Last year around this time, I traveled to Shanghai out of Los Angeles via Seoul. On my way to Shanghai, I had a 9-hour layover. This allowed me to visit Noryangjin Fish Market and other parts of Seoul. On my way back, however, my layover lasted only five hours. Since it takes an hour to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul, I wanted to spend this layover a little closer to the airport. And I actually ended up staying VERY close.
My 5-Hour layover led me to Masian Beach (마시안 해변).
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Why Masian Beach?
Let’s start by looking at this map. As you can see, Incheon Airport is located on an island. And what do most people think of when they hear the word ‘island’? Beaches!
Don’t get me wrong, I love the bustling Korean urban vibe and Seoul is one of my favorite cities in the world. This time, however, it was not only the short duration of my layover but also the desire for some change that inspired me to try out something different. I had been to Seoul a few days ago and just come back from Shanghai, so this time, I craved another more calm side of Korea. And the beautiful beaches of Incheon could offer me just that!
I started out by pulling up Maps and looking for any beaches near Incheon Airport and stumbled upon Masian Beach. I had never heard of this place before but its proximity to the airport suggested that it would take mere minutes to get there, so I decided to give it a try.
The Most Relaxing Layover Ever
I arrived at the beach within ten minutes of leaving the airport and was instantly greeted by a group of dogs that were roaming around the beach. As a big fan of tidal flats, I was excited to see this part of the sea free of water and proceeded to the shore. It was a Monday afternoon and the beach was completely empty. That meant that I had almost three hours to do all the things that I would usually be too embarrassed to do in public, like singing karaoke out loud or starting my own dance parties. I used every moment to breathe in the fresh coastal air and stretch out to prepare for my upcoming long-haul flight. It was truly the most relaxing layover ever.
As a big plus, I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beach while collecting some beautiful stones.
After enjoying the sunset, I slowly made my way across some small forests and quiet camping grounds to the closest bus stop and hopped onto the next bus to take me back to the airport terminal. Rarely had I ever felt this at peace with myself, and all that right before an eleven-hour flight.
Getting There
So, are you looking for an equally relaxing layover next time you transit through Incheon Airport? Don’t worry, it’s super easy to get to Masian Beach.
My first reflex to get to such a nearby place was to walk. However, like most airports, Incheon’s terminal is not exactly pedestrian-friendly. Consequently, the only options to get to Masian Beach are to either take a taxi or a bus.
Since it was my first time checking out the beach, I took a taxi on my way there. The ride cost me almost 10,000 won (~$10 USD) one-way, which is significantly more expensive than a bus ride. Consequently, I took a bus back to the airport.
Navigating across the island by bus is very easy. As soon as you get out of the airport terminal, you’ll see a long-stretched platform with buses departing to destinations across the entire region. Go to the ticket desk and ask for buses to Masian Beach in Incheon. The clerk will be able to tell you exactly where to wait for your bus.
On your way back, simply consult Kakao Maps/Kakao Bus to locate the closest stop and line to take. However, if you’re afraid of taking the wrong bus, you can always use the Kakao Taxi app to call a taxi to your location.
Additional Tips
First off, make sure that you’re allowed to enter South Korea during an international layover. If your passport doesn’t allow you visa-free entry to the country, you must have a valid South Korea visa or residence permit.
The most important thing to remember when leaving the airport during a layover is to make your connection. Therefore, you should calculate the time it takes to get to different places before you even leave your plane. Generally speaking, Incheon Airport is very organized and it doesn’t take too long to pass through immigration or security. However, this can still take a little longer depending on how busy the airport is. You should plan at least one hour to get out of the airport and another hour to get to your departure gate when you come back. Although the beach is very nearby, you might spend some time to figure out transportation. Add another hour for getting around. Since you’d probably want to spend at least an hour at the beach, this all adds up to four hours. That’s the minimum length that your Incheon airport layover should have if you don’t want to miss your connection.
In order to save time during your Incheon layover, plan your routes and exchange some currency before boarding your first flight. Use your flight time to do further planning and prepare mentally for the layover. Then, on your way back to the airport, dump all your liquids and organize your hand-carry to save time during security.
My last advice is to rent out a wifi router for a few hours in the arrival hall. This way, you can stay connected during your layover without purchasing a local SIM card. And if you have heavy hand-carry items, I recommend dropping them off at the Hanjin Express luggage storage in the departure hall.
Conclusion
My 5-hour layover trip to Masian Beach was by far my most relaxing layover ever. The beach is extremely close to Incheon Airport and a good bus network makes it easy to get around. This makes Masian Beach the perfect location to spend any 4+ hour-long layover. I really hope this guide was helpful and gave you some unique inspiration for a medium-length layover at Incheon Airport. Feel free to share this advice with your friends and let me know if you have any questions.
Also read:
How To Visit Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque During A 3-Hour Layover
Noryangjin Fish Market On A Layover: 5 Things To Know Before You Go
Sounds so impressive and wonderful! Can’t wait to have a relaxed layover after the crisis again!
I may be biased but I love South Korea (I am American born Korean)! I went once as a toddler, another time in 2000 (before Kpop & Kbeauty started booming), and just recently took my parents back to their homeland in October 2019. It has changed so much and there is soOo much to do! While my parents stayed the full 2 weeks, my husband and I had to fly back home after a week due to work. I miss it dearly and hope to revisit every year! I have yet to explore the coastal towns like Busan and this beach near Incheon. Thanks for sharing! Will definitely pin for later!