seats are quite comfortable for a short rest, some of you may need more privacy to rest optimally. Incheon Airport Transit Hotel is a good choice that provides a pleasant place you can use all to yourself. 

What they offer is a relatively spacious room with a comfortable bed and full amenities, right in the airport. If you feel like taking a long, heated bath to relax your muscles before slipping into bed, all of their rooms have a shower area which provides this comfort.

You can choose from a range of Korean, Western, and Chinese cuisine to be brought to your room whenever you get hungry, provided by their 24-hour service.

But if you’re on a tight budget or happen to just be getting off the airport metro station at either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, Darakhyu Capsule Hotel provides a reasonable space you can sleep in, rented by the hour.

Each capsule is padded with a luxury mattress, and you can adjust the temperature according to your liking. Moreover, a hub next to the bed lets you conveniently charge all your gadgets while connecting your music to the capsule's surround-sound Bluetooth speaker.

Did you know that you can leave the terminal for awhile during a layover in Seoul? Incheon Airport offers this exciting deal for visitors where you can tour for up to 5 hours and witness some of Seoul’s most famous sights.

Just visit their website and choose what you wish to do before leaving on your trip. Recent tour options include stopping by the Songdo Hanok Village and the Triple Shopping Streets for some retail therapy. Please note that all tours are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 (except tours inside the airport).

Joining these tours also allows you to preview what it’s like to visit Seoul’s markets, with the goal of enticing you back for a longer trip to Korea. Here you can have the chance to interact with locals and get to know their way of life.

You can even purchase fascinating items like Hanji, a type of Korean traditional paper, or Dojang , a type of Korean traditional stamp, for any friends back home who might want a piece of Korean culture. 

If historical sights are more of your thing, you can visit two of Korea’s famous traditional palaces right in Insadong. What’s convenient about this particular perk to a Seoul Layover is that the tour shuttles leave and drop off at terminal registration desks, which saves you time in getting back to catch your connecting flight.

If you want to do things on your own, you might want to try a real Jimjilbang (Korean spa) experience relatively near Incheon Airport. Siloam Spa is located near the Seoul station and offers relaxing massage that instantly relieves you from fatigue.

Then you can ride the subway directly to Dongdaemun Design Plaza , a breathtaking architectural marvel designed by radical deconstructivist designer Zaha Hadid.

You should now have a good idea of what to do in and outside Incheon Airport if you're in Incheon Airport on a layover right now. I hope you will be able to try a few of these suggestions before you depart for your next destination.

Nevertheless, all of these are just a small portion of the experiences you could have on a Seoul layover— there are countless other places inside and outside of Seoul that provide even more rewarding experiences.

More South Korea

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Reader Interactions

November 23, 2022 at 9:08 pm

Can we go outside Incheon airport with a Canadian passport? I'm planning on wandering outside the airport after our transit tour.

November 25, 2022 at 11:38 am

Yes, you can go outside the airport, but you'll need a K-ETA before getting to Korea.

February 10, 2023 at 9:18 pm

Thanks for taking the time to write all this out & share updated info!

February 10, 2023 at 9:49 pm

My pleasure!

February 17, 2023 at 8:07 am

Do I need a visa to have 3 hours layover in Incheon airport? I am not planning to go out of the airport though. I only have short hours.

February 20, 2023 at 12:43 am

Nope! You won't need a visa or a K-ETA if only transiting and not re-checking bags.

March 01, 2023 at 4:45 pm

Hello! Can a Philippine passport holder apply for K-ETA and use for this transit tour?

March 02, 2023 at 12:23 am

No, unfortunately a Philippine passport holder will need to apply for a visa to avail of the transit tours.

March 10, 2023 at 3:21 am

If my bags are checked through to my final destination, can I still take a Transit Tour outside of the airport?

March 10, 2023 at 11:24 pm

Yes, but you will need to apply for a K-ETA a few weeks before your trip, and set up your Q-Code within 72 hours of your flight.

March 11, 2023 at 7:43 am

Hi, thanks for this guide. I'm flying to Cebu from Tokyo via Incheon airport with 9-hour layover using different airlines. I'm not planning to go out of the aiport while waiting for my next flight, will I need a transit visa or the K-ETA? Appreciate your confirmation. Thank you.

March 12, 2023 at 9:18 pm

Hi, Gie! Unfortunately you will need a K-ETA or transit visa ONLY IF yo have bags that need to be re-checked, since you'll be flying on different airlines. If you only have carry-ons, you're fine since you won't be exiting the terminal.

March 17, 2023 at 2:25 am

@Max, thanks a lot for the confirmation. So you mean even if I have different airlines for the connecting flights, I can still check in my next flight without visa as long as I don't have bags to check in which would require me to pass through immigration. Is that correct?

March 17, 2023 at 10:53 am

Yes, that is correct. You'll just show them your boarding pass to get on to your next flight and they'll wave you through the Q-Code line, which is before immigration. Just be sure to check in for your next flight before you leave, or do it as soon as you land and get on airport wifi, if need be.

Sam Purewall says

March 14, 2023 at 6:18 pm

I am traveling to Thailand from Canada with a layover at Incheon Airport for 2hours. I will have a checked in bag & backpack. I do not plan to leave the airport - do I need to apply for a visa or K-ETA?

March 14, 2023 at 9:15 pm

That's correct. As long as your bags are checked along to your final destination (you'll have to double-check with the airline), then you won't need to apply for a K-ETA or Q-Code.

March 18, 2023 at 11:31 pm

Hi, I and my wife are Indian citizens, traveling to the US on tourist visa. We have a 10 hour layover at Incheon airport. How can we go out and do some sightseeing during this time?

March 19, 2023 at 1:27 pm

I'd say you could spend 4 or so hours in the city and still get back on time for your flight; all you need to do is each apply for a K-ETA, which you can do now, and apply for a Q-Code within 72 hours of your flight to Korea. There are also some government-run tours available now, as of January!

March 20, 2023 at 7:35 pm

I'm travelling from phil by jin air and hve a 4 hrs layover in korea going to US. From incheon airport terminal 1 need to transit to terminal to for change plane, which is delta airlines. I have bags to recheck but not planning to outside the airport. Do i still nees K-eTa?

March 20, 2023 at 8:12 pm

Yes, unfortunately you'll need either a K-ETA or a transit visa, since you'll need to go through customs to recheck your bags & change terminals.

March 21, 2023 at 2:49 pm

We are Canadians transferring at Incheon airport. During the 15 hours layover, can we pass the customs/immigration and stay in a hotel nearby the airport without bringing our checked-in luggage with us because the luggage will be directly transferred or checked in to the flight to our destination? Thanks.

March 21, 2023 at 11:38 pm

Yes, you can leave through customs with a K-ETA applied for in advance, but unfortunately you'll have to double-check with the airline whether or not they'll check forward a bag for a layover of such a duration.

March 22, 2023 at 7:49 am

Hi, we are Filipinos and we have a flight from US to Philippines and we have a 13hr layover in Incheon. We are planning to go out and explore a little bit. Do we need a visa/K-ETA? Thanks btw for the information.

March 22, 2023 at 3:22 pm

No problem! But yes, to leave the airport & go through customs, you'll need a transit visa.

March 22, 2023 at 11:04 am

I'm Burmese citizen going to US by Korea Airline and have 10 hours layover time. Can I joint transit tour and what do I need to prepare? Any Visa need?

March 22, 2023 at 3:23 pm

Yes, you can join a tour, and just need to sign up ahead of time, but you will also need a transit visa.

March 23, 2023 at 6:37 am

@Max, Can I get transit visa on arrival? Or do I need to apply before? Thanks for your information.

March 23, 2023 at 2:17 pm

You'll need to apply beforehand! 🙂

March 26, 2023 at 10:18 pm

Please elaborate when you stated that "All of this is free for transit passengers who aren’t rechecking bags in Seoul". We are traveling from the US to the Philipines soon. We fly with one airlines, have an overnight layover in Incheon, then fly out with another airlines. Does that mean we have to recheck our bags, and if we do then does mean the airport amenities are not free? Thank in advance for your response.

March 27, 2023 at 12:30 am

Yes, you do have to re-check your bags if flying with two different airlines (assuming you have checked bags rather than only carry-ons). All of those amenities are still free for such passengers, but you won't likely get much use out of them, because if you need to re-check your bags then you won't be able to re-enter the airport terminals until at most 3 hours before your flight (when most desks will open for bag check). If you flew on two different airlines but DIDN'T have any bags to reclaim and re-check, then you could avail of the free nap zones regardless because you wouldn't need to go through customs to reclaim your bags.

Tuujuu says

March 28, 2023 at 12:45 pm

Hello! I am flying from Canada to Mongolia. I’m planning to go out and sightseeing while waiting for my next flight, will I need a transit Visa or the K-ETA? I am a Mongolian passport holder. Appreciate your help. Thank you.

March 28, 2023 at 6:35 pm

Yes, you will need one of those two-- you can visit the K-ETA site to see, but it looks like you will need a visa in order to leave the airport for a transit tour.

Katie Mac says

March 29, 2023 at 10:22 pm

I have a long layover in ICN (22 hours) and would love to leave the airport to do some sightseeing and shopping for make up and cosmetics. If I have one bag already checked to my final destination, can I check a new baggage when I come back from my shopping haul during my layover?

March 30, 2023 at 2:51 pm

That's more a question for your airline (even as to whether you can check a bag for such a long layover), but I suspect that if you have the ability to check two bgs, you can check a second one later on, before going through security.

March 31, 2023 at 10:11 am

I just saw where US citizens (and 21 other countries) are not required to get a K-ETA effective April 1, 2023. Is that correct?

April 02, 2023 at 12:35 am

Hi, Alan! Yes, this is a new and temporary policy, I think to help boost tourism post-covid. From April 2023 to December 2024, US citizens will temporarily not need a K-ETA in order to visit Korea. I'll update the post, thank you.

April 04, 2023 at 11:45 pm

a Philippine passport holder can avail this program? if yes, is visa needed?

April 05, 2023 at 7:28 pm

Yes you can, but yes, a visa is needed ahead of time.

April 17, 2023 at 12:19 am

To my understanding passengers with long layover can leave the airport without a visa?

April 17, 2023 at 12:42 pm

Only if you're from one of several countries for which they've temporarily suspended the need for K-ETAs: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, US (including Guam).

Jona Galandeynes says

April 13, 2023 at 2:02 pm

I have a Philippines passport and a US immigrant (green card) and I have a 10 hours layover can i go for a city tour? Do I need a Visa?

April 13, 2023 at 2:29 pm

Hi, Jona! You can go on a city tour, but unfortunately, you do also need to go to your nearest Korean consulate in the US to apply for a visa beforehand (as opposed to needing to go to the Philippines to apply).

April 14, 2023 at 3:41 pm

@Max, Thank you. Can I also apply when I'm in the Philippines? Do you know how much?

April 15, 2023 at 12:58 am

Yes, you can. It's actually free for Filipinos to get a South Korean tourist visa!

April 16, 2023 at 11:57 am

Hi! I will be travelling from the Philippines to NYC with a 2 hour lay-over in Incheon via Korean Airlines. My bags will be checked though, I just want to confirm, I do not need any visa right?

April 16, 2023 at 11:58 am

Correct, if your bags are checked-through then you don't need a visa, as you'll stay in the terminals the whole time.

April 16, 2023 at 8:35 pm

I have a US passport , and fly in to ICN as a standby passenger , but have lay over night to fly the next morning. I like to spend time excursion. When I tried to do K-ETA , they said that I don't have to , is it right.?

April 16, 2023 at 8:59 pm

Correct! Yeah, you no longer need a visa or K-ETA with an American passport, at least until the end of 2024.

April 17, 2023 at 12:23 am

What if I am holding Philippine passport and a US B1/B2 visa? Do we still need a visa? In 2018, I was grateful to be given a chance to visit Korea due to my long layover without a Korean visa but just by presenting my Filipino passport and a US B1/B2 visa.

April 17, 2023 at 12:56 pm

Yes, unforunately since covid they've changed their policy, including suspending the temporary visas for transit passengers to/from the US. If you're in the US, though, you can apply for a transit visa form th e US (wherever the nearest consulate is).

April 16, 2023 at 8:58 pm

Ive heard the terminal 1 Transit hotel is closed. Is it possible to go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 for the transit Hotel there. My wife would need a Visa to enter Korea but we only have a 20 hr layover and no Visa for her.

April 16, 2023 at 9:02 pm

Yeah, it is temporarily closed, possibly until as late as August, but you may still be able to rent a room at the airport hotel. Unfortunately there's no way to go between the terminals unless you have a K-ETA or K-ETA Exemption/visa.

April 17, 2023 at 1:31 pm

Hi there! i'm traveling from Vietnam to the US and have a 8 hour layover in Incheon. I'd like to leave the airport and tour the city during my layover. It looks like I don't need a K-ETA visa, but it's recommended. So do i need a KETA or no? Also, any suggestions on what a family of four with two small children could do during the 8 hour layover?

April 17, 2023 at 9:28 pm

Hi, Kate! If you have US passposrts, nobody in your family needs a K-ETA or visa until 2025. I'd recommend joining one of the free city tours if you have little kids (organized transport & activities).

April 17, 2023 at 6:07 pm

if I come into ICN and not sure what terminal we will be in , and I like to RSVP for "Steet(Hongdae Street)" . is the 2 terminals is very far from each other if I end up pick the wrong one.

April 17, 2023 at 9:29 pm

Hi, Tana! The terminals are about 10 minutes apart, so not too hard to travel between the two.

May 02, 2023 at 6:11 pm

Flying from SFO to MLA thru Korean Airlines with layover in Incheon, can you direct me where is the Free Nap zone at airport Terminal 2? Thank you

May 04, 2023 at 10:24 am

Sure! Rather than describe it, here's a link to a map: https://www.airport.kr/ap/en/trn/trnServiceDetail.do?SN=1945

Enjoy your trip, Elena!

May 03, 2023 at 12:32 am

I am a US citizen planning to transit in Seoul for 21 hrs in August 2023. Are the city tours offered for transit passengers still running? Does anyone know a website with these details of these tour schedules?

May 04, 2023 at 10:28 am

Yes, the transit tours resumed rather recently, so there's not a ton of info available yet, and not all tours are available each day, but check out the options here: https://www.airport.kr/ap_cnt/en/trn/tour/trcose/trcose.do

Aileen says

May 14, 2023 at 8:47 pm

Thanks for all the useful info!

Me and my husband plus our 2 kids(9&4) will have an 11 hrs 40 mins layover this coming July at Incheon. Our plane will land at 5am. From what I see, the tour time we want to join in runs from 8am-1300. Our flight to USA is at 4:40pm. So we have like 3hrs 40mins remaining before the flight, will this be enough time to re-enter the airport etc. so we dont miss our flight? We will be on Korean Airlines Manila to Incheon to USA so I assume we do not need to recheck our bags (but I’m not 100% sure).

Another question. If we are going to do the transit tour, is there a place at the airport that we can leave our hand carry luggages? Where there be a fee? Thank you in advance! Appreciate it!

May 14, 2023 at 10:09 pm

You're very welcome! Yes, that should be plenty of time to get back to the airport and to the terminal, especially if you have your bags checked through. And yes, you can put your hand-carry in the luggage storage, but there is a fee depending on the volume and length of storage; there are a couple of options in the Incheon arrival terminal.

May 21, 2023 at 1:18 pm

Hello, I've been searching hours through countless websites, I hope you can help me. I am a Philippine passport holder flying to Canada with student visa permit and I will have a long lay-over in Seoul ICN. (Less than 24 hours) I booked two separate flights that means I need to claim my baggage. Do I need a visa just to claim my baggage even If I do not have plans to go out if the airport.

May 21, 2023 at 3:11 pm

Unfortunately, from everything that people have told me from their experiences, that does mean that you'll need to apply for a transit visa from your local Korean consulate. You can look into the K-ETA and see if there's a visa/green card section, but everyone who's commented back said that they were unable to just get into the country with only a visa or green card from a K-ETA-exempt country like Canada.

June 01, 2023 at 11:00 pm

For clarifications. As a Philippines passport holder, I can go out without a tourist Visa? If it's only for a few hours? I just need to fill-out K-ETA? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you in advance.

June 01, 2023 at 11:14 pm

No, unfortunately Philippines passport holders cannot apply for a K-ETA and still need to acquire a transit visa for Korea, even if it's for a short layover.

Meghan says

June 18, 2023 at 7:40 am

hi! i have a long layover and wanted to explore. What should i write on my arrival card for address since i’m only going out to explore? also was it easy going back in to the airport after going out??

Thank you so much 🙂

June 19, 2023 at 2:51 pm

Whenever I have a layover in Seoul, I find a reputable hotel and use their address and phone number. If you have a super long layover and they ask why you ‘booked a hotel,’ just tell them you wanted somewhere to rest. They really won’t question you further, and in over half a dozen layovers at INC, I've never had them ask to see my booking.

And it's generally quite easy going back into the terminal after exploring on a long layover in Incheon, but keep in mind that you'll need at least 2 hours and for some places 3 hours for the roundtrip from Incheon Airport to Seoul proper, plus arriving back at the airport another hour or two before your flight (whether re-checking a bag or not). So I'd recommend having at least a 6-hour layover if you're going to leave the airport, or if the timing lines up, joining a government-run tour for a 4-5 hour layover (since they provide the transport).

Enjoy your trip!!

Gregg H says

July 31, 2023 at 8:10 pm

I have a 14-hour layover and want to visit the Skygarden and Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul. One question I haven't seen asked is what to do with luggage. Delta will not hold by bags for that long. Are there lockers for rent at the airport? What options do I have? Thank you.

August 01, 2023 at 3:01 pm

Yes, there's a luggage holding/storage company in the arrivals section of both terminals; they charge by the hour, so you can keep your stuff there as long as you need. I'll add that info to the post, thank you.

August 01, 2023 at 4:29 pm

@Max, thank you for the quick response. Good to know that there are lockers at the airport. I later saw that there were Bounce locations near Seoul Station (plus lots of other places) and I was prepared to haul my luggage on the train into town.

August 09, 2023 at 5:23 pm

Hello, I am a Philippine passport holder but a Permanent resident of Canada. I have two connecting flights. From Calgary to Vancouver, Vancouver to Incheon, then Incheon to Manila. There is a 14-hour layover in Incheon and I am planning to explore Seoul during the layover. Do I fall on transit tourist traveling to a third country without a visa or I still need to apply for a tourist visa? Thank you in advance.

August 10, 2023 at 2:17 pm

Hi, Tyn. So from my research, you kind of fall under both-- you'd be eligible for a B2 visa as a permanent resident of Canada, but I'm not exactly sure how you can apply for the visa or if it's automatic upon arrival. Check out this official page for more info.

August 13, 2023 at 9:57 pm

Hi, I have a 15-hour layover from 05:40 to 20:40. Does it take long to check back to Incheon airport? Also, how much time would I have to travel to Seoul?

August 14, 2023 at 2:05 pm

I would leave AT LEAST an hour each way to get to/from Seoul, and a safe buffer is 3 hours early to your flight (in case the return tot he airport hits any snags), so since your layover is during the daytime, you should have 9 or 10 hours to enjoy the city. It's pretty straightforward to check back in at Incheon, but lines can be quite long on weekend evenings, so I may even leave a 3.5 hours buffer for arriving back to the airport before your flight, as traveling around Seoul at rush hour (4pm-6pm) will be its own kind of busy. Definitely leave your bags at the airport lockers (paid), if you have big bags!

February 19, 2024 at 2:43 am

HELLO. I AM FLYING BACK TO US WITH A 15 HR LAYOVER IN INCHEON. FIRST, U STILL OFFER FREE TOURS OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT? SECOND, ACCORDING TO THE POST, IF I AM FROM US, FROM APRIL 2023-DEC 2024- I WON'T NEED A K-ETA TO GO OUTSIDE RIGHT? LASTLY, Q CODE AND K-ETA ACCESSIBLE ONLINE TO APPLY 72 HRS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL

ONE MORE THING, WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TOURS OFFERED?

February 22, 2024 at 1:12 pm

Hi, yes you will be able to visit Korea without issue using a US passport before the end of 2024, and there are still free tours outside the airport for layover visitors; you can read more about those in this article .

Kirsten Li says

February 21, 2024 at 4:23 am

Hi, I hold a Chinese passport and fly from Vancouver to Hong Kong via Seoul. I have 15h stopover, so if I wanna go out and have some sightseeings (not the day tour provided by the airport), do I need a K-ETA? Thank you!

February 22, 2024 at 1:13 pm

Kirsten, yes you would need a K-ETA to exit the airport, and possibly a tourist visa.

February 21, 2024 at 9:01 pm

I'm a Philippine passport holder and will have a layover from Vancouver to Incheon and then from Incheon to Manila. I need to re-check my baggage at Incheon but I am not planning to leave the airport. My flight is on the same terminal. Do I need to have a visa?

February 22, 2024 at 1:15 pm

From what the Korean consulate told me, yes you will need a visa to go through security to re-check your bags.

U.S. Passport Travel Requirements says

April 03, 2024 at 2:18 pm

Nice post. It's very well thought out and quite informative. Keep it up.

April 03, 2024 at 8:23 pm

Thank you for the kind words! Much appreciated.

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• Seoul Incheon Airport Layover Sightseeing

This article includes links to our travel partners at Tripadvisor, where you can read traveller reviews, book tours and plan your visit to Seoul.

In recent years, Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) has rivalled and surpassed some of the leading Asian airports in terms of centrality, comfort and extravagance. Layovers within ICN are impressive – however, if you find yourself with a layover in Seoul that is over five hours, you might as well explore the real deal. Plenty of historical, cultural, commercial and entertainment destinations will keep you occupied as you explore this fascinating and rapidly developing Asian city. Conveniently, Seoul Incheon Airport cleverly packages all the city’s best sights in a series of free tours geared toward transit passengers. You might as well put your feet up and enjoy the views between flights!

Airport Overview

Seoul Incheon International Airport has almost become a microcosm of all that is South Korea. Layovers of five hours or less quickly fly by in this epic airport. You may board your connecting flight wishing for a few more moments sampling food and browsing handicrafts on the Korean Cultural Street. Indoor gardens, spas, museums, galleries and shopping only further add to the Incheon experience. No wonder this is one of the world’s leading airports! Check out our Seoul Incheon Airport Guide for more information on the airport.

Seoul Sightseeing Attractions

Below are a few of the top things to do in Seoul:

Transit Tours

Seoul Incheon Airport offers a series of free daily sightseeing tours to transiting passengers. Different tours focus on the city’s cultural, culinary, historical and commercial facets. The airport recommends a minimum of a 2-hour layover for the tour. Interested passengers can sign up at the main transit tour desk outside immigration.

Gyeongbok Palace

Constructed in 1395, the Gyeongbok (or Gyeongbokgung) Palace was, for many years, the most powerful place in South Korea. Today, it is used for entirely tourist purposes – and has been voted to be one of the most stunning locations in the city. Within it, you can visit the National Palace Museum of Korea and a series of traditional folk Korean gardens. Wander through the classic architecture, checking out ancient artifacts, cultural depictions and educational information. The president’s Blue House , the National Folk Museum , and the impressive US Embassy are also within walking distance from here.

• Time Required: The Palace can take 1 to 5 hours to explore, depending on the time you wish to spend in the various exhibits. Note that this does not include travel time to and from the airport.
• How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options and the required time.
• Plan Your Visit: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about visiting Gyeongbok, book a tour or read traveller reviews.

If your primary goal for your mini-vacation is art and culture, you’d be wise to head over to Insadong , Seoul’s current art district. Visitors will likely find several traditional arts and crafts, including ink drawings, antiques, and celadon pottery. The main traditional street is the most famous and popular area; however, it encompasses nearly 13 hectares. Galleries are plentiful along these streets, as are tea houses and hanoks – traditional-style house restaurants. Tapgol Park is also within walking distance for those wishing to explore a hugely historically saturated pagoda.

• Time Required: Spend as long or as little time as you wish exploring the shops and galleries that stipple Insadong. We recommend budgeting at least an hour here – though more if you are more serious about shopping and art. Note that this does not include travel time to and from the airport.
• Plan Your Visit: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about visiting Insadong, book a tour or read traveller reviews.

If you’re visiting Seoul to immerse yourself fully in the city’s intensity, you will certainly want to head to Myeongdong – the city’s busiest area. Here, you will find a wide variety of local and international shops and many restaurants and cafes. Street vendors galore will give you a taste of local fare for a modest price, while Lotte Department Store will provide you with some of your best people-watching opportunities. That said, do be warned that the shopping here is hardly cheap. Myeongdong was ranked in the world’s top 10 most expensive shopping districts in 2018!

• Time Required: As with other shopping destinations, the time you wish to explore here depends entirely on your preferences and availability. We would recommend no less than 1.5 hours. Note that this does not include travel time to and from the airport.

Airport Transportation

Incheon Airport is located on a small island roughly 30 miles from the city center of Seoul. This makes accessing the city center somewhat more difficult and time-consuming.

Public transit options include:

• Railroad Express (AREX): A new train connecting downtown Seoul with the airport and nine other stops, leading to further metro access. For rates and schedules: Airport Express Train .
• Public Bus: Departs from multiple locations outside the departures lounge for areas throughout Seoul.

Private transit options include:

• Taxi (1F outside Arrivals Hall): Multiple stands between platforms 4D and 7C.
• Call Van (Exits12 and 13 in Arrivals Hall): Fixed fare van shuttle service

Before You Go: Layover Tips

Now that you are motivated and excited about your mini layover vacation, check a few final logistical concerns off your list before you fully commit.

• Do you need to organize a visa to leave the airport? Requirements change frequently and for each nationality, so be sure to seek out current details on the availability, cost, and procedures of obtaining a transit visa.
• When is your next flight’s check-in time? Double-check with your airline exactly when you need to be at the airport – and plan your layover accordingly.
• What are security wait times like at the airport? Some airports are notorious for extended security wait times, so research in advance and factor that into your overall time budget.
• What’s happening with your luggage? When you check in to your first flight, confirm whether your luggage is checked through or needs to be picked up between your connecting flights. Visit our Seoul Incheon Airport Guide for information about Luggage Storage.

Other Useful Resources

Finally, here are a few handy resources to help you plan your layover even more thoroughly:

• Free Seoul Transit Tours
• Tripadvisor – Need more sightseeing ideas? Visit Things to Do in Seoul to schedule a tour or the Seoul Travel Forum to check out past threads to see what other travellers have shared about sightseeing during long layovers at Incheon Airport and post your questions.
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2024 Paris Olympics: Gold Medalist Nelly Korda Looking Forward to Olympic Games With Just Under 100 Days to Go

Haeran ryu leads headed into final round at the chevron championship.

• Nelly Korda

You’ll be relieved to know that Nelly Korda’s gold medal is no longer living in a sock.

That was how the reigning gold medalist traveled with one of the most coveted prizes in all of sports after she first won the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, often begging TSA agents to be as careful as possible not to scratch it when they had to inspect the large metal object in her luggage at airport security.

The 12-time LPGA Tour winner now has it displayed in her office at home, a perfect reminder of all that she accomplished in 2021, arguably her breakout season on the LPGA Tour.

That is until 2024 rolled around.

Three years ago, it felt like Korda was well on her way to superstardom, as she won four times during the 2021 season, one of which was a major championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Add a gold medal and her first-time ascension to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings into the mix, and Korda’s dominance couldn’t be argued, even with Jin Young Ko winning five times in the latter half of the season. And while it was chock full of some of the greatest accomplishments of her career, it’s a year that is now a little fuzzy in Korda’s mental photo album.

“I think I won like five times, including the Olympics, so it was such a blur of a year,” said Korda earlier this season at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship. “There are memories that I created that (will) last a lifetime. One of the best things that year was winning in Florida for the first time and winning in front of my parents, an LPGA event for the first time, too.

“There are so many great things that went on in 2021. Hopefully, I can get some of that good juju in 2024.”

And that wish has definitely been granted this year for Korda, who has now more than established her dominance in professional golf. After a T16 finish at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, she won the LPGA Drive On Championship in her hometown of Bradenton, Fla., the next week, outlasting Lydia Ko in a two-hole playoff at Bradenton Country Club.

She took seven weeks off, electing to skip the LPGA Tour’s three early-spring events in Asia, and returned to competition at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, winning that tournament in a playoff over Ryann O’Toole and re-ascending to the top spot in the Rolex Rankings.

Korda then made a quick jaunt over to the Ford Championship presented by KCC in Gilbert, Ariz., collecting her third straight LPGA Tour title after firing a 7-under 65 in the waterlogged final round to win by two shots over Hira Naveed at Seville Golf and Country Club.

At that point, three in a row would’ve been more than enough wins for any other LPGA Tour player, an early-year performance on which one could have easily hung their hat for the rest of the season. But the always-hungry Korda kept on playing.

She teed it up in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, adding another tally to her win column when she handily defeated Leona Maguire 4 and 3 in the championship match at Shadow Creek. It was then that Korda really leaned into the history she was making, cutting up and laughing with reporters in her winning press conference as she joked about the celebratory In-N-Out Burger she’d have later with her team.

It felt like Korda could finally let herself think just a little bit about what this kind of performance meant for women’s golf and who her name was now written alongside in the LPGA Tour record books.

“Kathy (Whitworth)'s really good friend actually texted me last week a photo of me being compared to Kathy on social media,” said Korda in her winning press conference in Las Vegas. “I wrote her back that it's an honor to be alongside her. I used to play in her event growing up, The Kathy Whitworth Invitational in Texas, and meeting her, and getting to talk to her was always the highlight of my year. She was always so nice, so getting compared to Kathy Whitworth is a huge honor.”

Her recent tear of victories has all but guaranteed Korda a spot on the United States Olympic team, and it shouldn’t matter too much what she does in the next few events before the end of the qualification period in June. She should be competing in France.

But even though she’s playing the best golf of her career right now and is arguably the hottest player in the world, male or female, Korda is unwilling to think of winning another medal in August at the Olympics as the bright lights of Paris beckon in the distance.

Just like she has with every single one of her victories this season, Korda is instead focusing on what’s right in front of her and has decided to worry about medals and podiums when that time comes later this year.

“I'll start thinking about that when I'm on the team. Still haven't secured my spot,” said Korda. “Any time I get to represent the Red, White and Blue it's a huge honor. That would be another thing I would be extremely grateful for.”

It’s a here-and-now mentality that’s served her well in recent months. And considering that her 2024 performance is eerily reminiscent of the strength she showed in 2021, it’s not a stretch to think that it could be an Old-Glory-draped Korda who once again has gold around her neck at Le Golf National.

She just might end up needing another sock.

Witnessing greatness. 🤩 @NellyKorda continues to dominate on the @LPGA with her fourth consecutive victory. #OlympicGolf | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/jEODGPUJl4 — Olympic Golf (@OlympicGolf) April 8, 2024

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Tune in to watch as the LPGA Tour tees it up for their first major championship of the 2024 season.  The Club at Carlton Woods plays host to The Chevron Championship. The 132-player field, highlighted by 10 of the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, will compete for a $7.9 million purse.