15hr layover at ICN, what to do?
#16
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 42
Its doable. If immigration is quick and you take the train you can make it to Seoul Station at around 6pm, then transferring to Line 4(quite a walk), so you might be in Myeongdong around 6:30pm. Then you have a bit more than 3 hours to eat and walk around - I would do it, but you have to think about whether its worth it for you.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London; UK
Programs: LH SEN; BA Blue; HHonors Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 580
What are your reasons? I wouldnt go there because Gangnam is not a place I would like to stay as a tourist, as the "old" Seoul is much more interesting in my view and too far away from there. And I have been stuck on the Olympic expressway, but maybe you are right, its not so likely.
I agree that "old Seoul" is much more atmospheric, which is why I wouldn't advocate it as a first choice for Seoul.
I WOULD though for a quick transit from airport, using the City Air Terminal direct bus- bits between COEX and Yeoksam hill are quite interesting for food variety.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Book the Hyatt Regency that is next to the airport. Not enough time to do anything in the city considering the distance from the airport.
#19
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SEL
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by holtju2
Book the Hyatt Regency that is next to the airport. Not enough time to do anything in the city considering the distance from the airport.
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Not my budget but I am considering the SkyHotel some 6kms from the airport.
Will be spending 5 days in Seoul 2 months later so I guess thats enough time to explore the city.
#21
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Join Date: Nov 2002
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Been to Seoul many times. Considering the OP's arrival and departure times, there is hardly anything to see besides going out drinking/eating. I really like the Seoul but the airport is really inconvenient for long transits compared to i.e. Singapore.
#22
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2
I also have a long layover in late November. Arrive 5AM and Leave 4:40PM. I am thinking of joining one of transit tours. Most of them are finished around 3PM-3:30PM. Do I have enough time to catch my flight? I would like to go shopping and exploring Seoul and have a good lunch. If I do it on my own, any recommendations? Since most banks or exchange shops are not open until 7AM, can I get by using USD for train ticket? Thank you!
#23
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Seoul
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA, AF
Posts: 510
I also have a long layover in late November. Arrive 5AM and Leave 4:40PM. I am thinking of joining one of transit tours. Most of them are finished around 3PM-3:30PM. Do I have enough time to catch my flight? I would like to go shopping and exploring Seoul and have a good lunch. If I do it on my own, any recommendations? Since most banks or exchange shops are not open until 7AM, can I get by using USD for train ticket? Thank you!
You can probably pay for the train ticket with USD, though I've never tried it. Why don't you just get KRW from an ATM though? Those work at any time and my bank, at least, only charges me a few dollars per transaction and 1% conversion fee (a better rate than you'll get at one of the exchange counters). Oh also, apart from public transport and street stands, you can use your credit card pretty much anywhere in Seoul, so you probably wouldn't have to withdraw a lot of money.
As for the transit tour, never taken one of them before, but I'd be inclined to just head into town myself, if I were you. Unless it was a major travel day, I've always gotten through security/immigration in 20mins or less in ICN, so 70mins are definitely doable. That said, you never know whether something comes up. It would probably be cutting it a little close for my personal comfort zone, but then I like to leave myself extra time for these things.
#24
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Near Lichfield, UK
Programs: BMI DC Gold, BA Gold, LH SEN, Priority Club Platinum, Nectar purple
Posts: 949
^
I have to agree here - whilst the Hyatt is a perfectly fine hotel it's near nowhere of any interest, apart form the airport.
You don't have a great amount of time in Seoul, but with a bit of effort you certainly have enough to get downtown for a while and eat something interesting, then go and look at something interesting. Don't pass up the opportunity.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2
As I mentioned in an earlier post above, Insadong is a nice part of town if you want to kind of get a feel for old Seoul in a limited amount of time. You can either take an express bus directly (take bus no. 6011, get off at Anguk station), or take the airport express train to Hongik University, switch to line no. 2 (green line) towards Euljiro-3-ga and then change to line no. 3 (orange line) and head for Anguk station. It's a lot of changing trains if you opt for the latter route, but it costs less, and doesn't take much longer than the bus (maybe 15 mins extra), so it is an option to consider.
You can probably pay for the train ticket with USD, though I've never tried it. Why don't you just get KRW from an ATM though? Those work at any time and my bank, at least, only charges me a few dollars per transaction and 1% conversion fee (a better rate than you'll get at one of the exchange counters). Oh also, apart from public transport and street stands, you can use your credit card pretty much anywhere in Seoul, so you probably wouldn't have to withdraw a lot of money.
As for the transit tour, never taken one of them before, but I'd be inclined to just head into town myself, if I were you. Unless it was a major travel day, I've always gotten through security/immigration in 20mins or less in ICN, so 70mins are definitely doable. That said, you never know whether something comes up. It would probably be cutting it a little close for my personal comfort zone, but then I like to leave myself extra time for these things.
You can probably pay for the train ticket with USD, though I've never tried it. Why don't you just get KRW from an ATM though? Those work at any time and my bank, at least, only charges me a few dollars per transaction and 1% conversion fee (a better rate than you'll get at one of the exchange counters). Oh also, apart from public transport and street stands, you can use your credit card pretty much anywhere in Seoul, so you probably wouldn't have to withdraw a lot of money.
As for the transit tour, never taken one of them before, but I'd be inclined to just head into town myself, if I were you. Unless it was a major travel day, I've always gotten through security/immigration in 20mins or less in ICN, so 70mins are definitely doable. That said, you never know whether something comes up. It would probably be cutting it a little close for my personal comfort zone, but then I like to leave myself extra time for these things.
#26
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Seoul
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA, AF
Posts: 510
Yes, you'll see an information stand as you exit the customs area (there are several by the exits). They have free maps and will be glad to show you which express bus to take and where, and can of course also point you to the airport express train (though signage for that is quite clear anyway).
#27
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I have a similar layover...arriving at 8.30pm and departing the next morning (same C ticket) at 9.20am. I was hoping to stop into the OZ lounge on arrival (since I should have an onward boarding pass the following day) for a snack. Will they let me in since I have an onward boarding pass albeit the next day? Will they allow me to show my itinerary if the onward boarding pass doesnt print?
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
#28
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 273
I have a similar layover...arriving at 8.30pm and departing the next morning (same C ticket) at 9.20am. I was hoping to stop into the OZ lounge on arrival (since I should have an onward boarding pass the following day) for a snack. Will they let me in since I have an onward boarding pass albeit the next day? Will they allow me to show my itinerary if the onward boarding pass doesnt print?
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
In a couple of my previous stopovers at ICN, my US-bound flights were delayed and the OZ lounges remained open and therefore I would assume that the lounges would open until the last flights of the day depart. If that is the case consistently then it's another very nice service feature of OZ^. Just wonder if anyone else would have the same experience?
You may be lucky if there's an outbound delayed flight...
#29
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SEL
Posts: 57
I have a similar layover...arriving at 8.30pm and departing the next morning (same C ticket) at 9.20am. I was hoping to stop into the OZ lounge on arrival (since I should have an onward boarding pass the following day) for a snack. Will they let me in since I have an onward boarding pass albeit the next day? Will they allow me to show my itinerary if the onward boarding pass doesnt print?
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
I guess I could always go to the Priority Pass lounge (since I have the card) if not, but just wanted to grab a light snack. Do the lounges really close at 9pm? Seems really early!
I can well understand that everything closes so early, ICN is dead in the evening. Not that I like that - anyway we had this discussion here before, how strange it is to be a global best airport but having a "curfew".
In a couple of my previous stopovers at ICN, my US-bound flights were delayed and the OZ lounges remained open and therefore I would assume that the lounges would open until the last flights of the day depart. If that is the case consistently then it's another very nice service feature of OZ^. Just wonder if anyone else would have the same experience?
You may be lucky if there's an outbound delayed flight...
You may be lucky if there's an outbound delayed flight...
#30
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
You might also consider the Jjimjilbang in the basement of the airport - Spa on Air
Last edited by Daawgon; Oct 3, 2012 at 11:15 pm