Looking for the best way to get to Busan from Seoul on public transport?

This guide would help you pick the right mode of transportation between Seoul and Busan that best suits you.

I’ve been researching and reading countless forums, guides and blogs on this topic to prepare for my upcoming 17-days trip to South Korea.

By writing this I hope that I can help those who have the opportunity to travel to Seoul and Busan.

Getting around South Korea is surprisingly convenient and simple, there’s a bewildering choice of transport options. But the choice isn’t easy.

You’ll want to consider how much time you have, your budget and ease of convenience.

So which is the best way to travel from Seoul to Busan for you? Read on…

Here’s some quick tips about getting to and around Busan:

You can travel to Busan by train, bus or plane.
You can use the same T-Money transport card to pay for your subway and city bus fares in Seoul and Busan.
Consider purchasing the Korail Pass to save more money.
If you’re a foreigner traveling to South Korea, grab this special discount on Korail Pass here.

Travel to Busan, South Korea

Situated in the south-east of the Korean Peninsula, Busan is the most famous seaport and the second largest city (after Seoul) in South Korea.

Well-known for its long stretch of white sandy beach, nature reserves, hot springs, festive events and sumptuous fresh seafood, Busan has a little something for everyone.

To inspire your next trip, here’s some of the top-rated attractions in Busan:

Haeundae Beach – a long stretch of beach with city views
Yonggungsa Temple – 14th-century seaside Buddhist temple
Gwangalli Beach
Jagalchi Market – the largest seafood market in Korea!
Taejongdae Resort Park – catch a scenic view here. An elevated market with a seaside observatory
Gamcheon Culture Village – unique village with colourful art and homes
Gwangan Bridge
Oryukdo Island
Busan Tower
And more…

If you’re traveling to South Korea, Busan is definitely one of the popular tourist destinations you should visit.

You’ll need to spend a minimum of 2 days in Busan to fully enjoy and explore everything this city has to offer in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Tip: If, like me, you’re traveling to South Korea during spring, go visit Jinhae Gunhangje Festival.

It’s the no.1 spot to enjoy spectacular cherry blossom festival in South Korea. It takes about ONE hour bus ride from Busan to Jinhae. To explore Jinhae during the day or see the city come to life at night as well, I recommend joining this tour.

Best Ways to Travel from Seoul to Busan

With the reliable and extensive transportation network, it’s pretty easy to travel around on your own in South Korea even if you can’t speak and read Korean!

There are 3 main public transportations that you can take to go to Busan based on your budget, timing and personal preference: bus, train and plane.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

(A)Seoul to Busan Train

Traveling to Busan by train is perhaps the most convenient way. It allows you to have exact plans and move to destinations on time.

Rest assured, there’s no undead zombies onboard on train to Busan.

Whether you’re looking for the fastest or cheapest way to get to Busan, I’ll show you the right train that you should take.

There are 3 types of trains traveling to Busan Station:

KTX-Sancheon: The fastest and most expensive
ITX-Saemaeul: in-between
Mugunghwa: The slowest and cheapest option

1. KTX (Korea Train Express)

The KTX train is the fastest and most comfortable train that will get you to Busan in just 2 hours 35 minutes. A regular train will take about 4-5 hours to get to Busan.

If you’re short on time and would rather spend your time exploring the city, then KTX is the perfect option for you.

With its efficient reservation system, you can get a designated seat, along with a wide range of amenities such as free wifi, power plugs and individual cinema sets (just like on planes).

Want to catch a train early in the morning or late at night? No problem. Running every 10-20 minutes everyday from 5.00am to 11.30pm, you can always take a KTX train that you want.

Average price for one-way KTX ticket (Seoul↔Busan)

First Class (Adult): ₩84,000 ($75 or RM305)
First Class (Child): ₩54,000 ($48 or RM196)
Economy Class (Adult): ₩60,000 ($53 or RM218)
Economy Class (Child): ₩30,000 ($26 or RM109)
Standing/Non-reserved Seat (Adult): ₩57,000 ($51 or RM207)
Standing/Non-reserved Seat (Child): ₩28,000 ($25 or RM101)

Are you ready to travel at a speed of 305 kilometers per hour?

Check your schedule and reserve a seat at the official Korail website.

To save money on KTX train, grab the Korail Pass.

2. ITX-Saemaeul

The ITX-Saemaeul train is a modern train that offers a cheaper option to travel to Busan.

The seats are reasonably spacious and comfortable. Although it’s less equipped than those on the KTX train, you’ll find power outlet available near every seating.

If you don’t mind a long commute and still have an enjoyable train ride at a lower price, then ITX-Saemaeul is best for you.

Traveling at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, it takes about 4hours 40 minutes to reach Busan.

Average price for one-way ITX-Saemaeul ticket (Seoul↔Busan)

Economy (Adult): ₩42,600 ($38 or RM155)
Economy (Child): ₩21,300 ($19 or RM77)
Standing Ticket (Adult): ₩36,200 ($32 or RM132)
Standing Ticket (Child): ₩18,100 ($16 or RM66)

3. Mugunghwa-ho

How to Go to Busan From Seoul via Train, Bus and Flight Unlike the high-speed bullet train KTX and all-electric ITX-Saemaeul, Mugunghwa-ho train is an electric locomotive pulling passenger train. It makes multiple stops along the way.

With that said, it’s built more for standing passengers and local travelers in minds. If you’re traveling during holiday weekends or peak vacation, tickets can sell out very quickly. Probably you’d have to spend your entire journey (5 hours and 26 minutes) standing or sitting on a floor! If you’re taking pieces of luggage with you, this won’t be a good option.

However, it’s very tempting to take this train as it only costs ₩28,600, less than half the cost of a one-way economy KTX ticket!

If you want to get cheap rail fare and don’t mind a slower or less comfortable journey, then Mugunghwa-ho is for you.

Average price for one-way Mugunghwa-ho ticket (Seoul↔Busan)

Economy (Adult): ₩28,600 ($25 or RM104)
Economy (Child): ₩14,300 ($13 or RM52)
Standing Ticket (Adult): ₩24,300 ($22 or RM88)
Standing Ticket (Child): ₩12,100 ($11 or RM44)

(B)Seoul to Busan Flights

If you’re flexible in your travel dates, you’ll have a higher chance of getting a cheap flight ticket to Busan.

Flying from Seoul to Busan can be more comfortable and cheaper if you’re traveling during low season.

You can either book a flight straight to Busan (Gimhae) from Incheon Internation Airport or Gimpo Airport, which takes about 55minutes.

Gimpo to Busan (Gimhae)

If you prefer taking flight to Busan, departing from Gimpo Airport is a better option because (1)it’s located nearer to Seoul city center, (2) flights are likely cheaper than those from Incheon.

Here are few major Korea Domestic Airlines flying to Busan:

Jeju Air
Air Busan
Korean Air
T’Way
Jin Air

In general, Jeju Air offers the cheapest flight tickets to Busan compared to all the other airlines.

Jeju Air: Price range for the Base Fare (regular rates, excludes fuel surchage, taxes and service options):

One-way: ₩23,900-78,000 ($21-70 or RM87-284)
Return: ₩47,800-156,600 ($42-140 or RM174-568)

Use this online comparison search site to find the best flight deals.

(C)Seoul to Busan Express Bus

Express bus is another great way to get to Busan from Seoul, which takes about 4hours 15minutes depends on the traffic.

At present, there are 46 buses that leaving Seoul (Gyeongbu) Express Bus Terminal to Busan (Busan Express Terminal). The schedules are as follow:

Day Bus schedule:

06:00 – 10:00 every 30 minutes
10:00 – 11:00 every 20 minutes
11:00 – 13:00 every 30 minutes
13:00 – 17:00 every 20 minutes
17:00 – 21:30 every 30 minutes

Night Bus schedule: 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30, 00:00, 00:25, 01:00, 01:30, 02:00

As you can see, the express buses traveling to Busan are so frequent, it’s unnecessary to buy a ticket in advance except during holiday periods and on weekends. You can check the schedule here and buy tickets at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal.

Fares vary depending on the types of express bus that you take:

Economy/Regular bus: 45 total seats
Excellent bus: 28 total seats
Premium bus: more spacious with 3 seats per row, and 21 total seats

Average Cost of a One-way Ticket (Seoul↔Busan)

Economy/Regular Bus: ₩23,000-27,600 ($20-24 or RM83-100)
Excellent Bus: ₩34,200-41,000 ($30-36 or RM124-149)
Premium Bus: ₩37,700-45,200 ($33-40 or RM137-164)
Economy (Midnight): ₩25,300 ($22 or RM92)
Excellent (Midnight): ₩37,600 ($33 or RM136)
Premium (Midnight): ₩41,500 ($37 or RM150)

Whether you’re looking to travel at the very last minute, looking for a cheap or comfortable ride, there is a long-distance express bus that you can take.

Seoul to Busan: Which Option Suits You Best?

Option 1: Get a Korail Pass

Korail Pass is a rail pass for foreigners, in which you can get unlimited rides on any train in Korea for a certain period of time.

It’s the most cost-effective and convenient way to explore different cities and discover South Korea.

As of writing now, this rail pass is applicable for the following train ride:

High-speed bullet trains: KTX-I and KTX-Sancheon
Regular trains: ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Cheongchun, Saemaeul, Mugunghwa, Nuriro
Tourist trains: Central Inland Circle Train (O-Train), Baekdudaegan Valley Train (V-train), Jeongseon Arirang Train (A-Train), South Coast Train (S-Train), West Gold Train (G-Train), Peace Train (DMZ-Train)

However, you can’t use it on subways, SRT (Super Rapid Train) or temporary tourist trains.

There are few different types of Korail Pass that you can choose depending on your itinerary, places that you want to explore and budget.

With Korail, you can take the KTX train and get to Busan in just 2hours and 35minutes.