KINTEX is in Ilsan, a planned city in Goyang just northwest of Seoul, with a large lake park and open-air shopping streets close by. Further north, Paju has an art village, a book-publishing town and the civilian areas near the DMZ.
Daehwa / KINTEX — Hotels cluster around Daehwa Station (Line 3), a short walk from the exhibition halls.
Jeongbalsan & Ilsan Lake Park — A livelier area on Line 3 with the La Festa and Western Dom shopping streets, and the lake park for a morning walk.
Central Seoul (Seoul Station) — The GTX-A express line links Seoul Station and KINTEX Station in about 16 minutes, so staying in the city centre is practical.
Getting around
Line 3 stops at Daehwa Station near KINTEX; the GTX-A express also has a KINTEX Station facing Exhibition Center 1.
From Incheon Airport, a taxi is the simplest option; by rail it takes several transfers (AREX, Gyeongui Line, then Line 3).
Taxis are easy to find in Ilsan. The Kakao T app lets you book one and show the destination in Korean.
For the DMZ area in Paju, a booked tour is the easiest way to go, since some sites need advance registration and a passport.
After the show
Ilsan Lake Park — A large park around an artificial lake with walking and cycling paths, gardens and a musical fountain; it also hosts the Goyang international flower show. (Near Jeongbalsan Station on Line 3)
La Festa and Western Dom — Two open-air shopping and dining streets beside the lake park, busy in the evening with restaurants, cafes and shops. (Near Jeongbalsan Station on Line 3)
Heyri Art Valley (Paju) — An artists' village with galleries, small museums, workshops and cafes in low-rise, architect-designed buildings. Quiet on weekdays, busier at weekends. (In Paju, north of Ilsan; easiest by taxi)
Paju Book City — A publishing town with bookshops, publisher showrooms, galleries and book cafes, including the Forest of Wisdom library. (In Paju, north of Ilsan; easiest by taxi)
Imjingak and DMZ tours (Paju) — A peace park near the inter-Korean border with the Freedom Bridge, the Peace Bell and a hill of pinwheels; it is also the starting point for many DMZ tours. (Half-day trip; join a tour or go by taxi)
Where to eat
La Festa and Western Dom — The main dining streets near KINTEX, with Korean barbecue, noodle shops, international food and cafes.
Chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) — The long-running Ilsan Kalguksu main shop near Pungsan Station serves just this one dish, and there is usually a queue at lunch.
Heyri Art Valley cafes — Relaxed cafes and small restaurants spread across the art village, good for a slow lunch.