Seoul Airports

Seoul’s primary and largest airport is Incheon International Airport. It serves as a hub for over 80 local and international airlines – British Airways, Emirates, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Thai Airways, and Polar Air Cargo.

Incheon International Airport hosts various cultural performances and classical concerts at Terminal 1 and 2. You can also visit the Korea Traditional Culture Experience Center – learn how to make Korean crafts, wear a hanbok (traditional clothing), and enjoy traditional Korean music. There are 2 observatories on site, where you can enjoy views of planes on the airport runway.

The airport also has award-wining duty free shopping malls and diverse dining options, including a food court, Korean restaurants, cafes, and fast-food outlets. For the convenience of travelers on transit flights in Seoul, there are hotels situated around Incheon International Airport that offer complementary shuttle bus services.

Incheon International Airport is about 48 km west of Seoul, with Airport Railroad Express (A’REX), airport limousine buses, and taxis available year-round.

A'REX is Seoul’s airport railway line, connecting Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport to downtown Seoul. Express trains can take you from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station within 45 minutes. Tickets cost around 9,000 won for adults and 7,000 won for children.

Airport limousine buses run from Incheon International Airport to most parts of Seoul, with tickets prices between 14,000 won to 15,000 won for a deluxe limousine bus and 9,000 won to 10,000 won for a standard limousine bus.

Taxis are convenient for those who aren’t comfortable with riding the subway or bus. A downside is the cost. 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, and passengers are required to pay the Incheon Bridge tollgate fee, which is an extra 8,000 won.

Gimpo International Airport served as the main Seoul airport for international and local airlines until 2001. It has 2 runways, 2 passenger terminals, and 1 cargo terminal within its grounds. Facilities available here include currency exchange counters, a pharmacy, tourist information center, duty-free shops, restaurants, and taxi counters. 

Following the opening of Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport was converted into a largely domestic airport. If you’re planning to visit Busan, Jeju Island, and Daegu from Seoul, Gimpo Airport carries most of South Korea’s domestic flight traffic. 

Gimpo International Airport also offers international flights to Tokyo (All Nippon Airways), Osaka (Japan Airlines), Nagoya (Jeju Air), Beijing (China Southern Airlines and Air China), Shanghai (China Eastern Airlines), and Taipei (Eastar Jet and EVA Air).

The easiest way to get to downtown Seoul from Gimpo International Airport is by taking the all-stop train. It travels on the Airport Railroad Express (A’REX) and takes about 20 minutes to reach Seoul Station from Gimpo International Airport.

You can also opt for airport limousine buses (tickets start from 2,500 won), intercity buses (6,500 won), as well as luxury and regular taxi services (between 20,000 won and 40,000 won).