A One Day Guide To Incheon: Moraenae Market To GTower Sunsets

When people think of Incheon, Korea, generally they think of Incheon International Airport and that’s it. There’s actually a lot more to do in Incheon than people might realize. The island around Incheon International Airport as way more to do than people take advantage of but, Incheon is a lot larger than that too. Probably the most popular places in Incheon to go are Chinatown and Wolmido Island, and yet there’s more. If you’re looking for some more things to do in Incheon, then you’ve come to the right place. From markets to sunsets and where to get the views, here are three other things to see in Incheon, Korea.

Ready to see more of Incheon? Stop into these three places:

• Moraenae Market (모래내시장)
• Sudoguksan Museum of Housing and Living (수도국산달동네박물관)
• GTower (G타워)

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Moraenae Market (모래내시장)

This outdoor traditional market was opened in 1982 in Namdong-gu and like most traditional markets, is the place to head in order to support local vendors and locally made products. There are the requisite fish and meat vendors alongside the vegetable and fruit vendors that the locals visit to get their weekly groceries. There are the Korean side dish vendors that are always appealing to me just for the colors and numerous Korean food fixins they prepare as well. Did you know most side dish vendors will also let you taste test their dishes if you ask politely?

Moraenae Market is trying to up the ante when it comes to tourism so the vendors here are especially welcoming to visitors and hope that everyone has a great visit to their neck of the woods. If you want to plan your own Incheon trip and get around on your own, check out the Incheon Hop On/ Hop Off bus. It stops at all the big Incheon spots that you must see and makes getting around super easy.

Even if you’re not trying to buy groceries to take home, traditional markets are still the best places to go to get delicious budget friendly food in Korea. There are some scrumptious treats in this market including a vendor with a rather substantial variety of the common and uncommon kimbabs (rice rolls). There’s a vendor selling some uber popular sticky rice donuts. There are also fish cakes on sticks, spicy chicken skewers and some other delicious oft found market fare, too. There’s definitely something for everyone. As a tourist, I would say the best time spent in the market would be stall hopping and eating.

• Address: 1264 Guwol 4-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, Korea (인천광역시 남동구 구월4동 1264)
• Directions: The Seoul subway system also services Incheon. Moraenae Market Subway Station is on the orange Incheon Line 2. Go out of exit 3 and walk to the second street and turn right. There is a sign over the street with Moraenae Market so it can’t be missed. This street will lead into the market.

Sudoguksan Museum of Housing and Living (수도국산달동네박물관)

This museum isn’t large so it makes for an easy stop off for an hour or so. Located in Songhyun Park, the area is a great place to take a walk and enjoy some of the local Hanok houses that are still in use. The museum itself is dedicated to the days of yore and learning about the life of citizens living in a “daldongne” or a moon village, though that is a much more romantic translation for the impoverished hillside neighborhoods that they are. Having visited a living daldongne some years ago in Seoul that had been the spot for some street art beautification, I found it especially intriguing to see how they used to be. The exhibits showcase a barbershop, a corner store, restrooms and homes straight out of Korea in the 1960s and 1970s. There is even a room where visitors can try on historical school uniforms for a photo-op.

It’s an interesting spot to learn more about the trying times of Korea’s past and to see how the residents of moon villages, which still exist in some areas, live and support each other. This stop is also quite kid friendly and would be a great learning location for children tagging along as well.

• Address: 51 Solbit-ro Dong-gu, Incheon, Korea (인천광역시 동구 솔빛로 51 (송현동))
• Days: Tuesdays ~ Sundays; Closed New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year Holiday (Seollal), and Korean Thanksgiving (Chuseok)
• Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm (final admission allowed 30 minutes prior to closing)
• Admission: Adults: W500; Students: W300; Children: W200 (Seniors over 65 and infants under 4 and handicapped visitors are all free)
• Amenities: parking, bathrooms

GTower (G타워)

Next up on our daytrip in Incheon, we headed to GTower to watch as the sun set over Incheon Bridge. Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy so the sunset wasn’t as beautiful as it could have been from the top floor, but it provided some beautiful views anyway. The iconic bridge could still be seen and the planes coming in over the clouds really could take your breath away.

• Address: 24-4 Songdo-dong Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea (인천광역시 연수구 송도동 24-4)
• Directions: By subway: Central Park Subway Station, exit 3. Make a u-turn out of the station and then walk about a block back. Look up to see the tall building with GTower on the top.
• Hours: Weekdays: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm; Weekends: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm

Incheon city west of Seoul is a fun and easy spot to get away to from Seoul and there is a lot to see. Incheon has the only China Town in the country and is where the famous jjajamyeong dish (or black noodles) were created. Not only can you visit China Town, but you should also visit Fairytale Village which is in the same block. Also out in Incheon is the stunning Tri-Bowl, an architectural wonder that you just need to see in person to understand. Play on the man-made lake for the day in Central Park and then you can actually visit the GTower from this post too because there in the same local. Check out these posts for more information on what I just mentioned and have all the fun!

• Central Park & The Tri-Bowl
• Incheon’s Chinatown
• Incheon’s Fairytale Village & More

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