Overnight layover ICN
 

I've searched a few threads related to the topic, but none quite answer my dilemma - I will be arriving in ICN at 6pm and flying out the next morning at 9am ... should I take the train into Seoul for the night or stay closer to the airport?

I realize near the airport would be cheaper and easier, but is it worthwhile to go into the city? At best I will only have a few hours - after security and the train in, I figure I'd get there around 9pm and then would want to leave around 6 am or so.

Thoughts?

That is a rather short layover to go downtown to see anything short of the night markets as well as achieve any quality rest. Stay at the Hyatt by ICN - great hotel. Little more price conscience you can choose the New ICN Airport Hotel

Incheon (the town)
 

Incheon - the town, is a trip. It is populated by airport workers, towns people and few passengers. I stayed at a bizarre apartment hotel with two hugh vending machines in the room, self cleaning robotic toilet, and way more electronics than was necessary. I found a barbeque joint a few blocks away that refused to feed me because I was western. I knew it had to be great so I pleaded and they fed me. The food was stupefyingly unbelievable. It was one of those great travel experiences that I'll always remember. YMMV.

chefdg1 any chance you remember the name of either the hotel or the restaurant?

Thx

Incheon town - like Blade Runner
 

Sorry, I can remember the hotel room and the restaurant vividly. Unfortunately the names are a blank. I do remember that it was an area called Incheon Airport Town Square (which is very close to the airport). This is not Incheon - the city. It's a whole other thing. It felt more like Blade Runner Town. I hope that makes some sense. I've just returned from a day of wine tasting.

I too have a short (16 hour) layover at ICN. I'm opting to stay in Airport Town Square, which is the area near Unseo station. I haven't been there before, but it sounds like a good option. The restaurant mentioned in this thread may be the same one mentioned in the review here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia/...tel-queen.html

I'm staying at Hotel Sky Incheon, incidentally.

Two hotels about 1 mile away, Best Western and Hyatt. Both have complimentary shuttle buses. I usually stay at BW and then cross the street to Hyatt for dinner.

Your other option is to remain in the airport, book the transit hotel [above the airport lounges], comfortable, reasonable price. Then you can walk the airport, get a bit to eat as there are some nice fast food or restaurants to choose from.[then you can just check bags through]

Thanks for the tips, found a hostel near ICN for $20 a night - reviews were looked awesome and as I'm travelling F class I figure I can handle a little slumming for a stop as short as this! ;)

Photos of the Incheon Town Square hotel & restaurant
 

I've located two photos of the places I could not remember. One is the bizarre hotel room and the other (more importantly) is the restaurant that I thought was terrific. Good luck.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1147573...OTqv4H74fvbnAE

I'm interested in this as well. I am flying in ICN at 2025 and leaving the following day at 1230. Do I have time to go to the city and grab some good food? I do not mind staying at the Hyatt since it only costs 8000 points, but I'd hate to miss seeing the city.

I have an almost identical layover coming up. I'm already booked at my usual spot (Yeha Doye Guesthouse in Insadong--great place and amazing value for location and the bus from the airport to a few blocks away is only 10000KRW), but I'm wondering what to see in the later night hours and earlier to mid-morning hours. I've been three times but only for overnights and usually I regret not going outside of the Insadong area. Any suggestions for stuff to do would be great. I'm thinking Seoul Tower, but idk much else.

I did more research and it seems like it would not be worth it. I am just going to stay at the Hyatt ICN. 8000 points after devaluation, or ~$200.

If you guys know you will be have a layover overnight, why don't you take few days make yourself free to see the place properly rather than rushing it. ;)

Already have a stopover and open jaw in my itinerary :(
Also, I have no more vacation days haha.

I may end up extending my stay by a day in the end. Only reason I'm doing an overnight is to relieve me of my boredom at home.

I am interested in any suggestions for an overnight layover. Parents and two teens. Arrive 7:00 pm (from SYD) and leave 11:00 am (to US). We can sleep on the planes (though we will get a hotel room). We would be up for seeing the city at night, to as late as 2 am or so, or very early, say 5 am. Any suggestions for self-tour or perhaps a guide who would accompany us on those odd hours? Any chance of visiting DMZ early enough to get back for the 11 am flight?

I did the DMZ tour once and it was a whole day tour, so you might as well forget about it. On a side note, I didn't think it was all that great.

Depending on where your hotel is, you may be able to do a lot on foot. Otherwise, taxis are plenty and rather cheap ("cheap" depending where you are from, obviously). The subway in Seoul is also cheap and it's clean, but I think it closes around midnight; it depends on the station, so you'd have to check to be sure. There are night markets in Seoul, so you could easily see and do things until 2 am. Seoul is quite safe. If you like spicy food you'll enjoy Korean food. Street food is safe, cheap, and delicious ... maybe not all, but most. ;)

I don't think the DMZ is possible during your layover. Just not enough time.


As for suggestions, what hotel will you be staying at?

I wrote this on a different post. It might be an option. If you are coming soon, you should know that it can get fairly cold at night. Other options might be to research some of the 24 hr shopping areas. They also usually have restaurants nearby that are also open 24 hours.

Have a layover coming up on Sunday night. Arrive 5:30pm, then depart at 9am (both in OZ F) -- Worth going into Seoul on a Sunday night? Thinking of the Hyatt, but can do other hotels if they're better for going into the city.

I would say if you have never been to Seoul, then come on in just to get a glimpse of the city. Culturally I think most palaces and such will be closed by the time you arrive in the city. But there is always Myeongdong 24 hour shopping and other areas of interest.

If you are coming from LA, then with the time change, waking up early the next day to catch your flight should not be a problem. Just be aware that mornings at ICN airport can be a zoo with lots of people arriving and going through security to their flights.

After reading this thread I'm having second thoughts. Im arriving from sydney at 7pm and departing the next day at 1pm. I'm travelling once again with the small children 6 and 4 . I have already booked the hyatt and used a suite upgrade about $200 per night.

Im now thinking once I land to catch the limo bus into the city maybe book one if the intercontinental 's on points and have alook around . Any suggestions ?

Logistically I think the only difference between going to the Hyatt Regency and heading into town would be the length of time on the bus (assuming you take either a limo bus or a shuttle bus to your hotel). But coming from Sydney I will assume your body clock is 2 hours ahead of Korea time. So let's say you make it to your hotel by 9pm local. It will feel like 11pm? But the beauty of this will be in the next morning where I assume you might get an early start in the morning.

There might not be enough time to go visit a palace or somewhere cultural the next day, but just being with the kids and enjoying breakfast together in a foreign country might be fun. Maybe take a selfie picture then? I don't recall who said or wrote this but sometimes it is not the destination but the journey that makes it memorable.

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well , but I also didnt want to miss out on something special I could have done in a few hours. I'm not sure if its really safe with the kids in korea as well , so I might just stay around the airport and the Hyatt. Take some photos around the area and just relax for. Change .

If you're flying the same airline on the same ticket, your airline might even put you up in a hotel for the night. I know Korean Air does. I'm sure Asiana does the same.

The limo bus is a guaranteed hour each way, sometimes more, depending on where you are going and traffic.

What you should do is take the AREX to Hongik University (Hongdae). There's DEFINITELY nightlife there. Shopping, cafes, restaurants, clubs, bars, artists, music and people at the playground, you name it.

I think OZ does offer a overnight hotel but not in award tickets so im out of luck there.

When you mention playground do you mean slippery dips and swings or referring to something more extreme? What's the costs of taking the AREX return and does it leave from anywhere near the Hyatt.