From Songdo’s Central Park to hanok, gratin combined with tteokbokki, and bakeries, Songdo Café Street is a window into the different charms of Korea. The same goes for Incheon’s Songdo International Business District, located about 1 hr 30 min away from the Incheon International Airport by public transport.

If you are in a layover through the Incheon International Airport, take some time to explore this urban oasis from Songdo’s Canal Walk where good food, leisurely walks, and shopping awaits.

Songdo Café Street is located on Canal Walk, a cultural space and a shopping mall full of restaurants and things to do. Since its opening in 2009, Songdo Canal Walk has become a landmark tourist attraction in the area, featuring long rows of cafés and restaurants arrayed along the canal. It is organized into four buildings after the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each building is connected to the walking trail. Address: 107, Art center-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon

To capture Songdo’s harmony of the city and nature, go to IFEZ* Promotion Hall Observatory on the 33rd floor of the G-Tower. Clear view of Songdo as well as Oido Island, famous for its tidal flat and grilled clams, and the Incheondaegyo Bridge, 23 km away from the platform, makes this observatory an essential part of any visit to Songdo.

Each observation point has inscriptions of the scenery and the buildings that can be seen from that point, so those not familiar with Incheon’s cityscape can enjoy the view as well. Since March 2023, the observatory has been open to the public at night to enjoy the night view of Songdo.

* Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ): This Zone was designated to establish Incheon as a global economic hub and encompasses Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna areas of Incheon.

Address: 175, Art center-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00-21:00 (nighttime operations on weekdays) Saturday-Sunday 10:00-16:00 Closed on MondaysEntrance Fee: Free of charge

A great cup of coffee next to Songdo Central Park

Before going for a leisurely walk through Songdo Central Park, head to Ginosko, a renowned spot for good coffee and dessert in the area. Ginosko offers various beans to choose from including single-origin beans sourced from Costa Rica, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Brazil to two house blends. Signature menu "Heavy White," which brings together bold and intense notes with a sweet and dense milk body.

Address: 113, Building B, 203, Art center-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00 (last order 22:50) Signature Menu and Prices (March 2023) Heavy White KRW 6,500 Café Americano KRW 5,300C ake menu KRW 8,000-

Enjoy some quiet time in a café that resembles a botanical garden

Now that you’ve had your food, sightseeing, and shopping, wrap up your trip by heading to this massive café in Songdo Recreation Area. It takes about 30 min by bus to reach Songdo Recreation Area from Hyundai Premium Outlet and Triple Street. Cheongnyangsan Mountain and the Incheon Dulle Trail can be found at the back of the recreation area, and because there are plenty of cafés that can be visited after a walk, Songdo Recreation Area draws a large group of visitors every weekend. Forest Outings is notable because it resembles a botanical garden in its design. One can have something beyond desserts and a cup of coffee, as the interior is divided into spaces with different themes for a relaxing time.

Address: 145, Cheongnyang-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00 (last order 21:00) Nearby Bus Stop: Get off at Songdo Recreation Area Bus Stop and walk for 8 min Signature Menu and Prices (March 2023) Coffee drinks KRW 6,800 Brunch menu KRW 19,000 Baked goods KRW 7,000 on average

Songdo’s premier shopping destination

Every good trip includes fun opportunities for shopping, and for our itinerary, these opportunities are found at Hyundai Premium Outlet and the Triple Street. They can be reached by walking for about 30 min while enjoying the view of Songdo from the Songdo Central Park. The two shopping complexes feature a large collection of Korean and international brands, and seasonal discount events mean that they are quite easy on the wallet as well.

Hyundai Premium Outlet Address: 123, Songdogukje-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: 10:30-21:00

Triple Street Address: 33-1, Songdogwahak-ro 16beon-gil, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: 10:30-22:00

With a cup of coffee or some desserts in hand, embark on a walking tour of Songdo’s urban park, Songdo Central Park. A rectangular park with a land area of 46.3 ha, is nearly 56 times the area of a soccer field. It takes about 1 hr 30 min just to circle the park alone, giving a good idea of how big the park is. Songdo Central Park is the first park in Korea to have seawater flowing through it, which is collected from the water plant about 4 km away from the park, treated, and then sent to the waterway. The treatment process helps maintain the water quality at grade 1, so it can accommodate aquatic life like gray mullet, rockfish, and blue crab.

Other interesting things to look for are the distinctly Korean motifs hidden throughout the park. For example, the park recreates the unique topography of Korea* in its premises, as flat fields turn to rolling hills as one moves eastward in the park. There are also artificial islands in the middle of the waterway, which take their likeness from Dadohae* on the southern coast of Korea. In addition to being a great place to go on a light walk, there’s plenty to see and do in the park as well. This itinerary will take you to Songdo Hanok Village, Tri-Bowl, and the West and the East Boat Houses within the park.

* Korea’s topography: Mountains make up more than 70% of the Korean Peninsula. Mountain ranges run along the eastern part of the peninsula, which means that the topography of Korea tends to be high in the east and low in the west.

* Dadohae: When used as an ordinary noun, it denotes a sea with many islands. In Korean geography, it denotes the stretch of the sea where islands are found in particular abundance, extending from Hongdo Island in Sinan-gun to Yeosu in Jeollanam-do.

The eastern and western parts of Songdo Central Park offer various activities on water. When the weather becomes warmer during spring, people begin to flock to the boat marinas and water taxis. Specifically, the West Boat House offers water taxis that run along specific routes, while the East Boat House provides boating experiences that passengers can manually control.

To find the water taxi in the picture, head to the West Boat House. The water taxi service offers a 20-min ride going back and forth along a 2-km-long route. The taxi’s interior has windows to enjoy the view of the G-Tower, Tri-Bowl, and the Hanok Village while seated. Fares are KRW 4,000 (March 2023) for adults.

East Boat House Address: 160, Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00 (Because operations are subject to frequent change depending on the season and weather, ticketing is limited to onsite ticketing.)

Credit: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/