Getting Around Seoul

Start with a T-money card

Buy a T-money transit card at any convenience store (CU, GS25) or subway station machine for about ₩2,500, then top it up with cash or card. Tap in and out on buses and subways — transfers within 30 minutes are discounted automatically, so one card covers your whole trip.

Master the subway

Seoul's subway is dense, punctual, and English-signed. Stations have numbered exits, so when a friend says “meet at exit 3”, that is literal. Download KakaoMap or Naver Map — Google Maps underperforms in Korea — and both will show real-time arrivals, car position, and which exit to leave from.

Late-night tip

The subway stops running around midnight. After that, use the N-owl night bus network or a taxi — see below for both.

Airport transfers on AREX

The AREX airport railroad connects Incheon to Seoul Station. The All-Stop train (₩4,150–4,750) takes about 60 minutes and stops at major hubs like Hongdae; the Express is faster but nonstop and saves you little door-to-door. Pay by card or T-money at the gate.

Taxis and ride apps

Orange and silver taxis are metered and honest — flag them anywhere. Kakao T is the dominant ride app, quotes upfront, and accepts foreign cards for in-app payment. Between midnight and 4am a 20% late-night surcharge applies.

Walking the city

Distances between subway stops are often walkable. Both Naver and Kakao have excellent walking routes that respect crossings and overpasses — sometimes the "slow" way is ten minutes.