How Do I Get To Gimpo Airport?

Gimpo Airport sits 16.2 km west of central Seoul at 37.5580° N, 126.7905° E. It's South Korea’s second-busiest airport, handling 28.2 million passengers in 2025 according to the Korea Airports Corporation.

Gimpo International Airport is in Gyeonggi Province, sandwiched between Seoul to the east and Incheon to the west. You'll find it within a 30-minute train ride of Seoul Station and a 40-minute drive from Incheon International Airport. As Seoul's original international gateway, it still handles most domestic flights plus regional routes to Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.

You've got four main ways to get there: subway, limousine bus, taxi, or private car.

Expect about 22 minutes on the AREX All Stop train. It covers the 16 km distance and costs between ₩1,900 and ₩3,400 depending on the time of day.

The limousine bus takes roughly 45 minutes to reach Gimpo Airport. It covers the same 16 km distance as the subway but costs ₩7,000 flat.

Plan on spending ₩25,000 to ₩35,000 for a taxi ride. The 16 km trip typically takes 25 minutes, though traffic can stretch that closer to 35-40 minutes during rush hour.

Hands down, the subway wins for speed. At just 22 minutes door-to-door from Seoul Station, it's nearly twice as fast as the next quickest option (taxi at 25 minutes).

Gimpo has two terminals (Domestic & International), two parallel runways (3,200 m and 2,800 m), and operates on KST (UTC+9).

The airport is officially called "Seoul Gimpo International Airport" but everyone just says "Gimpo." It kept the Gimpo name from its railway-era designation even after becoming a major civilian airport post-Korean War. The "Seoul" prefix was added later to reflect its importance to the capital.

It opened way back in 1936 as a Japanese military airfield. After the Korean War, it switched to civilian use and served as Seoul's main international airport until Incheon took over in 2001. The surrounding Gyeongui Line railway has since been turned into a recreational trail connecting Gimpo's cargo district to Mapo-gu in Seoul.

The Gyeongui Line, originally a railway, is now a scenic trail. It runs from Gimpo's cargo district all the way to Mapo-gu in Seoul. Honestly, this is the best-kept secret for a quick nature break before or after your flight.

Give yourself 3-4 hours before departure for international flights. Domestic flights only need 2 hours. During peak hours, expect immigration to take 40-60 minutes—sometimes longer if you hit a big tour group.

Take the AREX All Stop train—it's 5 stops, 33 minutes, and ₩3,550. The inter-airport limousine bus works too (60 minutes, ₩10,000) but honestly, the train is faster and cheaper.

All subway lines (5 & 9) and most regional buses stop right at Gimpo Airport Station. Terminal 1 is just 300 meters away, while Terminal 2 is 500 meters. The walk is short but there are moving walkways to help with luggage.

You'll find free Wi-Fi, two 24-hour food courts, currency exchange desks (open 06:00-22:00), and a 24-hour convenience store in each terminal. There's also a business center, smoking rooms, and plenty of charging stations scattered throughout.

Seoul's taxis are completely safe and metered. The base fare starts at ₩3,800 and increases by ₩100 every 142 meters. Ride-hailing apps like KakaoTaxi and Tada are widely used and usually cheaper than hailing a cab on the street.