Madrid to Seoul (MAD–ICN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Spanish passport holders enter South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. No advance application is needed. Immigration at Incheon is efficient and usually takes under 15 minutes.

All visitors must complete the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) before boarding. Apply at k-eta.go.kr at least 72 hours before departure. The fee is KRW 10,000 (around EUR 7). Approval usually comes within minutes but can take up to 72 hours. The K-ETA is valid for 2 years and covers multiple entries. Check the current K-ETA requirement before booking, as Korea has periodically suspended it for certain nationalities.

The 90-day tourist stay cannot be extended. For work or long-term stays, you need a visa from the Korean embassy in Madrid before departure. South Korea and Japan are commonly combined on one trip since Incheon-Tokyo flights run multiple times daily and the transit is easy.

Metro Line 8 runs from Nuevos Ministerios (central Madrid) to T1/T2/T3 in 12–15 minutes (€6, including the airport supplement). T4 requires an additional free shuttle from T2; add 10 minutes. The Cercanías commuter train (Line C-1) reaches T4 from Atocha station in 25 minutes (€2.60, no supplement).Taxis have a fixed fare of €30 from central Madrid zones. The ride is typically 20–35 minutes depending on traffic. Avenida de América bus hub serves several airport bus routes (€5).

AREX Direct Train to Seoul Station (43 min, ₩11,000) is a reserved-seat express. The All-Stop train serves Hongik University, City Hall, and other inner-city stations (66 min, ₩4,550). T2 passengers board at a dedicated T2 stop before T1; don't exit early. City Check-in at Seoul Station allows bag drop and boarding pass printing before the train for select airlines.Limousine buses serve major hotel zones and neighborhoods (₩16,000–18,000). Taxis from ICN to central Seoul cost ₩65,000–90,000; use only official orange (general) or black (deluxe) cabs from the designated stands. KakaoTaxi (ride-hail) operates from the airport.

Humid continental climate. Winters are cold and dry (−8 to 2°C, December–February) with occasional snow and wind chill. ICN handles snow well, though heavy falls delay operations. Summer monsoon (Changma) runs late June through July with heavy continuous rain. Typhoons can affect operations August–September with short notice.

Spring brings Yellow Dust (hwangsa) from China. Fine particulate storms reduce visibility and occasionally disrupt flights in March–April. Autumn (October–November) is the best flying season: clear skies, low humidity, 8–18°C. Pack layers for spring and fall. Summer is hot and humid (25–32°C).