In a previous blog post, I mentioned that a great way to explore multiple destinations during one trip is to take advantage of long layovers. On the flight back from Bali in 2018, we had a 7+ hour layover in South Korea that we used to gamble in the Paradise City Hotel casino and explore one of Seoul’s famous shopping districts. And the best part is that it was FREE FREE-FREE FREE! Keep reading for more details. And just to clarify, while there are many travel restrictions in place in North Korea, most of you will be free to travel to and through South Korea (outside of any temporary COVID restrictions of course). Traveling to South Korea, from my experience, is no different than traveling to most other countries. A regular U.S Passport is valid, you are free to explore the country on your own, and you can visit for general tourism purposes any time of the year. To my knowledge, any of the travel restrictions you may have heard in relation to North Korea do not apply here. So feel free to add South Korea to your bucket list!
General Need To Know
Any tourists who are eligible to enter Korea normally and passengers who have connecting flights within 24 hours are qualified to participate in the airport transit tours. If you have at least 2 hours to spare before your flight, you should be able to participate in at least one of the tours. Passengers with longer layovers have access to more tour options and can even participate in multiple. You can sign up for tours online or in-person in the airport. You must check in at one of the registration desks at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the tour. When we landed, there was an airport worker right outside of the gate hoping to encourage passengers to participate so we found our way to the registration desk with assistance. I'm not sure if this was a fluke or if they always send representatives to the gates but there is a map available online if needed. There are several factors that impact the availability of tours including remaining open slots, your arrival time, and your total layover time. I would recommend being open to participate in any of the tour options available, even if you have preferences because, in my opinion, anything is better than sitting in the airport for hours!
Available Tours
Paradise City Art-Tainment
This was one of the two tours that my friend and I participated in during our layover. Paradise City is a large resort about 10 minutes away from the airport. Along with being a beautiful hotel, they also house a large casino and an art gallery that exhibits 2,700 pieces of artwork. This tour is 1 hour long and typically runs twice a day so it's perfect for short layovers. As part of this tour, you receive a FREE betting coupon to use in the casino (I believe it was for 70,000 won which is equivalent to about $60 USD to gamble with). While I only won about $7, my roommate won $70 which she then used to go shopping during our second tour! Along with the betting money, we also received a FREE meal ticket and FREE souvenir keychain. After eating and gambling, we did not have enough time to explore the art exhibits but we had a great time anyway!
Songdo Hanok Village, Triple Shopping Streets
I did not participate in this tour but based on the airport website, this 2-hour tour shows you the modern skyscrapers of Songdo Hanok Village, Songdo Central Park, Hyundai Premium Outlet, some traditional Korean cafes and restaurants, and the colorful cultural facilities of the Triple Shopping Streets.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insa-dong or Changdeokgung Palace, Insa-dong
This 5-hour tour is full of tradition showing one of the historical palaces of the Joseon dynasty followed by time to explore the labyrinths of Insa-Dong, which are filled with galleries, antique shops, traditional craft shops, and traditional tea houses and restaurants. Unfortunately, I could not participate in this tour either.
Myeong-Dong, Namdaemun Market
Myeong-Dong is the most famous shopping district and Namdaemun Market is one of Korea's major traditional markets. This 5-hour tour is great for shopaholics looking to experience Korean fashion. This was one of the only other tours available during our layover so we spent a bulk of our time here. This is where my friend spent her winnings from the Paradise City tour to buy a few articles of clothing.
Jeondeungsa Temple, Deokjinjin Fortress
This tour is perfect for those looking to learn some South Korean history. Jeondeungsa Temple, which was built in 381 and rebuilt in 1625 after being destroyed in fires, was significant through multiple dynasties and royal families. The Deokjinjin Fortress was used to defend the Ganghwa Straits during the period of the Goryeo Dynasty. This tour is for 4 hours.
Temple
Based on the website, this 1-hour tour is offered many times throughout the day so it would be great for short layovers or filling in remaining time after other tours. It explores a temple originally built during the Silla dynasty and later rebuilt by Heungseon Daewongun
and renamed Yonggungsa Temple.
Gwangmyeong Cave
This 4-hour tour for nature lovers explores a mine turned shrimp storage turned cave-themed park that is visited by over a million tourists each year. This tour is not available on Mondays.
Mangwon Market, Hongdae Street
This 4-hour tour explores the traditional market area of Mangwon Market followed by the more youthful streets of Hongdae, which has cafes, clubs, murals, fashion streets, underground music, and art festivals.
Heungryunsa Temple, Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation
This area is famous for the beautiful Songdo International Business District and the Incheondaegyo Bridge that can be visited by climbing 108 steps along the Cheongnyangsan Mountain. During your 2 hours, you will also visit the historical memorial of the Korean War.
While you are able to explore the city on your own, these transit tours were a great option to get free transportation, free goodies, and access to English-speaking guides, especially for those who prefer the ease of having their activities planned by someone else.
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