Seoul to Busan: KTX, Bus or Flight?

Seoul to Busan is Korea's signature intercity route, linking the capital to the southern coast. The KTX high-speed train is the default at under three hours city center to city center; express buses are cheaper, and flights are only worth it from the right airport.

Distance	About 325 km
Fastest overall	KTX (about 2h40)
Cheapest	Express bus
Arrive at	Busan Station, near the coast

Mode	Operator	Duration	Approx fare	Overnight
Train	KTX (Korail high-speed) Fastest and most comfortable. Frequent departures from Seoul Station.	about 2h40	approx €40 to €50	No	Check on 12Go →
Bus	Express bus (Gyeongbu line) Cheaper, with premium reclining-seat options.	about 4 to 4.5 hours	approx €20 to €30	No	Check on 12Go →
Flight	Korean Air / Jin Air / Air Busan Rarely faster than the KTX once you add transfers.	about 1h plus airport time	approx €40 to €90	No	Check on 12Go →

Fares are approximate and shown for comparison. Confirm live prices and times on 12Go before booking.

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How long is the KTX from Seoul to Busan?

About 2 hours 40 minutes on trains that stop at Daejeon and Dongdaegu, or roughly 2h15 on the fastest nonstop KTX, with several departures every hour.

Is the train or plane better from Seoul to Busan?

The KTX usually wins on total time, since it runs city centre to city centre with no airport transfers or security queues.

How much is the train from Seoul to Busan?

Roughly EUR 40 to 50 for a standard KTX seat one way. Express buses are cheaper, from about EUR 20.

Hotel options and prices come from Agoda and update at booking time; sample data shown if live pricing is unavailable. Transport fares are estimates, confirmed on 12Go.