Busan to Gyeongju by bus: the short version
- Staying in Haeundae: use the Haeundae intercity bus terminal. It is about a 2-minute walk from Haeundae Station (Line 2, Exit 2), and the bus runs straight to Gyeongju.
- Staying near Busan Station or Nampo-dong: take Line 1 to Nopo and use the Nopo terminal, Busan’s main bus terminal. It is the fastest and cheapest option.
- Landing at Gimhae Airport: a direct airport bus reaches Gyeongju without going into Busan.
- Do not go to Nopo from Haeundae unless you have a reason. It is a long subway ride for a bus you can catch near your hotel.
Most guides tell you to take the Busan to Gyeongju bus and stop there. The useful question is which terminal, because Busan has several and the wrong one can cost you an hour before you even board. I live in Gyeongju and make this trip often, so this is the version I would give a friend: pick your terminal by where you are sleeping.
If you only need the full day plan, see our Gyeongju day trip from Busan. This guide is only about getting on the right bus.
Which terminal, at a glance
| Where you are | Board at | Journey | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haeundae | Haeundae intercity bus terminal, Line 2 Exit 2 | About 1 hr 10–20 min | About 10,500 won |
| Busan Station, Nampo-dong, Seomyeon | Nopo terminal, Line 1 terminus | About 50 min (plus subway to Nopo) | About 7,700 won |
| Gimhae Airport | Airport limousine bus to Gyeongju | About 1.5 hours | Roughly 9,000–13,000 won |
All three arrive at the same place: the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. More on that below.
From Haeundae: use the Haeundae terminal
If your hotel is in Haeundae, this is the easy one. The Haeundae intercity bus terminal is right by Haeundae Station on Line 2. Come out of Exit 2 and you will find it within about two minutes on foot. There is no transfer and you never have to go into central Busan.
The buses run roughly hourly from about 07:20 to 21:20, take a little over an hour, and cost about 10,500 won. Four regional companies share the route, so the bus you get depends on the hour. The fare is about 2,800 won more than from Nopo, which is a small price for skipping the trip across the city. For the full case for staying there, see where to stay in Busan for a Gyeongju day trip.
From Busan Station or Nampo-dong: use Nopo
Nopo is Busan’s main bus terminal, at the northern end of Line 1. Because it is the main terminal, it offers the widest choice of destinations and departure times. To Gyeongju the bus takes about 50 minutes and costs about 7,700 won, with departures from around 06:20 and a bus every 20 to 30 minutes for much of the day.
If you are downtown, take Line 1 straight to Nopo Station, with no change. If you are staying near Busan Station, our Busan Station and Nampo-dong guide covers the area.
Nopo from Haeundae is not worth it. From Haeundae you would take Line 2 to Seomyeon, change to Line 1, and ride to the end. That is a long trip to save about 3,000 won, and you have to do it again with a bus to catch. Nopo is far from Haeundae, and the Haeundae terminal is there to solve exactly that.
From Gimhae Airport: the airport bus
If you land in Busan and want to go straight to Gyeongju, an airport limousine bus goes to the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal without you having to go into the city first. It takes about an hour and a half. Fares and timetables change (the airport bus service was restructured in 2025), so check the current fare on the airport’s own website. Our airports to Gyeongju guide covers the whole route.
Buying tickets
Photo by STA3816 (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
- At the terminal: you can buy on the day at the counter, at both Haeundae and Nopo. This is the simplest option.
- In the app: you can also book in advance through the T-money GO app. It is only in Korean; there is no English setting, so unless you read Korean, I would use the counter.
- Sold out? Outside national holidays such as Seollal and Chuseok, I have not found these routes selling out. On a holiday, book ahead or arrive early.
Arriving in Gyeongju
All the buses from Busan use the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal, on Gangbyeon-ro in Noseo-dong. It is right next to Hwangnidan-gil, so on foot you can be at the cafes and shops in about ten minutes. It is in the town itself, not on the edge, which is one of the main reasons the bus works better than the train for a day trip. To reach the temples outside the centre, like Bulguksa and Seokguram, take a city bus or a taxi from the terminal area.
Photo by Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
A trap to avoid. Gyeongju has a separate Express Bus Terminal next door to the intercity terminal, but the Busan services that used to leave from it ended in January 2018. If a ticketing site or app only offers “express bus” and shows nothing for Gyeongju, search for intercity (sioe) buses instead.
Bus or KTX?
The KTX is faster on paper, but Gyeongju Station is well outside the historic centre, so for most day trips the bus gets you to the sights sooner and costs less. We compare the two properly in our day trip guide. If you arrive in Busan from Seoul and want the whole chain, see the Seoul to Busan transport guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Busan bus terminal goes to Gyeongju?
Two are useful for most visitors: the Haeundae intercity bus terminal if you are staying in Haeundae, and Nopo, Busan’s main terminal, if you are staying downtown. Both end at the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal.
How long is the bus from Busan to Gyeongju?
About 50 minutes from Nopo and a little over an hour from Haeundae, plus the time to reach the terminal.
How much is the bus from Busan to Gyeongju?
About 7,700 won from Nopo and about 10,500 won from Haeundae, one way. Fares can change, so confirm at the counter.
Do I need to book in advance?
Usually not. Outside national holidays I buy on the day. For Seollal, Chuseok or another long weekend, book ahead.
Can I get from the Gyeongju terminal to Hwangnidan-gil on foot?
Yes, it is close enough to walk. The bus is the reason a day trip to Gyeongju works so well.
Conclusion
Pick the terminal that matches your hotel, not the one every guide names first. Haeundae guests should use the Haeundae terminal, downtown guests should use Nopo, and anyone landing at Gimhae can go straight to Gyeongju without entering the city. All three end within walking distance of Hwangnidan-gil.
Fares, times and terminal details were checked against Korean bus-timetable sources in September 2026 and can change. Confirm at the terminal before you travel.
Sources
- Bus timetable data for Busan (Nopo) – Gyeongju: bustime.co.kr
- Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal (location, routes, express terminal changes): Korean Wikipedia
- Gimhae Airport public transport information: airport.co.kr
Photos: Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
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