How to Get to Busan from Seoul and Gyeongju?

Your first time visiting Busan? Then, you are in for a hell of a ride. While Seoul is the most coveted South Korean destination, Busan’s coastal charm, scenic beauty, and mouthwatering seafood are some of the few things that make it a one-of-a-kind destination. It is also an ARMY pilgrimage, as it is also the hometown of BTS’s Jimin and Jungkook. And, let’s not forget the town’s fame as the City of Film, a moniker given for hosting the annual Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious film events. Reaching there is super easy; you just need to go through this How to Get to Busan IVK guide. I will list the most convenient, cheapest, and luxurious ways to get to this coastal city.

Also Read:

• Haeundae Sky Capsule Guide: Beach Train, Operating Hours, & Booking
• Songdo Marine Cable Car: Price, Opening Hours, & How To Get There
• BIFF Square in Busan: The Ultimate Guide
• 16 Cafes to Visit in Busan at Least Once

🤔 How Long Does It Take To Get From Seoul To Busan?

The second most populous and the second most popular destination after Seoul, Busan is closer to the capital than you think. With only 325 kilometers of distance between the two cities, reaching there won’t take you more than a few hours. Depending on the route, it can be estimated to take around:

• Flight from Seoul to Busan: 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes
• Train Ride from Seoul to Busan: 2.5 hours on high-speed train
• Bus Ride from Seoul to Busan: 4 hours
• Car Ride from Seoul to Busan: 4.5 hours

* Note: This is only a rough estimation, which is subject to change based on route, pace, and other unforeseen circumstances.

💭 How To Get To Busan From Seoul?

✈️ Getting to Busan from Seoul by flight – Fastest

The fastest way to get to Busan from Seoul is by plane. It only takes an hour or an hour and ten minutes to reach the City of Film. You can catch direct flights from Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport to Gimhae International Airport in Busan. Book your plane tickets online or off-site; multiple airlines, such as Korean Air, Air Busan, Jeju Air, Jin Air, EASTAR JET, and T’Way Air, offer direct flights. If you are a foreigner, arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before departure.

🛫 Things To Consider Before Booking A Flight:

• Number of direct flights per week from Seoul to Busan: 85 flights per week, according to Trip.com
• Best Departure Airport from Seoul: Gimpo International Airport
• Seoul to Busan Flight Cost: One-Way: ₩32,000 to ₩79,000 ($21.38 – $52.77); Round-trip: ₩70,000+ ($46.76+)
• Best Airline to fly from Seoul to Busan: Korean Air is the most popular, offering a nonstop flight.
• Airlines offering the Cheapest Flights: Air Busan, Jin Air, & Jeju Air
• How to find the Cheapest Flight: Platforms like Skyscanner and Aviasales help visitors discover the most affordable flight deals. Simply input your location, desired destination, dates, and the type of seat. Then, the websites will do the rest.

🚄 Getting from Seoul to Busan by KTX – Most Convenient

The best way to get to Busan from Seoul is the KTX (Korea Train Express). This high-speed train cuts an otherwise long route into a journey of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Part of the KORAIL, the KTX train operates at a speed of 305 km/hr. It offers two seats: the First class with 3 seats per row and the Economy class featuring 4 seats per row. Compared to flights, KTX is budget-friendly, with ticket prices starting from $39. With only 71 departures per day, getting a KTX ticket may be challenging. So, we recommend that you book them at least a few weeks in advance before embarking on your Busan trip.

💸 KTX Train Ticket Prices:

• First Class: Starting from $28
• Economy Class: Starting from $39

🤑 Save Money With A KORAIL Pass

Foreigners traveling to Busan should get a KORAIL Pass. It provides unlimited access to all types of high-speed trains of KORAIL’s rail network. You will even get discounts or free entry to over 40 attractions in Busan, hotels, restaurants, duty-free shops, and activities. Choose from the Consecutive (save on individual ticket prices), Select (flexibility to choose travel days), or Saver Pass (ideal for group travelers). Check out the prices for KORAIL Passes below:

• 2-Day Select Pass: ₩131,000 ($87.51)
• 3-Day Select Pass: ₩186,000 ($124.25)
• 4-Day Select Pass: ₩234,000 ($156.31)
• 5-Day Select Pass: ₩275,000 ($183.7)

✨ For a detailed guide, click here 👉 All About Korean Trains (KORAIL) & KTX & KORAIL Pass

🚌 Getting to Busan from Seoul by Bus – Cheapest

If you are strapped for cash, we recommend taking a bus from Seoul to Busan. This is the cheapest option compared to taking the KTX train and flight. Another vouching point for buses is that they are super comfortable; passengers even have the option to elevate their seats to premium and excellent. Buses are also direct, only stopping for short bathroom breaks along the way. Their only downfall is that they are slow compared to KTX trains. A bus ride to Busan from Seoul will take four hours, double that of the KTX.

🚍 Key Information:

• Departure Station: Seoul Express Bus Terminal
• Arrival Station: Busan Central Bus Terminal
• Duration: 4 hours
• Departure Time: Every 20 to 30 minutes
• Most Popular Bus Type: Night buses that travel overnight and arrive in Busan the following morning
• Price Range: $26.39 ~ $34.29 on Klook
• Online Booking: Via Klook or the KOBUS app

🚗 By Car Or Private Tours – Hassle-Free

If you prefer driving, rent a car and head to Busan. Driving has its own perks, with the first being getting to decide your own pace. You can also take the route of your preferences; though we highly recommend following the one from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Busan Central Bus Terminal.

If you value comfort and convenience above everything, we recommend booking a private Busan tour. This tour covers the city highlights as well as typically includes a round-trip transportation. You can also book a combo Busan and Gyeongju tour from Busan. Discover the best available options on IVisitKorea.

🚅 How To Get To Busan From Myeongdong?

If you are traveling from Myeongdong, first you need to go to Seoul Station. Subway is the best, which only takes around 3 minutes. You only need to catch a train from Myeongdong Station and then get off at Seoul Station. Taking a taxi is another option, which won’t cost more than 10,000 Won ($6.68). For a budget-friendly approach, walk from Myeongdong to Seoul Station using Naver Maps.

In a nutshell, here’s how you can get to Busan from Myeongdong:

• Take Seoul Metro Line 4 from Myeongdong Station to Seoul Station.
• From the Seoul Station, take the KTX train to Busan.
• Other options are the same as the above; take a bus (cheapest), drive a car (more convenient), or book a private Busan tour (for a hassle-free trip).
• If you want to fly, take the Seoul Metro Line 5 or 9 from Myeongdong to Gimpo Airport Station. Then, catch your flight to Busan.

Also Read:

• Things to Do in Myeongdong: Shopping and Food
• Incheon Airport To Myeongdong by Train, Bus, Taxi, Car
• 20 Best Restaurants and Cafes in Myeongdong, Seoul

🚆 How To Get to Busan From Gyeongju?

I have seen many inquiries like whether Gyeongju is doable as a day trip from Busan and vice versa. And, the answer is a huge yes! After exploring Gyeongju’s historic temples and museums, if you want to check out Busan’s coastal charm, you can simply hop aboard the KTX train or ride a bus. They are the two most recommended ways to get around between these two cities:

By KTX Train:

• Take the KTX Train from the Gyeongju Station to the Busan Station.
• 19 KTX train departs daily from Gyeongju to Busan.
• The earliest departure is from 07:15, and the last trip is around 23:11.
• The trip only takes 28 minutes, and the fares start from $19 for the Economy and $23 for the First Class Seat.

By Bus:

• Take a direct bus from the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal to the Busan Central Bus Terminal.
• TxBus departs every 30 minutes and takes about 50 minutes to reach Busan. The fare is estimated between $5 and $9.
• You can buy tickets on-site or online via Kobus and Bustago.

Another option is taking a taxi from Gyeongju to Busan. It is more expensive with fares falling between $70 and $85. You can also rent a car and drive yourself.

📲 Travel Apps To Download In Busan

Busan Transport App

• Download From: App Store

Your trip to the City of Film becomes easier with the Busan Transport App. This is a must-have app in Busan for everything transport-related, including route maps, passes, fares, timetables, real-time information queries, and attraction information. It provides information on metro, light rail, bus, and ferry transportation. You can also set the language to English, Chinese, and Japanese. Download the maps in advance for offline use.

KorailTalk 코레일톡

• Download From: Google Play, App Store
• Social Media: Official Website

If you choose to ride the KTX train to reach Busan, we recommend you download the KorailTalk. This is a go-to app for reserving tickets for all Korail trains, including the KTX, Mugunghwa, ITX- Saemaeul, and ITX-Choengchun. You can select seats, reserve tickets, get ticket confirmation, purchase commuter passes, and get real-time train schedules. And, for those wondering, KorailTalk also accepts credit cards; you can reserve KTX train tickets for Busan from 20 minutes before departure up to one month in advance.

Kakao Taxi

• Download From: Google Play, App Store

After reaching Busan, use Kakao Taxi to get around. The best taxi app in Korea, this ride-hailing app is super easy to use. Similar to Uber, you only need to input your current location, destination, and request the ride. You will also see the estimated fare beforehand, so there won’t be any unexpected surprises. You can also track your driver beforehand and after getting in the taxi.

Naver Maps

• Download From: Google Play, App Store

Did you know Google Maps doesn’t work in Korea? The best alternative is Naver Maps, which helps you find the best route to your destination. Similar to Google Maps, you can search for locations and get accurate navigation. If you decide to take a bus, subway, or train, Naver Maps also offers real-time departure and arrival times and traffic info. The key features include Discover, Booking, Transit, Navigation, and Bookmark. ✨ Another alternative is KakaoMap; download on Google Play or App Store~

Papago

• Download From: Google Play, App Store
• Social Media: Official Website

Compared to Seoul, English is not widely spoken in Busan. Locals in non-touristy areas rarely use English, so you must download translation apps like Papago. It will be a lifesaver for non-Korean speakers who want to communicate or translate. You can use Papago to translate text, image, or voice in real time. And the best part? It even offers offline translation.

🌟 For more app-related info click here 👉 18 Best Apps for Korea Travel: Easy & Convenient

✨ Korea Trip Planner – The Ultimate Busan Itinerary Creating Tool

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Now that we’ve covered getting to Busan, it’s time to plan activities. IVisitKorea is your go-to stop for finding the best tours and activities. Our goal is to help travelers find the right activity based on their preferences and travel type. From Seoul‘s royal palaces to Busan‘s mouthwatering seafood and Jeju‘s stunning natural beauty, IVK is where you will find tours and guides tailored to your interests.

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Korea Trip Planner (KTP) is IVK’s latest addition, which builds a personalized itinerary based on your travel dates, interests, budget, and pace. Unlike other itinerary-creating tools, KTP focuses on high-quality data to generate itineraries, where the users participate from the get-go. Another thing that makes KTP stand out is that it offers personalized recommendations, not generic ones. Before you travel to Busan, take a few minutes to try Korea Trip Planner on IVisitKorea. It’s totally free~

Feeling confused about where to start? Check out our featured itineraries where we have Busan trip plans for the cherry blossom season, for foodies, for nature lovers, and for first-timers. If you are traveling to Busan to attend BTS’s upcoming concert of the Arirang World Tour, check out this BTS Itinerary tailored for BTS fans. Do give KTP a try 😉

🌟 Also read our analysis on AI travel planners here 👉 How AI Travel Planners Can Ruin Your Trip: Common Mistakes To Look Out For~

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