Getting around Gimhae
Gimhae sits in South Gyeongsang Province near the Nakdong River, just west of Busan. For a visitor, the key thing to understand is that the city's transport network is closely tied to its neighbour Busan, and that Gimhae International Airport — despite its name — actually lies just east of the city in Busan's Gangseo District. That airport is the main gateway into the area, and the rail link built to serve it is also the backbone of public transport between Gimhae and Busan.
Rail, metro and light rail
Gimhae has two stations on the Gyeongjeon Line: Hallimjeong station and Jinyeong station. These are conventional rail stops rather than part of a metro system, so they are useful for reaching other towns along that line rather than for hopping around the city itself.
The most important rail connection for visitors is the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit, which opened in September 2011 and links Gimhae to Busan by way of the airport. It is the practical bridge between the two cities. At its Busan end it connects into the Busan Metro network at Daejeo and at Sasang, so you can transfer onto the wider metro system from either of those points.
If you need high-speed rail, note that the closest KTX station to Gimhae is Gupo station in Busan, not a station within Gimhae itself. Plan on reaching Gupo via the light rail and metro connections rather than expecting KTX service in the city.
Buses and other public transport
Public transport in the Gimhae area is built around the light rail and subway (metro) connections, with buses filling in the rest of the network. For planning, the most useful tools are Kakao Map and Naver Map, both of which provide public transport routes and costs. These apps are the standard way locals and visitors alike work out which combination of light rail, metro and bus will get them where they are going.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis are widely available, and at Gimhae International Airport in particular there are usually many waiting. One point in travellers' favour is that regular taxi fares in South Korea are the same regardless of where the trip begins, including airport taxis — there is no airport surcharge to worry about.
For ride-hailing, Kakao T is the main app used in the country. Beyond hailing a car, Kakao Map and Naver Map can also give you taxi fare estimates, which is handy for judging whether a cab makes sense for a given trip.
Walking
Walkability in this part of the country varies a lot by neighbourhood, and terrain matters. Some areas sit in valleys, where the final leg from the main transit corridor involves uphill slopes. That can make walking with luggage genuinely inconvenient, and it is worth checking the gradient between your stop and your destination before committing to a car-free arrival.
Getting from the airport into the city
Gimhae International Airport is the main entry point for the area, and you have two realistic options for getting onward.
- Taxi: Cars are readily available at the airport with many waiting, and there is no airport surcharge — the meter is the same as anywhere else. As a rough sense of scale, a trip of around half an hour by car has been estimated at approximately 20,000 KRW, though your fare will depend on your destination.
- Light rail and metro: The Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit connects the airport to both Gimhae and Busan, transferring into the Busan Metro at Daejeo and Sasang. This is the cheaper option, but be aware that reaching some destinations by light rail and metro from the airport is neither simple nor short, and the last stretch may involve uphill walking.
A practical rule of thumb from travellers who know the area: public transport tends to work better for departures than for arrivals. Heading out, the walk to the transit corridor is often downhill and you are not fighting a schedule; arriving with luggage, the same route can be a slog. If you are landing with heavy bags and your destination is off the main corridor, a taxi is usually the smoother choice.