Painted mailboxe

Some cities are so well known for one thing, it overshadows all the other wonderful sights it has to offer. One of these cities is Incheon.

When most people hear the word “Incheon” they   only  think about the award-winning international airport. What I have learned is that the city offers three bus tour lines because there is so much to see and do. The three lines are the Harbor, City, and Ocean lines. After carefully considering what each stop has to offer on every line, I decided that the Harbor line seemed most interesting to me. The very first bus departs at 10 am, and I made sure to be on it. The second thing that most people know Incheon for is the massive international port. This bus line drives through this fascinating location, where you can see the port operations first-hand, and some beautiful art in the most unexpected of places!

Songchan Park Windmill

My first spot of interest was Solchan Park. The way it was described seemed extremely beautiful, and sometimes it is nice to just go for a leisurely stroll in a natural setting. Once I arrived, I noticed the most beautiful boardwalk outlining the ocean. As someone that comes from a city bordering a lake, I was impressed at how gorgeous this boardwalk area was. The boardwalk had benches and swings for you to sit and enjoy the endless horizon, a small windmill, and walking a bit further, I found a cafe with painted mailboxes. Stopping and spending some time in nature can be a wonderful way to reset and unwind while traveling . I would highly recommend this to anyone if they can find a spot as beautiful as Solchan Park.

Main stairway at Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation

The next point of interest was the Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation . The landing was such an important event, which unfortunately most foreigners are not aware of. As a history enthusiast, this stop was an absolute must for me, but it   should also be on everyone’s list. I only recently learned of the strategic importance that the landing had during the Korean War. Upon arriving, you are immediately hit with a sense of awe and wonder at the structure, design, and sheer size of the memorial site.

Reenactment of l anding

The memorial depicts statues showing reenactments from the landing, as well as vehicles and aircraft that were used in the mission itself. After visiting, it really made me consider the many lives that were lost in order to make that strategic landing a success. The site has many stairs and levels winding on a hill, so it is a great place to not only learn about the past and pay your respects, but also to experience a great view of the port.

Memorial Hall for Incheon
Landing Operation

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Sculptures at Artport

The next stop was actually two different sites: one was the Artport, while the other was Chinatown. The Artport has a very modern design with intriguing art sculptures. There are also art galleries you can walk through in this district.

Beijing Opera Masks

Last, but certainly not least, was Chinatown. Where I come from we also have a Chinatown, however when seeing the gates of the one at Incheon, I immediately thought it was very different.

First off, one of Korea’s beloved dishes jjajangmyeon (black soy bean noodles) was invented in Incheon!
It naturally makes sense to house the J jajangmyeon M useum there!

Inside Jjangmyeon (black soy bean noodles)Museum

Strolling along you will see many restaurants where you can have your very own plate of jjajangmyeon, amongst other authentic Chinese  food. There are many different tributes to the Chinese immigrants and workers that first came through the ports of Incheon depicted with sculptures and detailed murals.

Open Port Street

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Chinatown

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Before even checking into the hotel, I checked the location on a map. I noted that it was located very close to Hogupo station on the Suin Line. I called the hotel to make a reservation, and people were able to speak English, however their proficiency was not very strong. Making a reservation can also be done on websites like Agoda or Booking.com. For a double room the price was 90,000 won. When I arrived at Hogupo Station, I was surprised to see that the hotel was in view! It was incredibly close: right beside the station. This closeness to the station made it incredibly easy to navigate to, which was a huge plus! Entering the hotel, the lobby was brightly lit and adorned with marble floors and gold accents.

Hotel entrance

Hotel bathroom

The lobby had brochures in multiple languages for tourist attractions within the   Incheon area. The room itself looked very comfortable. It came with guides explaining the tourist attractions in the area and how to get to them. The guide also outlined facilities within the hotel and the channels offered on the television! The bathroom was incredibly modern and was equipped with basic toiletries.

Hotel room

I was able to relax and unwind very easily in the room, but my favorite part about the hotel was all the restaurants nearby. There was even a theater right in front of the hotel, which I chose to go to and see a late night movie to relax. That part I found incredibly fun.  I could not recommend this hotel enough for anyone visiting Incheon!