From Incheon Airport to Seoul
From Incheon Airport to downtown Seoul
There are several different ways to travel from Incheon International Airport to downtown Seoul. The most popular ways include taking the Airport Railroad Express (AREX), Seoul Metropolitan Subway, airport limousine buses, and taxis.
The fastest way to get downtown is by the Express Train on the AREX Line. The nonstop ride from Incheon International Airport Station to Seoul Station is just 43 minutes. Seoul Station is a huge transportation hub providing convenient access to different areas of Seoul and beyond. A similar way to access Seoul from Incheon International Airport, though not as fast and direct as the Express or All Stop Train on the AREX Line, is the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which services Seoul and the surrounding areas.
The airport limousine buses are a cost-effective way to go from Incheon International Airport to almost all parts of Seoul including Gangnam, Myeong-dong and Yeouido. Equipped with comfortable reclining seats and spacious leg room, these buses are especially popular among passengers getting off of a long flight. It takes a bit more than an hour from the airport to downtown Seoul, traffic permitting.
Finally, taxis are convenient as they provide door-to-door service, which is useful for visitors who are not comfortable with riding the subways or the buses. A downside is the cost. Taxis are as expensive as they are convenient, and passengers must pay the Incheon Bridge tollgate fee (8,000 won
for small-sized cars). Still, as most taxis are now equipped with a portable GPS navigation device, passengers can reach their destination easily and safely.
For more transportation information, please visit Incheon International Airport's official website!
1. Airport Railroad Express (AREX)
Image courtesy: Airport Railroad
Co. Ltd,. www.arex.or.kr
The Airport Railroad Express (AREX) operates two trains: the Express Train from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station and the All Stop Train that services 11 subway stations.
To take the AREX trains from Incheon International Airport, follow the yellow signs down to the Airport Transportation Center on the B1 level. Free electric cart services for passengers with heavy bags, senior citizens, and passengers with disabilities are stationed between the Airport Transportation Center and the passenger terminal. Service hours for the electric carts run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
AREX Map
Image courtesy: Airport Railroad
Co. Ltd,. http://www.arex.or.kr
Service Hours (as of April, 2015)
| Express Train | All Stop Train | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incheon Airport → Seoul Station | Seoul Station → Incheon Airport |
Incheon Airport →Seoul Station |
Seoul Station → Incheon Airport | |
| First train | 05:20 | 06:00 | 05:23 | 05:20 |
| Last train | 21:40 | 22:10 | 23:42 23:57 (final destination Digital Media City Station) |
23:38 23:49 / 24:00 (final destination Geomam Station) |
| * Trains operate in 25-40 min intervals | * Trains operate in approx. 10 min intervals | |||
Travel Time
All Stop train: Incheon International Airport → Seoul Station (about 56 minutes)
Express train: Incheon International Airport → Seoul Station (43 minutes)
Fare
Incheon International Airport → Seoul Station
- Express Train: Adults 14,800 won
(The fare adjusted at a special rate: Adults 8,000 won
and Children 6,900 won until December 31, 2015)
- All Stop Train: Adults 4,250 won / Youth 3,040 won / Children 1,900 won
* Fares are based on single-use transportation cards. An additional 500 won deposit is charged for the card that can be reimbursed upon returning the card via a card return machine located inside subway stations.
AREX Lines: Express Train vs. All Stop Train
- Express Train
Image courtesy: Airport Railroad Co. Ltd,. www.arex.or.kr- The Express Train travels non-stop from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station.
To take this train, passengers must use an Express Train Pass. No additional deposit is charged for the pass. A discounted price of 6,900 won is available for customers who present flight tickets (valid for 7 days before and after the given boarding date) from Jeju Air, Korean Air, and Asiana Airlines or purchase both the Express Train Pass and a KTX ticket together at the Train Information Center on Level 1 of Incheon International Airport. For those taking a Korail train (KTX Train, Mugunghwa Train, Saemaeul Train, Nuriro Train, ITX Cheongchun Train), or purchasing KR Pass from Seoul Station, Yongsan Station and/or Cheongnyangni Station that departs on the same day, present your ticket when purchasing your Express Train Pass for a discounted price of 6,900 won for individuals and 6,000 won per ticket for groups of 4 or more.
Since the Express Train Pass does not offer any transfer discounts, passengers who wish to transfer to a metropolitan area subway or bus must purchase an appropriate transportation card.
* Where to purchase an Express Train Pass: 45 Booth on Level 1 of Incheon International Airport, AREX Travel Center, Express Train Passenger Information Center located inside the Transportation Information Center on the B1 level of Incheon International Airport.
* Cash and credit are accepted 
Transportation Information Center on the B1 level of Incheon International Airport/ Travel Center- Facility Information
- Luggage storage space available
- Restroom available
- WiFi via Korean telecom companies
- Station information is announced in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese
- Lotte Duty Free Store discount coupons -
How to purchase Express Train tickets
1. Express Train ticket
vending machine
2. Adults/ Children
-Number of tickets needed
-Language service
(English, Japanese, Chinese)
3. Check departure time
and fare
4. Insert cash
5. Receive ticket
6. Board the Express Train
- All Stop Train
Image courtesy: Airport Railroad Co. Ltd,. www.arex.or.kr- The All Stop Train makes stops at all 11 subway stations from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. Six of the subway stations except Incheon Int'l Airport Cargo Terminal, Cheongna Int'l City, Unseo, and Geomam stations allow transfers to other metropolitan area subway lines.
To take this train, passengers must use a single-use transportation card or a T-Money card. Foreign nationals may also use M-Pass, a prepaid transportation card offering 20 rides per day. Also, passengers transferring from an All Stop Train to a metropolitan area subway or bus may receive a transfer discount.
* Where to purchase All Stop Train Passes:
- Single-use transportation cards: Airport Transportation Center on the B1 level of Incheon International Airport
- T-money cards: Convenience stores inside Incheon International Airport
- M-Pass: Seoul Tourist Information Centers in front of Gates 5 and 10 on Level 1 of Incheon International Airport
** Only cash is accepted
☞ T-money & M-pass Information
☞ Subway Information - Train Information
- No restrooms
- WiFi via Korean telecom companies
- Wheelchair space available
- Station information is announced in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese -
How to purchase a transportation card for the All Stop Train
1. All Stop Train ticket
vending machine
2. Language service
(English, Japanese, Chinese)
3. Destination station selection
4. Adults/Children
selection and
number of tickets needed
5. Insert cash
6. Receive ticket
7. Scan the ticket
8. Board the All Stop Train
How to use the Express Train and All Stop Train at Incheon International Airport
1. Follow the arrival area's airport
railroad signs
2. Go to Incheon Airport Station
3. Express Train boarding area
4. All Stop Train boarding area
5. Scan your ticket
6. Picture of the Express Train
7. Picture of the All Stop Train
How to enter and exit the Express Train stations
Upon entry: Place your card on the
card reader.
Upon exiting: If you have an Express
Train Pass, place it into the slot in the gate (see photo above).
2. Airport Bus
Image courtesy: Incheon
International Airport www.arex.or.kr
Airport buses run from Incheon International Airport to most parts of Seoul. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket booths just outside the passenger terminal (arrival area) on the 1st floor. Detailed inquiries on bus routes and bus stops can be made at the Airport Information Desk, conveniently located on the 1st floor. Night buses (24:00–03:50) are also available.
How to use the Airport Bus
Check your bus route at either of the Airport Information Desks between Gates 3 and 4 or Gates 11 and 12 on the arrival floor (1F), or the Airport Bus ticket booth. Buy your ticket at one of the ticket booths. Your ticket will list the bus stop location. Go to the bus stop and check the bus route and departure time. When on the bus, make sure to listen to the English recording so you don't miss your stop.
Airport Bus Ticket Booth
The ticket booth for the Airport Bus is located next to Gates 4 and 9 inside the arrival floor (1F) and outside next to Gates 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 9C.
Bus Types
There are two types of airport buses: deluxe and standard. Deluxe buses are KAL limousines and other bus companies that operate non-stop or shortened routes to major hotels and destinations. These buses make fewer stops (shorter travel time) and have comfortable seats with more space. Standard buses tend be more crowded with smaller space and make more stops.
Bus Fare (from Incheon Airport)
- Deluxe Limousine Bus:
To Gimpo International Airport: Around 7,500 won
To downtown Seoul: 14,000-16,000 won
- Standard Limousine Bus:
To Gimpo International Airport & Songjeong Station: Around 5,000 won
To downtown Seoul: 9,000-10,000 won
Bus Numbers & Schedules
Click on the link below, enter your destination, and press "Search." Under the search bar you will see a short list of bus numbers, bus stops, and more. Click on the gray "Detail" button of your preferred route for information on the first bus, last bus, fares, and other important information.
Airport Bus Numbers and Detailed Information
How to read an Airport Limousine Bus ticket
- 1. Destination: Printed in Korean and located on top (e.g. If the destination is Lotte Hotel Seoul near Myeong-dong, the name of destination on the ticket will be written in Korean.)
- 2. Bus Fare: Korean won
- 3. Bus Platform(s): The number indicates the gate number, and the letter indicates left (A) or right (B) side. (e.g. "04B" = Bus platform is located to the right of Gate 4)
- 4. Bus platform numbers are clearly marked.
How to read an Airport Limousine Bus platform sign
- 1. Departure schedule: 24-hour system (e.g. "15: 00, 20, 40" = Bus departs at 3:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 3:40 p.m.)
- 2. Bus platform
- 3. Bus line (e.g. the bus will be headed for City Hall.)
- 4. Bus route: The stops the bus will make (Korean, English)
3. Taxi
If you find it difficult to take the AREX Line or the Airport Limousine Bus, or simply do not know the exact location or directions to your destination, you might want to take a taxi. Exit the airport through any gate between Gates 4 and 8 of the passenger terminal (arrival area), cross the street, and go to the taxi stands (4D-8C). It is not unusual to be approached by a taxi driver inside the passenger terminal, but we suggest ignoring them and follow the standard protocol.
In Korea, there are three types of taxis: regular, deluxe, and jumbo. Regular and deluxe taxis can take as many as four passengers at a time, while jumbo taxis have a capacity of up to nine passengers. The base fare for a regular taxi is 3,000 won (for the first 2km) while the base fare for deluxe and jumbo taxis are 5,000 won (for the first 3km). Please also note that regular taxis charge an extra 20% of the base fare after midnight (24:00-4:00), while no such additional fare is applied for deluxe and jumbo taxis.
Though it costs more to use a deluxe taxi, they are more spacious and comfortable and provide higher quality service to the passenger. To become a deluxe taxi driver, the
driver is required to have had no accidents driving a regular taxi for a decade. Also, they must take a specific service training course to be fully qualified as a deluxe taxi chauffeur.
Depending on your destination, the fare for a standard taxi from Incheon International Airport to downtown Seoul can be anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 won. Also, the 8,000 won (small-sized car) toll for the Incheon International Airport Expressway is the responsibility of the passenger, not the driver. If by chance a driver tries to take advantage of you by demanding an inflated fare, take a picture of the license plate or driver's ID (usually displayed on the dashboard) and report the incident to the Seoul Global Center (+82-2-731-6800~1), which offers services in English, Japanese, Chinese, Tagalog, Mongolian, Vietnamese and Russian. You can also report your complaint to the Dasan Call Center which offers services in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese (+82-2-120).
*When calling within Korea, the +82 international calling code does not need to be dialed. In addition, the regional dialing code is excluded upon calling from the
same province.
For more information on airport taxis, click here!
※ Differences between Call Vans and Jumbo Taxis
Tip!
AREX Express Train passengers from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport can check-in, go through the immigration procedure and send luggage in advance. This allows passengers to quickly arrive at their departure terminal of the Incheon Airport Passengers Terminal.
- Seoul Station City Airport Terminal Immigration Service
- Eligibility: Incheon Airport International flight passengers (limited to AREX Express Train passengers)
Service Details:
1) Check-in
* Check-in service is closed three hours before departure time
** Only applies to Korean Air, Jeju Air, and Asiana Air flights. (Does not apply to joint flights or chartered planes.)
2) Immigration: Requires passport and flight tickets (can be enrolled in auto-immigration system)
Service hours: 08:00–19:00
3) Sending Luggage: Service hours: 05:20 – 19:00
※ Notice: This service is only available for AREX Express Train passengers
* This column was last updated in July 2015, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details from the official websites before visiting.
<Last updated on July 15, 2015>
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