Seoul to New Delhi (ICN–DEL) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders need a visa to enter India. The eVisa at indianvisaonline.gov.in is the easiest option: a 30-day eTourist visa costs $25, a 1-year multiple-entry costs $40, and a 5-year multiple-entry costs $80. Processing takes 3 to 5 working days. The eVisa allows entry at 28 designated airports including Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bangalore (BLR), and Chennai (MAA). Apply at least 4 days before travel.

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages. Upload a passport scan, a photo (51mm x 51mm, white background), and provide your Indian hotel address. The eVisa approval is emailed as a PDF. Print two copies: one for the airline at check-in and one for immigration. Traditional sticker visas through the Indian Embassy in Seoul cost about the same and take 5 to 7 working days.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Delhi run about 7 hours 30 minutes on Korean Air, Air India, and IndiGo. Seoul to Mumbai runs about 8 hours on Korean Air. India uses the Indian rupee (INR), trading at roughly 16 KRW per INR 1. ATMs are widespread, but many cap withdrawals at INR 10,000 per transaction. No mandatory vaccinations for Korean arrivals. Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country. Uber and Ola work in all major Indian cities and are far easier than bargaining with auto-rickshaws. Indian SIM cards (Jio or Airtel) cost INR 200 to INR 500 for 28-day data plans at the airport.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

Airport Express Metro from T3 to New Delhi Railway Station (18–20 min, ₹60) runs 5am–11:30pm. T1 (domestic departures) has a free shuttle to T3 for the metro. Prepaid taxi booths in arrivals offer fixed fares; the New Delhi railway area is ₹400–600.Ola and Uber are reliable from DEL and often cheaper than prepaid taxis. Delhi traffic is severe; plan 60–90 minutes for surface transport during peak hours even though the airport is only 15 km from Connaught Place. NH-48 expressway provides the main access road.

Semi-arid climate with extreme seasonal variation. Summers (April–June) are extremely hot (38–46°C). Heat affects ground crew capacity but flights operate normally. Monsoon season (July–September) brings heavy rain and severe thunderstorms that frequently cause delays and diversions. Dust storms (andhi) precede monsoon onset in May–June and reduce visibility to near zero within minutes.

Dense fog is the most disruptive winter condition. December and January bring persistent cold fog (5–10°C with near-zero visibility) that can shut down operations for hours each morning. Delhi is one of the foggiest major airports in Asia during this period. Autumn (October–November) and spring (February–March) are the most flight-stable windows.