In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · South Korea
Seoul
서울
Seoul is a subway city: do the palaces and Bukchon before 11:00, stay indoors at midday in summer, and save Myeongdong and Hongdae for the evening.
Seoul's sights are spread over a wide basin, but the subway reaches all of them and runs late. The trips that go wrong pay for it in three ways: palaces on their closed weekday, hills with a suitcase in Bukchon, and a landing after 23:00 with a guesthouse door that locks. Four walking clusters cover a first visit; one bed is enough.
- Country
- South Korea
- Local name
- 서울
- Best months
- Apr · May · Oct · Nov
- Time zone
- Asia/Seoul
- Stay
- 2 days: Palaces + Bukchon by day, Myeongdong in the evening
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KRW
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, markets' larger stalls and convenience stores; foreign cards occasionally fail at small shops and machines. Keep ₩30,000–50,000 in ₩1,000 and ₩10,000 notes for street food, market snacks and T-money top-ups, which are cash-only at station machines.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₩50,000–90,000 excl. bed · Mid ₩90,000–200,000 excl. bed · High ₩200,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly or pick up a SIM or pocket Wi-Fi at the Incheon arrivals counters (passport needed). A plan with a Korean phone number helps with taxi and delivery apps.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Korea Travel Helpline 1330
- Plugs
- 220 V, 60 Hz; round two-pin sockets (types C and F). Bring an adapter; most chargers handle the voltage.
- Tipping
- No tipping anywhere, including taxis and restaurants. Upmarket hotels add a service charge to the bill.
- Water
- Tap water is treated to drinking standard; most locals still drink filtered water, which restaurants serve free from a self-service dispenser.
- Toilets
- Free and clean in every subway station, park and department store; most have paper, some expect it in the bin rather than the bowl (follow the sign).
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (americano at a chain café) | ₩2,000–5,500 |
| Noodle or rice dish at a simple restaurant | ₩9,000–13,000 |
| Beer: draught in a hof / bottle in a convenience store | ₩4,000–7,000 / ₩2,500–4,500 |
| 5 km taxi by day / after 23:00 | ₩9,000–13,000 / ₩12,000–18,000 |
| Subway or city bus ride | ₩1,500–1,550 by card (check) |
| Tourist eSIM, about a week | ₩15,000–35,000 |
| Palace or museum entry | Free–₩3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
- GMP to Seoul: AREX or subway Line 9 straight into the city in 30 minutes; use Gimpo for Tokyo Haneda, Osaka and Taipei Songshan flights.
- Incheon International Airport (ICN)
- ICN to Seoul: the AREX train to Seoul Station in about an hour, then one subway leg; the risk is landing after 23:00 when the last train has gone and a taxi costs ten times more.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul Station (서울역) | KTX to Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju (Singyeongju) and Pohang; Korail regional trains; AREX; GTX-A | Line 4 one stop to Myeongdong; Line 1 to City Hall; taxi 5–10 min |
| Yongsan Station (용산역) | KTX to Jeonju, Gwangju and Mokpo (Honam line); ITX-Cheongchun to Gapyeong and Chuncheon | Line 1 or Gyeongui–Jungang line; taxi 15 min to Myeongdong |
| Suseo Station (수서역) | SRT high-speed trains to Busan and Mokpo; GTX-A south to Dongtan | Line 3 to Jongno and Gyeongbokgung, about 40 min |
| Cheongnyangni Station (청량리역) | KTX-Eum to Gangneung, Andong and the east; ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon | Line 1 to Jongno, about 15 min |
| Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu/Yeongdong and Central City) (고속버스터미널) | Express buses to Busan, Daegu, Gangneung (Gyeongbu hall); Jeonju, Gwangju and the south-west (Central City hall) | Line 3 to Jongno, about 25 min; lines 7 and 9 also stop |
| Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울터미널) | East coast (Sokcho, Gangneung), Seoraksan, Andong and the north-east | Line 2 Gangbyeon, about 30 min to City Hall |
Typical fares
- Incheon → Seoul Station, AREX all-stop
- about ₩4,500, 60 min (check)
- Incheon → Myeongdong, limousine bus
- about ₩17,000–18,000, 60–80 min (check)
- Incheon → centre, taxi
- ₩65,000–90,000 with tolls, 50–70 min
- Taxi across the centre
- ₩9,000–13,000
Get around
Subway for everything, walking inside a neighbourhood, taxis after midnight or with bags. One T-money card (or a WOWPASS or Climate Card) pays for subway, bus and many taxis; transfers within 30 minutes are discounted.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Subway | About ₩1,550 base by card, more by distance (check) | Every cluster, the airports, Gangnam, the river parks |
| T-money card | Card ₩3,000–4,000; top-up in cash at station machines and convenience stores | Subway, bus, taxis and convenience stores |
| Climate Card (short-term) | 1–5-day versions for visitors, from about ₩5,000 plus the card (check) | Heavy subway and bus days inside Seoul |
| City bus | ₩1,500 blue and green; ₩3,000 red express (check) | Namsan, Bukchon slopes, routes without a subway |
| Taxi | Base ₩4,800 for 1.6 km; ₩9,000–13,000 for 5 km | Bags, groups of 3–4, after the last train |
| Deluxe (black) taxi | Base about ₩7,000; higher per km | More space, English-speaking drivers more likely |
| Walking | Free | Inside Jongno, Myeongdong, Hongdae |
| Ttareungyi (public bikes) | ₩1,000 an hour; day passes (check) | Han river paths, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Forest |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- Usually no pass. A subway ride costs about ₩1,550 with a T-money card (2026 estimate); the short-term Climate Card for visitors only pays off at four or more rides a day (check). A short taxi is often ₩5,000–9,000.
- Late at night
- The subway stops around midnight; night taxis carry a surcharge. Check the last train in Naver Map before dinner.
See and do
01Gyeongbokgung Palace경복궁
The main Joseon palace with its throne hall, lake pavilion and gate ceremony; in a hanbok, entry is free.
Hours: best 09:00 opening; closed Tue · Price: ₩3,000 · Time: 1.5–2 h · 37.5796, 126.9770
02Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden
The palace built to follow the hills, and a guided walk through royal pavilions and ponds in the woods behind it.
Hours: best Morning garden slot; closed Mon · Price: ₩3,000 + ₩5,000 garden (check) · Time: 2–2.5 h
03Bukchon Hanok Village북촌한옥마을
Lived-in lanes of tiled hanok roofs between two palaces, with views down to the towers.
Hours: best 10:00–11:30 on a weekday · Price: Free · Time: 45 min–1 h · 37.5826, 126.9836
04National Museum of Korea
Free, vast and calm: gold crowns, celadon and the pensive Buddhas room.
Hours: best Any day; the rainy or hot afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 2–4 h
05Gwangjang Market food evening
Mung-bean pancakes, gimbap and makgeolli at the counters of Seoul's oldest covered market.
Hours: best 17:00–20:00 · Price: ₩15,000–30,000 · Time: 1.5 h
06N Seoul Tower and the Namsan walk
The whole basin from the central hill, reached on foot through woods or by bus.
Hours: best Late afternoon into dusk · Price: Free; observatory about ₩21,000–26,000 (check) · Time: 2 h
07Myeongdong evening명동
Street food, cosmetics shops and the cathedral lit at night, one stop from Seoul Station.
Hours: best 18:00–21:00 · Price: ₩10,000–30,000 in snacks · Time: 2 h · 37.5630, 126.9855
08Hongdae and Yeonnam at night홍대
Buskers, bars, clubs and cafés along the old rail-line park; the city's youngest quarter.
Hours: best Friday or Saturday from 19:00 · Price: ₩30,000–60,000 · Time: 3 h+ · 37.5570, 126.9240
09A Han river park evening
Bikes, lawns, fried chicken delivered to your mat and the bridge lights coming on.
Hours: best Sunset, April–October · Price: ₩20,000–40,000 for chicken and beer · Time: 2 h
10Samgyetang at Tosokchon토속촌 삼계탕
Whole ginseng chicken soup in a hanok-style hall next to the palace; the classic lunch after Gyeongbokgung.
Hours: best Before 11:30 or after 14:00 · Price: ₩20,000–28,000 · Time: 45 min · 37.5779, 126.9713
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Suwon Hwaseong Fortress | Subway Line 1 or the Suin–Bundang line, or a Mugunghwa train from Seoul Station, then a local bus | Half day to a full day |
| DMZ and the Joint Security Area | Guided tour only; coach from central Seoul | Full day, pick-up 07:00–08:00 |
| Nami Island and Gapyeong | ITX-Cheongchun train from Yongsan or Cheongnyangni, or a shuttle bus from Insadong | Full day |
| Incheon (Chinatown, Wolmido) | Subway Line 1 to Incheon Station, about 1 h 10 min | Half day |
| Korean Folk Village, Yongin | Subway to Suwon or Giheung, then a shuttle or taxi; or a tour | Full day |
| Jeonju Hanok Village | KTX from Yongsan, about 1 h 40 min, then 20 min by taxi | Long day; better as one night |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangjang Market counters | Bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake), mayak gimbap · Jongno 5-ga | ₩5,000–10,000 | Budget |
| Gimbap and snack chains (bunsikjip) | Gimbap, tteokbokki, ramyeon, fried dumplings · Every neighbourhood | ₩3,500–9,000 | Budget |
| Myeongdong street stalls | Skewers, egg bread, hotteok, fried chicken · Myeongdong-gil, evenings | ₩3,000–8,000 an item | Budget |
| Convenience-store meals | Triangle gimbap, cup ramyeon with hot water, lunch boxes · Everywhere, 24 h | ₩1,500–6,000 | Budget |
| Tosokchon Samgyetang | Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) · Seochon, by Gyeongbokgung | ₩20,000–28,000 | Mid-range |
| Korean barbecue (samgyeopsal or galbi) | Pork belly or marinated short rib grilled at the table · Mapo, Hongdae, Jongno, every district | ₩17,000–35,000 a serving | Mid-range |
| Myeongdong Kyoja | Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and dumplings · Myeongdong | ₩11,000–14,000 (check) | Mid-range |
| Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari | Dakhanmari (whole chicken hot pot) · Dongdaemun (Dakhanmari alley) | ₩30,000–35,000 per pot for two (check) | Mid-range |
| Mingles | Modern Korean tasting menu · Gangnam (Cheongdam) | From about ₩300,000 (check) | Splurge |
| Jungsik | New Korean tasting menu · Gangnam (Cheongdam) | From about ₩250,000 (check) | Splurge |
| Balwoo Gongyang | Buddhist temple-food courses · Jongno (by Jogyesa) | ₩50,000–150,000 (check) | Splurge |
| Hanwoo beef barbecue | Korean beef grilled at the table · Majang meat market, Gangnam | ₩60,000–150,000 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Many barbecue and stew places need two servings minimum.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | ₩25,000–45,000 dorm bed · ₩60,000–100,000 double | Hongdae, Sinchon, Jongno | Hostels, guesthouses, capsule-style pods |
| mid | ₩130,000–230,000 | Myeongdong, Jongno, Dongdaemun, Gangnam | Business hotels and 3–4 star chains |
| mid | ₩120,000–300,000 | Bukchon and Seochon | Hanok guesthouses |
| splurge | ₩450,000–1,500,000+ | Gwanghwamun, Namsan, Jamsil, Gangnam | International luxury hotels |
Per room per night in won, 2026 estimate; cherry-blossom week, big concerts and holidays add 30–80%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요an-nyong-ha-se-yo |
| Thank you | 감사합니다gam-sa-ham-ni-da |
| How much is this? | 이거 얼마예요?i-go ol-ma-ye-yo |
| Not spicy, please | 안 맵게 해 주세요an maep-ke hae ju-se-yo |
| This one, please | 이거 주세요i-go ju-se-yo |
| The bill, please | 계산해 주세요gye-san-hae ju-se-yo |
| Please take me to this address | 이 주소로 가 주세요i ju-so-ro ga ju-se-yo |
| Stop here, please | 여기서 세워 주세요yo-gi-so se-wo ju-se-yo |
| Where is the toilet? | 화장실 어디예요?hwa-jang-sil o-di-ye-yo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Shoes: Off where there is a raised floor or a shoe rack: homes, guesthouse rooms, floor-seated restaurants, temple halls.
- Age and hierarchy: Greet elders first with a small bow; pour for others and turn your head slightly when drinking with seniors.
- Two hands: Give and receive money, cards and drinks with two hands, or one hand supported by the other.
- Subway: Talk quietly, no phone calls; leave the priority seats (and pink seats for pregnant women) empty.
- Chopsticks: Do not stand them upright in rice; rest them on the table or the dish.
- Tipping: None. Leaving money on the table may be chased after you.
- Rubbish: Few public bins; carry rubbish to a convenience store or your hotel and sort it by type.
- Names: Do not write a person's name in red ink: it is associated with the dead.
Red lines
- Palaces: no climbing on walls or steps; follow guard instructions.
- Bukchon is a residential lane: keep quiet and follow the posted visiting rules.
- Do not photograph people at close range without asking.
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis at Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and the airport that quote a flat price or skip the meter at night: use the taxi rank, a taxi app or insist on the meter.
- Friendly students who ask you to fill in a survey or join a 'traditional ceremony' near Hongdae, Sinchon or City Hall are recruiting for religious groups; decline and walk on.
- Cosmetics shops on the main Myeongdong street price the same product higher than chain stores a block away: compare with Olive Young before buying.
- Bars in some night districts where a host sits with you and the bill arrives with unordered drinks: order from a printed menu and pay per round.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a first day after a morning arrival. Skip: Gangnam and Jamsil: a river crossing each way for little on a short day.
- 09:00Gyeongbokgung at opening (not Tuesday); guard ceremony at 10:00
- 11:30Samgyetang lunch
- 13:00Bukchon lanes, then down to Insadong
- 15:30Cheonggyecheon walk east to Gwangjang Market
- 17:30Pancakes and makgeolli at Gwangjang Market
- 19:30Myeongdong streets and N Seoul Tower by bus
2 days
A long weekend in the old city. Skip: Lotte World Tower and COEX unless it rains.
Day 1 — palaces and hanok lanes
- 09:00Gyeongbokgung and the National Palace Museum
- 12:00Lunch in Seochon
- 13:30Bukchon, Samcheong-dong and Insadong
- 18:00Myeongdong dinner and the cathedral
Day 2 — garden, museum, river
- 09:30Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden (booked slot; not Monday)
- 12:30Gwangjang Market lunch
- 14:30National Museum of Korea
- 18:00Hongdae and Yeonnam evening
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Seoul (official tourism): english.visitseoul.net/
- Visit Korea (Korea Tourism Organization): english.visitkorea.or.kr/
- Wikivoyage - Seoul: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Seoul
- Wikitravel — Seoul: wikitravel.org/en/Seoul
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Seoul서울
이 주소로 가 주세요
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- 경복궁Gyeongbokgung Palace
- 북촌한옥마을Bukchon Hanok Village
- 명동Myeongdong
- 홍대Hongdae
- 토속촌 삼계탕Tosokchon Samgyetang
Most embassies are around Gwanghwamun and Jeong-dong (US: Sejong-daero; UK: beside Deoksugung). Write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Show drivers the Korean address or a pin in Naver Map or KakaoMap; romanised names are often misread.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/seoul). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.