By bus
Ulsan is well served by intercity buses and it is possible to get to the city from any other major and not so major location in the country. The city terminals are located a brief walk across the street from each other in Samsandong with a smaller terminal in Bangeojin. It is also possible to jump off these buses at the major neighborhoods or intersections on the way into the city Gongeotap and Shinbok rotaries being a notable two.
From SeoulIt takes about 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic. The express bus runs from the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-Gu in Seoul to Ulsan with departures about once every 30 minutes. There also is an intercity bus running from the Dong-Seoul bus terminal once every 30 to 40 minutes to the Intercity Bus Temerminal in Samsan Dong in Ulsan, as well as two departures a day from the same terminal to the Bangeojin terminal.
From BusanThere are several options for the Busan - Ulsan route.
From the Nopodong bus terminal in northern Busan, you can take both the Chwasok seated city buses and the intercity buses that both run to Samsandong in Ulsan. For the Chwaseok buses, 1127, 1137, 2100, and 2300 all can be used 1127 runs to Mugeodong and Seongnamdong while the other buses take a more direct route to Samsandong. The cost is 2,000 Won if you use a transportation card, or 2,200 Won if you pay in cash. Alternately you can also use the Intercity bus which runs the same route, but makes less stops, so it is slightly quicker and has very comfortable seats only three per row. Buses are very frequent once every 7 minutes during the daytime with the last departures at 2 AM from both sides. The cost is 4,000 Won which goes up to 5,900 after 10PM. There are additionally Intercity buses that run to Bangeojin as well.
From Haeundae, there are intercity buses running from the Haeundae bus terminal, which is directly across the street from the Haeundae train station. Local service runs once every 30 minutes to the Samsandong terminal, and takes about 1.5 hours. The direct service which uses the expressway runs once every 20~30 minutes and takes 1 hour. In order to buy a ticket for the direct service, you should mention "Jik-tong" ì§íµ, which is Korean for direct since the local bus is more expensive even if you get on and off at the same exact stops!
By plane
As Ulsan receives no international flights it is only possible to arrive in the city via the air from two destinations - Seoul Gimpo and Jeju-do.
Getting to Ulsan by plane from Incheon Intâl Airport requires a transfer upon landing to Gimpo Airport. It is best to do this via the limousine bus service, which departs from in front of the main terminal at Incheon Int'l Airport every five minutes. The journey then takes about thirty five minutes. The fare is W6,000. Be sure to listen to the announcements on the bus as it will inform you of which terminal you need for your onward flight.
Domestic airplane from Gimpo operated by Korean Air and Asiana takes about one hour. Weekday fares start at W62,000 rising to W71,000 at weekends.
The tourist information booth on the ground floor is a must before leaving the airport for great maps of the city and many leaflets on things to do. There is literature on Gyeongju also.
Those wanting to get to and from Gyeongju usually pass through Ulsan airport too. A direct bus service to Gyeongju runs 4 times a day. Departures from Ulsan Airport are at 8:20 11:40 16:10 18:40. Departures from Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, Platform No.5 are at: 7:00, 10:10, 14:30,17:20.
If you are flying in directly to Incheon, it may be more convenient to take the bus from the airport directly to Ulsan. It leaves from stand 10C outside arrivals, costs approximately 40,000 won one way and takes about five hours.
By ship
There are no ferry services in Ulsan though some people do arrive via work on boats that make port at the shipyards. The nearest international ferry services for the general public are in Busan where they arrive from a whole host of places including China and Japan. It is very rare that anyone would actually want to come to Ulsan for the first time using these services. Many English teachers make use of the ferries in Busan for the E-2 visa run to Fukuoka in Japan.
By train
Ulsan has rail links with the rest of the country and it is possible to get to the city without too much trouble or waiting.
KTX
KTX started serving Ulsan directly starting in November 2010, although the train station is not located in the city centre, instead to the west of the city in Eonyang. It is for the most part very inconveniently located, being further away from downtown then even the airport, however Ulsan City is accessible by bus from the station.
The regular city buses yellow and white cost 1,150 won when using cash, or 1,100 Won when using a transportation card, and are the cheapest, although not the most comfortable way or quickest to get to the city center. The 327, 337, and 807 all runs to Samsan-dong, which is the downtown of Ulsan, while other routes stay outside of the city core. These buses do not use the expressway and even makes some stops that are somehwat out of the way, so they may take considerably longer than the buses below to the city center.
One Chwaseok seated bus line runs as well to the KTX station, route number 1703. It costs 1,700 Won by cash, or 1,500 using a transporation card. It uses the expressway to the city center, so it is quicker and has more comfortable seats as the regular city buses.
There are also four express buses 5000 series which run from the station to various parts of the city. They cost 3,200 Won when paid in cash, or 3,000 Won by transportation card. These buses have the most comfortable seats and make limited amounts of stops along the way. While not very high frequency about 2 departures per hour, they are timed to depart after the trains arrive at Ulsan station.
Non high speed trains
The existing non high speed Ulsan station has been renamed to Taehwagang Taehwa River Station, while only the new KTX station is now named Ulsan station.
With the start of direct KTX service to Ulsan, there are no longer any slow Saemaul or Mugunghwa trains that go to Seoul. Most now terminate in Dongdaegu Station and Bujeon station in Busan, with a few runs to Pohang and other places.
Taehwagang station is situated a brisk twenty minutes walk from the centre of Samsandong following the main road straight ahead after going outside. Look for the iconic Lotte ferris wheel. Walking from the Lotte Ferris Wheel is truly a brisk walk! Taxis provide a better mode of transportation to the Taehwagang Station, and gives you the advantage of not carrying your backpack or luggage along the sidewalks.
When travelling between Busan and Ulsan, it is worth taking the train since the sight varies from the endless industrial backdrop of Ulsan to some breathtaking views of the sea along the way to Busan. The part especiallly near Haeundae is very nice as the route circles around the Dalmaji hill gives an endless view of the ocean. Just a point to be taken however is that this line is under construction for an upgrade from single track to double track, and the part around Haeundae is being completely rerouted away from the sea meaning these sea views won't last for long.
By car
Getting to Ulsan by car is simple enough using the national expressway system:
From Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu, take the Gyeongbu Expressway towards Busan and exit at Eonyang junction.
From Gwangju, take the Namhae Expressway towards Busan and exit at Wonyang junction.
From Chuncheon, take the Jungang Expressway towards Daegu, then switch to the Gyeongbu Expressway towards Busan at Geumho junction.
From Eumseong and Cheongju take the Jungbu Expressway towards Daejeon and then switch to the Gyeongbu Expressway towards Busan at Nami junction.