Cheap flights to Seoul
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Quick summary
Country
South Korea
Continent
Asia
Airport
ICN
Currency
South Korean won
Time zone
UTC+9
Deals already spotted to Seoul
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Palaces and skyscrapers
A Seoul travel guide for a city of 600 years and 555 meters
This Seoul travel guide starts with a contrast you will see from almost any street corner: a royal guard ceremony, a quarter of traditional hanok houses and the 555-meter Lotte World Tower on the same skyline, with mountains within reach of the subway. Seoul has been a royal capital for some 600 years, and today it is the epicentre of K-pop and Korean culture and the headquarters of Samsung, LG and Hyundai. About 9.6 million people live in the city itself and nearly 26 million in the metropolitan area (Wikipedia EN).
A city founded several times
Founded around 18 BCE as Wiryeseong, capital of the Baekje kingdom, the city was chosen in 1394 by King Yi Seong-gye as capital of Joseon. Renamed Gyeongseong during the Japanese rule of 1910 to 1945, it changed hands four times during the Korean War of 1950 to 1953, then hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988 and co-hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2002.
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The royal palaces
Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Jongmyo
| Site | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Built in 1395; about 3,000 won to enter (Wikivoyage DE and FR), free in hanbok and on the last Wednesday of the month, closed on Tuesdays; free English guided tours several times a day |
| Changdeokgung | Built between 1405 and 1412 and listed by UNESCO in 1997; a separate ticket is needed for the Secret Garden (Huwon), booked online |
| Jongmyo Shrine | The city's second UNESCO site, with a very modest entry fee |
| Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung | Included, with the three sites above, in the Royal Palace Pass valid for three months |
| Gwanghwamun gate | Free changing of the royal guard ceremony |
Palace entry fees remain very low, and the Royal Palace Pass covers five sites for anyone who wants to see them all. Between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, the village of Bukchon, with its traditional hanok houses on steep lanes, is a natural extension of the visit. Opening days and hours change, so check before you go.
Neighbourhoods
Which part of Seoul suits you?
Insadong and Ikseondong
Insadong gathers galleries and traditional Korean crafts; a short walk away, Ikseondong is the cafe district.
Myeongdong and Dongdaemun
Myeongdong is the temple of K-beauty and street food. Dongdaemun holds South Korea's largest wholesale market.
Hongdae, Gangnam and Itaewon
Hongdae is the student and nightlife district, Gangnam the home of luxury, Hanwoo beef and nights out, and Itaewon the international quarter.
Museums
From the National Museum to contemporary art galleries
| Museum | Good to know |
|---|---|
| National Museum of Korea | Five thousand years of Korean history and some 220,000 artefacts, in Yongsan; special exhibitions may charge a fee |
| War Memorial of Korea | Devoted to the country's military history; free according to Wikivoyage DE |
| National Folk Museum | Set within the Gyeongbokgung grounds, it shows daily life of the past (Wikivoyage FR) |
| Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) | Free admission according to Wikivoyage EN, DE and ES |
| Leeum and MMCA | Leeum, in Itaewon, is one of the best private museums in the country; the MMCA has a branch near Bukchon and Deoksugung |
| Seodaemun Prison and DDP | The prison recalls the Japanese occupation; Dongdaemun Design Plaza hosts exhibitions |
Most of these museums close one day a week, often Monday, so check before you set out. For recent history, the War Memorial of Korea and Seodaemun Prison complement the palace visits well.
The skyline
From N Seoul Tower to Lotte World Tower
Two viewpoints, two eras
N Seoul Tower crowns Namsan, high above the Han River. Across town, the Lotte World Tower reaches 555 meters and has an observation deck at the top. Also worth a stop is the Starfield Library at COEX. Seoul spreads on both sides of the Han River in the northwest of the country and is divided into 25 districts.
Eating in Seoul
Barbecue, banchan, markets and soju
Korean barbecue is the meal to share, and every meal comes with banchan, the small side dishes served free, kimchi first among them. Everyday dishes include jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce), tteokbokki, cold naengmyeon noodles and mandu dumplings; Wikivoyage EN also lists many of them at restaurants open 24 hours.
Markets
Gwangjang Market, seen in the Netflix series Street Food, is the emblematic street-food address; Myeongdong, Namdaemun and Dongdaemun have their own stalls, and Noryangjin fish market sells fresh fish to eat on the spot. For barbecue, head to Mapo and Hongdae.
Drinks
Soju, a distilled spirit with many fruit-flavored versions, drives the nightlife; makgeolli, a milky rice wine, goes well with street food. The legal age to buy alcohol is 19.
Prices
Wikivoyage EN and ES rank a meal under 15,000 won as budget, 15,000 to 35,000 won as mid-range and above 35,000 won as a splurge.
Seoul airports
From Incheon to the center by AREX
Incheon International Airport
The main international airport. The AREX express train reaches Seoul Station in 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 minutes from Terminal 2 (Wikivoyage EN and DE); the all-stop train is cheaper and takes about an hour.
Gimpo International Airport
Seoul's second airport, linked by subway lines 5 and 9 and by AREX.
| From the airport | Good to know |
|---|---|
| AREX express | About 13,000 won one way in 2025 (Wikivoyage EN and DE), non-stop to Seoul Station |
| AREX all-stop | Around 5,000 won according to Wikivoyage EN and DE, for about an hour on the train |
| Bus | Route 6002 reaches Sinseol-dong in about 90 minutes (Wikivoyage EN and ES); limousine buses serve the main hotels |
| Taxi | From about 50,000 won plus a toll (Wikivoyage EN and ES); a deluxe car costs noticeably more |
| From Gimpo | The subway costs 1,000 to 2,100 won, a taxi about 30,000 won to the center (Wikivoyage EN and ES) |
The subway, whose first line opened in 1974, runs from about 5:30 am to midnight or 1 am, and bus transfers are free within 30 minutes. The base fare is 1,550 won for a trip of up to 10 km (Wikivoyage EN and DE, 2025); a T-money card, sold at convenience stores and topped up with cash, pays for subway, buses and taxis. Night buses cost 2,500 won. For trips further afield, KTX high-speed trains exceed 300 km/h.
Budget
A mid-range cost of living for Asia, with almost free palaces
Seoul is more accessible than Tokyo or Singapore yet pricier than most of Southeast Asia. Palaces, the subway and street food cost little, while well-located hotels, Gangnam restaurants and cosmetics shopping push the bill up.
Benchmarks
A palace for around 3,000 won, a subway ride from 1,550 won, a budget meal under 15,000 won; Wikivoyage EN also cites meals under 5,000 won in department store basements.
How to save
The Royal Palace Pass to chain the palaces, free entry in hanbok or on the last Wednesday of the month, the T-money card, free museums and market meals.
Day trips
The DMZ, Nami Island and Seoraksan
The demilitarized zone lies about 50 km north of Seoul and is visited only on organised tours, which typically include the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory. Nami Island is another popular excursion, and Seoraksan National Park, whose main peak reaches 1,708 meters, is home to Korea's third-highest summit. Busan can be reached by KTX in roughly two and a half hours (Wikivoyage DE).
By length of stay
How long to stay in Seoul
The minimum
Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Changdeokgung, Insadong and an evening in Myeongdong.
The right pace
Add Jongmyo, Gwangjang Market, Hongdae, a museum and N Seoul Tower.
The ideal
A week lets you add the museums, Gangnam and an excursion: the DMZ, Seoraksan National Park or Nami Island.
When to go
When to visit Seoul?
Spring
March to May, from 11 degrees C highs in March to 24 degrees C in May: one of the two best seasons, with cherry blossoms from late March to mid-April. Yellow dust from the continent mostly affects March and April.
Summer
Highs of 28 to 30 degrees C, with August the hottest month. About 70% of the year's rain falls during the monsoon, from June to September, and July is the wettest month, best avoided.
Autumn
September to November, with highs from 26 to 12 degrees C: October and November bring the foliage and are the other best season, and also the busiest.
Winter
January is the coldest month, with highs of about 2 degrees C and lows around -6 degrees C, and up to 28 days of snow a year. The deep cold of January and February is best avoided.
In pictures
Seoul in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Seoul
Which airport do international flights to Seoul use, and how do I get downtown?
Incheon International Airport (ICN). The AREX express train reaches Seoul Station in 43 to 51 minutes depending on the terminal. Seoul also has a second airport, Gimpo (GMP), linked by subway.
What's the best time to visit Seoul?
Spring, for the cherry blossoms from late March to mid-April, and autumn, for the foliage in October and November. Summer is hot, humid and rainy, and winter is cold.
How many days do you need in Seoul?
Three days at a minimum for the palaces, a few neighbourhoods and a viewpoint. Five to seven days let you explore in depth and add a trip to the DMZ.
Is Seoul expensive?
It suits a wide range of budgets. Palace entry is cheap and free in hanbok, the subway is inexpensive and market street food is affordable. Well-located hotels and Gangnam restaurants push the budget up.
How do I get around Seoul?
The subway and buses, payable with a T-money card, cover the whole city; the base fare is 1,550 won. Taxis are affordable, and the KTX connects the country's other big cities.
What should I eat in Seoul?
Korean barbecue, kimchi and banchan, plus noodles and tteokbokki from the stalls of Gwangjang Market, with soju or makgeolli.
How much does a flight to Seoul usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Seoul drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Seoul as the destination and your maximum budget. You'll be notified automatically the moment a matching price is detected.
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