Travel guide

Getting to Busan — From Gimhae, Incheon & Gimpo Airports, by KTX or Ferry (2026)

Airport rail, limousine buses, KTX from Seoul, ferries from Japan, and getting around once you arrive

By Busan.net editors · Published Oct 25, 2026

Most visitors reach Busan through Gimhae International Airport, by KTX high-speed train from Seoul, or by ferry from Japan. From Gimhae, the light rail reaches Sasang Station in about 9 minutes, and airport limousine buses run to Seomyeon and Haeundae. From Seoul Station, the KTX takes about two and a half hours to Busan Station. This guide compares the options and explains transport cards and map apps.

Traveler with a suitcase walking through a bright train station concourse — Illustrative image — arriving at a train station in Korea. Not an actual photo of Busan Station.

At a glance

Arriving at	Best way into the city	Time
Gimhae Airport (Busan)	Light rail to Sasang → Metro Line 2, or limousine bus	Sasang about 9 min · Seomyeon by bus about 50 min
Incheon Airport (Seoul)	AREX to Seoul Station → KTX to Busan Station, or a domestic connection to Gimhae	KTX about 2 h 30 min from Seoul Station
Gimpo Airport (Seoul)	Domestic flight to Gimhae, or subway to Seoul Station → KTX	Flight about 1 hour
Ferry from Japan	Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, near Busan Station	Short taxi or walk to Busan Station

From Gimhae International Airport

Gimhae is Busan's airport, on the western edge of the city. It handles domestic flights and many flights from Japan, China and Southeast Asia.

Light rail (cheapest and fastest to the metro)

Elevated light-rail train passing near an airport — Illustrative image — an airport light-rail line. Not an actual photo of the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail.

The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail (BGL) stops at the airport. Ride it to Sasang (about 9 minutes) and change to Metro Line 2, which runs east to Seomyeon, Gwangan (Gwangalli Beach) and Haeundae. You can also change at Daejeo for Line 3. With a transport card, the transfer to the metro is discounted within 30 minutes.

Airport limousine buses

Limousine 1 — Haeundae · Gijang: adult 9,500 won. The route via Haeundae to Jangsan takes about 90 minutes end to end; buses run roughly every 20–60 minutes.
Limousine 2 — Seomyeon · Bujeon: adult 6,000 won, about 50 minutes, every 60–80 minutes.

Buses are handy with big luggage, but they are less frequent than the rail and the last buses leave the airport in the evening (Busan City, January 2026). Taxis wait outside arrivals.

From Incheon Airport (Seoul)

Many long-haul flights land at Incheon, near Seoul. You have two main choices:

Rail: take the AREX airport railway to Seoul Station, then the KTX high-speed train to Busan Station (about 2 hours 30 minutes; standard class roughly 60,000 won one way). Book on the official Korail English website or app; seats sell out on weekends and holidays.
Fly on: some airlines sell connecting domestic flights from Incheon to Gimhae, so your bags can be checked through. Compare total travel time — with transfers it may not be faster than the train.

Allow time for immigration, baggage and the AREX ride (about an hour to Seoul Station) before your KTX.

From Gimpo Airport (Seoul)

Gimpo is mainly Seoul's domestic airport (plus some short flights to Japan, China and Taiwan). Flights from Gimpo to Gimhae take about an hour and run frequently. Alternatively, take the subway to Seoul Station and catch the KTX.

By ferry from Japan

Passenger ferry arriving at a harbor terminal — Illustrative image — a ferry arriving in a harbor city. Not an actual photo of Busan Port.

Ferries connect Busan with Japanese ports such as Fukuoka, Osaka, Shimonoseki and Tsushima, arriving at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, close to Busan Station. Routes, operators and timetables change, so check with the ferry company before planning. Note that JR Kyushu's Queen Beetle high-speed ferry between Fukuoka and Busan has ended service — JR Kyushu announced the permanent end of the route in December 2024.

From Busan Station to the beaches and Nampo

Nampo · Jagalchi Market · BIFF Square: Metro Line 1 south, two stops to Nampo.
Seomyeon: Metro Line 1 north to Seomyeon.
Gwangalli Beach: Line 1 to Seomyeon, change to Line 2 east and get off at Gwangan or Geumnyeonsan.
Haeundae Beach: Line 1 to Seomyeon, Line 2 east to Haeundae.

Busan's metro is clean, cheap and signposted in English. Line 2 is the one most visitors use — it links Sasang (airport rail), Seomyeon, Gwangalli and Haeundae.

Transport cards, apps and tips

Transport card: buy a T-money or Cashbee card at a convenience store and top it up there — top-ups are usually cash only. It works on the metro, buses, the airport light rail and many taxis.
Maps: Google Maps gives limited directions in Korea. Naver Map and Kakao Map have English menus and accurate transit directions.
Taxis: hail on the street or use the Kakao T app. Have your destination in Korean (a hotel card or a map pin) to show the driver.
KTX tickets: book on the official Korail English website or app. Some foreign visitors use the Korail Pass; compare it with regular fares for your trip.
Big festival days: on Busan Fireworks Festival day (November 7, 2026) Gwangalli is extremely busy and roads close from the morning. See our fireworks guide.

FAQ

How do I get from Gimhae Airport to Haeundae?

Take the light rail to Sasang (about 9 minutes) and Metro Line 2 east to Haeundae, or take Airport Limousine 1 (adult 9,500 won). Taxis also wait outside arrivals.

How long is the KTX from Seoul to Busan?

About 2 hours 30 minutes from Seoul Station to Busan Station. Standard class is roughly 60,000 won one way. Book on the official Korail website or app.

Can I use a credit card on Busan's subway?

The easiest option is a T-money or Cashbee transport card from a convenience store. Top-ups are usually cash only, so keep some won with you.

Is the Queen Beetle ferry from Fukuoka still running?

No. JR Kyushu announced in December 2024 that the Queen Beetle service would end permanently. Other ferries still connect Busan with Japanese ports — check current operators and timetables.