Gimpo Airport to Seoul (2026): AREX, Line 9, Line 5 or Taxi

Last checked: October 21, 2026 · Sources: Korea Airports Corporation (Gimpo), AREX, Seoul Metro, Seoul Metro Line 9 and the Seoul city government — pages linked below.

The quickest way from Gimpo Airport to central Seoul is the AREX all-stop train: about 23 minutes to Seoul Station for 1,750 won by card, and about 15 minutes to Hongdae for 1,650 won. For Gangnam, take a Line 9 express train toward Sinnonhyeon instead. A taxi to Myeongdong costs from about 20,000 won before traffic and tolls.

Gimpo is inside Seoul, so every train from the airport station is an ordinary city subway ride. You tap in with T-money or a Climate Card, and there’s no airport express to book.

Which train or taxi gets you where?

Times below are what we counted from each operator’s own timetable, not door-to-door. Taxi figures are the airport’s published estimates, which it calls the minimum cost with no congestion.

Going to	Train from Gimpo Airport station	Time by train	Card fare	Taxi estimate (standard)
Seoul Station	AREX all-stop, toward Seoul Station	22–23 min	1,750 won	City Hall: 22,000 won, about 60 min
Hongdae (Hongik Univ.)	AREX all-stop, toward Seoul Station	14–15 min	1,650 won	15,000 won, about 40 min
Myeongdong	AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 4	AREX leg 22–23 min	Distance-based	20,000 won, about 50 min
Gwanghwamun, Jongno	Line 5, toward Hanam Geomdansan or Macheon	About 40 min	Distance-based	Samcheong-dong: 23,000 won, about 60 min
Gangnam area	Line 9 express to Sinnonhyeon	About 33 min	Distance-based	Gangnam Station: 28,000 won, about 60 min
Incheon Airport	AREX all-stop, toward Incheon Airport	About 40 min to T1	4,350 won (T2: 4,950)	45,000 won incl. toll, about 40 min

Subway fares are distance-based: 1,550 won for the first 10 km by card, then 100 won more for each extra 5 km. Our Seoul subway fares guide covers transfers and single tickets.

What time is the last train from Gimpo Airport?

This is the table to check if you land late. Each “last” time is the last train that actually reaches central Seoul, not a short run that stops early.

Line, direction	First train	Last train, weekdays	Last train, weekends
AREX to Seoul Station (via Hongdae)	05:42	00:16	00:16 (Saturdays and holidays)
Line 9 to Sinnonhyeon (Gangnam side)	05:30	00:09 (last express 23:28)	23:05 (last express 22:27), Saturdays and holidays
Line 5 through Gwanghwamun	05:34	23:59	23:12, Saturdays and Sundays

Later trains do leave, but they stop short. The 00:34 AREX train ends at Digital Media City, before Hongdae. Late Line 5 trains to Aeogae and Hwagok stop before Gwanghwamun, and late Line 9 trains end at Dongjak, Dangsan or Gayang.

Here’s our take: on a weekend night, AREX is the safer bet even for Gangnam. Line 9’s last train to Sinnonhyeon leaves an hour earlier on Saturdays and holidays, while AREX keeps 00:16 every day. From Seoul Station a taxi is a shorter ride than from the airport.

Seoul Metro’s own station page warns that some listed times may differ from real trains. Check the last train in a map app on the day.

Which line should you take?

AREX (Airport Railroad) is the one most visitors want. It runs to Hongik Univ. (Hongdae), Gongdeok and Seoul Station, where you can change to Line 1, Line 4 or KTX. The AREX Express doesn’t stop at Gimpo; it only runs non-stop between Seoul Station and Incheon Airport.

Line 9 is the fast way to the south side of the river. Express trains, marked on the timetable and platform signs, stop at Yeouido in about 19 minutes and Sinnonhyeon in about 33. Local trains are much slower: the late-night local we counted took 50 minutes to Sinnonhyeon.

Line 5 goes straight through the old city center: Yeouido, Gongdeok, Gwanghwamun, Jongno 3-ga and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, with no transfer. It’s the slowest of the three, but you can stay seated the whole way.

Gimpo Goldline and the Seohae Line also stop here, but neither goes to central Seoul. The Goldline runs west into Gimpo city, and the Climate Card doesn’t work on it.

Can you use T-money or a Climate Card?

Yes, on everything except the Gimpo Goldline. Seoul’s official station search lists Gimpo Airport station like this:

Line at Gimpo Airport	Climate Card: ride	Buy the card here	Top up a pass here
Line 5	Yes	Yes	Yes
Line 9	Yes	No	Yes
AREX	Yes	No	No
Seohae Line	Yes	No	No
Gimpo Goldline	No	No	No

So if you want a Climate Card, buy and charge it at the Line 5 station before you ride AREX. Since October 1, 2026 it also covers getting off AREX at Incheon Airport T1 or T2, but not at other stations outside Seoul. Short-term passes cost 5,000 won for 1 day up to 20,000 won for 7 days, plus 3,000 won for the card. Our Climate Card guide explains whether it pays off.

T-money works on AREX, Line 5 and Line 9. No card yet? The AREX station has 4 ticket machines that sell single-journey cards. They cost 100 won more than the card fare, plus a 500 won deposit you get back from the refund machine at your exit station.

How do you get from arrivals to the train?

Collect your bags and walk out into the arrival hall.
Follow the subway signs down to the Gimpo Airport station. AREX describes its station as sitting in the middle of the airport, with Exits 1–4 on B1.
Buy or top up a card at the ticket machines on B1, or tap straight through with T-money.
Go down to the right platform. AREX toward Seoul Station, Line 5 toward Hanam Geomdansan or Macheon, and Line 9 toward VHS Medical Center (express and local) all leave from B3. AREX toward Incheon Airport leaves from B4.

If you land at the wrong terminal for your next flight, there’s a free shuttle bus between the international and domestic terminals. It runs every 12–15 minutes from 08:00 to 23:00.

Board at stop No. 5 at the international terminal (out of Gate 1 on 1F, turn right) and stop No. 8 at the domestic terminal (out of Gate 4 on 1F, turn left).

Gimpo Airport station floors: B1 has Exits 1-4 and ticket machines; buy and charge a Climate Card at the Line 5 station; B3 has AREX to Hongdae and Seoul Station, Line 5 to Gwanghwamun and Line 9 to Gangnam; B4 has AREX to Incheon Airport; late on Saturdays AREX 00:16 still runs, Line 9's last is 23:05; app taxis pick up at international terminal 2F, 20 m left of Door 1 — Drawn by us from Korea Airports Corporation, AREX, Seoul Metro and Seoul city pages (checked October 21, 2026).

How much is a taxi from Gimpo Airport?

A standard taxi starts at 4,800 won for the first 1.6 km, then 100 won for every 131 m, or every 30 seconds in slow traffic. Deluxe and jumbo taxis start at 7,000 won for 3 km, then 200 won for every 151 m or 36 seconds. You pay any motorway tolls on top.

Time of night	Standard taxi	Deluxe / jumbo
22:00–23:00	+20%	+20%
23:00–02:00	+40%	+20%
02:00–04:00	+20%	+20%

What a standard taxi costs after a late landing

Our sums: the airport’s no-traffic estimate with the night surcharge added. Real fares run higher in traffic, and tolls are extra.

Going to	Daytime estimate	22:00–23:00 (+20%)	23:00–02:00 (+40%)
Hongdae	15,000 won	about 18,000 won	about 21,000 won
Myeongdong	20,000 won	about 24,000 won	about 28,000 won
Gangnam Station	28,000 won	about 33,600 won	about 39,200 won

Before the last train, AREX to Hongdae costs 1,650 won by card. The taxi earns its price with heavy bags, a group sharing the fare, or after the last train.

Booked a taxi in an app? Pickup points are different from the taxi stand. At the international terminal, go to 2F, about 20 m left of Door 1. At the domestic terminal, cross to the car and reservation-taxi zone opposite Doors 4–6 on 1F. To book a ride without a Korean number, see taxi apps for tourists.

What about buses?

Airport and city buses also stop outside both terminals. We don’t list them here. The airport’s English bus page still shows timetables from 2020, and the current list is only on its Korean route search. Inter-city buses there need a ticket bought in advance, from a machine or an app.

Part of our Getting around Korea guide.

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