In this post I will teach you how to take the AREX Train from Seoul to Incheon Airport (Airport Railroad Express) in South Korea. The spacious train has comfortable seats, and there is a bathroom on board. Plus, you arrive at Incheon Airport in under an hour.

Buy snacks for the trip

If you are taking the AREX Train from Seoul to Incheon Airport you will need snacks. There is no snack car and there are no snack carts pushed down the aisle. You can pick up snacks at your origin subway station or at Seoul Station.

Manjoo King is a great snack booth available at many subway stations in Seoul. They sell warm cakes filled with delicious fillings like custard cream and red bean paste. I discovered Manjoo King back in 2016, and my nose always tells me exactly which stations they’re located in. They smell and taste so good!

Connect to Seoul Station

I took the subway from the station near my Airbnb (Gangnam Office Station) to Seoul Station. From there I picked up the AREX Train.

Purchase your AREX ticket

You are assigned a seat in a specific car. I was in Train A1029 and assigned seat 6C in car 4.

There is an all-stop train route that does exactly what it says. It stops at all the stations. Then there is the express train route that only stops at certain stations. I took the express route.

The airport stations have “A”s (different from the train numbers which also have “A”s) with the numbers. For example, A11 is for Incheon Airport Terminal 2 and A10 for Incheon Airport Terminal 1. I was headed for Terminal 2 for Delta Airlines.

Enter your assigned train car

If running late, get on any car and walk through. Don’t run along the train and risk missing the train. (I won’t admit how many times I’ve done this.)

Stow your luggage

There are special luggage holding areas near the doors. There are no straps or anything to secure them. However, once enough people add their luggage, everything stays in place.

The AREX Train experience

The cars are modern with comfortable seats. There is a generous amount of leg room. Each seat has a mesh storage compartment and a seatback tray.

Large windows allow you to see the great views outside. It felt like I was taking a scenic train tour from Seoul to Incheon.

The bathroom was very large and bright. It was kept clean throughout the ride. 

Now you know how to take the AREX Train from Seoul to Incheon Airport in South Korea.