Today, I’m going to look into a one-day Incheon Retro Trip. In the morning, you slip through the crowd beneath a red paifang (a Chinese-style gate), drawn in by the aroma of jjajangmyeon; in the afternoon, you step into a bank building that’s over 100 years old and come face-to-face with the air of modern history; and around sunset, you fall for the “film camera vibes” created by alleyway stairs and murals.
Incheon Chinatown and the Open Port Area (Open Port Culture District) are neighborhoods where you can complete a retro trip in one go, on foot. (Even when you take foreign friends, you often get: “There’s a place like this in Korea?”)
Why This Route Is Perfect for a “Retro Day Trip”
Incheon Chinatown is a concentrated overseas Chinese community that formed naturally after Incheon Port opened in 1883, when the area was designated in 1884 as a Qing (China) concession (an extraterritorial zone). That’s why the streets themselves still hold “layers of modern history.” (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
And right next door, the Open Port Culture District (Open Port Historical & Cultural Street) gathers museums, exhibition halls, and modern-era architecture that preserve traces from after the port opening—so if you walk slowly, “spaces from black-and-white photos” keep appearing. (Incheon Jung District Office)
1-Minute Pre-Departure Check for Your Incheon Day Trip: Opening Days & Ticket Strategy
1) Many museums are closed on Mondays
Key museums/exhibition halls in the Open Port area (Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, Open Port Museum, etc.) typically follow a pattern of 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed every Monday. (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
The Jjajangmyeon Museum is also 안내 as TueSun 09:0018:00, closed Mondays (if it’s a public holiday, closed the next day), and closed on the day of Seollal & Chuseok. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
2) The “Integrated Admission Ticket (Old Downtown 5 Museums)” is the best value
There’s an integrated ticket for five venues (Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, Incheon Open Port Museum, Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall, Korea–China Culture Center (Incheon Overseas Chinese History Museum), and the Jjajangmyeon Museum), and it’s listed at 3,400 KRW per adult (2,300 KRW for teens, etc.). (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
On a retro route, even visiting just 2–3 museums makes it easy to “get your money’s worth.”
Recommended One-Day Incheon Chinatown & Open Port Area Route (Walking Course)
Point: Everything connects on foot. The most satisfying flow is “eat (Chinatown) → walk (murals/stairs) → exhibitions (Open Port Area) → café.”
⏱️ Suggested Schedule (based on 10:30–18:30)
| Time | Route | Retro Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Arrive at Incheon Station → Chinatown entrance | Your trip starts the moment you arrive (a very walkable size) |
| 11:00 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms Mural Street | 160 murals for a “comic-book stroll” vibe (Incheon Jung District Office) |
| 11:30 | Qing–Japan Concession Boundary Stairs | A spot where the middle of the stairs used to be the “border” (Incheon Jung District Office) |
| 12:00 | Lunch (jjajangmyeon/Chinese cuisine) | The classic Incheon Chinatown move |
| 13:00 | Jjajangmyeon Museum (Gonghwachun) | Jjajangmyeon history + retro exhibits, open 09–18 (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation) |
| 14:00 | Korea–China Culture Center (Overseas Chinese History Museum) | History and culture of Incheon’s overseas Chinese community (Visit Korea) |
| 15:00 | Open Port Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall | Exhibition hall in a former bank building, 09–18 (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main) |
| 15:40 | Incheon Open Port Museum | Port-opening era & modern history exhibits, 09–18 (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main) |
| 16:30 | Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall | Recreation of the remains of “Korea’s first Western-style hotel” + everyday life history (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation) |
| 17:30 | Café time (Open Port vibe cafés) | Many cafés are remodeled from warehouses/modern buildings |
| 18:00 | Optional: Songwoldong Fairy Tale Village or head home freely | Fairy Tale Village is a 10-minute walk from Incheon Station (Incheon Jung District Office) |
7 Key Stops by Route for a One-Day Incheon Trip (Photo Spots + Story Spots)
1) Incheon Chinatown: “The Starting Point of the Red Streets”
Because Chinatown began from the historical backdrop of Incheon Port opening (1883) and the Qing concession (1884), it’s not just a food alley—it’s a neighborhood where you can see “the city’s time.” (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
Tip: If you dive in first when you’re starving, it’s easy for your route to get messy—so_toggle a quick lap first, then lock in lunch!
2) Romance of the Three Kingdoms Mural Street: “A Comic Book You Walk Through in 160 Scenes”
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms Mural Street unfolds famous scenes and character stories from
Photo point: At photo spots, shoot at 0.5x (wide angle) to bring out the depth of the alley.
3) Qing–Japan Concession Boundary Stairs: “One Stair, Two Countries”
These stairs were created as the boundary between the Japanese concession established in 1883 and the Qing concession set up in 1884, and the atmosphere shifts dramatically from side to side (differences in patterns/stone lanterns/styles). (Incheon Jung District Office)
This is where the retro mood really explodes—because it comes with the story of a “historical border.”
4) Jjajangmyeon Museum (Former Gonghwachun): “A Museum for Korea’s Soul Food”
Its hours are listed as TueSun 09:0018:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays (if it’s a public holiday, the following day). (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
It’s also easy to reach on foot from Exit 1 of Incheon Station (official info says “4 minutes on foot”), so it fits nicely into your schedule. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
Pro tip: If you go when you’re full, the exhibits feel even more fun; if you go when you’re hungry, the “I need to eat this right now” feeling gets stronger.
5) Korea–China Culture Center (Incheon Overseas Chinese History Museum): “Perfect When You Don’t Want to End with Just Eating”
It’s a space that neatly wraps up “Chinese culture” and “the history of Incheon’s overseas Chinese community” after your Chinatown food crawl.
There’s information listing hours as 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed every Monday, as well as admission (adult 1,000 KRW, etc.). (Visit Korea)
6) Incheon Open Port Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall: “The Air of the Open Port Era Inside a Bank Building”
A core stop on the Open Port street. Hours are listed as 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays, with adult admission at 500 KRW. (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
The building itself feels like an exhibit, so if you love retro architecture, satisfaction is high.
7) Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall: “Korea’s First Western-Style Hotel, ‘On Top of the Ruins’”
The Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall opened on April 6, 2018, and is introduced as a facility that reconstructs the scale/exterior of the time based on research—built over the excavated remains of Korea’s first Western-style hotel, the “Daebul Hotel”. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
Its hours are also listed as TueSun 09:0018:00, closed Mondays. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
It’s the place that feels like the “final punch” of a retro trip.
(Optional) If You Have Time, Add 2 More: Arts/Literature Retro
✅ Incheon Art Platform: “13 Buildings of Remodeled Modern Architecture”
It’s described as a complex created by remodeling buildings from the port-opening period and the 1930s–40s into a total of 13 buildings including artist studios, exhibition halls, and performance venues. (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
If you go on a day with exhibitions, your overall course satisfaction jumps.
✅ Korea Modern Literature Museum: “10:00–18:00, Closed Mondays (Often Introduced as Free, Too)”
There’s an information page with address/phone/hours (10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30) and a weekly Monday closure notice. (Incheon Jung District Office)
If you want to connect “retro = literature,” this is a strong recommendation.
Transportation & Parking Tips (for Foreigners/First-Timers)
How to Get There by Subway (Most Recommended)
- If you start at Incheon Station, most of the trip connects within walking distance.
The Jjajangmyeon Museum is easy to access with guidance of a 4-minute walk from Incheon Station Exit 1. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
Songwoldong Fairy Tale Village is also 안내 as a 10-minute walk after getting off at Incheon Station. (Incheon Jung District Office)
If You’re Driving: “Just Remember the ‘Zone (Rate Grade)’ and It’s Easy”
In the Jung-gu tourism area parking information, you can check operating hours and the “zone (grade)” for public parking lots around Chinatown/Fairy Tale Village, and then confirm the fees by zone in a separate rate table. (Incheon Jung District Office)
For example:
- Chinatown Public Parking Lot = Zone 1 → 1,000 KRW for the first 30 minutes / 500 KRW per 15 minutes / 10,000 KRW per day (over 5 hours)
- Chinatown 2nd Public Parking Lot = Zone 2 → 600 KRW for the first 30 minutes / 300 KRW per 15 minutes / 6,000 KRW per day (over 5 hours)
(The fees above are 안내 calculated based on the “fees by zone” table.) (Incheon Jung District Office)
Budget Example: “The More Museums You Visit, the More the Integrated Ticket Pays Off”
| Style | Estimated Cost per Person | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Best-value course | 20,000–30,000 KRW range | 1 lunch + coffee + integrated admission ticket (adult 3,400 KRW) (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation) |
| Standard course | 30,000–50,000 KRW range | Lunch + snacks (street food) + 2 coffees + integrated ticket |
| Foodie course | 50,000 KRW+ | Lunch + dessert + Sinpo Market/additional food spots + café |
7 Small Tips to Boost Your Day-Trip Satisfaction
- Many museums are closed on Mondays, so your route may feel empty. (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
- Wear comfortable shoes: the boundary stairs and mural street include slopes and stairs. (Incheon Jung District Office)
- Photos tend to look best before lunch (around 11 a.m.; also relatively fewer crowds).
- The integrated ticket helps you build an “indoor retro course,” so it’s strong even on rainy days. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
- For the Jjajangmyeon Museum, “after-meal viewing” feels more satisfying (the details of the exhibits stand out more). (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
- If you’re with foreign friends: even just explaining “Open Port Area” and “Jajangmyeon” in English gets a great reaction.
- If you still have time in the evening, finishing at Incheon Art Platform/Korea Modern Literature Museum can really lift the “trip completeness.” (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
FAQ (Incheon Retro Trip)
Q1. Can you walk between Incheon Chinatown and the Open Port Area streets?
Yes. Centered around Incheon Station, the structure connects Chinatown–murals/stairs–Open Port Area exhibitions, so it’s easy to design as a walking trip. (The Open Port Area story course is also 안내 with a walking-viewing flow.) (Incheon Jung District Office)
Q2. Are museums/exhibition halls open on Mondays?
In many cases, they are closed on Mondays (Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, Open Port Museum, Jjajangmyeon Museum, etc.). I recommend checking official opening days before your visit. (Discover Incheon, Incheon Tour (itour) main)
Q3. What’s included in the integrated admission ticket (5 museums), and how much is it?
There is an integrated ticket that includes five venues: the Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, Incheon Open Port Museum, Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall, Korea–China Culture Center (Incheon Overseas Chinese History Museum), and the Jjajangmyeon Museum. It’s listed at 3,400 KRW per adult. (Incheon Jung-gu Cultural Foundation)
Q4. What kind of place are the Qing–Japan Concession Boundary Stairs?
They’re stairs created as the boundary between the Japanese concession (1883) and the Qing concession (1884). It’s introduced as a place where you can feel a “historical border,” because the 분위기 and architectural styles differ on each side of the stairs. (Incheon Jung District Office)
Q5. Is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Mural Street worth seeing?
Yes. Scenes and stories from
Q6. Is Songwoldong Fairy Tale Village free? Where is it?
Based on Jung-gu Office tourism information, it’s around 45beon-gil & 51beon-gil, Jayugongwonseo-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon, and it’s listed as a 10-minute walk from Incheon Station. It’s introduced as having been created in 2013 as part of a residential environment improvement project. (Incheon Jung District Office)
Q7. What are the opening hours for the Korea–China Culture Center (Overseas Chinese History Museum)?
There is information listing hours as 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays, along with admission details. (Visit Korea)
Q8. Where is the most convenient place to park?
In the parking lot list by tourism area, you can check the operating hours and zones for public parking lots around Chinatown/Fairy Tale Village, and calculate costs using the fee table by zone. (Incheon Jung District Office)
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