Daegu · Area guide

Dongdaegu Station

동대구역

Daegu's transit base: KTX, metro and buses in one place, plus buses to Palgongsan.

The short answer

Stay at Dongdaegu Station when the trip is about moving. DaeguTour describes the Dongdaegu Station Complex Transfer Center, at 149 Dongbu-ro in Dong-gu, as a one-stop transfer between the KTX, the metro, and express and intercity buses. The fastest KTX from Seoul takes about 1 hour 40 minutes by DaeguTour's and KTO's 2023 figures; KTO's 2025 Korean page gives 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes across 77 trains a day. Daegu International Airport is about 15 minutes away by bus 101 or 401, KTO says, and the Incheon Airport limousine reaches Dongdaegu in about 4 hours (KTO, 2023).

Treat it as a base, not a sightseeing district: the sights are a ride away. Metro Line 1 runs straight into the old downtown at Jungangno and Banwoldang, and Dong-gu Office routes bus 101-1 from the station, with a change to Palgong 1, to the Donghwasa entrance on Palgongsan, Korea's 23rd national park since December 2023 (Korea National Park Service). Gyeongju is about 20 minutes away by KTX, by Gyeongju City's and KTO's 2025 figures.

Best for

Early or late KTX trains
Flights from Daegu International Airport
Palgongsan and Donghwasa Temple
Day trips to Gyeongju
Arriving on the Incheon Airport limousine

Think twice if

A first night among Daegu's markets and alleys
Seomun Night Market on your doorstep
Walking the modern-history alleys from the door

Getting here

Stations and lines
Station	Lines
Dongdaegu Station (KTX)	KTX to Seoul Station, about 1 h 40 min on the fastest trains (DaeguTour; KTO, 2023); Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains too (DaeguTour)
Dongdaegu (metro)	Line 1 (Daegok–Ansim) to Daegu Station, Jungangno and Banwoldang
Buses 101 and 401	Daegu International Airport, about 15 min (KTO)
Bus 101-1, then Palgong 1	Donghwasa Entrance, for Palgongsan (Dong-gu Office)
Incheon Airport limousine	Dongdaegu Terminal, about 4 h (KTO, 2023)
Express and intercity buses	In the same transfer centre (DaeguTour); Andong Bus Terminal about 90 min by intercity bus (KTO, 2026)

From Seoul

Take the KTX from Seoul Station. DaeguTour and KTO's 2023 guide give about 1 hour 40 minutes to Dongdaegu on the fastest trains; KTO's Korean course page, updated in January 2025, lists 77 KTX runs a day between Seoul and Dongdaegu, from 05:10 to 23:00, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes. You step off into the transfer centre, with metro Line 1 and the buses in the same complex.

From Incheon Airport

KTO's 2023 guide gives about 4 hours by airport limousine to Dongdaegu Terminal, the route with no changes. The rail alternative is AREX to Seoul Station, about an hour, then the KTX to Dongdaegu, about 1 hour 40 minutes; KTO's airport page, updated in May 2026, gives 43 to 51 minutes to Seoul Station on the AREX express.

From Daegu International Airport

City bus 101 or 401 takes about 15 minutes to Dongdaegu Station, KTO says. The airport is at 221 Gonghang-ro in Dong-gu, the same district as the station, and KTO's 2023 guide lists direct international flights to it. For Palgongsan straight from the airport, Dong-gu Office lists Express 1 and Palgong 1 to Donghwasa Entrance.

From Gyeongju

Take the KTX: Gyeongju City and KTO's 2025 guide put Dongdaegu about 20 minutes from Gyeongju. KTO's 2025 guide also links the two for flyers, by bus from Daegu International Airport to Dongdaegu, about 15 minutes, and then the KTX on to Gyeongju.

On your doorstep

Palgongsan National Park Designated in December 2023 as Korea's 23rd national park, covering 126.058 km², says the Korea National Park Service. Donghwasa is among its temples, and Gwanbong (Gatbawi) draws people from across the country to pray.
Donghwasa Temple South of Palgongsan, and the most popular Buddhist temple in the Daegu region in KTO's 2024 words, with about 1,500 years of history; KTO lists it as open all year. From Dongdaegu Station, Dong-gu Office routes bus 101-1 with a change to Palgong 1 for Donghwasa Entrance.
Palgongsan Cable Car A 1.2 km line, about 7 minutes one way, to an upper platform on Sinnimbong Peak, 820 m on KTO's course. KTO lists it as open all year, on hours set month by month, at 51 Palgongsan-ro 185-gil, Dong-gu.
Gatbawi Rock One of DaeguTour's 30 attractions of Daegu. The Korea National Park Service names it with Gwanbong, the Palgongsan prayer site that draws people from across the country.
Yeombulam Valley The valley around Yeombulam, the highest hermitage on Palgongsan, on a hiking route from the Donghwasa ticket booth, Dong-gu Office says.
Pyeonghwa Market chicken alley In Dong-gu. KTO's Daegu course says the city is known for its chicken alley, selected as one of Korea's top three food-themed streets.
Suseongmot Lake In Suseong-gu, beloved for its duck boats and known for its night views, KTO's 2024 guide says.
The old downtown Metro Line 1 runs from Dongdaegu to Jungangno and Banwoldang for Dongseong-ro and the modern-history alleys; for Seomun Market, change at Banwoldang and Sinnam to Line 3.
Gyeongju About 20 minutes from Dongdaegu by KTX, by Gyeongju City's and KTO's 2025 figures.
Andong Andong Bus Terminal is about 90 minutes from Dongdaegu by intercity bus, KTO's May 2026 guide says.

One easy day from here

Morning Bus 101-1 from Dongdaegu Station, then Palgong 1 to Donghwasa Entrance (Dong-gu Office), for the temple and its stone statue of the Yaksa Buddha, which KTO's course calls world-class.
Midday Hike into Yeombulam Valley from the Donghwasa ticket booth, or ride the Palgongsan Cable Car, about 7 minutes each way, up to Sinnimbong.
Evening Back in Dong-gu for the Pyeonghwa Market chicken alley, or metro Line 1 into the old downtown for Dongseong-ro.
Next morning The KTX to Gyeongju, about 20 minutes, or on to Seoul, about 1 hour 40 minutes on the fastest trains.

Before you book

Book here for the first KTX out or the last one in: the trains, metro Line 1 and the express and intercity buses share the Dongdaegu Station Complex Transfer Center, by DaeguTour's description.
KTX times from Seoul differ by train: DaeguTour and KTO's 2023 guide give about 1 hour 40 minutes, and KTO's 2025 Korean page 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes. Book the fastest service when time matters.
April is cherry blossom month on Palgongsan: DaeguTour lists the Palgong Mountain Cherry Blossom Festival at the fountain square in the Donghwa area. Book early for spring weekends.
The Daegu City Tour's Palgongsan Mountain Course runs every day except Monday (DaeguTour), so plan a guided day on the mountain from Tuesday to Sunday.

Questions visitors ask

Is Dongdaegu Station a good place to stay in Daegu?

Yes, for a trip built around trains, flights and Palgongsan. The KTX, metro Line 1 and the express and intercity buses share one transfer centre, Daegu International Airport is about 15 minutes away by bus 101 or 401 (KTO), and bus 101-1 with a change to Palgong 1 reaches Donghwasa Entrance (Dong-gu Office). For Daegu's markets and alleys, the old downtown is the better base, and Line 1 links the two.

How do I get to Donghwasa from Dongdaegu Station?

By city bus. Dong-gu Office lists bus 101-1 from Dongdaegu Station with a change to Palgong 1 for Donghwasa Entrance. KTO calls Donghwasa, south of Palgongsan, the most popular Buddhist temple in the Daegu region, with about 1,500 years of history, and lists it as open all year. From the temple's ticket booth, a hiking route leads into Yeombulam Valley.

How far is Daegu International Airport from Dongdaegu?

About 15 minutes by city bus 101 or 401, KTO says. The airport, at 221 Gonghang-ro, and the station are both in Dong-gu, which makes Dongdaegu the natural base for an early flight. From the airport, Dong-gu Office also lists Express 1 and Palgong 1 straight to Donghwasa Entrance for Palgongsan.

Is Palgongsan a national park?

Yes. The Korea National Park Service records its designation in December 2023 as Korea's 23rd national park, covering 126.058 km². Its temples include Donghwasa, and Gwanbong (Gatbawi) draws people from across the country to pray. DaeguTour's City Tour runs a Palgongsan Mountain Course every day except Monday.

A place before a plan.

Where to stay in Daegu Save your address in Korean

Sources & review

Editorial review: 29 October 2026 · Korea Standard Time