Here is my debrief for ICN airport.
In order to leave the airport to go to Seoul, you need a minimum seven hour layover.
The express train is 45 minutes each way in transit, however allow time to buy your ticket and get to the platform. The ticket machines are very easy and straightforward. The express train operates every 40 minutes, so this must be taken into account.
When you arrive to the airport, you have to go through Passport control, and security then you make your way to the airline transit office. You have to get your boarding pass stamped with a transit stamp.
From there, you have to go back to passport control where they check your documents and let you go out of the airport. Upon exiting immigration, go towards baggage claim. This a common area and go down a level to get to the train station. The common area is like a transit station with numerous convenience stores.
When exiting the train, you are at Seoul station. Go up the escalator and then there is a subway station. The subway takes cash only. we did not have any Korean money with us, so we made our way to the cab stand.
To make your life easier, use Google Translate. Not everyone knows or understands English. Google translate was perfect for bridging the communication gap.
We took a cab to Insadong Street. The cab was less than $10. It’s a wonderful area and I really wish we had a couple of hours to wander about. But after we figured everything out, we only had about an hour to run around. There are many Korean stationery stores which are like little mini arts and craft stores, full of beautiful paper and pens and inks. I like this kind of stuff. Many restaurants, though we didn’t check it out. Tea shops. Souvenir shops of local goods.
It’s just a wonderful cultural area. Why Insadong Strret? from the free ICN tour transit offerings. the transit tours did did not work for us due to timing. so we invented our own outing, which ended up being very easy.
We took the train back to the airport with plenty of time to get our next flight.
We had to go through security again. The security line was long and there is no pre check or status line. Everyone is in the same line. The line moves very efficiently. Travelers here seem to follow the rules, so there was no water, knives, guns, belts, coins, watches and other things to delay the line. You have to have your pockets completely emptied.
After all was done, we had about an hour and a half to kill before our plane boarded. The airport is one huge duty-free shopping experience. Prices are not good at all. In fact, items cost more at duty-free at ICN than they do in a retail store in America.
Ladies, if you’re looking for Korean skin care and you venture out of the secure area of the airport go to the little Drugstore Olive something and buy your stuff. The store is right in the common area as you go towards the train station you can’t miss it. Otherwise you’re going to be a prisoner to duty-free Estée Lauder, Guerlain and L’Oréal. Ordinary. just be aware of the hundred milliliter rule for purchases so you can get it through security.
We have another eight hour layover at ICN coming home now that we know what to do. we won’t waste so much time trying to figure it out .We will have more time to spend it on Insadong Street. It is a good place to buy fun little souvenirs and the prices are very good.
For the poster who asked….as for mobility issues, I really can’t address that very well. in my opinion it was not geared very well for people with mobility issues. If your 84 year old mother is energetic, can walk long distances at a good clip and can navigate stairs, no problem. Go! there are elevators because people had to haul their bags around, but what I observed it was mainly escalators and stairs.
