How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: Flights, Trains, & Visa Info

Planning a trip to South Korea and wondering how to visit Seoul? This city is one of the coolest capitals in Asia, and is full of vibrant markets, cute cafes, and the most life-changing beauty treatments.

Whether you’re flying in from abroad, coming from another Korean city, or looking to sail there, there are several easy ways to reach Seoul. 

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to visit Seoul no matter where you're coming from, along with visa details, and other helpful info.

How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: Location & Nearest Airports

Before you learn how to visit Seoul, let's talk about where exactly this city is, and what makes it so special!

 Why Visit Seoul?

Seoul is one of the most exciting capitals in Asia, blending ancient palaces and temples with cutting-edge technology and modern skyscrapers. 

It's the capital of K-beauty, with unique experiences such as the viral scalp treatments, specialty facials, and incredible Korean nails. It also has a fun cafe culture, bustling markets, and epic nightlife, making it a trip city anybody would fall in love with.

Whether you’re traveling for history, food, or nightlife, South Korea's capital has something for everyone. If you’re keen and wondering how to visit Seoul, this guide will walk you through the best ways to get there from abroad, from other Korean cities, and even from neighboring countries.

Where is Seoul Located?

Seoul is located in the northwest part of South Korea, close to the border with North Korea and along the Han River. The city is about 50 km (31 miles) from Incheon International Airport, making it an easy gateway for international travelers. 

Seoul is well connected, making travel to and from the capital smooth and convenient for anyone looking to visit.

How Do I Get to Seoul, South Korea?

By looking at the map, Seoul definitely doesn't seem like the easiest country to visit. Its only land border is with North Korea (which we obviously know is not where you'd be coming from), and it's not centrally located by any means. However, there are plenty of options for getting to Seoul!

Here are the different ways for getting to Seoul:

• Flying to Seoul
• Going on a train to Seoul
• Taking a bus to Seoul
• Sailing to Seoul
• Renting a car and driving to Seoul
• Hiring a driver/guide to visit Seoul

How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: Transportation Options

Ready to learn how to visit Seoul? We're here to help you get there no matter where you're coming from or what your budget is.

How to Visit Seoul from Abroad

For most travelers, the easiest way to visit Seoul is by flying. Seoul has two main airports:

• Incheon International Airport (ICN): The primary international gateway, located about an hour outside the city.
• Gimpo International Airport (GMP): Smaller, closer to downtown Seoul, and mainly used for domestic and short-haul flights to Japan and China.

Direct flights to Seoul are available from major cities worldwide, and some of the world's longest flights operate to Seoul! I've flown on various airlines and from several different cities to and from Seoul, and every time was really seamless. 

Flights are typically comfortable and include luggage (oftentimes 2 pieces! - which isn't surprising when you see the amount of skincare people stock up on). 

Once you land, you can reach central Seoul in a number of ways, which we will be outlining in next week's guide, with complete details.

 Cities that Fly Direct to Seoul, South Korea

Seoul offer direct flights from so many airports around the world! That's why we made it easy, by giving you every city in alphabetic order, separated by region.

Flying to Seoul from Other Asian Cities

Flying to Seoul from another Asian city is really common, and there are plenty of cities throughout Asia both big and small that fly direct to South Korea's capital.

Asian cities that fly direct to Seoul include Addis Ababa, Agartala, Ahmedabad, Almaty, Amritsar, Amman, Bangkok, Beijing, Bengaluru, Busan, Changsha, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Chongqing, Da Nang, Dalian, Dhaka, Denpasar (Bali), Fukuoka, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jakarta, Jeddah, Jinan, Kansai/Osaka, Kathmandu, Kaohsiung, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Lanzhou, Lahore, Macau, Manila, Mecca (seasonal/charter), Mong La, Nagoya, Nanjing, New Delhi, Peshawar, Phnom Penh, Qingdao, Qiqihar, Sapporo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Shizuoka, Singapore, Taipei, Taichung, Tianjin, Ulaanbaatar, Vientiane, Wuhan, Xi’an, Yangon, and Zhengzhou.

Flying to Seoul from Europe

If you're coming from Europe, you'll find plenty of opportunities to go direct to Seoul, and if you're coming from the east of the Americas, then you can also stop in one of these cities to break up your trip.

European cities that fly direct to Seoul include Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lisbon, Ljubljana, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw, Zagreb, and Zurich.

Flying to Seoul from the Americas

I was honestly shocked when I found out how many cities in the US fly direct to Seoul. Even though it's a long flight, having one leg makes it much more accessible than you may have thought!

North American cities that fly direct to Seoul include Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Minneapolis, Montreal, New York, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC.

There are also a few cities in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America that fly direct to Seoul, which include Bogotá, Cancun, Lima, Panama City, and São Paulo.

Flying to Seoul from Other Cities Around the World

Finally, we have cities from the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. Middle Easter cities that go direct to Seoul include Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah and Muscat, and African cities include Accra and Addis Ababa. In Australia you can fly from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and from New Zealand you can fly from Auckland. 

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How to Visit Seoul from Other Korean Cities

Did you arrive to another city South Korea? Well, that's what we did. We flew from Osaka to Jeju, and then had to make our way over to Seoul. So now we're here to share how to visit Seoul from other popular destination in the country.

How to Visit Seoul from Busan

• KTX high-speed train: ₩59,800–65,000, ~2.5–3 hours, departs Busan Station → Seoul Station.
• Mugunghwa train: ₩28,600, 5 1/2-6 hours, departs Busan Station → Seoul Station.
• SRT train: similar to KTX, ~2.5 hours, departs Busan → Suseo Station (Seoul), slightly cheaper.
• Express bus: ₩23,000–40,000, ~4–5 hours, departs Busan Central Bus Terminal → Seoul Express Bus Terminal.
• Flight: ~1 hour (plus transfer time), departs Gimhae Airport (Busan) → Gimpo/Incheon (Seoul).

We'd honestly recommend the train over flying, since it's not worth the hassle, and you'd need to factor in getting there early plus travel time. We took the Mugunghwa train since we had to work and the train was comfortable with Wifi. If you're visiting for a short stay, then it makes sense to opt for the high-speed train.

How to Visit Seoul from Jeju

Since Jeju is an island, the easiest way to reach Seoul is by flight. Dozens of short flights operate daily between Jeju International Airport and both Incheon and Gimpo Airports. The flight takes about 1 hour, and typically costs between ₩30,000 and ₩100,000.

You can also opt to take the ferry to Busan, and then go to Seoul from there, but it takes 13 hours and not that cheap either. This is really only if you're looking for a unique adventure.

How to Visit Seoul from Gyeongju

• KTX high-speed train: ~₩49,000, ₩69,000, ~2 hours, departs Singyeongju Station → Seoul Station.
• Mugunghwa train: cheaper, ~4 hours, less frequent departures.
• Express bus: ~₩30,000, ~3.5–4 hours, departs Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal → Seoul Express Bus Terminal.

The trains in South Korea are honestly the way to go, and you can easily get a ticket at the station, but we'd highly recommend doing it online in advance, since they sell out.

 Driving to Seoul

Having a car in Seoul isn't recommended for first-timers as there is a lot of traffic and limited parking. However, if you're planning on doing a road trip in South Korea, then just make sure to have your IDP. While we both have valid driver's licenses in English, South Korea is super strict about having a physical IDP to rent.

The roads in South Korea are well-maintained, and it's really only chaotic within cities themselves.

One thing you should keep in mind is that Google Maps doesn't work in South Korea, so when you're driving you'll need to download Naver Map for the GPS.

How to Visit Seoul from Neighboring Countries

If you're planning to visit Seoul from Japan or China, then you might want to consider sailing there! There is a ferry terminal in Incheon an hour from the city, and there are both ferries and cruise ships that dock at Incheon.

You can get to downtown Seoul, Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport, and other major areas in Gyeonggi-do within one to two hours by public transportation from the port.

Seoul can also be reached by ferry from nearby countries:

• Japan: Ferries operate between Fukuoka/Osaka and Busan, where you can transfer to a KTX train to Seoul.
• China: Ferries run between Qingdao, Tianjin, and Incheon. Travel times vary between 14–24 hours.

You can also visit Seoul on a cruise, and plenty of major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian dock in Incheon, which is an easy connection to Seoul.

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How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: Entry Requirements

Now that you know how to visit Seoul in terms of transportation options, let's look at the documents you'll need to enter the country.

Visa Requirements

The first time I visited Seoul I was just on a layover, and was determined to step outside and see a bit of the city. At the time, I needed the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization). It's pretty much the same as getting an E-visa, and gives short term visit allowances to tourists.

Back then, the K-ETA was a major pain in the you know what. It also costed me around $70, no matter how short of a visit I had. Now, American don't need the K-ETA, and even Fede who needed one as an Argentinian only had to pay ₩10,000 (~$7 USD).

• Visa-free entry: Citizens from many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and most of Europe, can visit South Korea visa-free for 30–90 days. Canadians can stay for 6 months!

• K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization): Some nationalities need to apply for a K-ETA online before arriving, and this takes around 72 hours, and is valid for 3 years for a period of 30-90 days depending on the country.

• Tourist visas: If you’re not eligible for visa-free entry or K-ETA, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa in advance.

Vaccine Requirements for South Korea

South Korea does not currently require proof of vaccination for entry, so you can enjoy a picture of this grumpy cat instead.

How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: FAQ

Still have questions about how to visit Seoul or South Korea in general? Here are some frequently asked questions we've rounded up and answered so that you can get all of your doubts and concerns taken care of!

How to Visit Seoul, South Korea: Final Thoughts & What's Next

There are various ways to visit Seoul - it's a well-positioned city that connects directly to many other countries across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. It's easy to access from any other large city in South Korea, and visas are straightforward, making it an easy destination to add to your bucket list.

Now that you know how to visit Seoul, here are a few other pieces of information that will make your stay easier to adjust to:

 Getting Around: Walking is the most ideal way to explore within the neighborhoods, and you can easily use the metro, buses, or taxis/rideshares to move from one area to the next.

 Where to Stay: We recommend staying in the historic center of Seoul, as most of the highlights of the city are there, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars around the area.

 Language: Korean is the official language of Seoul, South Korea.

 Currency: South Korea uses the Korean Won. $1 USD = 1,400 Won.

 Safety: Seoul is a very safe city, and the locals are really welcoming!

 Weather: Seoul experiences 4 seasons, with extremely hot and humid summers, and cold, snowy winters.

What's Next?

Now that you've learned how to visit Seoul, South Korea, you probably want to learn more about visiting! Currently we have a guide about the viral Korean scalp treatment along with the other great things to do in Seoul, and also have weekly guides coming up, including:

• First-Time Visitors Guide to Seoul
• South Korea Food Guide
• Fun Things to Do & See in Jeju
• How to Get Around Jeju
• A Guide for Getting to Jeju Island
• Jeju Island Complete Travel Guide
• The Best Things to Do in Busan
• Busan Travel Guide
• How to Get Around South Korea

So are you ready to start planning your trip to Seoul, South Korea? This city has so much to offer, and is definitely a city worth adding to your bucket list.

Want to learn more about visiting Seoul? We a lot of other South Korea Travel Guides coming up for you each week. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with our most recent guides, and to receive special discounts on our shop.

Ready to book your trip to Seoul, but need some guidance? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers special travel planning packages with customized itineraries, unique accommodation options, and personalized activities for each and every type of traveler out there. Simply email us today to learn more!

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