Seoul is South Korea's capital, a dense city of palaces, markets and neighbourhoods linked by one of the world's larger subway networks. International flights from the US usually land at Incheon, about 48 km west of the centre, while Gimpo handles mainly domestic and short regional routes and sits much closer in. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold.
Checking today’s fares with the airlines.
30 miles (48 km) from the city centre. 74.1 million passengers in 2025
| How | Route | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | AREX express non-stop train to Seoul Station | about 43m | 9,500 KRW |
| Train | AREX all-stop train to Seoul Station | about 1h | 4,250 KRW |
9 miles (15 km) from the city centre. 23.4 million passengers in 2023
| How | Route |
|---|---|
| Metro | Seoul Subway Lines 5 and 9 and the AREX line (which continues to Seoul Station) serve the airport |
US citizens need a valid passport but no visa for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days; a K-ETA becomes mandatory from 1 January 2027.
US passport holders are currently exempt from the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) through 31 December 2026, and must have one before travelling from 1 January 2027. Your passport must be valid on arrival, and you need a visa for work, teaching English or stays over 90 days.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with average highs of roughly 64 to 79 °F. July and August are hot at 84 to 86 °F highs, and January lows average about 22 °F.
Busiest: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Quieter shoulder season: Mar, Nov.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F (2°C) | 22°F (-6°C) |
| Feb | 41°F (5°C) | 26°F (-3°C) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 35°F (2°C) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 46°F (8°C) |
| May | 74°F (23°C) | 56°F (13°C) |
| Jun | 82°F (28°C) | 66°F (19°C) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 72°F (22°C) |
| Aug | 86°F (30°C) | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 64°F (18°C) |
| Oct | 68°F (20°C) | 51°F (11°C) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 38°F (3°C) |
| Dec | 40°F (4°C) | 26°F (-3°C) |
Seoul is served by Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP). Incheon International Airport handled about 74.1 million passengers in 2025.
US citizens need a valid passport but no visa for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days; a K-ETA becomes mandatory from 1 January 2027. US passport holders are currently exempt from the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) through 31 December 2026, and must have one before travelling from 1 January 2027. Your passport must be valid on arrival, and you need a visa for work, teaching English or stays over 90 days.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with average highs of roughly 64 to 79 °F. July and August are hot at 84 to 86 °F highs, and January lows average about 22 °F.
AREX express non-stop train to Seoul Station, about 43 minutes, 9,500 KRW. Other options include arex all-stop train to seoul station.
Among the cities we cover, Atlanta (about 0m), Boston (about 0m), Chicago (about 0m), Dallas (about 0m), Detroit (about 0m), Los Angeles (about 0m), Minneapolis–Saint Paul (about 0m), New York (about 0m), San Francisco (about 0m), Seattle (about 0m) and Washington, D.C. (about 0m) have nonstop service to Seoul as of October 2026.
Seoul uses the South Korean won (KRW).
Information checked in October 2026. Schedules, fares and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline or the official source before you travel.