First time in Seoul? What to know before you go

A first trip works best as one district per half-day. Group Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon and Insadong together; do Myeongdong and Namsan on another; keep Hongdae for an evening. Everything below is on the subway map, so you rarely need a taxi.

Book the Secret Garden tour at Changdeokgung online before you fly — it is timed, limited and sells out. The Royal Palace combined ticket is the cheap way to see four palaces plus Jongmyo over several days.

Seoul sits on the Han River, and most first-trip sights are north of it: the palaces and Bukchon in Jongno, Myeongdong and Namsan in the centre, Hongdae west, Gangnam south. The subway connects all of them in 20–40 minutes, so where you sleep matters more than how far apart the sights are.

Pick a base on a line you will use daily. Myeongdong is central and walkable to the palaces; Hongdae is cheaper and better at night; Gangnam suits business trips and the airport bus but adds time to the old city.

Get a T-money card at the airport or any convenience store, load it, and tap in and out on buses and the subway. Fares start around ₩1,400 per ride, with small discounts for transfers between modes (2026 estimate). Taxis are metered and cheap by US standards; the basic fare is around ₩4,800.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including markets, but keep ₩50,000 or so in cash for small stalls and older shops. Tipping is not expected. Convenience stores are open 24 hours and are a real meal option: kimbap, ramen and hot food for a few thousand won.

Download a map app that works in Korea and a translation app; English signage on the subway is good, less so on local buses. Most museums close one weekday — often Monday — so check before you build a day around one. Emergency numbers are 112 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance.

April–June and September–November are the best windows: mild, dry and clear. Cherry blossom lands late March to mid-April and autumn colour peaks late October to early November — both are crowded and hotel prices rise, so book weeks ahead.

July and August are hot, humid and wet, with the heaviest rain in July. December to February is cold and dry, often well below freezing, but the palaces look their best under snow and indoor sights — museums, malls, jjimjilbangs — carry the trip. Weekends are busy year-round; weekdays are noticeably calmer at the palaces.

Most visitors land at Incheon (ICN). The AREX express train runs non-stop to Seoul Station in about 43 minutes; the all-stops train takes about an hour and costs less (2026 estimate). Airport limousine buses reach most hotel districts directly and are easier with luggage. Land before 22:00 if you can — late arrivals mean taxis or a night at an airport hotel.

Gimpo (GMP) handles some short-haul international and domestic flights and is much closer to the city. From Seoul, KTX trains to Busan take about 2 h 30 from Seoul Station; buy tickets online or at the station. Within the city, the subway runs roughly 05:30–24:00, with night buses after that.