Asia - 4 hr stopover in ICN - any recommendations?

I will have 4 hrs on a stopover in ICN, and having never been to Seoul, I wonder if this is enough time to see anything, or if there are any recommendations what to do (other than shopping and staying at the lounge ;-).

Unfortunately, 4 hours is a bit tight for trekking into the city. By the time you get downtown, it will be time to turn around.

On the upside, ICN is probably one of the best 5 airports in the world. Aside from great shopping and dining options, if I'm not mistaken, there is also a golf course incorporated into the airport complex. The Asiana lounge at the airport is also a terrific place to pass the time.

With only 4 hours I would not even venture out of the airport.
You would not get to Seoul itself - it is over an hour ( and up to 2 hours depending on traffic) each way. Incheon itself is not worth a visit.

But as the previous poster said, the airport has some great shopping and food, and
the OZ lounge is a fine place to pass some time.

Probably a stupid question but I have ask: can one purchase an OZ lounge pass?

ICN also has some of the best, and most reasonably priced internet kiosks of any airport in the world. The KAL lounge used to have free ones, but they were gone last time I transitted there. But there is an excellent internet shop sponsored by Intel and Dell that has excellent new PCs, and costs around $3 for an hour via broadband.

And the KAL lounge has big soft couches with a large screen TV, and a place to shower and get a theraputic massage for reasonable cost as well.

Overall, ICN is about the best airport in which I've ever had to spend a several hour layover.

What would you do with an ~ 11 hour layover?

Thanks for the responses and suggestions! ;-)

gleff..

I flew in early one morning on OZ .. and out on SQ early evening...

Having looked at options ( I want to to do a DMZ tour someday fr'instance) I realised I didn't have the time for anything like that...

So I just booked a day room..... got some sleep (which I didn't really get on the flight in) surfed the net.. went for a walk near the hotel etc...

Then back to ICN for an hour or so on the new OZ lounge....

Was quite a pleasant layover....

What would you do with an ~ 11 hour layover?

You might want to take one of the Transit Tours from INC:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_5_1.jsp

It's a good idea to check in with the transit desk of your airline (KE or OZ only I believe) if you have a layover greater than 8 hours at ICN (totally optional). This was the only way I found out about Asiana's freebees (free day-use hotel or tour). I assume the non-Korean airlines don't have a transit desk (not sure about Singapore).

Unfortunately, 4 hours is a bit tight for trekking into the city. By the time you get downtown, it will be time to turn around.


On the upside, ICN is probably one of the best 5 airports in the world. Aside from great shopping and dining options, if I'm not mistaken, there is also a golf course incorporated into the airport complex. The Asiana lounge at the airport is also a terrific place to pass the time.


IMO, Asiana lounges at ICN are pretty awful compared to other *A lounges in Asia. They may be rated terrific compared to United lounges in North America, but they are quite terrible compared to the former SQ lounge at ICN, NH lounges at NRT, or SQ/TG lounges at HKG.



Probably a stupid question but I have ask: can one purchase an OZ lounge pass?


No, but why would you do that? There are private lounges that charges USD30-USD40 for admission, and they offer a lot better food than Asiana lounges although they don't seem to provice free showers. I have been to Asiana lounges at ICN, and have seen photos of the private lounges though I have not been there personally. Facilities seem comparable, but the private lounges serve a lot better food. Thumbs down to ...... Asiana lounges. :td::td::td::td::td:



ICN also has some of the best, and most reasonably priced internet kiosks of any airport in the world. The KAL lounge used to have free ones, but they were gone last time I transitted there. But there is an excellent internet shop sponsored by Intel and Dell that has excellent new PCs, and costs around $3 for an hour via broadband.

And the KAL lounge has big soft couches with a large screen TV, and a place to shower and get a theraputic massage for reasonable cost as well.

Overall, ICN is about the best airport in which I've ever had to spend a several hour layover.


KE lounges should still have free internet PCs. It's proabably that you didn't find them due to recent lounge renovations.

IMO, Asiana lounges at ICN are pretty awful compared to other *A lounges in Asia. They may be rated terrific compared to United lounges in North America, but they are quite terrible compared to the former SQ lounge at ICN, NH lounges at NRT, or SQ/TG lounges at HKG.
You never miss a chance to slag OZ, now do you :rolleyes:

In my book, and it's a pretty big one (http://openflights.org/user/jpatokal), the OZ ICN lounges are among the best *G lounges anywhere. They're huge, clean and well-maintained, with free showers, free booze, free PCs, a good selection of free food (limited outside mealtimes though), a great selection of newspapers and magazines... what more do you want in a lounge, strippers and cocaine? :confused:

But unfortunately this is all irrelevant to the OP, because you can't buy lounge passes for OZ.

In my book, and it's a pretty big one (http://openflights.org/user/jpatokal), the OZ ICN lounges are among the best *G lounges anywhere. They're huge, clean and well-maintained, with free showers, free booze, free PCs, a good selection of free food (limited outside mealtimes though), a great selection of newspapers and magazines... what more do you want in a lounge, strippers and cocaine? :confused:



Limited selections of food. They used to not have any hot dish at all, but only 10 cold dishes in the salad bar IIRC. Now they do have hot dish, but only three, which are usually pretty poor choices like chili shrimp, sausage, and random cooked vegetables which are easy to cook and cheap. Cold dishes didn't get any improvement. Showers? Yeah, pretty small shower rooms without toilet. Besides, they do not plastic wrap the towels they provide unlike any other *A lounges that I've visited in Asia. Huge, clean, well-maintained? Other *A lounges in Asia at their hubs are as equally huge, clean, well maintained as OZ lounges at ICN or usually even better.

Strippers and cocaine? Yeah, those are certainly your interests but not mine. You don't realize that everyone in this forum does not share the same standard with you, right?

And the KAL lounge has big soft couches with a large screen TV, and a place to shower and get a theraputic massage for reasonable cost as well.


I will soon have two 4-hour layovers in ICN. I will be flying KE Biz, and have a Priority Pass, which allows me to visit the OZ lounges.

My understanding is that I'm best off relaxing in the KE lounges, though I do plan on visiting the OZ lounges.

I am, however, intrigued by the mention of a massage in the KE lounges.
D1 - are you inferring that one can purchase a massage service INSIDE the KE lounge (biz lounge, the one up on the 4th level?)

10 cold dishes in the salad bar... hot dish, but only three... shower rooms without toilet ... they do not plastic wrap the towels... Other *A lounges in Asia at their hubs are as equally huge, clean, well maintained...
Oh my, that does sound terri-bi-ba-ble. (Especially when compared to your average UA lounge.) So tell me, what *A lounge in Asia is better than this, and what did the now dearly departed SQ lounge in ICN offer that the OZ lounge does not? I'll start with one thing it lacked the last time I visited: free wifi, which was offered in the OZ lounge.

Also, in much of Asia including Korea, it's considered unhygienic to place showers and toilets in the same room. There are plenty of toilets right next to the showers, which (IIRC) are even equipped with fun water-squirting washlets. And I'm not sure why you'd want to plastic wrap your towels, no 5* hotel I've ever stayed in has done such a silly thing. :confused:

I am, however, intrigued by the mention of a massage in the KE lounges.
D1 - are you inferring that one can purchase a massage service INSIDE the KE lounge (biz lounge, the one up on the 4th level?)

The last time I transited at ICN, theraputic massage was available at the shower facility in the 4th floor KE lounge. I did not partake, so I can't comment on the quality. I just got a shower and changed clothes.

Oh my, that does sound terri-bi-ba-ble. (Especially when compared to your average UA lounge.) So tell me, what *A lounge in Asia is better than this, and what did the now dearly departed SQ lounge in ICN offer that the OZ lounge does not? I'll start with one thing it lacked the last time I visited: free wifi, which was offered in the OZ lounge.



I'd say most *A lounges at NRT/HKG/SIN are better than this one.

What used to be offered in SQ at ICN not offered in OZ at ICN now?
1. ice cream - Although SQ at ICN did not have Haagen Dazs, which SQ at HKG has, they did have Natuur or whatever ice cream.
2. smoked duck - Peking duck
3. premium hot dishes - SQ used to serve pretty decent international cuisines based on my standard. OZ does have hot dishes since recent renovations but they are really cheap and I wouldn't call them cuisine, more likely microwave food since I can even cook whatever they offer.
4. laser printer - SQ used to have a laser printer and at least it was useful once when I had to print out Hawaii bus route.
5. copying machine - not that useful
6. various desserts - SQ used to serve decent desserts like cheese cake, pumpkin pie, and other sweets which none of OZ has.
7. dimsum - OZ does not have it.
8. abundant telephones - SQ used to have quite many corded telephones and few cordless telephones. OZ's new lounge has only a couple (what a joke) of telephones. If someone is sitting next to the telephone, you cannot use it and there are only two of them. This is fairly annoying and OZ does not even have a single public telephone in their premise. SQ had two public telephone IIRC. Makes even more irritating.



Also, in much of Asia including Korea, it's considered unhygienic to place showers and toilets in the same room. There are plenty of toilets right next to the showers, which (IIRC) are even equipped with fun water-squirting washlets. And I'm not sure why you'd want to plastic wrap your towels, no 5* hotel I've ever stayed in has done such a silly thing. :confused:


Who considers it's unhygienc to place showers and toilets in the same room? Also, could you STOP pretending to be knowing things about Asia or S.Korea? If what you argue is true? How come all lounges <*A&PP> in Asia that I visited in Asia placed showers and toilets together in the same room with the exception of OZ and KE? Why I'd want to have my towel plastic-wrapped? This is the place where the word "unhygienic" comes in. If you have a brain, think. Shower room cleaners would handle the towels while they are cleaning the room, and I wouldn't feel good to wipe out my body with those towels. All lounges <*A&PP> that I had shower in Asia do plastic wrap towels with exception of OZ and KE again. May be it could be that hygienic level in S.Korea is lower than other Asian countries. 5 * hotels? Dirty too. That why I "use caution" when I use hotel towels. If you're interested click on the links in my signature space. After all, everything falls down to "standard" matter. Apparently my standard is very different from yours and this is where all the conflicts begin. And again, STOP pretending to be knowing about something that you don't know. You think you're smart to know so much? :rolleyes:



Also, in much of Asia including Korea, it's considered unhygienic to place showers and toilets in the same room.


This gotta be the most ridiculous b*** that I had in last one week.

Who considers it's unhygienc to place showers and toilets in the same room?

Random sample (http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa3306835.html) off Google:

私のつたない経験でも、外国にでは当然のように、バスとトイレが同じ部屋です。
皆さんおわかりのように、これは日本人の感覚としてとても違和感があると思います。身体を綺麗にする場所で あるお風呂と、排泄物を処理するトイレが同じだ何て・・（汚いたとえですが、味噌と糞といっしょにする、と いう感覚です）。

Quick translation: In my humble experience, in foreign countries it's normal to have the bath and the toilet in the same room. As I'm sure you all know, for us Japanese this feels very uncomfortable (違和感). The place where you clean your body, the bath, and the place you leave your excreta, the toilet, being the same is... (sorry for the dirty example, but it's like mixing miso and sh*t, or that's how it feels)

Of course, due to space constraints, even in Japanese hotels they're usually combined. But that doesn't mean people like it.

Also, could you STOP pretending to be knowing things about Asia or S.Korea?
Last I checked, only one of us actually lives here, and it's not you :p

Random sample (http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa3306835.html) off Google:

私のつたない経験でも、外国にでは当然のように、バスとトイレが同じ部屋です。
皆さんおわかりのように、これは日本人の感覚としてとても違和感があると思います。身体を綺麗にする場所で あるお風呂と、排泄物を処理するトイレが同じだ何て・・（汚いたとえですが、味噌と糞といっしょにする、と いう感覚です）。

Quick translation: In my humble experience, in foreign countries it's normal to have the bath and the toilet in the same room. As I'm sure you all know, for us Japanese this feels very uncomfortable (違和感). The place where you clean your body, the bath, and the place you leave your excreta, the toilet, being the same is... (sorry for the dirty example, but it's like mixing miso and sh*t, or that's how it feels)

Of course, due to space constraints, even in Japanese hotels they're usually combined. But that doesn't mean people like it.


In jpatokal's geography, Japan=Asia. I guess the best advice I can give you is to take some geography courses in an elementary school. That will certainly broaden your geography knowledge. Since you said "including Korea" where is any documentation that proves it's considered toilet+shower unhygienic in Korea, or is Korea a part of Japan in your geography? Why not go to 2ch and join? Almost everyone in 2ch would agree that Japan=Asia. Indeed, it's normal to have toliet+shower in the same room outside Japan. Japanese people do not like that does not mean non-Japanese Asian people do not like that, okay?



Last I checked, only one of us actually lives here, and it's not you :p


Last time you checked what? Another joke info? So you've been living in pseudo-Asia Singapore for few years and now pretend to be knowing heck a lot about Asia. That's so hilarious. :rolleyes:

Note: Why the hell was my post deleted without any notification? Is someone abusing his authority?

You might want to take one of the Transit Tours from INC:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_5_1.jsp

I found this thread the other day and I'm now glad that I have 12 hours in ICN as I plan on going on one of the transit tours. Here's the thing. From that page, if you choose the 7 hour tours, you see the details for the DMZ

tour.Daily 08:30 (weekday) 09:30 (weekend) Not available on mondays, weekends and holidays due to the circumstances of the site)

Let me interrupt this post by saying that I looked around the other site and found out that the transit tour is available every day except Mondays and Holidays. This reply was going to ask if this tour was offered on weekends as the quoted text above obviously makes no sense. It says no weekends but it lists start times for weekends.

Anyway, I got my answer. As long as September 19, 2009 isn't a Korean holiday, I should be able to go on this DMZ tour. I'm excited as that's one thing I really want to see in Korea and now I get to do it on my stopover which I originally thought I would have to spent in the lounge.

Anyway, I got my answer. As long as September 19, 2009 isn't a Korean holiday, I should be able to go on this DMZ tour. I'm excited as that's one thing I really want to see in Korea and now I get to do it on my stopover which I originally thought I would have to spent in the lounge.

Just a heads up for you...

My partner and I wanted to do the transit DMZ tour as well last year on a transit through ICN. The tours only run if they get the required number of people to register for the tour. On our day at ICN there were no other takers for any tours and the only tour they would run for 2 people was the Incheon Island tour...which was mediocre at best.

FYI, we just did the DMZ tour a couple of days ago (November 12). Some details:

The price you pay depends on the number of passengers. More passengers = less cost. Our tour had 11 people, so per person cost was $US60. Cost can be as high as $US100 if only two people. Cash only, $US or KRW.

The trip from ICN to DMZ takes 1:10. On arrival at Imjingak, the guide will take your passport and obtain your ticket. You then change to another bus for the actual tour. If you only speak English, try to locate other Westerners and sit near them as the guide on our trip would first give a description in Korean, then move to where the Westerners were sitting and repeat it in English.

Our itinerary (Course A) was The 3rd Tunnel-->Dora Observatory-->Dorasan Station-->Return to Imjingak.

The 3rd tunnel is really interesting. You descend on a train, then walk to the point where the South Koreans closed off the tunnel. Hardhats mandatory and the height of the tunnel makes it necessary to stoop most of the way unless you are fairly short. On the way back, you have the option of walking back up (looked pretty steep and said to be a 7 minute walk) or take the train again (which we did). You then watch a short movie about the tunnel.

Dora Observatory is in the DMZ and is the northermost observatory in the South where you can see North Korea. You can use the binoculars (takes 500 KRW coins, you can get change from a booth) to see the propaganda village and Gaeseong, the 3rd (4th?) largest city in the North. You can only take pictures behind a yellow line (enforced by military personnel) that is several feet from the front wall, so pictures are a bit disappointing.

Dorasan Station is the northernmost international station located abut 700 meters from the southern boundary line of the DMZ. It's intended to be a gateway for rail interchange between the South and North.

You then return to Imjingak for about 30 minutes of free time. The Peace Park is stark but interesting. You then transfer back to your original bus.

We stopped at a local Korean restaurant on the way back, sitting on the floor and having bulgogi, which was quite good.

We enjoyed the tour; hope you do as well.

As long as September 19, 2009 isn't a Korean holiday, I should be able to go on this DMZ tour. I'm excited as that's one thing I really want to see in Korea and now I get to do it on my stopover which I originally thought I would have to spent in the lounge.

Ok, mini-hijack. I have two 12 hour layovers in ICN coming up in February. I'm debating going into the city, taking a tour, and/or sleeping for part of the time. I'll be on my way to and on the way home from Cambodia, so I wasn't planning on bringing winter clothes. Any advice? I will be traveling on OZ and have access to their lounge.

Our itinerary (Course A) was The 3rd Tunnel-->Dora Observatory-->Dorasan Station-->Return to Imjingak.


I did a DMZ tour last year that included Panmunjom and the actual room where the negotiations with the DPRK take place. Apparently the border between ROK and DPRK runs down the middle of the table. It was really interesting to look out the window at the DPRK soldiers.

With 12 hours at ICN, assuming the schedule works out I would take a transit DMZ tour in a heartbeat.

I did a DMZ tour last year that included Panmunjom and the actual room where the negotiations with the DPRK take place. Apparently the border between ROK and DPRK runs down the middle of the table. It was really interesting to look out the window at the DPRK soldiers.

With 12 hours at ICN, assuming the schedule works out I would take a transit DMZ tour in a heartbeat.
IIRC, the free transit tours from ICN do not venture into Panmunjeom (the border village) itself, because that requires clearance that takes a few days to arrange. Instead, you'll get "Course A" above, which just pokes around the South Korean perimeter of the DMZ.

If your flight arrives early enough in the morning, it might be possible to catch a regular DMZ tour that does visit Panmunjeom, but the logistics would get kind of convoluted.

Further info and some agencies: http://wikitravel.org/en/Panmunjeom