Visiting Busan: Seoul to Busan, Gimhae Airport, immigration, metro and a 3-day plan

A Busan trip covers the main areas in three days and two nights, following the VisitBusan 3-day course. Day one is Haedong Yonggungsa and Songjeong, day two is Haeundae and Gwangalli, and day three is Gamcheon Culture Village and Songdo. From Seoul, KTX takes about 3 hours 20 minutes.

How do you get from Seoul to Busan?

The train is the main option. VisitKorea gives the time for each service in the table below, and the departure stations differ, so check which one is closest to your Seoul hotel. The ride to the station is part of that travel day too, so leave a margin when you plan the first and last day.

How do you get from Gimhae Airport (PUS) to the city?

Take the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail and change at Sasang (Busan Metro Line 2) or Daejeo (Line 3). VisitKorea says Gimhae has non-stop international flights to 46 cities in 14 countries and regions, mainly Japan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, plus domestic flights to Gimpo and Jeju. Check with your airline whether a route from Thailand exists; if not, fly into Incheon and continue by train.

Is immigration at Busan different from Incheon?

Entry rules are the same across the country. The Korean Embassy in Thailand says Thai nationals need approved K-ETA before travel, and the Ministry of Justice e-Arrival Card guide lists K-ETA holders among those who do not need to file the card.

• If you fly into Incheon and continue by train, you clear immigration at Incheon, not at Busan.
• Typical items to carry are a return or onward ticket, accommodation details, a plan for the stay and the means to pay for it.
• Keep these documents on your phone with an offline copy as backup.
• If you enter on K-ETA you skip the e-Arrival Card, but children aged 17 or under and adults aged 65 or over are K-ETA-exempt and must submit it at e-arrivalcard.go.kr.

For K-ETA details, read “What is K-ETA, and what should you prepare before flying to South Korea?”.

Which Busan areas should you stay in, and how many days do you need?

VisitKorea names Haeundae, Gwangalli, Seomyeon, Gamcheon and Centum City as Busan's main areas. Seomyeon is the quickest to reach from the airport at about 30 minutes, while Haeundae and Gwangalli sit on the coast. Two to three days covers the main sights.

With two days, pick days two and three. For the old downtown, VisitBusan has a course that includes BIFF Square, Gukje Market and Yongdusan Park.

How do you get around Busan by metro?

• Busan Metro Line 2 meets the airport light rail at Sasang, while Lines 1 and 3 serve Busan and Bujeon stations.
• T-money is sold at convenience stores nationwide and can be topped up at subway ticket machines.
• Seoul's Climate Card is limited to use within Seoul, so you do not need it for Busan.
• In an emergency call 112 for police or 119 for fire and ambulance. The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline supports Thai.

How does phone data help when travelling in Busan?

Maps and transit in Busan need a connection. Visit Jeju says Google Maps navigation does not work in South Korea, so use KakaoMap or Naver Map, and have data ready when you change trains at Sasang or Daejeo. SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ have roaming centers at Gimhae Airport, and eSIMs are bought online and set up with a QR code.

See eSIM options for South Korea