How to Take the Real Train to Busan in South Korea (Seoul to Busan This Year)

If you're into zombie movies, or movies about Korea, then you've mostly likely heard of the 2016 film, Train to Busan. A story about a father and his young daughter that become stuck on the train ride to Busan while a zombie outbreak occurs. The best part is that you can now experience the real train to Busan for yourself during your visit to Korea!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA's  easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia.

To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections.

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Booking Your Ticket on KTX

Luckily, booking your Train to Busan ticket is very easy on RailNinja - the only platform I use to book my train travel in Korea. There are three main options for train routes from Seoul to Busan :
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• Bullet/High Speed Train - about $85 a person, and about 2.5 hours
• Express Train - about $65 a person, and about 4.5 hours
• Intercity Train - about $45 a person, and about 5.5 hours

The train you choose really depends on your budget and how much time you want to spend on the train. It's also important to note which station you're leaving from, there are two options in Seoul. The Seoul Central Station is very easily accessible, and is where I left from, but you can also leave from Suseo Station in the heart of Gangnam. Lastly, there are two types of tickets on the KTX Train - basic economy seats and first class seats. The economy seats are blue and have 2 in each row, first class seats are red and have single seats in each row.

My Favorite Activities in Busan : 
- Busan Flipbook Studio
- Busan Lotte World

Experiencing the Train to Busan

If you're a fan of the Train to Busan, then you'll be pleased to know that the trains have free Wifi, and the entire Train to Busan movie is free on Youtube! And since the movie is just under 2 hours, you'll be able to stream the entire movie on your trip! Although to be honest, it was a bit eerie sitting in the same seats and train cars shown in the movie.

I also recommend bringing snacks and drinks for your ride. You'll find some people bringing complete meals (fairly common for locals), but I would stick to something easy like fruits or pre-packaged snacks and drinks! Up above your seat you can also find a place to store your luggage, and because the seats are fairly wide, you'll have enough room around you as well to stay comfortable. The bathrooms were also clean and well stocked.

Watch my Train to Busan Experience here!

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Other Korea Blog Posts you might be interested in : 
-> 25 Best Korean Streetfoods to Try
-> 48 Hour Ultimate Itinerary for Busan
-> Busan's Famous Flipbook Studio

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