10 Most Popular Streets in Incheon

Samgukji (Three Kingdoms) Mural Street that displays 77 small and large murals and Chohanji (Legend of Chu and Han) Mural Street featuring 56 murals are meaningful places where you can learn Chinese history. Past the staircase that separates the settlements of China (Qing Dynasty) and Japan, and after the statue of Confucius overlooking Incheon Port, you will reach Samgukji Mural Street. The historical tales engraved on the tiles of the walls provide a short summary of the relationships among the Wei, Chu, and Wu dynasties, which make the street a good place to learn history with your kids.

From the end of Samgukji Mural Street, a short walk will take you to Chohanji Mural Street. The murals here vividly depict the struggle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang for supremacy in China. Telling the story of Han Xin who defeated the enemy by making a last-ditch fight and Zhuge Liang who was praised for his wisdom and loyalty, it is a meaningful place that brings the joy of gaining knowledge to those seeking new experiences here other than tasting Chinese cuisine.

Jayugongwonseo-ro Street, where you can take a leisurely stroll behind Chinatown, is a place where historical and fairy tale moods are harmonized. Going up the hill, you will see Jayu Park, which is Korea's first Western-style park. The most eye-catching among the meaningful structures inside the park may be the statue of General Douglas MacArthur. The statue of this figure who added a page to the modern history of Korea and the monument for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and the United States show that this park has historical significance.

Nearby Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village, unlike other mural villages, features characterful structures that adds to the vividness to the murals three-dimensionally. On a sunny day, you can take pretty pictures with colourful and friendly statues of fairy tale protagonists. If you travel with children, a tour of this dreamlike village will give them unforgettable memories. As residents live in the village, refrain from talking loudly.

Today's Chinatown is where the Qing Dynasty settlement was established following the opening of Incheon Port in 1883, providing home to Chinese immigrants to Korea who soon started to develop their own culture here. Nowadays, Chinatown is a representative tourist destination in Incheon, full of exotic foods and attractions, but it is still a residential area where around 500 second and third generation immigrants are living. Unlike Chinatowns in other cities where the presence of the Korean-Chinese is dominant, Chinatown in Incheon, with a longer history, has become a popular day trip destination crowded with tourists from different regions.

The streets where red roofs and signboards catch your eye are lined with localized Chinese restaurants serving relatively familiar Chinese dishes such as jajangmyeon, jjamppong, and tangsuyuk, as well as authentic Chinese restaurants providing recently popular huoguo and mala xiang guo. After a hearty meal, take a tour of old shops and Jajangmyeon Museum as a perfect ending to your day in this exotic place.

The trendy multipurpose complex Triple Street, located in the heart of Songdo, has emerged as Incheon's new shopping paradise. Triple Street is lined with shops of popular franchises as well as those of many brands that have chosen to open their first flagship store in Incheon on this street, so you can shop for items that keep up with the latest trends. International sportswear and SPA brand stores attract many young shoppers.

Familiar facilities such as movie theatres, indoor golf courses, baseball fields, bowling alleys, and fitness facilities have been established in a trendier style here. Baronado, a playground for dogs, and soccer classes by famous soccer player Lee Dong-gook, are some of unique attractions you won't find anywhere else. At Indeojyu, an indoor zoo, you can come face to face with rare animals including alpacas, coatis, and marble foxes and have a cup of coffee. There are many photogenic spots throughout this street. Under the Umbrella Roof of the shopping mall, you can take magical pictures against colourful umbrellas decorating the ceiling and the blue sky seen in between.

Songdo Canal Walk, with an artificial waterway running through buildings divided into four zones with the theme of four seasons, is the mecca of this revitalized commercial district. This place was originally known as NC Cube Canal Walk, but now, after the closure of NC Department Store, it has been reborn as a shopping district where franchise and individual restaurants and cafes are concentrated. In the waterway that runs across this street, you can enjoy playing in the shallow water or take pictures against the background of the decorations that display different charms.

The main players of this renewed Canal Walk are restaurants that have become famous by word of mouth. Woo Space presents a brilliant pairing of premium Korean beef and wine, and Japanese restaurant Jeongonhan specializes in aged raw fish dishes that are favoured by epicures. Donut Clan serving chewy donuts evolved from a local eatery known only to a few to a gourmet brand for everyone. You can take a leisurely walk in Songdo's iconic Central Park, located across the street, after enjoying tasty meals.

Wolmi Culture Street, facing the sea closest to Seoul, is loved by Incheon citizens and capital area residents who look for rest in the cool sea breeze. Wolmi Traditional Park, located at the entrance to Wolmido Island, has been opened to the public after the management rights were transferred from the Ministry of National Defence to the city. Walk along the street around leafy Wolmi Park and feel the sea breeze. When you reach Wolmi Theme Park, take the road on the right, which leads to the coastal trail.

The seaside area is where Operation Chromite was carried out during the Korean War, so there are statues and sculptures erected in commemoration. At dusk, the statues of fallen soldiers reddened in the sunset glow will remind you of the fierceness of the war, making you feel solemn. Take a cruise on the quay located at the end of the trail and watch a performance on board. You can have the rare experience of feeling like going back in time.

Gaehang Nuri-gil Street, also known as Gaehangjang (Open Port Area) Street, is where the vestiges of the struggle among the powers to occupy Joseon remain intact. The then world powers, including Japan, built banks, company buildings, villas, and hotels in this area as part of their plan for exploitation. The Jung-gu Office, which was renovated from the former Japanese consulate, and Japanese 1st, 18th, and 58th Banks are some of these buildings that still stand on this street, as if hiding the tragic history behind them.

Visit Pot-R, a cafe designated as a modern cultural heritage, to taste sweet red bean porridge and also stop by Gwandong Gallery to remember the tragic history of the last century. There is also the former Chinese settlement, but most of it is connected to Chinatown. You can instead take a tour of the former Japanese settlement. In addition to the large buildings, the street also preserves many Japanese-style wooden houses built at that time. Some of them have been remodelled into cafes and restaurants where you can take a look around their interiors.

Technopark-ro is a beautiful street that runs from Michuhol Park to Songdo Central Park. Michuhol Park with a small pond and a pavilion called Inhwaru is less known to outsiders but is a popular walking spot for Songdo residents. The Tidal Flat Culture Centre is a cultural space running various programs for residents such as Korean painting, literary painting, calligraphy, gayageum, and tea ceremony.

Walk west along Technopark-ro Street and you will reach Songdo Central Park, the green lungs of the concrete jungle of this new town. Songdo Hanok Village is seen across the park. Against the backdrop of the high skyline of Songdo, the village sits on the street featuring a subtle harmony of tradition and modernity. Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon, a hanok hotel, offers admission only to those who have made reservations, but you can enjoy a cup of coffee at Hollys Coffee right next to the hotel, which has a wonderful park view.