How to Get from Incheon Airport to Seoul | Cheapest Way Using Regular Train

When preparing for a trip to Korea, the first thing you worry about is how to get from Incheon International Airport to downtown Seoul.
There are various options such as buses, taxis, and express trains, but today I’ll introduce the cheapest and most reasonable method,
which is using the Airport Railroad All-Stop Train (A’REX All-Stop Train).

🚆 Main Transportation Options from Incheon Airport to Seoul

• Airport Limousine Bus → Comfortable but somewhat expensive
• Taxi → Most convenient but expensive (especially during late night hours)
• Airport Railroad (A’REX) → Reasonable fare and fast travel

TIP:
If you want to save money, choose the Airport Railroad All-Stop Train,
If you want comfort, choose the Limousine Bus,
If you want fast and door-to-door service, choose a taxi!

Among these, the best value for money is definitely the Airport Railroad All-Stop Train.
As long as you can tolerate a little inconvenience!

💰 Fare and Travel Time

• All-Stop Train

  • Fare: 4,450 won (about 450 yen / about $3)
  • Travel Time: About 1 hour
  • Operating Interval: 15~20 minutes

• Express Train

  • Fare: 17,700 won
  • Travel Time: About 43 minutes
  • Advantages: All reserved seats, comfortable seated travel

If you need to get to downtown Seoul quickly, the Express Train is fine,
but if you want to save money, the All-Stop Train is much more advantageous.

Route Check

First, we need to know the route we want to take, right? Most of you probably use Google Maps.

Naver Map

However, Naver Map has much more data and is more accurate in Korea, so please use Naver Map when traveling in Korea. When you use Naver Map to set your desired destination, it will show you the optimal route, travel time, and price information as shown below.

Naver Map screen showing route search from Incheon Airport → Yangcheonhyanggyo Station

The image above shows a Naver Map screen searching for a route from ‘Incheon Airport’ to ‘Yangcheonhyanggyo Station’ (my home).
When you enter the departure and destination, you can see optimal public transportation routes, travel time, fare, and transfer information at a glance.

TIP:
Naver Map supports various languages including English, Japanese, and Chinese,
so you can easily use it even if you’re not familiar with Korean!

By using Naver Map, you can easily and accurately find public transportation routes not only from Incheon Airport to downtown Seoul,
but anywhere in Korea, so please make sure to use it.

Now let’s follow this route and go from Incheon Airport to Yangcheonhyanggyo Station. Here I used Yangcheonhyanggyo as an example, but you can go anywhere like Seoul Station, Myeongdong Station, etc.

Getting to the Airport Railroad at Incheon Airport

Incheon Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Hall

The photo above shows Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Hall.
After getting off the plane, completing immigration and collecting your luggage, you’ll come out to this arrival hall.

‘Airport Railroad’ Icon Visible Inside Airport

From here, just follow the ‘Airport Railroad’ signs.
The airport interior has good signage in various languages including English, Chinese, and Japanese,
so first-time visitors can easily find their way.

TIP:
Keep following the ‘Airport Railroad’ or ‘공항철도(A’REX)’ signs.
It takes about 10~15 minutes on foot.

Airport Railroad Express Train and All-Stop Train Boarding Guide

When heading to take the Airport Railroad from Incheon Airport,
you’ll come to a section where the Express Train and All-Stop Train boarding areas are separated.

• Express Train:

  • Goes directly to Seoul Station without stopping at intermediate stations
  • All reserved seats
  • Expensive but comfortable and fast
  • Mainly used by tourists and business passengers

• All-Stop Train:

  • Stops at all stations
  • Free seating (you can sit or stand)
  • Cheap fare and can transfer to major Seoul subway stations
  • Recommended for locals, long-term travelers, and those who want to save money

TIP:
Choose the train that suits your destination, budget, and convenience!
Most travelers will find the All-Stop Train sufficient.

We’re taking the All-Stop Train today. Follow the blue signs to the All-Stop Train and you’ll find the ticket office.

🎫 How to Buy Tickets

Airport Railroad All-Stop Train Ticket Machine

To use the Airport Railroad All-Stop Train,
if you have a transportation card like T-money or WOWPASS, you can pass through the gate directly.

If you don’t have a transportation card,
you can purchase a single-use ticket from an automatic ticket machine like the one in the photo.

1. You can select languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese on the screen
2. Select destination station (e.g., Seoul Station)
3. Enter number of passengers
4. Pay with cash or card
5. You’ll receive a ticket and a card with a 500 won deposit included

TIP:
After arriving at your destination, insert the ticket into the deposit refund machine next to the gate
to get your 500 won deposit back.

Transportation cards can be easily purchased at convenience stores, transportation card vending machines, etc. in the airport,
so if you plan to stay long-term or use public transportation multiple times, it’s convenient to prepare one in advance.

Getting on the Train

Incheon Airport Airport Railroad All-Stop Train Platform

After tagging your transportation card and passing through the gate to take the All-Stop Train,
follow the blue guide line and you’ll arrive at the platform.

Incheon Airport Airport Railroad Platform 1, 2 Guide

Please use Platform 2 for trains heading to Seoul.

• Trains run at approximately 10~15 minute intervals,
  and you can check the next train arrival time on the display board.
• Don’t worry even if you have a lot of luggage!
  There are large luggage storage spaces at the front and back of each car.
• When the train arrives, board after the doors are fully open.
  (It’s polite to let passengers getting off exit first before boarding.)

TIP:
The train interior also provides announcements in English, Chinese, and Japanese,
so you can use it without worry even if you don’t know Korean.

Now let’s board the train and head to Seoul!

🚉 Useful Information When Boarding

• Trains heading to Seoul depart from Platform 2
• Luggage storage space in the car → Convenient for travelers
• Seats are free seating → You may need to stand during rush hours
• Most of the time you can sit, and you can check current location and stations on the screen inside the car

Transfer

Gimpo Airport Station Line 9 Transfer Guide

When you arrive at Gimpo Airport Station as shown by Naver Map, follow the Line 9 (gold line) transfer signs.
Korean subways usually distinguish lines by color. Follow the gold color of Line 9 and wait for the next train.

Line 9 is a route that quickly connects major Seoul areas such as Gangseo-gu, Yeouido, Gangnam, and Jamsil.

🚇 Transfer Summary at a Glance

• When transferring: You need to tag your transportation card again at the gate, so make sure to do so.
• Line 9: There are express/regular trains, so check carefully according to your destination and board.
• Route map/Guide: Line 9 route maps and transfer guides are well displayed in Korean/English throughout the station.
• Free transfer: Most Seoul subways allow free transfers.
• Subway ↔ Bus Transfer: If you use transportation cards like T-money or WOWPASS, you can also transfer between subways and buses.
• Prepare transportation card: If you plan to use public transportation frequently in Korea, make sure to prepare a transportation card.

If you remember the above points when transferring, you can conveniently use Seoul subways and buses!

Arriving at Destination

Arriving at Yangcheonhyanggyo Station

Finally, we’ve arrived at our destination, Yangcheonhyanggyo Station. When getting off, tag the card you used when boarding at the gate and exit.

Subway Deposit Refund Machine

In this video, I explained using a subway ticket. Since this ticket has a 500 won deposit that can be refunded, you can return the card to a machine like the one above and get a 500 won cash refund. WOWPASS or T-money cards don’t require this process, so they’re much more convenient.

🛫 Conclusion

There are various ways to get from Incheon Airport to downtown Seoul,
but the cheapest and most reasonable choice is the Airport Railroad All-Stop Train.

Even first-time visitors to Korea can use it without difficulty,
so please refer to this guide and have a wonderful trip 🇰🇷✨