Travel tips for Seoul

Seoul rewards a bit of practical preparation before arrival, and most of what trips up first-time visitors falls into a handful of categories. Transport is the biggest one: the T-money card is the single most useful purchase you can make, a rechargeable card that works on the subway, city buses, and even some taxis and convenience stores, with free transfers between subway and bus within a short window. From Incheon International Airport, the AREX Express train runs non-stop to Seoul Station in well under an hour, while the slower All-Stop service costs less and covers more neighbourhoods along the way; airport limousine buses drop passengers closer to hotels for a similar price.

Money is straightforward once you know the basics: the currency is the Korean won, cash is still useful for small markets and some traditional restaurants, and tipping is not expected anywhere, including restaurants, taxis and hotels — leaving extra can occasionally come across as odd rather than generous.

Phone connectivity matters more here than in many destinations, mostly because of maps: Google Maps does not provide reliable walking directions, transit routing or driving navigation inside Korea, a restriction tied to national data export rules rather than a simple app bug, so Naver Map and KakaoMap are the apps locals and long-term residents actually use, both with solid English interfaces for searching addresses and subway exits. Setting up an eSIM before landing, or picking one up at the airport, keeps these apps working from the moment you leave the terminal.

Personal safety is rarely a major concern — Seoul consistently ranks among the safer large cities for walking at night — though ordinary city caution still applies around nightlife areas late in the evening, and choosing a taxi through Kakao T rather than hailing one blind avoids the rare meter dispute. A few etiquette basics go a long way: use two hands when giving or receiving something from an elder, keep your voice down on public transit, and never leave chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice.

Timing the trip matters too — the most reliable weather runs from late September to mid-November, with clear skies, autumn colour and smaller crowds than spring, while cherry blossom season in late April to early May is beautiful but busier and pricier, and July and August combine the jangma rainy season with heavy heat and humidity, making them the two months worth planning around rather than building a trip on. Entry requirements have also loosened for many passport holders in recent years, with a mandatory electronic arrival card replacing older paper forms — worth confirming against your own passport before you fly, since the rules vary by nationality and continue to evolve.