TL;DR
The simplest way into Seoul is the AREX airport train. The express train runs non stop to Seoul Station in about 40 minutes for 9,500 won, and the all-stop train takes just under an hour for 4,150 to 4,750 won and stops at Gimpo Airport, Hongik University and Gongdeok on the way. Take a limousine bus when your hotel is nowhere near a train station, a late night bus after the trains stop, and a taxi when you have a group or a lot of luggage.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026 What is a Beep Check?
Rail strike notice: AREX says its union plans a warning strike on 13 November 2026. Express trains are expected to run normally, but All-Stop trains drop from 369 to 263 on the weekday. Rush hours stay close to normal. This is a plan announced in advance, so recheck arex.or.kr before you travel.
Sunbae Says: Decide before you reach the arrivals hall. Look up the nearest AREX station or bus stop to your hotel, screenshot it, and walk straight to the right signs instead of wandering with a suitcase and a half charged phone.
You land after a long flight, the signs are in two languages, and every option looks plausible. This page is the shortcut: what each option costs, how long it takes, and which one fits where you are sleeping.
The Four Options At A Glance
Fares and times below come from Visit Seoul and the airport’s own bus pages, which carry no date. Prices move, so confirm the fare on the machine or the operator’s site before you pay.
| Option | Typical time | Fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AREX express train | About 40 minutes to Seoul Station | 9,500 won | Seoul Station and anywhere an easy subway ride from it |
| AREX all-stop train | Just under 60 minutes to Seoul Station | 4,150 to 4,750 won | Hongdae, Gongdeok, Digital Media City, Gimpo Airport transfers, the cheapest option |
| Limousine bus | About 60 to 80 minutes | Roughly 15,000 to 17,000 won on main routes | Hotels with a bus stop outside, lots of luggage, no transfers |
| Taxi | About 60 to 100 minutes | Metered, plus a toll | Groups of three or four, late arrivals, heavy bags |
The AREX Train
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is the train most first timers should start with. It runs from both terminals, so check which terminal your flight uses before you go down to the platforms.
Express. Non stop between the airport and Seoul Station. Visit Seoul says it departs every 20 to 40 minutes, takes about 40 minutes and costs 9,500 won each way.
All stop. Stops at every station. Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to Seoul Station. The fare is 4,150 to 4,750 won depending on where you get off. Useful stops for visitors include Gimpo International Airport (subway Lines 5 and 9), Digital Media City, Hongik University (subway Line 2), Gongdeok (Lines 5 and 6) and Seoul Station.
Heads Up: Tourist transit passes cover the all-stop train, not the express. Check the card you plan to buy in our guide to which transit card you need before you decide.
Trains do not run all night. Confirm the last departure for your terminal on the station board or the operator’s site, especially if your flight lands near midnight.
The Limousine Bus
Airport limousine buses run from the airport to big hotels and neighbourhoods across Seoul. Visit Seoul lists them at roughly 60 to 80 minutes depending on traffic and destination.
The Airport Limousine company lists these Seoul routes among others:
- 6001: Dongdaemun, Myeong-dong, Seoul Station, Sinyongsan.
- 6002: Cheongnyangni, Dongdaemun, Jongno, Hongdae.
- 6005: City Hall.
- 6007: Yeouido.
- 6015: Myeong-dong, Chungjeong-ro, Gongdeok, Mapo.
For the 6015, the company lists an adult fare of 17,000 won and a child fare (ages 6 to 12) of 12,000 won, with first and last buses at 4:24 and 19:40 and a note that times shift with traffic and weather. Other routes have their own fares, so check the operator before you buy a ticket.
The airport’s own bus search page is the best place to find the stop nearest your hotel.
The Late Night Buses
After the trains stop, the N buses fill the gap. From Terminal 1, the airport lists these Seoul routes:
- N6000 to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal, via Songjeong Station and Yeomchang Station, about 70 minutes. Adult fare 17,000 won. First departure 00:10, last 04:20.
- N6002 to Hongdae, Four Seasons Hotel, Dongdaemun and Cheongnyangni, with Hongdae about 45 minutes out. Adult fare 17,000 won.
- N6701 to Mapo Station, Seoul Station, Euljiro Entrance and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, with Seoul Station about 60 minutes out. Adult fare 18,000 won. You can also buy it in the Tmoney GO app.
- N6703 to Seorae Village, COEX, Jamsil Lotte World and Gwangnaru. Adult fare 18,000 won.
Terminal 1 first departures start around 23:40 and the last ones run from about 04:20 to 04:50, depending on the route. At Terminal 1, stop 3B serves the N6701 and N6703, and stop 6A serves the N6000 and N6002. Staff tickets and discount tickets are not accepted.
From Terminal 2, the same routes leave from the B1 level of the Transportation Center and take about 20 minutes longer, because the buses stop at Terminal 1 first. The airport lists the N6701 at stop 18, the N6703 at stop 19 and the N6002 at stop 24. First departures run from about 23:20 to 23:50, and the last ones from about 04:00 to 04:30.
The Taxi
A taxi is the most expensive option but the only door to door one. The meter runs, and an airport expressway toll is added on top. Visit Seoul publishes old estimates (dated 2013, so treat them as a floor, not a quote) that run from about 40,000 won to Yeongdeungpo to well over 50,000 won to Myeong-dong, with travel times of 60 to 100 minutes. Split between three or four people, a taxi can cost about the same per head as the limousine bus.
For how taxis work once you are in the city, including which app takes a foreign card, read our Seoul taxi guide.
Which One Should You Take?
- Sleeping near Hongdae, Gongdeok or Digital Media City: the AREX all-stop train, direct.
- Sleeping near Seoul Station or Myeong-dong: AREX express to Seoul Station, or the 6001 or 6015 bus if the stop is near your hotel.
- Sleeping in Gangnam or Jamsil: a bus, since the trains need a transfer. At night that means the N6000 for Gangnam or the N6703 for COEX and Jamsil.
- Landing at midnight or later: one of the N buses, or a taxi.
- Three or four of you with big bags: a taxi.
- On the tightest budget: the all-stop train, then a short subway ride.
Before You Leave The Airport
Land with data and a way to pay. Our guide to Korea SIM and eSIM options covers the airport counters, and the apps guide lists what to install before you fly. If you have not filed your arrival paperwork yet, start with the e-Arrival Card guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The AREX Express Worth The Extra Money?
If you are going to Seoul Station or can easily reach it from your hotel, yes: it is about 20 minutes faster than the all-stop train. If you are going to Hongdae or Gongdeok, the all-stop train is cheaper and has no transfer.
How Long Does It Take To Get From Incheon Airport To Central Seoul?
Plan for 40 minutes on the express train, just under an hour on the all-stop train, and 60 to 80 minutes by limousine bus. Allow more for a taxi in rush hour.
Can I Use A Transit Pass On The Airport Train?
Tourist passes cover the all-stop train, not the express. See the transit card guide for which card suits your trip.
What Do I Do If I Land After The Trains Stop?
Take a late night N bus or a taxi. The N buses leave from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 from about 23:20 until the early morning.
Next Stop
- Which Transit Card You Need: choose before you buy anything at the station.
- Seoul Taxi Guide: how to get a taxi that takes your card.
- Korea Travel Apps: the five apps to install before you land.
Resources
- Incheon Airport bus search: routes and stops by destination.
- Incheon Airport late night buses, Terminal 1: N bus routes, fares and times.
- Airport Limousine, 02-2664-9898: the N6000 and N6002 operator.
- Korea Travel Hotline 1330 (+82-2-1330 from abroad): English help 24 hours a day.
How I Checked This
On 2 Nov 2026 I checked the AREX figures against Visit Seoul, the limousine routes and the 6015 fare against Airport Limousine’s English page, and the late night bus routes, fares, stops and times against Incheon Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 pages. Still unconfirmed: current AREX fares and last train times, today’s fares on the limousine routes other than the 6015, and current taxi fares from the airport. Check the machine or the operator before you pay.
Sources
- Visit Seoul: Getting to Seoul
- Airport Limousine: routes, 6015 fare and times
- Incheon Airport: Seoul late night buses, Terminal 1
- Incheon Airport: Seoul late night buses, Terminal 2
- Incheon Airport: bus search
Written by your sunbae. Over 20 years in Korea. We learned the lessons the hard way, so you don’t have to, and we’re here to guide you and help you enjoy Korea. Every fact here is checked against official sources and, wherever possible, on the ground.
Beep Check: verified 2 Nov 2026. Rules, prices and dates change; confirm with the official source before you travel.