Incheon Airport to Myeongdong: 6 transportation options

Last Updated on October 24, 2024 by Alex

So you have decided Myeongdong is the best place to stay in Seoul and are now looking for the best way to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong.

The area is ideally located in the city’s heart, offers plenty of fun things to do, and is easily reached from the airport by bus, subway, taxi, or private transfer.

Moreover, Myeongdong is heaven for K-beauty lovers. It is within easy reach of Namsan Tower and Park and close to Seoul Station when you plan a longer South Korean itinerary.

Getting around Seoul is not too complicated when you have the proper guidance and become accustomed to the local ways of doing things.

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Getting from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong
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Getting from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong

You will have plenty of options when getting from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong. Choose the one that best suits your schedule, budget, and style.

Here are the main options in a nutshell:

Means of Transportation	Cost	Duration
Subway	4,750 KRW (Transit Card) 4,850 KRW (Ticket)	73 minutes
Bus (number 6015)	15,000 KRW	circa 1h 30 min
Taxi	approx. 80,000 KRW	approximately 1h 30 min
Private Transfer	From 72 USD/ 3 pers	roughly 1h 30 min

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong by Subway

The subway is the fastest and cheapest way to get from Incheon to Myeongdong, but it is also the least comfortable option. While you will only have to change lines once at Seoul Station, it is quite a walk from one line to the other.

Also, the train doesn’t offer much luggage space, and you will be traveling with people who aren’t on a commute.

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong — Click on the map to open it in the subway app

If you choose to travel by train/subway, you will have to choose between 2 options:

AREX is a fast train that only stops at the two terminals at Incheon and Seoul Station. Its ticket prices are slightly higher (9500 KRW for adults and 7500 KRW for children).
The all-stop train makes a few other stops along the way, per the above map and itinerary. This option costs 4750 KRW for the whole trip.

In both cases, you will change the train at Seoul Station and get subway line number 4 to Myeongdong.

AREX Train

If you travel by AREX train, the trip from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station will take 43 to 51 minutes. Subway line number 4 will add another 4 minutes from Seoul Station to Myeongdong subway station.

Book your AREX train ticket here!

As mentioned in the table above, the lead time for the all-stop train is 73 minutes (without changing the time at Seoul Station).

Of course, each option has advantages and disadvantages, and we will leave it to you to choose your preferred choice.

Subway

If you are using the Subway app (download here for iOS | for Android), you can see the whole route by searching for the blue line—Airport Railroad.

Before you go by subway, get your T-Money Card + Data SIM

You will use your T-Money card to get around Seoul (or anywhere else in South Korea) by public transportation so that you will need it throughout your trip.

Seoul City Pass

Another option is to get your Seoul City Pass and forget the hassle of buying tickets.

Apart from one free trip on AREX, you get free admission to many essential attractions in Seoul, and you can rent a bike once and get extra discounts.

The pass can also be used as a T-Money rechargeable card throughout your stay.

Get your Discover Seoul Pass here!

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong by bus

If you would instead take the bus from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong, look for bus number 6015.

From the airport, find the bus stop:

Terminal 1 – on the 1st floor, outside of the arrival hall
Terminal 2 – basement, platform 28

Even though you will have space for your luggage, getting to the city will take longer depending on the traffic.

Also, there are plenty more stops along the way, but the bus’s final destination is Myeongdong.

Tickets for the bus can be purchased inside the arrival hall and cost 15000 KRW.

Operating hours

Bus 6015 operates from 4:20 to 23:10 a day, 7 days a week, with multiple departures per hour.

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong by KAL (Korea Airport Limousine)

The faster bus option, KAL, stops fewer than the “normal” airport bus. However, in terms of price and comfort, both buses are similar.

Look for bus number 6701 because this one stops at Myeongdong Shopping Center.

Operating hours

The bus runs every 20 minutes—the first leaves at 5:25 AM and the last at 23:15.

If your flight arrives after this hour, you won’t have any direct bus to choose from. However, there is a night bus traveling to Seoul Station. From there, you can walk to your hotel or take a taxi for a very short distance.

Read everything about taking the KAL here!

Where to buy the ticket from at the airport

Terminal 1: Indoor ticket counters are located to the right of arrival gate B or the left of arrival gate D, while the outdoor counters are adjacent to exit gates 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 13. You can pay by cash or credit card here.
Terminal 2: Bus ticket office (at ticketing offices indoors on Transportation Center, B1)

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong by taxi

On our first visit to Seoul as tourists, we took a taxi from the airport to Myeongdong.

Inside the Arrival Hall, there are designated desks where you can ask for a taxi. Airport staff will help you. You can choose the car size and how you prefer to pay and tell English-speaking people your final destination.

You must pay at the airport, and a driver will pick you up from the desk and take you to the car.

Another option would be to book a private transfer by international taxi directly online before your trip. The advantage is that you will have all the information you need before you go: booking, pick-up place, car details, etc. Moreover, you will pay online, so you won’t have to worry about that.

Traveling by taxi is more comfortable, especially when you have bulky luggage or don’t want to carry it around.

Also, the car will leave you right in front of your hotel in Myeongdong, so you won’t have to worry about finding your final destination on the map.

Moreover, taxis travel throughout the night, so you won’t have to worry if your flight arrives close to midnight or after this hour.

Taxi Types

There are different taxi types, depending on the size of your group or number of luggage you have with you:

Regular taxi

Deluxe Taxi

Jumbo Taxi

International Taxi – specific for foreigners in Seoul, with drivers that speak English

The expected fare for a ride from Incheon International Airport to Myeongdong is around 80.000 KRW, with an extra 20% charge for night rides.

Extra tip: If you plan on taking the taxi from the airport directly, make sure your hotel name or address is written in Korean. Many drivers won’t speak English or understand the address if it is not in Korean characters.

Incheon to Myeongdong by car

If you want to drive in Korea and prefer renting a car at the airport, you can quickly get to Myeongdong by car.

Ensure you have a navigation system or GPS to guide you to Myeongdong. Rental cars usually have a GPS. However, most of the time, it is set to Korean, so you might want to ask the company to help you change it to English (or any other language you prefer).

Familiarize yourself with the driving rules and traffic conditions in South Korea. Driving in Korea is not difficult, but traffic to and from Incheon can get a bit crazy.

Also, don’t forget to check with your accommodation in Myeongdong about parking facilities. Some hotels may offer parking, while others may recommend nearby parking lots.

Incheon to Myeongdong by private transfer

Why choose a private transfer? I would go for it, especially when I travel in a group of 3 or more and would want to forget about the hustle of transfers, timetables, and everything in between.

You will have someone waiting for you at the airport, no matter the time of day or night. They will have your address, so you won’t have to worry about the taxi driver not understanding where you want to go (trust me, it happened to us more than once).

You can also choose the type of vehicle you want and pay upfront before your trip.

Book your transfer here!

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Other FAQ about getting from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong

What is the difference between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Incheon Airport?

Terminal 1 is the oldest, while Terminal 2 has been extended at Incheon Airport since 2018. Terminal 1 is used mainly by airlines operating within Asia (Asiana Airlines, China Southern, and Korean Air), while in Terminal 2, you will find Air France, Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, KLM, and Korean Air.

Where is the train station in Incheon Airport?

Once you exit arrivals, you should walk towards AREX Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 and take the blue-marked All-Stop Train.

What is the cheapest way to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong?

As you can tell from the comparison at the beginning of the article, the cheapest way to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong is by subway – the all-stop train.

What is the fastest way to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong?

The fastest way is to take the AREX Train and subway, which will take roughly one hour.

What is the most comfortable way to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong?

Booking a private transfer or taxi will always be the most comfortable way of moving from the airport to your destination.

How far is Incheon Airport to Myeongdong?

Myeongdong is 49.3 km away from Incheon Airport.

How to get from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong during the night?

Taxi or private transfer is the only way to get to or from the airport at night. Of course, the night bus to Seoul Station and a taxi or walk to your hotel is also available.

Luggage services

Luggage delivery service: Have your luggage delivered from the airport to your hotel and take the all-stop train. It might be cheaper than taking a taxi.
Luggage storage service