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Passions
Joined: 31 May 2006
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 Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:18 am Post subject: Have a 15 hr layover in Incheon, can I exit the airport? |
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I'm on my way from LA to the Philippines which requires a 15 hr layover in Incheon. Am I allowed to leave the airport to go tour Seoul for half a day?
All I need is my ticket stub, passport, and just go through security again, right? |
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giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:21 am Post subject: |
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| YEah i dont see any problem with that. Just dont get lost and miss your flight =p. have a fun half day in seoul. |
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Gillian57
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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| There's actually a subway connection now from Incheon Airport to Gimpo Airport in Seoul. You shouldn't have any problems.... There are subway maps in English and the Seoul Subway is actually pretty user-friendly. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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it takes a good 35-40 minutes or so to really get into seoul from the airport on the subway, so keep that in mind. The airport line connects to #5 and it will take you to some of the touristy spots if you're looking to go there.
It goes near Insadong and some of the palaces. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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If I were you I'd go to the COEX mall. The airport limo goes there, there is tons to see and do (Decent aquarium, cinema, casino, good food and shopping, even a kimchi museum) and there's an airport thingy there (you know where you can check in for your next flight etc, I'm hungover and have only about a 65% grasp of my own language today) and you can't get lost.
Not a bad way to spend a day. oh and Bandi and Lundi is a pretty cool bookshop. |
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Bearach
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| If you can't leave, check out the jjimjilbang (찜질방), it's in the basement of the departures building. You can relax, even sleep in your own little room. I think it was around 30,000 Won to stay the night there. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Americans now get a 90 days gratis tourist visa stamped in their passports on arrival. The US recently made it easier for Koreans visiting the US, so Korea responded in kind. It used to be 30 days?
Getting to Seoul by bus is easier than messing around with the subway with suitcases & changing trains at Gimpo. Incheon to Seoul Station by bus, usually takes around an hour, but it can be 2 hours, if it's raining, & traffic is bad. Leave your luggage at Incheon, if possible. There's also luggage storage at Seoul Station. Once you ditch the luggage, then yes, the subway is easier.
Plenty to see in Seoul in a half day. A small list of Seoul tourist attractions includes:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (has its own subway station)
- Changdeokgung and gardens
- Chang-gyeonggung Palace
- Deoksugung Palace
- Jongmyo Daeje Royal Ancestral Rites
- Cheongwadae (The Blue House)
- Han River Park
- Daehangno
- Insa-dong (highly recommended)
- Insa-dong Shopping Street
- Namsan Park & Tower (good on a clear day)
- Namsangol Hanok Village
- Namdaemun Market
- Dongdaemun Market
- Myeong-dong Shopping area
- Apgujeong Rodeo Drive.
- Itaewon Tourist District
- COEX Mall
- Lotte World
- Seoul World Cup Stadium
- Bukhansan Mountain National Park |
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steveinincheon
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Assuming you don't need a visa to enter Korea (basically any Western passport) you'll have no problem leaving the airport to go into Seoul. Depending on what airline you are flying, you may be eligible for a free city tour given the length of your layover. I think Asiana and possibly Korean Air offer free tours to passengers with a layover of more than 8 hours - you should check with your carrier. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah insadong would be a great all round choice.
Also you can get great Dwaejimorigukbap there (If there's an area that has better, please let me know.) |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
| Americans now get a 90 days gratis tourist visa stamped in their passports on arrival. |
This has been the case for many years.
| Quote: |
| The US recently made it easier for Koreans visiting the US, so Korea responded in kind. It used to be 30 days? |
Incorrect. The reason for South Korea being added to the Visa Waiver Program is that the number of visa overstay in the US and the number of visa denials at the Embassy in Seoul went lower than the number stipulated for eligibility in said program. Prior to the recent addition to the VWP, Koreans intending to visit the US for any time period required a visa in advance. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Once you ditch the luggage, then yes, the subway is easier. |
Faster, more reliable, and cheaper.
The transfer at Gimpo isn't difficult. One way on the bus, with a coupon you're looking at 6,000 for the airport shuttle. Without a coupon 9,000. It was around 4,200 to go from Incheon over to the east side of seoul on the subway. Going to insadong you're going to be only around 4,000.
While the shuttle is nice if you've got a great big bag or two, I think the subway is over-all better option. With only having a short time, nothing would ruin the day more than a ridiculous traffic jam. If I have a 15 hour layover, I wouldn't want to spend 4 hours on the bus.
| Quote: |
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (has its own subway station)
- Changdeokgung and gardens
- Chang-gyeonggung Palace
- Deoksugung Palace
- Jongmyo Daeje Royal Ancestral Rites
- Cheongwadae (The Blue House)
- Han River Park
- Daehangno
- Insa-dong (highly recommended)
- Insa-dong Shopping Street
- Namsan Park & Tower (good on a clear day)
- Namsangol Hanok Village
- Namdaemun Market
- Dongdaemun Market
- Myeong-dong Shopping area
- Apgujeong Rodeo Drive.
- Itaewon Tourist District
- COEX Mall
- Lotte World
- Seoul World Cup Stadium
- Bukhansan Mountain National Park |
Good list and a lot of those are in the same general area. So if you go to the insadong area you can quickly get to many of the others on there. There is a nice little touristy map on one of the tourist websites that shows all the big places in Northern seoul around there.
If you go to the big palaces and want to see it all, it could take you upwards of 3 hours of walking to look around it. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Make sure you have a boarding pass, and there is no reason why you can't get back in. |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Incheon has a bag storage shop near the departure gate. Doesn't cost so much. Afterall, you want to be mobile for your 15 hours here in Seoul. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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If your luggage has been checked all the way through to the final destination, you won't have to pick up your bags at all which will make touring easy. Just make sure to have a boarding pass, and you can easily go in and out of the security area.
You might want to ask an attendant what times there are rushes for both the security line and immigration, as Incheon experiences heavier traffic at certain times everyday.
Also, checkout www.seoulstopover.com for some prearranged programs that might suit your schedule although the website is hard to understand.
Last edited by Jane on Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Just don't try to teach English without a visa. |
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