Paradise City Cimer: Your Guide to the Best Spa in Korea

Looking for a relaxing day trip from Seoul? Have a long layover at Incheon International Airport? Want to experience a Korean-European fusion spa with over 20 unique facilities? Paradise City Cimer provides a day of fun and relaxation with its world-class pools, saunas, spas, and more.

Paradise City Korea is a 5-star hotel located next to Incheon International Airport. Fun fact: it’s the filming location known as “paradise” on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno! Luckily, you don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy its stunning Cimer spa. This Paradise City Cimer guide will walk you through everything you need to know to have an amazing spa day.

Table of Contents

Paradise City Cimer: FAQs

How can I get to Paradise City Cimer?

Paradise City Cimer is located next to Incheon International Airport. From Seoul, you can take the airport line from Seoul Station or Hongik University Station. The train ride takes about an hour for the all-stop train (₩4450) or 45 minutes for the express train (₩11000 – only available from Seoul Station). Get off at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1.

From Terminal 1, you can take a short taxi ride, a free shuttle bus, or walk to Cimer. If you walk directly from the airport, it takes 20-30 minutes. If you don’t want to walk, the shuttle bus comes to exits 14C and 3C on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 every 30 minutes. From there, you can walk next door from the hotel to Cimer. Here is a picture I snapped of the current shuttle bus schedule (2024):

There’s a railway from Terminal 1 to Paradise City, but it is currently closed for renovations. Once it’s open again, you’ll be able to use the railway instead of the shuttle bus.

What are Paradise City Cimer’s hours?

Paradise City Cimer is split into 2 parts: Jjimjil Spa (a traditional Korean spa) and Aqua Spa (indoor and outdoor swimming pools). The hours are as follows:

	Normal Season	Peak Season (6/01-7/21, 8/21-10/03, 12/01-2/28)	High Peak Season (7/22-8/20)
Aqua Spa	10:00am – 9:00pm	10:00am – 10:00pm	10:00am – 10:00pm
Jjimjil Spa	10:00am – 9:00pm	10:00am – 10:00pm	10:00am – 10:00pm

You can check the most recent hours here.

How much is Paradise City Cimer and how can I buy a ticket?

You can buy a ticket to just the Jjimjil Spa or a combined ticket including both the Jjimjil Spa and Aqua Spa. I highly recommend you buy the Aqua Spa ticket so you can experience all the swimming pools and also get included access to the Jjimjil Spa! The Aqua Spa ticket includes 6 hours of unlimited use of its facilities and the Jjimjil Spa. The Jjimjil Spa ticket includes 4 hours of unlimited use of its facilities, but not the Aqua Spa. The prices are as follows:

	Normal Season	Peak Season (6/01-7/21, 8/21-10/03, 12/01-2/28)	High Peak Season (7/22-8/20)
Aqua Spa	₩50000	₩60000	₩70000
Jjimjil Spa	₩30000	₩30000	₩30000

You can book directly on the Paradise City website. If you have the NAVER app set up, you can book there for a 5% discounted ticket.

Do I need to cover my tattoos?

At some spas in Korea, you’ll be asked to cover your tattoos. However, Paradise City Cimer is modern enough that this isn’t a concern. Many people, foreigners and Koreans alike, walk around with their tattoos showing with no problem. So it’s up to you whether you’d like to cover them or not.

What should I wear?

You can wear whatever you’d like to the spa. I recommend comfortable clothes you can easily change in and out of.

As for swimsuits, keep in mind that Koreans typically dress conservatively when they go swimming. Both women and men alike will likely wear swimshirts, and women often also wear swim skirts or shorts. However, Cimer is modern enough that you can wear whatever swimsuit you’d like. You will see a few people in more “typical” swimsuits by Western standards, such as bikinis. It will come down to what you’re comfortable with.

What should I bring?

Here’s your Paradise City Cimer packing list:

Swimsuit
Hair tie – women are required to tie their hair up in the pools
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash – some are provided but if you’re picky, bring your own
Any makeup or skincare you want to use while getting ready
A watch – there are no clocks anywhere and you’ll get charged extra if you overstay your time!
A full-sized towel – the spa only provides small towels at the sauna, so if you’d like a towel while you’re swimming or don’t want to deal with small towels, bring your own
Hair brush – hair dryers are included but brushes aren’t!

Paradise City Cimer: Guide

1. Buy your ticket in advance or on-site

You can choose to book your ticket in advance or on arrival. If you haven’t bought your ticket yet, you can do so at the Ticket Office or an automatic ticket machine upon arrival.

2. Arrive and store your shoes

Once you have your ticket, you’ll be greeted by friendly workers who will scan your ticket and check you in. Make note of the time they scan your ticket so you know when your time is up! You’ll be given a bracelet key that will be your key to everything you need. The number on the key is the number of your locker for the day. A worker will walk you over to the shoe lockers, where you will take off your shoes before continuing onto the locker room.

3. Get changed and rinsed off in the locker room

When you enter the locker room, you’ll be handed your Korean spa attire. Hold onto it and find your locker. Don’t be alarmed when you see naked women everywhere – this is how they do it at Korean spas! I suggest you check out the swimming pools in the Aqua Spa first, so change into your swimsuit and rinse off before heading downstairs to the pools. You can leave everything except for your key in the locker – you’ll scan all purchases on the key and pay later.

4. Splash around in all the swimming pools

Get ready to relax in a swimming pool paradise! Start by heading to the third floor where you can watch planes take off from rooftop infinity pools and spas. There are 2 infinity pools, East and West. West has the best views of the planes taking off plus a hot tub and jacuzzi seats, so I recommend spending the most time there.

After enjoying the infinity pools, you can try out the 4 rooftop spas: the Event Spa, Milky Spa, Hinoki Spa, and Foot Spa. I loved the Milky Spa; it made my skin feel so soft! I have a love-hate relationship with the painful (in a good way?) Foot Spa.

Once you’re done on the roof, you can head down to the indoor infinity pool on the second floor. Take in the views of the water plaza while splashing around in another infinity pool. If you swim to the end of the pool, you can find some jacuzzi seats.

Finally, explore all the pools on the first floor. There’s a large indoor pool and outdoor pool, along with two water slides! One water slide is for single riders and the other is for doubles. Grab a tube at the bottom before climbing up three flights of stairs to the top.

Be sure to not miss the Cave Spa and the Virtual Spa. These are easy to miss because they have inconspicuous entrances, but they are the coolest pools in the spa! If you can’t spot them, just check one of the maps posted on the walls.

5. Relax in the traditional Korean Jjimjil Spa

Once you’re done in the Aqua Spa, you can go back to the locker room to get changed for the Jjimjil Spa. This is when you’ll wear the traditional Korean spa robe. Change into the robe and head upstairs, where you can relax in rooms of different temperatures and health benefits. My favorites were the Dream Wave Room and the Hinoki Room, both of which had relaxing visuals and music but weren’t too hot.

If you’re hungry, there’s a snack bar in the area. You can indulge like a true Korean by eating Korean spa eggs, a unique type of long-cooked hard-boiled eggs. I also recommend the omija drink, which tastes like iced cranberry or pomegranate juice.

6. Enjoy the hot and cold tubs in the traditional Korean sauna zone

As you’re getting ready to end your time at Paradise City Cimer, you should head to the traditional Korean sauna zone. This is the public bath area, separated by gender and fully nude. If you wear clothes of any kind into the sauna, you’ll get stared at! It’s actually weirder to wear clothes in the sauna than to be naked. It’s so normal for Koreans that it won’t be weird or awkward. Just embrace it!

7. Shower and get ready

Once you’re done in the sauna, hop in one of the many showers to end your day. You can use the provided soaps or bring your own.

Next to the showers is a room where everyone is blow-drying their hair, doing their makeup, and putting on the final touches before leaving. Dyson hair dryers are out for public use. Then, you can head back to your locker and grab your belongings before heading to check-out.

8. Check out, pay, and collect your shoes

On your way out, you’ll be stopped at check-out where they will scan your key. You’ll pay for any extra services you had at the spa, from food to cabanas to extra time. Finally, you’ll collect your shoes and leave your key in the shoe locker.

You’re good to go! How relaxed and refreshed are you after that amazing day? Paradise City Cimer really is paradise, and you’ll leave already planning your next trip back.

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Paradise City Cimer: Your guide to the best spa in Korea