Away in Incheon

Incheon Bridge

• Published May 31, 2015 9:47 AM KST
• Updated May 31, 2015 9:47 AM KST

By Yun Suh-young

INCHEON ― Finding a travel destination overseas has become the norm for vacationers these days, but while people are heading out of the country, staying in can be a more economic yet leisurely option if you manage to avoid crowded regions.

Incheon, a port city on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, may be an ideal holiday destination due to its peaceful and quiet atmosphere despite being an economic hub. The city is also windy at all times - good weather to cool off during the hot summer.

This article introduces two regions in Incheon which may serve as a perfect getaway for this summer vacation.

Songdo

A 30-minute bus ride from Incheon International Airport is Songdo, an international business hub which is part of the region designated the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) in 2003.

Because the land was artificially built on 1,500 acres of reclaimed land in 2001, the urban cityscape is systematic and structured. Many of the buildings are uniformly built in glass, giving Songdo a peculiar aura of a futuristic city.

The charm of Songdo is that everything is spacious ― the buildings are spread out and hence there are not many people spotted on the streets, which is great if you're seeking distance from the crowd during the peak holiday season.

The merit of staying in Songdo is that there are several premium hotels clustered within the central park region and the hotels are accessible on foot from one place to another.

If you'd like to experience a variety of different hotels during your vacation, Songdo is a good place to start.

The Sheraton Incheon is at the heart of the central park region, offering a direct view of the park from its rooms. The night view from the club floors at the hotel is mesmerizing. The hotel is also a landmark in the region, located at the end point of the waterway which is where visitors can enjoy water taxis and canoes.

A walk around the central park which is 410,000 square meters in area takes about an hour-and-a-half for a round trip.

Around the central park area are several attractions that are worth visiting.

A few blocks away from the other end of central park is the NC Cube Canal Walk which is a commercial complex equipped with 340 stores including premium fashion brands and various restaurants. Open-air cafes and restaurants are situated along the artificial waterway built inside the mall which is extremely long.

A few blocks away across the street from the mall lies a unique piece of architecture called the "Tri-bowl" which is a multi-culture complex situated on a lake. The three shell-shaped bowls look as if they’ve been placed upside down, and apparently represent the three regions in Incheon ― Songdo, Cheongra and Yeongjongdo. Inside one of the bowls, exhibitions are held regularly and music performances are also offered.

Next to the Tri-bowl is Compact Smart City which showcases the history of Incheon and Songdo. The four-story building, equipped with exhibition halls and a 4D theater, is quite educational for tourists.

A little walk away, there's the newly established Hanok Village equipped with Korean restaurants and Gyeongwonjae which is a hotel built inside a hanok (traditional Korean houses).

At night, don't miss the nightscape of the Incheon Bridge which lights up beautifully. The bridge is the longest in the country at 21.38 kilometers in length and connects Yeongjongdo and Songdo. The view from afar looking toward the bridge is mesmerizing but the view from above the bridge is also breathtaking. Just a 10 minute walk from the end point of the central park toward the Incheon Bridge will take you to the Incheon Bridge Observatory which is where visitors can get a close-up view of the beautifully lit bridge and an overall view of the city.

Travel info:

Sheraton Incheon Hotel:

Website: sheraton.com/incheon

Phone number: (032) 835-1000

Central Park boat rides:

East Boat House: Water taxi- 20 minutes (4,000 won),

West Boat House: Canoe- 50 minutes (25,000 won)

Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Phone number: (070) 4189-4609

NC Cube Canal walk:

Operating hours: 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Phone number: (032) 723-6300

Compact Smart City:

Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (closed on Mondays, holidays)

Ticket: free

Website: www.compactsmartcity.com

Incheon city tour:

Departure time: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m, 2:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)

Travel time: 4 hours

Ticket: 10,000 won

Website: english.visitincheon.org

Incheondaegyo (bridge) observatory:

Operating hours: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Website: www.incheonbridge.com

Transportation:

Gangnam to Songdo: Take bus M6405 which takes a little over an hour

Yeongjongdo

To feel as if you've flown away to somewhere far from the capital city (or as if you're about to fly away), spend a night or two on Yeongjongdo where Incheon International Airport is located.

The island is connected to the mainland by the Incheon Bridge and Yeongjong Bridge and is 30 minutes by airport bus from Songdo International City.

Yeongjongdo is easier to access than Songdo from Seoul due to the rapid airport subway line that takes only 50 minutes from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport.

Some may query whether Yeongjongdo makes a good travel destination as most people visit the island only when they're headed to the airport. They may question whether there are enough leisure facilities or activities to enjoy on the island or even hotels good enough to sleep in.

Surprisingly, however, the island serves as a pleasing getaway with the tranquil and spacious environment coupled with several leisure facilities including the BMW Driving Center, which recently opened on the island, and several beaches along the coast such as Wangsan, Eurwangri, Masiran beaches on Yeongjeongdo, and Silmi Beach on Muui Island, off the coast from Yeongjongdo and only reachable by boat.

If you're a trendy traveler seeking hip accommodation, opt for a night at the Nest Hotel on the far western end of Yeongjongdo, near Yongyudo, an island 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel which opened in September last year is one of the two hotels in Korea designated as a member of the Design Hotels global network.

As can be inferred by the name, the hotel offers a peculiarly comfortable and relaxing atmosphere due to its simplistic interior design and its secluded location.

Adding a feeling of departure, you can view airplanes flying off in the distance from the rooms’ terraces. Every room overlooks the sea and has a terrace. The beds face the window so the sun shines directly on to them in the morning.

The Kunst Lounge located on the lobby floor features 1,000 art-related books and also a mini theater. The lounge is a great place to recharge and be inspired; you'll forget time indulging in the books which are rarely found in commercial stores.

For quiet meditation, stroll along the promenade of the Spring Hill which is a small park located in front of the hotel. It takes about 30 minutes.

To enjoy outdoor activity, visit the BMW Driving Center which is 10 minutes away from the hotel. The center is an open-air driving facility for all licensed drivers including non-BMW owners. On a variety of tracks, drivers can experience different car models while children can play at the children's facility. For a discount on the activities, opt for a hotel package at Nest offered in collaboration with the center.

BMW Driving Center

Operating hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (closed on Mondays)

Website: www.bmw-driving-center.co.kr

Nest Hotel

Website: www.nesthotel.co.kr

Songdo to Yeongjongdo: take the 6707B airport limousine bus which takes 30 minutes (7,000 won)

Seoul to Yeongjongdo: take the airport express subway which takes 50 minutes from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport