Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seoul: what you need to know
Around 10 hours 42 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul.
Seoul is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located. Seoul operates on the UTC+9 timezone.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the most traveled route, with 45 departures a week to choose from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from SFO to ICN is with United at 23:55. Choose the first departure operated by United at 10:30 if you want to get on your way earlier.
To ensure you catch your flight from SFO to Seoul, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
If you're flying during a peak month like August, get to the airport even earlier. It's wise to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures. You can expect lines to be longer during peak periods like summer and spring break.
Direct flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seoul are available for booking. Incheon International Airport (ICN) is where you'll step off the plane.
You'll have your choice of airlines offering direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul. Get on board with any of these:
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from SFO to Seoul. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing the departures. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Haneda Airport (HND)
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) Airport (LAS)
You'll need an ETA for South Korea if you have a passport from United States and are travelling for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements can be subject to change. So before you book your cheap ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul, check with your airline and your destination country's local consulate or embassy for the most recent updates.
The journey from central San Francisco to SFO takes around 47 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 21 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
After a hassle-free start to your break? Stay near SFO. Whether you're taking an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seoul
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul is 293 €. The cheapest price for a return flight is 544 €. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap tickets from SFO to Seoul if you book in advance. Airlines often have some great early bird deals.
Getting cheap tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul is more likely if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Use the 'Whole month' search function to see the lowest prices across the month and snap up a great deal.
Locking in a cheap ticket from SFO to Seoul is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when the price has dropped.
Use the filters to tailor your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul. Simply enter your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals.
Airports in Seoul
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
The centre of Seoul is approximately 48 kilometres from Incheon International Airport (ICN). Journey times by cab or car rental will vary depending on traffic conditions and time of day, so do a little research ahead of time.
Travelling to the centre by public transport takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul. Book one of these accommodation options near ICN instead:
Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
If you're staying in Seoul's centre (or just can't wait to start exploring), the city is around 16 kilometres from Gimpo International Airport (GMP). See if you can spot any information kiosks for help with directions after disembarking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul.
You can also travel using public transport, which will take around 1 hour and 3 minutes.
There are some great places to park your luggage (and yourself) near GMP. Tuck yourself in and get cosy after your flight from SFO to Seoul at one of these well-located options:
Best time to go to Seoul
July is the most popular month to hop on a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul while April is the quietest. To work out the best time to visit Seoul, consider your preferred travel pace and style.
Lock in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul for August to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 19ºC to 32ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from SFO to Seoul in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 4ºC.
More about Seoul
Start your Seoul trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village and N Seoul Tower are popular attractions which should be on any good Seoul itinerary.
Complete your Seoul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seoul to track down incredible deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus we give you all the info on car rentals in Seoul, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.