Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 Guide

When you arrive or leave Korea, you will most likely use Incheon International Airport. Today, we are breaking down all the information you need so that you can be fully prepared to travel through Incheon Airport! From food options to tax refunds, we are going to walk through all that this airport has to offer for travelers. Make sure to grab your pens and paper, you will want to take notes! 

Incheon Airport Terminal 1

Address: 인천 중구 공항로 271 인천국제공항역
271 Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 

Hours: Open 24 hours, please check with your airline for the exact hours for each airline. 

Incheon Airport Terminal 1 is made up of four different floors. B1 consists of the subway waiting area, parking lot, food court. The first floor is the arrival floor, the second floor is the airline office, the third floor is the departure floor, and the fourth floor is the food court. For specifics regarding entry to Korea, check our guidelines blog here!

Checking in 

There are more airlines stationed in Terminal 1 than there are in Terminal 2. Popular airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Asiana Airlines and many more are located here. 

In addition, there are low-cost airlines such as Air Seoul and Jeju Air that fly domestically if you want to travel in Korea. You can also fly out to other parts of Asia with airlines such as Vietnam Air, and China Southern Airlines. 

There are check-in counters A to N on the departure floor. You can find he corresponding counter according tot he airline code and go through the check-in procedures. 

There are also self-check-in machines at the F counter in the departure hall on the third floor as well. 

Transportation 

AREX (Airport Railway Express) 

Location: B1

The quickest, as well as most convenient way to get to Incheon Airport Terminal 1 from Seoul (or vice versa) is to take the Airport Railroad Express at B1. These trains are divided into two types. There is a regular train that stops at 13 stations, and the other is the direct train that goes directly from Seoul Staton to Incheon Airport (the first and second terminals have parking). 

In front of the boarding point is the ticket machine for the airport railway. The ticket machine can be operated in English, Korea, Japanese, and Chinese. You can get your tickets for the train here, but if you do, you cannot apply any discounts. We suggest reserving beforehand if you want to take advantage of any deals or promotions. 

Reserve AREX 

Airport Express Bus 

There are ticket sales offices on the first floor of Terminal 1 next to Exit 4 and 9, or outside Exit 4 to 6,7,8, and 11 to 13. It goes to Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi areas. 

The ticket machines sell tickets in Korean, English, and Chinese. These machines do not take cash, so make sure to pay via credit card. 

There are actually many buses going to Seoul, but almost all of them have been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic. We recommend that you refer to the official website to get accurate information about airport express busses and night busses. 

Taxi 

General taxis an be taken from platforms 5C, 6C, and 6D of the arrival floor. If you are worried about language barriers and would like to communicate in a different language, you can catch an international taxi from platform 4C. 

After informing the staff of your destination, they will assist in dispatching the taxi. oIf you are still worried, you can try out one of the pick-up services we have at Creatrip! 

Reserve Seoul - Airport Taxi Service (International Taxi) 

Reserve 12 Person Limousine (Seoul to Airport) 

Reserve 12 Person Limousine (Airport to Seoul) 

Free Terminal Shuttle Bus 

You can catch this bus at Exit 8 of the departure floor. The bus comes every ten minutes. 

Maglev Railway (*Service suspended from July 14, 2022 to July 31, 2024)

Location: 2nd Floor, T1 Traffic Center

Hours: 07:30-09:00, 19:00-19:00 

Cost: Free

Do you have a bit of extra time to spare while you are waiting for your flight? If so, you can take the free maglev train to Incheon and you can travel around the city. It only takes around 12 minutes to reach Yongyu station, where you can explore the beautiful mudflats or west coast. 

The Maglev railway is located on the 2nd floor of the traffic center of Terminal 1, and you will pass it if you go to take the AREX. The signs are big and clear so you are bound to not miss it! 

From Incheon International Airport, it departs every 00, 15, 30, and 45 of every hour, and then from 01,16,31, and 46 of every hour from Younyu station. 

What to Do at Yeongjong Island (Incheon) 

Facilities 

Currency Exchange at Incheon Airport

Most currency exchange places in Seoul close at around 20:00, so if you arrive too late and need to exchange money, there are many banks at the airport that provide currency exchange services. However, banks at the airport provide much worse exchange rates than private currency exchange services in the city. If you need cash right away, it is recommended to only exchange the amount needed.

Good news for you is, there's a way to exchange currency directly at Incheon Airport without getting ripped off at the airport banks! With the Creatrip Airport Currency Exchange Pickup Service, you can make a reservation ahead of time with just a 10,000 KRW deposit payment (which will be refunded once you arrive at the airport) and exchange money right at the airport at much better rates!

(Not a fixed rate)

You can use the Creatrip Exchange Rate Calculator to calculate exactly how much you can exchange USD to KRW for and how much you can save! The calculator is updated twice a day at 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM. Click the link below to check the current rates and make a reservation for currency exchange at the airport!

Currency Exchange Service

For more information regarding currency exchange in Korea, check out our blog in the link below!

Foreign Currency Exchange Guide  

Tax Refund 

There are also tax refund places inside and outside the gate area. If you forget to refund your taxes before going through customs, you can refund tax inside! 

SIM Card and Wifi Rental 

You can reserve wifi and SIM cards beforehand online and pick them up at the airport. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you have data and access to the internet all throughout the duration of your trip. Click the link below to see all the SIM card and portable Wi-Fi options! 

Reserve SIM Cards & Wi-Fi

Services 

Information Desk 

Location: Counter C and K on 3F

Hours: 05:30 to 22:00 

Location: Arrival Hall, 1F

Hours: 00:00 to 24:00 

There are information desks on both the third and first floor. If you have any questions or need help, you can come here and the staff will assist you accordingly. 

Airstar

At the airport, you may encounter a customer service robot called "Airstar" that provides assistance in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. IF you accidentally get lost, you can ask it to help guide you. 

Storage

Hanjin Express

Location: behind counter B and N on 3F 

Hours: 07:00 to 22:00 

Post Office 

Location: Central on 2F

Hours: 09:00 to 18:00 

When you arrive at the airport, you can temporarily store your luggage at Hanjin Express for 4,000 KRW per piece of luggage for up to four hours! If you do not want to store it here, you can also get it delivered to the airport or your hotel so you can travel without worrying about luggage with TRIPEASY. Creatrip members can get 40 percent off as well if they order TRIPEASY services through our website! With our discount, this is both a cost effective and time saving way to get your luggage moved to and from the airport! 

Reserve TRIPEASY

Hospital

Inha Hospital 

Location: East side of B1

Hours: 08:30 to 20:00 (Break time: 12:00 -13:00, 17:30 -18:00) 

Inha Hospital is in the terminal and is a hospital where both Korean nationals and foreigners can come to get treatment. It is important to keep yourself healthy before going on a long flight!

Pharmacy

Optima Plaza

Location: Near the H counter on 3F

Hours: 06:00 to 22:00 

W-Store Star

Location: G counter on 3F

Hours: 06:00 to 22:00 

Medipharm

Location: East side of the ground floor 

Hours: 08:00 to 22:00

If you are in need of some over the counter medications before boarding the plane, you can head to the pharmacy and grab some last minute medications that you may need! 

Nursery

Location: Counter D and K on 3F, Arrival hall B and E on 1F 

Hours: 00:00 to 24:00 

Insurance 

Samsung Insurance 

Location: J, K on the third floor 

Hours: 07:30 to 19:30 

If you are need of insurance such as travelers insurance, you can purchase it here.

Airport Inn

Loft Hugh (Capsule Hotel) 

Location: Central 1F, T1 Traffic Center 

Hours: 00:00 to 24:00 

ON the way to the AREX or the maglev railway, you will pass by the "Loft Hugh" capsule hotel, which is suitable for travelers who want to take a rest on the way or who are tired from traveling and want to take a break. 

Shower Room

Location: Central on 4F of T1, boarding gates 25 and 29 in the duty-free area

Hours: 24 Hours, (Temporarily closed due to the pandemic) 

Fee: 3,000 KRW for general passengers, free for connecting passengers 

The shower room at Incheon airport is located in the middle of the 4th floor of the terminal building, or on the east and west side of the 4th floor of the duty-free zone. It can be used for those that have a long layover or need to stay overnight at the airport. 

Rest and Charging Area

There are a lot of seats on the departure floor on the third floor and the arrival floor on the first floor, which can be used for charging, resting, and packing luggage. 

Airport Lounge 

If you have lots of time to spare before boarding and do not know what to do, you can come and enjoy the airport lounges! These lounges provide a high-quality and comfortable environment, as well as high-speed and stable wifi, drinks and snacks, and detailed flight updates 

SPA

SPA ON AIR 

Location: B1, East side 

Hours: 24 Hours (Currently not operating due to COVID-19) 

SPA ON AIR is located in B1 of the terminal and is a place where you can enjoy a Korean bath and sweat / steam room. If you find yourself needing a little pampering before heading on the plane, make sure to stop here! 

Laundry

Clean Up Air 

Location: B1, West side 

Hours: Mon-Fri: 08:00 - 19:00, Sat: 08:00-17:00, Closed on Sundays 

Clean Up Air is located on B1 of the terminal and is an area where you can wash your clothes and do laundry. If you have enough time and need some fresh clothes, you can get some laundry done here. 

Document Printing and ID Photo 

Behind the F counter on the third floor, you can take ID photos and machines that can print out certain documents. If you are missing certain documents, this machine will be able to print out specific documents. However keep in mind that this only works for a majority of Korean documents so you might only be able to use the machine if you are Korean or have an Alien Registration Card. 

Negative PCR Certificate Confirmation Printing Area 

You can print out a negative PCR certificate confirmation letter behind counter F on the third floor. Travel is still difficult to many countries without a PCR test, so make sure to stop by and print it out before you try to check in and board the plane! 

Lost and Found

Location: B1 West side 

Hours: 07:00-22:00 

There are two machines for lost luggage in the center of the first floor. If you lose something when you are at the airport, you can go to the Lost and Found and see if they might have it there. 

Restaurants

CJ FOODWORLD

Location: B1, Central Area

Hours: 6:30 - 21:30 

소문

Location: T1 4F, West Side

Hours: 07:00 - 22:00

There are many Korean, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants in the food area on the fourth floor of the terminal. Because of the location of the food area, you get a nice view of the whole terminal that you can enjoy while eating. 

Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Set Meal 12,900 KRW 

Make sure to grab some delicious Korean food before you board your flight! You can get a variety of options from spicy stir fried pork, side dishes, rice and veggies for a fulfilling and healthy meal before your travels. 

Soy Sauce Steamed Chicken (찜닭정식) 12,900 KRW

You can also buy Soy Sauce Steamed Chicken here which is another popular Korean dish. If you are not the best with eating spicy food, we recommend that you try out this dish, which is more salty and sweet! 

Location: 4F west side of the food court 

Cafes

A TWOSOME PLACE

Location: West side of Terminal 1

Hours: 06:30-20:00 

Starbucks 

Location: Central area of Terminal 1

Hours: 06:30-22:00 

In addition to these cafes, there are also cafes such as PASCUCCI on the third floor as well as an Angel-In-Us on the 4th floor. 

Shopping

Olive Young

Location: West area of B1

Hours: 7:00 - 21:00 

Gyeongjin Library 

Location: Exit 7 on 1F 

Hours: 07:30-19:30 

Location: Central 3F

Hours: 07:00 - 21:00 

There is a printing machine in front of the library on the third floor. If you forgot to print out any documents, you can get them here! 

Recreation 

Cultural Space 

There is a small cultural exhibition area in front of the food area on the fourth floor where some traditional Korean relics are displayed. 

Observatory 

There is a small observatory on the fourth floor opposite the restaurant where you can watch the planes take off and land. There are relatively few people here, so you can rest as well. 

Travel Itinerary

On counters 41 to 44 located in the center of the entry level of F1 provide various travel itineraries and inquiries, you can come here if you need any information about what to do while in Korea. 

MEDICAL KOREA Medical Tourism Service Center 

Location: Near Exit 7 of 1F 

Hours: 09:00-21:00 

It's no secret that South Korea's medical beauty technology is very advanced. If you want to get some procedures done while in Korea, you can come here for consultations, or further information regarding the procedures here! 

Domestic Flight Transfer 

You can take domestic flights to Daegu, Busan, and other locations through Exit A of Terminal 1. 

Duty Free Zone 

Shopping

Another very exciting part about going on trips abroad is the duty free shopping! In Terminal 1, you can shop at Shinsegae and Hyundai Department stores duty free! Make sure to grab those goodies you might have been eyeing here before leaving Korea. 

Shinsegae Duty Free Shop 

Location: 3F, near gates 8, 11, 25, 27, 115, 117, 119 

Hours: 06:30 to 21:30 

Hyundai Department Store Duty Free 

Location: Gate 28 

Hours: 06:30-21:30 

Duty Free Shopping Pick Up 

Location: Gate 11, 46, 4F 

Hours: 24 hours 

In addition to visiting duty-free shops, if you are in a hurry, you can order online at a duty free shop first and then pick up the goods on site. The airport duty-free shops are open 24 hours a day so you don't have to worry about not being able to grab your items if you have a red-eye flight! 

Restaurant 

There are food areas and restaurants on the third and fourth floor of the duty0-free zone, so you don't have to worry about being hungry! However, the business hours are all different so make sure you check beforehand on the website. 

Stroller Rental 

Location: Near gate 8,12, and 29 on 3F

It can be a little inconvenient if you need a stroller but do not have access to one. However for those that need to have a stroller can rent one out at various locations across the airport. 

Shuttle Train 

Some flights have boarding gates 101 to 132, so you need to take the shuttle train to go there. 

FAQs 

Q. How much earlier than my flight should I arrive at the airport? 

The operating hours of the check-in counters of different airlines are different. It is recommended to arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours to 3 hours before departure for check-in. 

Q. What is not allowed on the plane? 

Liquids such as water, beverages, sauces (chili sauce, doenjang etc), cosmetics, toothpaste, etc can be brought on the plane as long as they are limited to less than 100ml per container, and does not total up to more than 1 liter. 

Q. What should I do if my luggage is missing? 

There are two machines for lost luggage in the center of the first floor of Terminal 1. If you drop something at the airport, you can go to the Lost and Found on the west side of the basement floor. 

We hope that this information was helpful to those that are looking to come to Korea for their travels. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!