Getting around Seoul: public transport, passes and taxis

Seoul is a subway city first. The network reaches almost every sight a short trip covers, fares are low, and signage is in English and Korean. Buses fill the gaps between stations and along the river. Taxis are cheap enough to use as a backup, and the airport trains handle the two airports.

Buy a T-money card at a convenience store or station machine, load it with cash, and tap in and tap out at every gate. Tapping out matters: it closes the fare calculation and unlocks the transfer discount. Most travellers load ₩20,000–30,000 at a time and top up when the balance drops below ₩5,000.

Trains run from about 05:30 to about 00:00. There is no night subway, so plan the last train or switch to a night bus or taxi. Station signs, line maps and announcements are in English, and each line has a number and colour, which makes navigation simple even on a first visit.

Buses use the same card and the same base fare. Blue buses cross the city, green buses loop local districts, and red buses run express to the suburbs. Some buses no longer take cash, so board with a card. Transfers between subway and bus, and between buses, are free or discounted within a set window when you tap out and tap in again.

For a short trip, a plain T-money card is enough. It costs a small refundable amount, works on subway, bus and taxi, and needs no daily commitment.

If you ride more than about three times a day, a short-term unlimited transit pass can be cheaper than single fares. Seoul has offered a foreign-visitor transit pass in recent years; the price, validity and purchase points change, so check at the airport or a major station before buying. A one-day or multi-day pass only pays off on heavy sightseeing days.

Single-journey tickets from station machines exist but add a deposit you reclaim at a machine at your destination, which is slower than a card. Contactless bank cards and phone wallets work on some gates; keep a T-money card as backup.

Taxis are metered, with a base fare around ₩4,800 and a surcharge from 22:00 to 04:00. They are good value for three or four people or a late-night ride. Deluxe black taxis cost about double.

Order through Kakao T or Uber rather than hailing on the street. The app sets the pickup point, shows the fare and avoids language problems. Drivers may refuse short fares late at night, and app bookings reduce that friction.

Pay by card or T-money; tipping is not expected. Keep the receipt if you leave something behind, since it carries the plate number.

A typical sightseeing day of four to six subway rides lands around ₩6,000–9,000 per person. A taxi-heavy day in the centre runs ₩20,000–40,000 for a pair, still modest by US or UK standards (roughly $15–30).

Airport transfers are the big single cost. The AREX train is the cheapest reliable link from Incheon and Gimpo; taxis cost far more and slow down in rush hour. See the airport transfer page for the full comparison.