Overnight Layover at Incheon Airport: Eat, Sleep, and Explore

For many travelers, the idea of a long or overnight layover sounds miserable. However, Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea can be a wonderful place to have a layover. There is plenty to see, eat, and do in the airport. For those that have an overnight layover at Incheon Airport or a longer layover and are itching to experience some of the Korean culture, might I suggest leaving the airport. Just a couple subway stops away is Unseo Station in the Jung District of Incheon. Here you can experience Korean nightlife, eat delicious food, and even stay in a nice hotel, all without going directly to Seoul or getting to far from the airport.

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Overnight Layover at Incheon Airport

If you have a long layover at Incheon Airport or are staying overnight, I highly recommend leaving the airport.

You have several options depending on your length of stay. Automatically, people want to get out and visit Seoul. But I recommend giving yourself plenty of time to do so. The city of Seoul is further from the airport then you might think. The train ride can take upwards to an hour.

You can also stay inside the airport. Incheon Airport is huge and has plenty to do. It’s no Changi Airport in Singapore, but the airport does offer great dining options, shops, and a few interesting things to look at. Incheon does have lounges and napping zones which I’ve used in the past.

But if you are staying on a long layover in Incheon, especially an overnight layover, I highly recommend taking the train to Unseo Station in Incheon’s Jung District.

Staying in the Jung District, Unseo Station Area

If you have a long layover at Incheon Airport and want to experience and explore a bit of South Korea, I recommend taking the train from the airport a couple stops to Unseo Station.

Outside of Unseo Station, you get your first glimpse of South Korea. You might see street vendors, buildings that are several stories tall full of restaurants, and bars, lots of bars!

I’ve been to Seoul several times now and can honestly say skip Seoul if you are limited on time and enjoy a stress free layover here in Incheon. You won’t feel rushed, overwhelmed, or anything else really. Instead you will get a taste of South Korea and be close enough to Incheon International.

Why Spend a Long Layover Here?

A Couple Stops by train or easy taxi ride from Incheon International Airport.
Less stressful getting to and from the airport because you are so close.
Decent nightlife, great bar scene, and craft beer.
There are a lot of hotel options from budget friendly to more high end hotels.
Amazing restaurants from Korean Chicken to Bibimbap.
There is a lot of nature. Perhaps you want to walk in one of the parks or stroll the beach.
There are plenty of Convenience Stores: GS25 and CU.
Everything is within walking distance from Unseo Station.

Recommended Places to Eat

The great thing about Incheon in particular the Jung District is that there are so many places to dine at. Just a few stops from Incheon Airport you have this little city with a plethora of food and drink options.

In the mood for Japanese? There is a tonkatsu restaurant or a curry restaurant. Want Korean Fried Chicken? There are several places to include Oven Maru, one of my favorites. Or perhaps you want to grab breakfast or a dessert, you have bakeries and places that sell ice cream and macarons.

Regardless of what you are after, chances are you can find it here. Based on my layovers and overnight stays in the area, here are some of my recommended places to eat.

Oven Maru

I was craving Korea Fried Chicken the moment I got off the plane at Incheon International Airport. Based on reviews, I found Oven Maru.

Located just outside of Unseo Station, is this mom and pop chicken restaurant. As an English speaker, there was an English menu and the women running the shop understood what I was trying to order.

My eyes were bigger then my stomach but everything on the menu looked so delicious. Of course I was not alone, but I ordered Bulgogi Fried Rice and an order of chicken, half and half. I believe I ordered Sweet Garlic and Teriyaki.

The Bulgogi Fried Rice was great, you can’t go wrong with that but the chicken was exactly what the doctor ordered!

The chicken was huge, flavorful, and the texture was everything you imagine great fried chicken to be like. Overall, I highly recommend Oven Maru.

Kongsim Incheon Yeongjong Branch

Another craving we have when visiting Korea is Bibimbap. Bibimbap is a rice bowl topped with other ingredients. It varies, but usually it comes with meat, veggies, and an egg if you are lucky.

In our search for Bibimbap, we found a restaurant called Kongsim Incheon Yeongjong.

This place was not as English friendly. Thankfully, they had pictures plastered on the wall and I could point to the bibimbap I wanted. Of course it was Bulgogi Bibimbap.

We were both completely satisfied with our meals. This place is open 24/7 too which is a plus. So weather you are getting late night food or need breakfast prior to catching your early morning flight at Incheon Airport, Kongsim Incheon Yeongjong has got you covered.

Paris Baguette

I fell in love with Paris Baguette the first time I visited Korea in 2017. I was surprised to walk past one here in Incheon. I quickly went in and grabbed a few pastries for the following morning. You can find great pastries here and filling sandwiches.

Places to Stay

To me, it seemed like the whole Jung District was built up to cater to serving Incheon Airport. It’s so conveniently located. Of course there are a ton of hotel options here. You can find everything here from 4-star hotels to guest homes.

We basically had two overnight stays here, so I wasn’t to keen on spending a fortune on a hotel I’d only spend a few hours in. So I went with two options that were within walking distance from Unseo Station and reasonably prices: Browndot Airport New Town and the Happy Place Guest House

Browndot Airport New Town

For just a basic hotel stay in Incheon that is within walking distance from Unseo Station, I recommend the Browndot Airport New Town.

I have no complaints about this hotel, check in and check out was simple, the rooms were spacious, comfortable, and clean, not to mention the bathrooms were large.

For updated pricing and more information, check out their listing on Agoda.

Happy Place Guest House

Another affordable stay in Incheon is the Airport Happy Place Guesthouse.

This guesthouse is a house with separate rooms, all with private bathrooms. The rooms were very private, comfortable, and had everything you need when staying for a night or two.

Happy Place Guesthouse even has a free airport transfer service.

For more information and pricing, feel free to view the listing on Agoda.

Other Benefits of Staying in the Jung District

Outside of a ridiculous amount of restaurants and a nice variety of hotels, there is more to do in the Jung District of Incheon.

Surprisingly, there is a decent amount of nature here. There are nice city parks and a tree lined walkway that makes for a great evening stroll.

If looking for groceries or just curious what you can find in a Korean supermarket, there is a Lotte Mart. Here you can find everything from snacks and treats to beverages and items to cook your own meals.

We stopped in here twice to load up on HBAF, which is a famous brand that sells flavored nuts.

There are also convenience stores in Incheon that sell your typical convenient items like drinks and snacks. 7-Eleven and GS25 seemed to be the two dominant convenience stores in Incheon.

Conclusion

If planning for a long or overnight layover at Incheon Airport, I highly recommend leaving the airport and taking the train to Unseo Station. The Jung District is the perfect place to experience a little bit of what Korea has to offer. You can get great food here, do some shopping, and experience the nightlife all just a few minutes away from Incheon Airport.

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