GMP
Gimpo International
Inside Seoul, about 30 minutes from downtown. It handles domestic flights and short hops to Tokyo Haneda, Osaka, Shanghai and Taipei.
AIRPORT
Getting through the airport
From landing at the wrong terminal to arriving at 2am — the parts of a Korean airport that actually trip people up
TERMINALS
Which terminal is my flight?
Incheon has two terminals 15 minutes apart. Get it wrong and you are on a shuttle bus
Pick your airline and we will tell you the terminal.
T2제2여객터미널 (T2)
Korean Air and Asiana groups (Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul) plus SkyTeam carriers such as Delta, Air France and KLM
T1제1여객터미널 (T1)
Almost everyone else — the remaining Korean low-cost carriers plus Star Alliance and oneworld airlines
If you went to the wrong one A free shuttle runs between the terminals: exit 8 on level 3 at T1, exits 4–5 on level 3 at T2. It takes 15–20 minutes. If you have under an hour, call your airline first.
Airlines do move between terminals. The terminal printed on your e-ticket is always the final word.
Airports other than Incheon
PUS
Gimhae International (Busan)
If Busan is your destination, flying here directly beats landing at Incheon. About 40 minutes to Seomyeon by light rail and subway.
CJU
Jeju International
Twenty minutes to Jeju City by bus. Domestic flights are frequent enough that same-day seats are often available.
ARRIVAL
From the gate to the exit
What to do beforehand so you can skip the queues
- 1
K-ETA (travel authorization)
Visa-free visitors normally need a K-ETA before departure, but 22 countries — including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and Germany — are temporarily exempt through 31 December 2026. Even if you are exempt, applying anyway lets you skip the paper arrival card.
Official K-ETA site - 2
Arrival card
If you hold a K-ETA you do not fill one in. Otherwise you write your Korean address and phone number on the card handed out in flight — screenshot your booking before you land.
- 3
Customs
Nothing to declare means you simply walk out — no form. If you do have something, fill it in beforehand in the Korea Customs app and show the QR code. The duty-free allowance is USD 800, two bottles of alcohol (2L, under USD 400) and 200 cigarettes.
- 4
Automated immigration (SES)
If you visit Korea often, registering once lets you use the automated gates afterwards. Registered residents and long-stay visa holders can sign up at a desk near arrivals in a few minutes.
- 5
How long the queue takes
At peak evening times immigration can take 30–60 minutes. Factor that in when planning a connection.
INTO THE CITY
Airport to downtown
The right answer changes with your luggage, your group size and the hour
AREX Express Train
11,000 KRW43 min to Seoul Station (51 from T2)
Every seat is reserved, and it runs non-stop to Seoul Station. Signing up on the official site knocks 500 won off, and travel platforms often sell it for 8,000–9,000 won.
Best when When you have luggage and want a guaranteed seat
AREX officialAREX Commuter Train
4,450 KRW from T1, 5,050 from T2About 1 hour to Seoul Station
Just tap your transit card and board. It stops at Hongik Univ. and Gongdeok among others, so it is often faster if you are not staying near Seoul Station — but you may have to stand.
Best when The cheapest option, and no ticket to buy
Airport Limousine Bus
16,000 – 18,000 KRW40 min – 1 hr 20 min, traffic depending
Your suitcase goes underneath and you sit the whole way. Routes differ completely in where they stop, so search your hotel in Naver Map first to find the right number. Buy at the counter on the arrivals floor or from the driver.
Best when When a route stops near your hotel — no transfers at all
Taxi
60,000–90,000 KRW to central Seoul, more at nightAbout an hour
Meter fare plus expressway tolls, with a night surcharge between midnight and 4am. Queue at the official taxi stand and ignore anyone soliciting inside the terminal. Using the Kakao T app avoids any fare dispute.
Best when Groups of three or four, or a late-night arrival
Night Bus (N6000 / N6001)
About 23,000 KRWAbout 1 hr 20 min
The train and most limousines stop around 11pm; after that it is the night bus or a taxi. Plenty of people simply wait for the first train — the terminals have 24-hour cafes and capsule hotels.
Best when Arrivals after 11pm, when the train and day buses have stopped
As of August 2026
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Before you walk out
What is worth doing here — and what costs you more if you do
Pick up your SIM or eSIM
Carrier booths line the arrivals hall. Booking online in advance is much cheaper and the queue is shorter. On a recent phone an eSIM is easiest — it is live the moment you land.
Many services (delivery apps, some bookings) need a Korean number, so a plan that gives you one can be worth it over data-only.
Buy a transit card
Buy a T-money card at any convenience store, or use a WOWPASS kiosk to get a card and exchange money in one go. If you are staying inside Seoul, a short-term Climate Card is cheaper.
Change only what you need here
Airport counters give the worst rate. Change just enough for the first day and use a city exchange booth or a WOWPASS kiosk for the rest. Cards work almost everywhere here, so you need less cash than you think.
Send your bags ahead
Delivery services will take your suitcase from the airport to a Seoul hotel. Useful when you land early and want to sightsee before check-in. Both terminals also have luggage lockers.
DEPARTURE
On the way home
How to reach the airport with no luggage, and how to get your tax back
Check in at Seoul Station
At the Seoul Station City Airport Terminal you can check in, drop your bags and clear immigration before taking the AREX express train. It reopened in August 2026 after a renovation — the point is to reach the airport with no luggage and use the dedicated lane. Check which airlines it handles and the cut-off time first.
City terminal infoTax refund
Purchases over 30,000 won at one shop qualify. Immediate in-store refunds are simplest; otherwise keep the receipts and use the self-service kiosks at the airport. Items may need customs inspection before check-in, so do it before you drop your bags.
Leave early — genuinely
Security queues at Incheon get very long on peak mornings. Three hours before an international flight is the baseline, and more during holidays. The airport website shows live congestion.
Incheon Airport