(This post contains affiliate links, for more information read this privacy policy)
After spending a couple of days in Seoul, it might be time to travel to South Korea’s second-biggest city: Busan. Busan is located in the South of the country, by the sea, and even though it is a massive city it’s the perfect combination of city life, beaches, and nature.
There are plenty of fun activities to do in Busan, from visiting the beautiful Gamcheon culture village to visiting a Lotte Giants baseball game (always my highlight in Busan). So you should definitely make sure to not miss out on visiting Busan.
And luckily there are plenty of different ways to travel from Seoul to Busan. It is also pretty straight forward and doesn’t take that much time to travel between the two cities. So, in this blog, I want to cover all the best ways to travel from Seoul to Busan!
📱Looking for mobile data in South Korea? Instead of buying a Korean SIM Card, just get an E-Sim instead. Saves you time, and it’s so much more convenient.
Especially if you are visiting other countries in Asia as well, this E-Sim gives you mobile coverage in 18 different countries.
Option 1: Travel from Seoul to Busan by bus
- Duration: 4 hours
- Cost: From US$18.34
- Departs from: Seoul Express Bus Terminal
- Arrives at: Busan Central Bus Terminal
- Book your bus from Seoul to Busan.
Travelling between Seoul and Busan by bus is my preferred option, because it is not just the cheapest option, but also buses in South Korea are super comfortable! It takes around 4 hours to travel between the two cities. The buses are direct, and it only stops for a quick bathroom break along the way.
The buses take you to the main bus station in Busan, which is a bit further out. So you might have to account for some extra travel time, depending on in which area you are staying in Busan. However, there is a metro stop right next to the bus station, so it is very convenient to travel from the bus stop to any area in Busan.
Throughout the day, the buses going from Seoul to Busan depart roughly every 30 minutes. There are also bus connections going at night. But keep in mind that the buses at night go less frequently.
The long-distance buses can book out, so make sure to book your seat a bit in advance! Especially if you are travelling during a holiday.
Option 2: Travel from Seoul to Busan by train
- Duration: Around 2 hours and 45 minutes
- Cost: Around US$41.19
- Departs from: Seoul Station
- Arrives at: Busan Station
- Book your train from Seoul to Busan.
Taking the KTX high speed train is the quickest option to travel between Seoul and Busan. Flying of course would be a bit faster, but that is only if you don’t take into account travel time to the airport and the time at the airport itself.
The high-speed trains leave from Seoul Station and take you all the way to Busan Station in around two and a half hours. These are a very comfortable way to travel between the two cities.
KTX trains to Busan leave around 2–3 times an hour. The earliest train departs at 5:13, and the latest departs at 22:28.
Book your KTX train ticket here in advance!
Planning your South Korea trip? Check out my guide to spending one week in South Korea, or follow my 10-day South Korea itinerary if you have a little more time.
Option 3: Travel from Seoul to Busan by plane
- Duration: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Cost: From around US$48
- Departs from: Incheon Airport
- Arrives at: Gimhae International Airport
- You can use Skyscanner to check out which Airlines are flying between Seoul and Busan
You can fly between Seoul and Busan, but I wouldn’t recommend it. By the time you get to the airport and clear security, you could already be in Busan. And depending on when you book, it is probably also more expensive in the end.
Option 4: Travel from Seoul to Busan by car
Duration: Around 4–5 hours
And lastly, of course, you can also travel between Seoul and Busan by car. This takes about 4–5 hours. If you have a car anyway or are renting one for the entire trip, that’s an option too. But it’s definitely not necessary to rent a car just for this trip, as both the KTX trains and long-distance buses are very comfortable travel options.
But of course, if you want to make stops along the way, travelling from Seoul to Busan by car gives you that flexibility. You can also split up the trip and stop in another city for a couple of days, such as Gyeongju.
And if you are travelling with a group, a car can also be cheaper than the train.
Wondering what to do in Busan? Then check out the best activities in Busan!
🚡 Book your ticket for the Busan Sky capsule well in advance, because it does book out quickly!
🇰🇷 Check out the ‘Visit Busan Pass‘ which includes many of Busan’s top attractions!
🌉 If you want to see a lot in a short amount of time, check out this Busan city tour.
🏞️ Check out this day trip to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom. I highly recommend this tour!
And these are the best ways to travel from Seoul to Busan. I would always opt for the bus or the train, but it also depends a little on where you have to go in Busan and whether you are on a budget. I also suggest booking either the bus or the train at least a couple of days in advance so you can make sure you have a seat.
Let me know if you have any questions
Talk to you later,
Pin this post for later
