Getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul on the Train

First things first, Seoul's airport airport is not at all close to the city center. It takes a while to go back and forth between the two places. But there is some good news: getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station via train is super easy. A reasonably competent person could be dropped off cold in Incheon and do just fine finding their way to the city center, but this post will explain how to take away some of the uncertainty.

Choose Your Own Speed

The only real decision you need to make is between two types of trains: the all stop train and the express train (AREX). As the name implies, the all stop train makes several stops (about 10) between Seoul Station, at the heart of the city, and the airport. The express train makes no stops.

The express train will save you about 15 minutes, taking 45 minutes while the all stops train takes about an hour.

The express train is also more expensive, costing about 9,500 wan to the all stop train’s 4,150 - 4,750 (2025 prices).

A final point of difference between the two trains is that the express train has reserved seating while the all stop train is first come, first sat. An hour can be a long to time stand up, trying your utmost to keep your bags from sliding away from you each time the train comes to a halt. Or turns. Or does anything.

The downside of assigned seating is that the express trains can sell out if you want to ride during a peak time. If you want to make sure you are on the express train, visit the official AREX website (https://www.arex.or.kr/main.do) and reserve your tickets online. If you are already in Seoul and want a ticket for the trip back to the airport, you can also buy tickets in advance at the ticket booth at the station.

Final/Only Stop: Seoul Station

Both trains terminate at Seoul Station, which sits at the heart of Seoul. At Seoul Station, you can catch the 1, and 4 metro lines for transport on Seoul’s extensive (and much easier to navigate than it first appears) metro lines. You can also catch inter-city train lines, like the KTX and ITX-Saemael. Basically, you can get just about anywhere in South Korea from Seoul Station.

There are plenty of taxis waiting on the street at Seoul Station to take you wherever it is you wish to go. You can also call an Uber (or other ride share app car) to the station.

Something to beware of: the kiosks that sell metro tickets and the all stop train only took cash when we visited in summer of 2025, with only the Express Train machines taking our card.

Signs at the airport guide you to the trains.

Finding and Boarding Your Train

How do you find the trains at the airport? Easy, just follow the signs. Assuming you arrive from outside of South Korea, you will clear immigration and customs first. Head to the baggage claim area (whether you have checked bags or not). From there you can just follow the signs for the "airport railroad." The express and all stop trains leave from a similar area, so just keep following signs and you will get there.

You buy your ticket at an automated kiosk that can complete transactions in a variety of languages, including English.

Express train ticket kiosk

If you take the express train, you will be asked what departure time train you wish to take. Pick the next available train, and remember that the express train is only about 15 minutes faster than the all stops train. Don’t wait an hour for the next express. Just hop on an all stops with the masses.

For either type of train, you can buy tickets for multiple people in one transaction. For the express train, the machine will assign you seats as close together as possible. You ticket will be clearly marked with the car and seat number, and signs on the platform will tell you where to enter an arriving train near your assigned seats.

Express trains have an area for luggage right inside the doors (with space for smaller bags above your seat. The all stops train has no special area for luggage. Tuck it under your feet as best you can.

Happy Trails!

And that is about all there is to it. Even though the airport is quite far from the city, it is easy to get from the Incheon to Seoul Sation and then on to anywhere in Seoul, or further abroad in South Korea. So have fun!

At Seouls Station, signs painted on the floor guide you to the metro is you are arriving, or back to the airport trains if you are leaving