🇰🇷✨Seoul Travel Guide: Exploring Gangnam from Coex & Parnas

🏙️Landing in Seoul with Korean Air brings you into Incheon Airport Terminal 2. Taking a flight landing at Terminal 1 is a much better choice if you want to save travel time, as T2 is situated further away from the city center. Getting to the Gangnam district from Incheon T2 is straightforward with the Airport Limousine Bus. 🚌 Incheon Airport to Gangnam: Airport Limousine Bus Guide Bus Route: Limousine Bus 6103 (Non-stop direct service to the CALT / Coex City Airport Terminal right next to the hotel). Cost: ₩18,000 KRW per adult (~$13.50 USD / ~$18 SGD). Travel Distance & Time: ~70 km; takes around 80–100 minutes depending on Seoul's peak-hour traffic—plan your schedule accordingly! How to Board: No need to book in advance! Head to the ticketing kiosks inside/outside the arrivals hall on B1 (Terminal 2). The machines feature full English settings. Buy your ticket, walk to Bus Stop 7, and load your luggage. Drop-off Point: The bus drops you off directly at the Coex City Airport Terminal / InterContinental Seoul Parnas doorstep—no need to drag heavy suitcases up and down subway stairs. 🏙️ Basecamp: InterContinental Seoul Parnas & Coex Hub InterContinental Seoul Parnas stands out as a striking skyscraper in the heart of Gangnam—sleek and beautiful on the outside, and immaculately neat and clean inside. 📚 Starfield Library & Coex Mall: Right beside the hotel is the massive Starfield Coex Mall, housing the world-famous, multi-story Starfield Library, this massive, 13-meter-tall open-air library is an absolute icon. 🎬 K-Drama Pilgrimage (Record of Youth): For K-drama fans, this is the exact spot where Park Bo-gum (playing Sa Hye-jun) filmed iconic scenes alongside Park So-dam (An Jeong-ha) in Record of Youth! It’s the place filled with memories where Hye-jun spends quiet moments reminiscing about her amidst the soaring bookshelves, making it an unforgettable check-in spot. Major Transit Hub: Direct underground access connects to two key subway stations: Samseong Station (Line 2): Seoul’s main green loop line—takes you directly to Jamsil (Lotte World), Seongsu, Hongdae, and Gangnam Station. Bongeunsa Station (Line 9): Express line connecting you straight to Express Bus Terminal (Goto Mall) and Yeouido. Coex City Airport Bus Terminal (CALT): Located right next to the hotel, making city check-ins and direct airport bus transfers effortless. ☕ Coffee Highlight: Blue Bottle Coffee & The Famous Nola Float Right outside the hotel sits a gorgeous Blue Bottle Coffee outlet. Trying their Nola Float was completely mind-blowing! Combining rich chicory cold brew with a scoop of thick, velvety organic milk soft-serve, it is absolute perfection. Sitting outside in May with the cool spring breeze and warm sunshine while sipping an ice-cold Nola Float hit all the right notes. (Local tip: For those in Singapore craving that fix, Blue Bottle pop-up and retail locations can be found at Lumine Raffles City and Paragon!) 🍦☕ 🍰 World-Class Pastries: Garuharu & Local Dessert Spots Korea is a true powerhouse in the global pastry scene! Garuharu : Nearby in Gangnam, you'll find Garuharu, the famous dessert shop world-renowned for its exquisite éclairs. Its founder, Chef Eunyoung Yun, recently received the prestigious World's Most Creative Pastry Chef Award by La Liste! (Note: Garuharu occasionally closes for special pop-ups and international masterclasses, so check their schedule before heading over!) this shop have always been one of my to do list as a pastry chef as I've following them on Instagram for a decade already. Grand Deli / Mercato at Parnas: Located on the hotel's ground floor, this boutique pastry shop displays some of the most intricate, beautiful cakes in Seoul. 🥩 K-BBQ Heaven & 24-Hour Gangnam Eats Gangnam is famous for its vibrant dining scene, and short walking distances from the hotel lead to endless dining options—including 24-hour soup and stew joints! Sam's BBQ: We indulged in some of the highest-grade Korean Hanwoo beef here. The marbling was breathtaking, and each piece melted in your mouth like butter. A must-visit for meat lovers exploring the Samseong-dong area! 🥩🔥 #travel2026 #seoul #bluebottlecoffee #gangnam #intercontinental #ihghotels #seoulfood #starfieldlibrary