You’ve just arrived at Seoul’s Incheon Airport. You have several hours to kill on your layover. Should you head into town, visit the KAL Prestige Lounge (if you flew Korean Air or Delta Airlines), or relax at the airport, shopping for K-beauty and Squid Game memorabilia?

Whether you’re arriving from Guam (GUM), Seattle (SEA), Bali (DPS), or Osaka (KIX), you’re most likely going to end up in Terminal 2. 

This terminal is used by Korean Air and SkyTeam members like Delta Airlines. It’s also very, very large—making it perfect for shopping at Incheon Airport Terminal 2. In fact, it feels like a giant Lotte World Mall—like the one in downtown Seoul.

The airport’s main artery, Airstar Avenue, is a giant walkway that loops around the terminal. Walking along the venue, you will see a litany of designer stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and even the creepy Gentle Monster, which follows you with its mechanical eyes as you walk. Surprisingly, it’s a sunglasses store.

This Incheon Airport layover guide applies to those ranging from just over 3 hours to 11+. I’ve been through this airport numerous times and here’s how I make the most of that time.

Related Reads:

• Korean Air Prestige Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport (Terminal 2): Guide
• Air France Business Class: Review
• 2 WEEKS IN BALI: COMPLETE ITINERARY For First-Timers and Digital Nomads

Layover Options Based on Duration:

For 3-Hour Layovers: K-Beauty, Food, and Coffee

With only 3 hours, I would speedrun your layover to at least get a taste of Korea. Keep it brief and focus on three things: beauty, food, and coffee.

• Best coffee at Incheon Airport? Visit Coffee@Works. Pick up some quality coffee and maybe buy 1 or 2 bags of coffee beans to take home. 
• Eat at CJ Gourmet Food Court: CJ is actually a large multinational corporation/chaebol that sponsors and funds Korean Dramas, but also sells a lot of famous Korean food items. You’ve probably seen their white rice at H-Mart or on Amazon. When you’re here, I recommend trying yukgaejang or tteokbokki.
• Stock up on K-beauty items: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen or their Matte Sun Stick Mugwort + and innisfree Orchid Youth-Enriched Cream. These will be cheaper than Stateside and not readily available on Amazon.
• Grab the best Korean snacks at Incheon Airport at GS25: It’s near Gate 232 and Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Gear Used

12+ Hour Layover with SkyTeam Status

If you’re trying to experience Korean culture and spend some time in the Korean Air Prestige Lounge (West), a 12-hour layover will do.

Once You Pass Security

Upon arriving, pass through Transfer Security, assess your hunger level. You have two choices: either drop your luggage off at the Korean Air Prestige Lounge (West) or carry your items with you as you navigate the terminal.

Grab Coffee

If arriving early, stop by Coffee@works near Gate 264 (it used to be closer) or check out Chocolat Palette near Gate 246. I’ve tried both during layovers.

Coffee@works is a traditional coffee shop where you can buy coffee beans and grind them at home. Maybe try the other one on your return layover?

Walk Around & Get Beauty Products

Next, I recommend walking around to get your blood flowing. That Bali flight was 6 hours long! Use this opportunity to visit duty-free stores to stock up on K-beauty products. Check out Beauty of Joseon or innisfree—I always stock up on those brands.

Get an Authentic Korean Lunch

After shopping, head to CJ Gourmet Bridge for some Korean food. If you’re not in the mood for Korean, there are plenty of food options. 

Just know that the KAL Prestige Lounge (West) doesn’t have a wide variety of Korean food to select from. I would fill up on delicious Korean food first before getting comfortable in the lounge. I ran into this issue after having discovered the lounge’s beer on tap. Mix that with tiredness from my previous flight from Bali. I’m not going anywhere.

Head to Korean Air (KAL) Prestige Lounge (West)

Before heading to the Korean Air Prestige Lounge, stop at GS25 to grab Korean snacks. I suggest salted seaweed and HbAF almonds (especially if you missed visiting the Almond store in town). Consider grabbing Milkis or Yakult / Korean yogurt drinks. 

12+ Hour Layover without SkyTeam Status: Spend Some Ca$h, See Some City

Can you leave Incheon Airport during a layover? If your layover is over 12 hours and you’re willing to spend some cash, yes—you can explore Seoul directly.

• Budget four hours for logistics: 1 hour for passport and customs, 1 hour to get downtown, 1 hour to return, and 1 hour to return and clear security again.

 Gangnam (~4 hours including travel):

• Uber cost: ₩60,800 ($42.20), about 51 minutes each way (so assume an hour). This is going to Gangnam just like the famous PSY – GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) video.
• Eat a meal and take a picture in a mini photo booth. 
• Grab beauty products at Olive Young, South Korea’s Sephora.
• Consider staying overnight at voco Seoul Gangnam by IHG—aa decent hotel with good food. Gangnam gives you easy access to nightlife. You’re also an Uber ride away to grab dinner at Côte Jardin in Itaewon, and enjoy the nightlife there.
• Alternatively, you can do jiu-jitsu at KIED Training Center near Shinsa Train Station. They have showers and a weightlifting area.

Hongdae (~2-3 hours, not including overnight stay):

• Shop for clothes at AA Place clothing store. It’s next to Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae–a decent budget hotel. They offer humorous U.S. rip-offs items like Jesse Jackson ’88 campaign hats to American Airlines t-shirts.
• Visit TROUBADOUR for trendy Seoul streetwear I’ve definitely spent the most here on clothing.

Myeongdong (~4-7 hours):

• Explore Seoul’s streetwear scene and shop at Olive Young.
• Visit the popular HBAF Almond store for snacks and a photo with the HBAF almond mascot.
• Relax with a massage at O HUI & Whoo Spa. Or, quickly visit Bukchon Hanok Village for a traditional cultural experience.

Lotte World Mall (~4 hours):

For luxurious shopping, explore Lotte World Mall, a behemoth, multi-story complex. Here, you can experience the “Chaebol life,” shopping at high-end department stores run by the same conglomerate/chaebol that owns hotels—including in Seattle.

• Food tip: I recommend visiting the food court to try Korean cuisine. Also, Knotted Donuts—a brand sometimes partnered with Jin Air, Korean Air’s budget airline is here. And guess what, it’s now opened a location in Los Angeles. 

Incheon Airport Layover

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• Consider using Google Translate: English is limited outside main hotels and tourist areas. .
  
• Google Maps isn’t reliable. Instead use Kakao Maps (see here for iOS) or Naver. I still used Google maps, since its UI was a lot easier to use.
  
• Use KakaoTalk or WhatsApp for messaging.
  
• Consider free transit tours for layovers between 3-24 hours. Reservations.

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Conclusion: Every Layover Could Use Some Snacks

I didn’t have a good conclusion header. So forgive me. But maybe that’s the point: there’s nothing to conclude! Incheon Airport is constantly expanding and upgrading its offerings for passengers.

So each time you arrive at ICN, you’re bound to see something new. And guess what? If you weren’t able to hit all the items on this list during your first layover, then remember—you have a second chance on the way back. Sounds like a good reason to bookmark this Incheon airport layover guide.

Whether it’s beer, food, Korean beauty, or you just want to relive the moments of a K-Drama on Airstar Avenue, Incheon’s Terminal 2 has you covered. And this time, you already know what to do.