Arriving Seoul on 6am Flight? Recharge At A Jimjilbang (Korean Spa)!

A red-eye flight to Seoul is one of the greatest dilemma for a traveller. These flights are one of the cheapest you can find. Yet, they arrive in Seoul in the early morning (i.e. 5am-ish), which is well before any hotel’s check-in time. Even worse, hotels in Korea typically charge an early check in fee (usually by the hour), so the money saved on surviving a red-eye flight doesn’t seem that worth it after all.

Or maybe not. There are plenty of online recommendations on what one can do in between arriving at Seoul and hotel check-in – for free – including visiting parks or N Seoul Tower. But if we’re talking about winter, then these outdoor options don’t seem that appealing any more. Instead, I discovered a less talked about way that is low budget and allowed me to recharge for a full day of activities! That is, visiting a jimjilbang (Korean bathhouse)!

What Is A Jimjilbang?

A jimjilbang is a type of Korean spa (think: Japanese onsen) that is typically open 24 hours a day. It usually features a variety of hot and cold baths, saunas, and other spa services. In addition to these amenities, jimjilbangs often have common areas where people can relax, watch TV, and take naps. Some jimjilbang also offer massages, facials, and other beauty treatments. Jimjilbangs are enjoyed by people of all ages, which makes them a superb way to experience the local culture.

5 Reasons to Go to A Jimjilbang After A Red-eye Flight

Why jimjilbang of all places?

1. First, it’s open 24/7, so one can drop in anytime, regardless of flight timings.
2. Most passengers of red-eye flights would reach the city centre earliest at 8am. Jimjilbangs during this time have just been cleaned and at its lull period. This means a clean and peaceful stay for those recuperating from the gruelling flight!
3. The entrance fee to jimjilbang is typically 7,000 KRW to 20,000 KRW, making it competitive compared to the 30,000KRW per 3 hours charge at a capsule hotel.
4. The entrance fee would cover the use of the hot baths and napping area, both of which are terrific ways to recharge after a red-eye flight. And if you’re travelling in winter, nothing beats a soak in a hot pool in this weather!
5. Lastly, jimjilbangs are family friendly places. They usually have separate male and female bath areas, but since the common areas (e.g. napping, massage and F&B) are open to all, families will still be able to take a quick rest before checking into the hotels.

For me, the idea of spending my free time at a jimjilbang was appealing. After some research, I came up with the itinerary for my pre-check-in jimjilbang experience.

Planning For The Jimjilbang Experience

Although I would touch down at Incheon Airport at about 6am, I estimated that I would only clear the immigration at about 8am. Factoring the travelling time to downtown Seoul, I planned to spend my time at Gold Spa from 10am to 1.30pm. 

That being said, there was still some planning to be done beforehand. For example, I had to plan where to deposit my luggage during my jimjilbang excursion, which in turn affected my route from the airport to Gold Spa, and back to the hotel.

Departing Incheon International Airport

The first order of the day would be to get out of the airport! There are plenty of online guides on how to do that. For free and easy travelers on a budget, the best option would be taking the train, which itself has 2 options – Express and All Stop – both operated by AREX.

The difference between the Express and the All Stop trains is the number of stops, with the former going directly to Seoul Station after leaving Incheon Airport. The All Stop train functions like a normal subway, stopping at 11 stations along the way.

Travelling time wise, the Express train takes around 43 – 51 minutes (depending on which terminal you are departing from), which is about 15 minutes faster than the All Stop train.

As my hotel is at Hongdae, which is one of the stations along the route of the All Stop train, taking the “slower” option made better sense. 

AREX Express Train (43 – 51 min)	AREX All Stop Train (59 – 66 min)
Incheon International Airport Terminal 2	Incheon International Airport Terminal 2
Incheon International AIrport Terminal 1	Incheon International AIrport Terminal 1
–	Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal
–	Unseo
–	Yeongjong
–	Cheongna International City
–	Geomam
–	Gyeyang
–	Gimpo International Airport
–	Magongnaru (a.k.a Magok Naru)
–	Digital Media City
–	Hongik Univ. (a.k.a Hongdae)
–	Gongdeok
Seoul Station	Seoul Station

The AREX trains are part of the public transport system of Seoul, meaning you can buy a T-money card (like an ezlink/Suica/Octopus/Rabbit card) and use it on the AREX trips and the city’s subways/buses alike. Just stop by one of the ticketing machines outside the AREX train station to buy the T-money card. Payment is only by cash.

Do note that you can choose to purchase the tourist day pass (MPass), which costs 30,500 KRW for a 3-day option. I skipped this option as I only planned to walk around Hongdae throughout my 3D2N stay in Seoul. For info, I only spent about 10,000KRW on the subway, which included my trips to and fro Incheon Airport, Gold Spa and shopping trips to Seoul Station and Hapjeong. Why? Well, single trips cost 1,250 KRW regardless of distance! Therefore, to recoup the cost of an MPass (estimated at 10,000 KRW per day), you have to take at least 8 subway trips per day.  You would have to run a very hectic schedule to hit the target!

Depositing Luggage At A Self Service Locker

Some hotels offer luggage deposit services for free for their customers, so you can choose to do that, depending on how far your hotel is away from the subway station. Otherwise, you can leave your luggage at one of the lockers conveniently located in and around the subway stations.

For example, since my hotel was just outside Hongik Univ (Hongdae) station, I decided to leave my luggage at the station’s lockers. Even at Hongdae station, there are multiple locations (which is good, considering how massive the station is). As they are managed by different operators, they could range from self-service kiosks along the station passageways to brick-and-mortar shops outside of the station. I chose the self service one at exit 3, which was near my hotel.

These lockers charge by blocks of hour, with the first block usually at 4 hours and subsequent blocks between 2 to 24 hours. 

How to Use the Self Service Locker

First, you have to decide on the size of the locker that you want. Their largest locker could take on my 72cm suitcase with space to share. Therefore, I also left my backpack there, so that I could travel light to the jimjilbang.

Next, select the locker through the control panel. After making payment – either through credit card or the T-money card – the door of the selected locker would spring open.

Do note that the once you close the locker door, the locker is considered “in use”, and opening it again would end the session. Therefore, ensure you have settled everything before closing the door!

Reference: https://www.creatrip.com/en/blog/5604/Hongdae-Luggage-Storage

Getting to Gold Spa Jimjilbang

Gold Spa, according to online reviews, is more tourist-friendly, even though their staff don’t speak much non-Korean to customers. Additionally, it is also located along subway Line 2, which runs through Hongdae station, making it convenient to continue my journey after depositing my luggage.

After exiting from exit 1 or 2 at Sindang station, walk along the road that runs through Seoul Central Market. After about 10 minutes, turn right just before the Yeongdogyo (bridge across a canal) and Gold Spa is at Building 102 of the cluster of condos on the right. 

Enter via Gate 2 (which has signage showing 24-hr bowling, and emart), and proceed to B2.

Basic Information of Gold Spa Jimjilbang

On Google Maps, it is known as Golden Spa, but the website refers to itself as Gold Spa. Here are some basic information about the Korean spa.

The entrance fee of 11,000 KRW will include free access to 3 medicated hot pools, 2 cold pools, sauna and a relaxing corner inside the men’s section. In the common area, the resting areas (public and hot stone rooms) are also free for use.

Within the men’s only area, only the hair salon and body scrub is pay-for-use. Other services that require payment include a sports massage place and the restaurant in the common area. Payment for the body scrub and massage has to be paid in cash, while the others are paid using the wrist tag (and paid together at the reception).

Brief Review of Gold Spa Jimjilbang

As it was my first time visiting a jimjilbang – and alone! – I did a lot of rookie mistakes like grabbing a pair of slippers (not meant for use inside the spa) after changing my shoes. I could also order my lunch purely by using Google Lens translation and pointing at the menu.

Despite the small hiccups, everything about Gold Spa lived up to expectations. There were less than 20 people in and around the spa, with less than 10 using the hot pools. My lunch also cost only 11,000KRW, which included Kimchi Stew, rice, 2 sunny up and side dishes.

I ended up skipping nap time for a sports massage, which I followed up with a soak in the hot pool (alternating with quick dips in the cold pool). This soothed my body that was aching from the crammed economy seat I was stuck with for 6 hours, and perked me up for a day of exploring after my Gold Spa visit. I rounded off my jimjilbang experience with a satisfying meal the inhouse restaurant.

All in all, my experience at Gold Spa was a pleasant one. The place was clean and staff were helpful towards a lost foreigner. Visiting it at 10am was a good idea as I avoided the crowds and could enjoy my time there at my own pace. And yes, having less people helped when I had to be stark naked in front of strangers at a foreign place!

There were additional free facilities like the hot stone napping rooms, which I didn’t try because the rooms looked too claustrophobic for my comfort. The vloggers who reviewed such amenities swore that they were good, so I might try it in my next visit.

Parting Words

Holidaying in Seoul should be an enjoyable one, and we should make full use of every hour we are there. Arriving in Seoul in the early morning on a red-eye flight, we can always spend some quality time in a jimjilbang to recharge. A good soak in a hot pool and a quick nap, which is all included in the entrance fee, is a wonderful way to spend the hours between arrival and hotel check-in. The additional services like a massage or hot meal are cheap and good too. Therefore, do consider visiting a Korean bath house the next time you are in Seoul!

Till then, stay wanderlust!

All photos and videos were taken using Google Pixel 4a, and edited with Google Photos.