Mid-day 22.5 hour connection in ICN
Nov 23, 2015, 8:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: GRB
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 309
Mid-day 22.5 hour connection in ICN
I'm arriving in ICN at 4:25pm and departing the following day at 2:55pm. I'm trying to figure out the best way to spend this time, having never been in Seoul. The free transit program sounds great, but the times don't work out particularly well...
https://www.airport.kr/pa/en/d/2/3/5...jsp?tabIndex=1
It looks like I'm completely on my own the first evening, unless there are organized evening tours? The second day, if I took the 8am-1pm Seoul City Tour, would I be fine to make the 2:55pm departure? I'm a US citizen and will be leaving via China Southern in business class, if that makes any difference as far as navigating the airport / immigration.
https://www.airport.kr/pa/en/d/2/3/5...jsp?tabIndex=1
It looks like I'm completely on my own the first evening, unless there are organized evening tours? The second day, if I took the 8am-1pm Seoul City Tour, would I be fine to make the 2:55pm departure? I'm a US citizen and will be leaving via China Southern in business class, if that makes any difference as far as navigating the airport / immigration.
Nov 26, 2015, 10:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
If you arrive at 4:25, you will make it into Seoul hotel around 7 PM. Land at 4:30, off the plane by 5. That's a busy time for arrivals from the US, so I'd say walk to immigration and bags out by 6. Bathroom, grab a coffee, head the to the train, wait for the next one.
I'd get a hotel in Myeongdong. You can take the Korean Air limousine bus directly to Lotte Hotel (and walk across the street to nearby Myeongdong area). Myeongdong Hotels, I'd recommend the Metro Hotel. My father and his friend stayed there last year (I found it on Trip Advisor, myself).
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...tel-Seoul.html
As you're on a short time, I'd recommend one of the Food Tours with Ongo at night. You can see a lot of Korean food culture in a very fast time. You can get a little drunk, too, and experience the real Korea (if you want). http://www.ongofood.com/taste-tour/food-tours-in-seoul/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...urs-Seoul.html
As it's a Korean airport, you don't have to be at the airport three hours early. And it's the middle of the day. You can get to ICN at 1:30 and be ok using the Business Class line. If you do Online Check In, even easier. The trains to the airport are ALWAYS reliable. And there's no traffic. Just have to get yourself to Seoul Station. So, I'd leave your hotel at 11:45. Get to Seoul Station by 11:55, train by 12-12:15 and an hour to the airport.
The next morning, I'd wake up early to maximize your time. Leave the hotel by 9. Nearby are the Cheongyechon Stream (a nice "city walk"), Gyeongbokgung Palace and Insadong. If you move fast, you can hit all three.
You can walk down the Cheongyechon west and then turn north at Gwanghwamun towards Gyeongbokgung. Nice picture opportunity. The palace opens at 9, but there's also a guided 40 minute tour at 10. http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/...jsp?cid=264337
You can head back east from the palace and Insadong is VERY close. You can walk through Insadong in 40 minutes, so you could be done there by 11:15-11:30.
Insadong is really just touristy souvenirs, but they're way cheaper than the airport. There are lots of nice art cafes there, but you won't have time for that.
You'll be done just in time to swing back to your hotel and grab your bags.
(I'm not a tour guide, but I love Seoul. I plan many an itinerary for friends, visitors, so if you have more questions, do ask!)
I'd get a hotel in Myeongdong. You can take the Korean Air limousine bus directly to Lotte Hotel (and walk across the street to nearby Myeongdong area). Myeongdong Hotels, I'd recommend the Metro Hotel. My father and his friend stayed there last year (I found it on Trip Advisor, myself).
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...tel-Seoul.html
As you're on a short time, I'd recommend one of the Food Tours with Ongo at night. You can see a lot of Korean food culture in a very fast time. You can get a little drunk, too, and experience the real Korea (if you want). http://www.ongofood.com/taste-tour/food-tours-in-seoul/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...urs-Seoul.html
As it's a Korean airport, you don't have to be at the airport three hours early. And it's the middle of the day. You can get to ICN at 1:30 and be ok using the Business Class line. If you do Online Check In, even easier. The trains to the airport are ALWAYS reliable. And there's no traffic. Just have to get yourself to Seoul Station. So, I'd leave your hotel at 11:45. Get to Seoul Station by 11:55, train by 12-12:15 and an hour to the airport.
The next morning, I'd wake up early to maximize your time. Leave the hotel by 9. Nearby are the Cheongyechon Stream (a nice "city walk"), Gyeongbokgung Palace and Insadong. If you move fast, you can hit all three.
You can walk down the Cheongyechon west and then turn north at Gwanghwamun towards Gyeongbokgung. Nice picture opportunity. The palace opens at 9, but there's also a guided 40 minute tour at 10. http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/...jsp?cid=264337
You can head back east from the palace and Insadong is VERY close. You can walk through Insadong in 40 minutes, so you could be done there by 11:15-11:30.
Insadong is really just touristy souvenirs, but they're way cheaper than the airport. There are lots of nice art cafes there, but you won't have time for that.
You'll be done just in time to swing back to your hotel and grab your bags.
(I'm not a tour guide, but I love Seoul. I plan many an itinerary for friends, visitors, so if you have more questions, do ask!)