KAL Limousine (Korean Airline Limousine: Bus #6707B): It’s called the limousine but it is actually a Greyhound-like express bus; I found it to be the easiest and fastest transportation to and from the airport and Incheon Songdo; you don’t have to fly on Korean Air to ride the KAL limousine; anyone can ride the limousine. The transportation staff will help you purchase a ticket and help with loading your luggages; the staff at both terminals #1 and 2 take cash only (Korean wons); the limousine fare is 7,000 ₩ (a little less than $7.00); you can also use a transit card. You’ll need to let the staff know of your destination in Incheon Songdo.
Designated limousine stops: Incheon International Airport->Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel->Korea Coast Guard->Orakai Songdo Park Hotel->The Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel->Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo->Incheon National University Station->Oakwood Premier Incheon->Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel
The terminal #2 of Incheon International Airport provides service for ONLY these airlines: KAL (Korean Air Lines), Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM (Royal Dutch Air Lines-Netherlands). The original terminal #1 provides service for all other airlines, including Asiana Airlines.
Limousine service from Incheon International Airport terminal #2 to Incheon Songdo:
Upon arrival in S. Korea, take the elevator/escalator to the lowest level to the bus station gate 17-22; the Bus #6707B leaves for Incheon Songdo from the bus station #17.
Route of limousine: Incheon International Airport->Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel->Korea Coast Guard->Orakai Songdo Park Hotel->The Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel->Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo->Incheon National University Station->Oakwood Premier Incheon->Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel.
Limousine service from Incheon Songdo to Incheon International Airport terminal #2:
The Incheon International Airport is about 35-minute ride from Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo Hotel.
Route of limousine: Orakai Songdo Park Hotel->The Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel->Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo->Incheon National University Station->Oakwood Premier Incheon->Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel->Incheon International Airport->Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel->Korea Coast Guard
Be advised: If your flight is during the peak hour, consider taking a short taxi ride to one of these pickup destinations: Orakai Songdo Park Hotel, the Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel or Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo Hotel; there are more available seats at these destinations, since the new route starts from Orakai Songdo Park Hotel; if the bus is filled, you’ll need to wait for the next bus.
Limousine service to and from Incheon International Airport terminal #1 and Incheon Songdo:
From Incheon Songdo to terminal #1: The KAL limousine will take you to #1 terminal from designated bus terminals in Incheon Songdo; it’s about 60-70 minute ride from the Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo; make sure you confirm with the bus driver by mentioning the airline you are taking so that you are taken to the correct terminal (there has been a lot of confusion since new terminal #2 has opened). Be aware that the bus stops at terminal #2 first and then arrive at terminal #1; it’s about 28 minutes distance between terminal #1 and #2.
Route of limousine: Orakai Songdo Park Hotel->The Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel->Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo->Incheon National University Station->Oakwood Premier Incheon->Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel->Incheon International Airport->Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel->Korea Coast Guard
From terminal #1 to Incheon Songdo: You’ll need to exit out of gate 3 to 3B bus station.
Route of limousine: Incheon International Airport->Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel->Korea Coast Guard->Orakai Songdo Park Hotel->The Central Park Hotel/Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon Hotel->Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo->Incheon National University Station->Oakwood Premier Incheon->Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel.
Transit Card: The transit card is a reloadable card that can be used to ride on buses, taxis and subways. It’s a convenient way to pay and ride. You can get a reloadable card at any convenience store, such as CU or 7-Eleven.
The reloading machines at the subway station takes only cash and it takes bills of less than 10,000 ₩; these yellow Bill Exchange machines are available to change large bills into 1,000 and 5,000 ₩ bills.
At subway stations, you can purchase destination tickets or reload a transit card via this machine.
When you purchase a destination card, the transit deposit of 500 ₩ is automatically added; but, you can get it refunded via this machine; just insert the transit card after usage and you’ll get the deposit back; many travelers purchase the destination cards and discard them after usage without reclaiming the deposit, essentially throwing away money.
Local Bus Transportation: The bus fare varies depending on the distance of your ride. There are many different colored buses, differentiating routes they take. The fare is a tad bit cheaper if you utilize a transit card; if you pay with cash, the bus driver will ask you for the destination; the fare increases with how far your destination is. After using cash for awhile and having the bus drivers annoyed with me trying to figure out Korean money, I finally got a transit card.
I love the electronic notification board! Almost all bus stops have these posts. It announces what bus and what time it will arrive; most Koreans use the bus app on their mobile phones; if you don’t have a bus app, this board is very helpful.
The bus drivers are on a timed schedule; hence, many bus drivers can be a bit cranky. Before you board the bus, have your fare/transit card ready and know your destination. The majority of bus drivers do not speak English. There are two kinds of bus: One with one entry/exit at front and the other with entry in front and exit in back; if you board a bus with two entry/exit doors, make sure you exit out of the back exit door; otherwise, you’ll get a loud scolding from the bus driver (it’s an etiquette to make way for the riders entering). Also, reapply the transit card on the charge machine as you exit.
There are number of buses that reach Seoul in about one and half hour from Songdo Incheon; these buses are sky-blue colored and indicated with letter M; it’s less complicated than taking the subway; from the west side of Incheon Songdo, I normally take Bus # M6405 or M6724.
Subway: The Incheon 1 Line will take you to Techno Park Station, which is connected to the Hyundai Premium Outlet Mall in the basement level; get off at the Central Park Station to reach the Central Park, Costco and G-Tower. As an avid reader and a fan of library, I was pleasantly amused to find these little libraries in the subway waiting areas. The flyer on the wall says, “A space to be shared with a book: Read a Book Rest Center.”
Public Bicycles: There are these yellow bicycles (OBike) all around the city and parks. Just download the OBike app, scan the QR code, pay and ride to your destination.
Traveling by car and parking: The gas price is high in S. Korea; hence, many car owners choose to walk or take a bus/subway to closeby destinations. There are free underground parking spaces in all residential buildings; majority of restaurants within the residential buildings provide a parking-exempt ticket; as you check out of the restaurant, make sure you ask for it. The Central Park has a huge underground parking; the entry is at the south side of the Central Park; it’s in operation all day; the cost is 1,000 ₩ per hour (a little less than a dollar per hour); the NC Cube Canal Walk, G-Tower and city eateries are all in walking distance; the restaurants at Hanok Village will validate your parking ticket. The gas stations in S. Korea still offer full service, where an attendant pumps gas and collects money while you stay in your car. If you choose to select self-service, the plastic gloves are provided (located next to the gas pump handle).
KTX (Korea Train eXpress) Train: Projected to be finished in year 2021, the KTX train (bullet train) will connect Songdo Incheon to Busan and Seoul. I don’t have a car, so taking the subway/bus to Seoul to take the KTX to Busan is cumbersome; so I look forward to the convenience of having the KTX right in Songdo Incheon. For now, the empty KTX station stands like a haunted grand mansion.
