Korea’s Chinatown, island ferries & open-port history
Incheon
인천 · Gateway coast & Chinatown
Korea's third-largest city and the country's gateway to the world, Incheon pairs a slick modern waterfront with Korea's only official Chinatown and a scattering of easygoing West Sea islands just a ferry ride away.
Top sightsSights
Incheon Chinatown
Korea’s only official Chinatown, birthplace of the noodle dish jajangmyeon.
Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village
A hillside neighborhood painted in storybook murals and colorful characters.
Wolmido Island
A seaside boardwalk of cafes, a small amusement park and West Sea sunsets.
Open Port Area
Streets of late-19th-century Japanese and Western trading buildings, now museums and cafes.
Ganghwa Island
A historic island of dolmens, fortresses and temples, reachable by bridge.
What to eatFood
Jajangmyeon
Black-bean-sauce noodles invented in Incheon’s Chinatown — try it at its source.
Raw fish (hoe)
Ultra-fresh West Sea sashimi at the bustling coastal fish markets.
Bindaetteok
Crispy mung-bean pancakes, a favorite at Sinpo traditional market.
Good to know
- Incheon Airport is Korea’s main hub — the city makes an easy first or last stop.
- The subway connects Incheon directly to central Seoul in about an hour.
- Catch a ferry from the coast to quiet West Sea islands for a half-day escape.
Getting there
Incheon International Airport (ICN) is Korea’s primary gateway; the metro and AREX link the city to Seoul in about an hour.
Next city
Jeonju