Choose your Seoul base by how you arrive and which subway lines you need: Hongdae for the AREX train, Myeongdong for airport buses.
Pick your Seoul base by how you plan to arrive and which subway lines you need. Stay in Hongdae if you want the all-stop AREX airport train to stop at your station. Stay in Myeongdong if you prefer an airport limousine bus, since routes 6001 and 6015 both stop there. Choose Jongno for Line 1 and Line 3, or Gangnam for Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line.
The short version
All four areas are well-known bases for visitors, and each suits a different kind of trip. The table below shows what our official records confirm about each one. It covers stations, lines and airport links only. It does not cover room prices, hotel quality or what each neighbourhood is like day to day, so check those separately before you book.
| Area | Station and lines | Airport link in our records |
|---|---|---|
| Myeongdong | Myeongdong Station, Line 4 | Airport limousine routes 6001 and 6015 stop at Myeongdong Station |
| Hongdae | Hongik Univ. Station: AREX all-stop train, Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang Line | AREX all-stop train stops here; the AREX Express does not |
| Jongno | Jonggak Station, Line 1; Anguk Station, Line 3 | Not covered in our sources |
| Gangnam | Gangnam Station: Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line | Not covered in our sources |
Myeongdong: for a bus from the airport
Myeongdong is widely known as a shopping and street-food district in central Seoul. It suits first-time visitors who want a base in a shopping and street-food district and who like the idea of a direct bus from the airport.
Myeongdong Station is on Line 4. Airport limousine route 6015 (Myeongdong, Euljiro and Mapo) stops at Myeongdong Station, and so does route 6001 (Dongdaemun and Myeongdong). The adult fare on both routes is 17,000 won. You can pay by transit card or cash, and seating on 6015 is first come, first served. Fares and timetables may change, so confirm them before you travel.
Hongdae: for the airport train
Hongdae is the area around Hongik University, widely known for its cafes and live music. It suits travellers who plan to spend their evenings around cafes and music venues.
Hongik Univ. Station is an AREX all-stop station, with transfers to Line 2 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. The AREX Express does not stop there, because it runs nonstop between Seoul Station and the airport, so make sure you board the all-stop train. As a guide to the line itself, the all-stop train takes about 59 minutes from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport T1, and some trains take 2 to 6 minutes longer. That time is measured from Seoul Station, not from Hongdae, so do not read it as your door-to-door journey.
Jongno: for the old city and Lines 1 and 3
Jongno is the historic heart of the city, known for its palaces, traditional houses and old streets. It suits travellers whose plans lean toward heritage sights and walking.
Two stations in our records serve the area. Jonggak Station is on Line 1, and Anguk Station is on Line 3. Our sources do not list an airport service for either station, so work out your airport route separately and check it before you book.
Gangnam: for Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line
Gangnam is the modern, business-oriented district south of the river, known for its offices, department stores and dining. It suits travellers who are in Seoul for work or who prefer a contemporary setting over a historic one.
Gangnam Station is served by Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line. The operator page lists Line 2 as the transfer line. As with Jongno, our sources give no airport service for this station.
What to check before booking
Start with your arrival plan, because it is the one difference our records can confirm. If you want the airport train, Hongdae is the match. If you want a limousine bus, Myeongdong is. Then check which lines you will use most on your itinerary and whether your hotel is within a short walk of the station named above.
Please confirm current fares and times on the official pages listed below before you travel, since services change.
Sources
- Seoul Facilities Corporation (Myeongdong Station)
- AREX (Airport Railroad Co.)
- Seoul Facilities Corporation (Jonggak Station)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, Korea Heritage Service
- Shinbundang Line (DX LINE operator)
- Seoul Facilities Corporation (Gangnam Station)
- Airport Limousine Co. (route 6015)
- Airport Limousine Co. (route 6001)
Checked on October 27, 2026.