South Korea blends ancient traditions with state-of-the-art modernity, offering visitors a unique experience from Seoul's neon-lit streets to tranquil Buddhist temples. Discover K-pop culture, UNESCO World Heritage sites, world-class cuisine, and stunning natural landscapes from volcanic islands to mountain ranges.
- Public
- World-class subway and bus networks in Seoul and major cities. The 22-line Seoul Metro is clean, safe, punctual, and extensively signed in English. T-money card works on all buses, subways, and even some taxis.
- Taxi
- Abundant and reliable — Kakao T app makes booking seamless. Rates are reasonable at $3.80 base fare. English communication limited but showing address in Korean works fine.
- Rental
- Not recommended for Seoul due to excellent public transport and heavy traffic. Highly recommended for Jeju Island where car is the best way to explore. KTX high-speed rail is better for intercity.
- Walking
- Seoul's historic center (Jongno, Myeongdong, Insadong) is very walkable with pedestrian-friendly streets. Longer distances are better covered by subway. Some hills in Bukchon area.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- Airport Railroad Express (AREX) to Seoul Station - $9 (43 min express), $4 (all-stop 53 min)
- Shuttle
- Airport Limousine Bus to various Seoul districts - $10-15 (60-90 min)
- Bus
- Taxi to Seoul - $60-80 (50-70 min depending on traffic)
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
Comprehensive bus networks in all cities with various types: express (red), inter-district (blue), local (green), and circular (yellow) in Seoul. Real-time arrival information at stops.
- Cost
- $1.25-2.50 depending on bus type and distance
- Payment
- T-money card or cash (exact change)
- Tips
- Bus stop announcements in Korean only. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for navigation. T-money card allows free transfers within 30 minutes
Alternatives
metro, taxi, rideshare, bike_sharing
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- $3.80 base fare, $0.80 per km or time
- Apps
- Kakao T (primary), Uber (limited)
- App Names
- Kakao T (primary), Uber (limited)
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Cost: Seoul to Busan: $25-35 (4-5 hours)
- Express
- Express buses connect all cities from dedicated terminals. Faster than local buses with fewer stops.
- Intercity
- Cheaper intercity buses available with more stops
- Terminals
- Seoul has 4 main bus terminals: Seoul Express (Gangnam), Dong Seoul, Seoul Nambu, Sangbong
- Booking
- Book via apps (Kobus, T-Money) or at terminals. English booking available online
Flights
Domestic flights connect Seoul (Gimpo) to Busan, Jeju, and other cities. Very frequent flights to Jeju Island.
Cost: Seoul to Jeju: $40-100 (1 hour flight). Seoul to Busan: $50-120 (1 hour)
- Airlines
- Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Jeju Air, T'way Air
- Tips
- Book in advance for best prices. Budget airlines offer good deals. Gimpo Airport handles most domestic flights
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Airports
Incheon International Airport
From centre: 48 km from Seoul
Options: Airport Railroad Express (AREX) to Seoul Station - $9 (43 min express), $4 (all-stop 53 min); Airport Limousine Bus to various Seoul districts - $10-15 (60-90 min); Taxi to Seoul - $60-80 (50-70 min depending on traffic); KTX train to other cities from Incheon Airport Terminal 2
Gimpo International Airport
From centre: 17 km from Seoul
Options: Subway Line 5 & 9 to central Seoul - $2 (30-40 min); Airport Limousine Bus - $8-12 (40-60 min); Taxi to Seoul - $25-35 (30-40 min)
Jeju International Airport
From centre: 3 km from Jeju City
Options: Airport Limousine Bus to various Jeju destinations - $5-8; Local buses - $1.50; Taxi to Jeju City - $8-12 (10 min); Car rental available at airport
Gimhae International Airport
From centre: 13 km from Busan
Options: Busan-Gimhae Light Rail to Sasang Station (connects to Line 2) - $1.50 (20 min); Airport Limousine Bus to Haeundae and other areas - $6-8; Taxi to Busan city center - $20-30 (30-40 min)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Kakao T (카카오T)
Korea's essential ride-hailing and taxi booking app. Also integrates with transit routing. Download and set up before arrival as it requires Korean phone verification in some cases.
Naver Map (네이버 지도)
Korea's most accurate map with real-time transit routing, bus arrivals, and walking directions. Far superior to Google Maps for Korean destinations.
Korail Talk
Official Korea Railway booking app for reserving KTX and intercity trains. English interface available — essential for booking long-distance rail in advance.
Subway Korea
Offline Seoul metro map with route finder covering all 22 lines. Shows transfer times, exit numbers, and nearest landmarks for each station.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a T-money card (교통카드) at any convenience store for 2,500 KRW — load money and tap on/off all public transport for discounted fares and free transfers within 30 minutes
Download Naver Map or Kakao Map instead of Google Maps — Korean maps have accurate transit routing with real-time bus arrival data unavailable on Google
Book KTX trains at least a week in advance for weekend and holiday travel — popular routes to Busan and Gyeongju sell out fast
Avoid Seoul subway rush hours: 7:30-9:30AM and 6:00-8:00PM are extremely crowded. Use the first and last cars which are typically less full.
Kakao T app allows you to call taxis with destination set in advance — drivers can see the destination without needing to communicate verbally, solving the language barrier