This article will explain where and how to buy a Korea Tour Card, how to add credit to it, and where you can use it to get discounts on popular attractions, shows, shopping, and more. Not sure if you need a transportation card? This article will also explain the benefits of these essential travel cards.

If you’re travelling to Korea and plan to use public transport to get around, which I’d really recommend as it’s amazing, then you’ll definitely want to pick up a Korea Tour Card. Find out why below.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is a pre-paid transportation card with T-Money functions that is exclusively available for tourists to South Korea. Tourists can use the Korea Tour Card to pay for public transportation on Korea’s subways and buses, as well as to receive discounts at attractions and shops.

Here are the key details of the Korea Tour Card. Details about how and where to buy the Korea Tour Card, how and where to use it, and further information will be provided throughout this article.

Korea Tour Card Vs. T-Money

T-Money is the main rechargeable transportation card in Korea and is found in the T-Money card and other prepaid cards, including the Korea Tour Card. It is used to pay for public transportation in Korea.

The Korea Tour Card includes T-Money functions, including paying for public transportation, but also provides exclusive benefits for tourists in Korea.

With The Korea Tour Card, tourists can gain discounts on hundreds of attractions, shops, hotels, and restaurants. A regular T-Money card costs ₩2,500 and the Korea Tour Card costs ₩4,000.

Korea Tour Card Vs. Discover Seoul Pass

The Discover Seoul Pass is a city pass that provides free or discounted entry to dozens of premium attractions in Seoul. The Discover Seoul Pass is valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Like the Korea Tour Card, the Discover Seoul Pass includes T-Money functions to pay for public transportation.

Both the Discover Seoul Pass and Korea Tour Card offer discounts to tourists, however, the price and value of those discounts are significantly different. The Discover Seoul Pass starts at ₩50,000 for a 24 hour pass and gives you free or discounted entry to top attractions.

Where To Buy The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is exclusively designed for tourists to Korea and can be purchased at most points of entry into Korea, including major airports and harbours. You can also preorder a Korea Tour Card online and collect it at one of the following locations, which is also where you can buy them in person.

Korea Tour Card purchase locations:

• Incheon Airport, Terminal 1
• Incheon Airport, Terminal 2
• Gimpo Airport (Seoul)
• Gimhae Airport (Busan)
• Jeju International Airport
• Daegu International Airport
• Busan Port Passenger Terminal

Buying A Korea Tour Card At Incheon Airport

Most travellers to Korea arrive at Incheon Airport near Seoul. You can purchase a Korea Tour Card from the transportation centres inside Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport. The Korea Tour Card is sold from a vending machine (pictured) near the entrance to the subway that connects Incheon Airport to parts of Seoul.

Please note: You will need cash to purchase the Korea Tour Card (₩4,000) and cash to top up the T-Money balance so you can use it for public transport. Details about how to top up later in this article.

Korea Tour Card Designs

There are several designs of the Korea Tour Card that depend on where you purchase the card. These are the main designs you can see in Korea now:

Regular Korea Tour Card

The regular edition of the Korea Tour Card has a blue and pink design and the T-Money logo in the bottom corner. This is the Korea Tour Card design that’s sold at Incheon Airport and most airports, except on the south coast of Korea.

The Korea Tour Card offers T-Money functions as well as discounts in over 200 locations across Korea.

Southern Coast Edition (Busan)

The Southern Coast of Korea edition of the Korea Tour Card, also known as the Namhaean Coast design, is sold in the southern regions of Korea, which stretch from Busan all the way to Mokpo.

There are over 40 exclusive benefits for tourists visiting this part of Korea with this version of the card, as well as the regular benefits of the Korea Tour Card.

Visit Korea Year Limited Edition

The Visit Korea Year Korea Tour Card is a limited edition version of the card that celebrates the Visit Korea project, which runs from 2023 to 2024. There are two designs of the Visit Korea Year edition of the Korea Tour Card – a dark background card and a light background card.

This version of the Korea Tour Card is the same as the regular version and comes with all of the same features and benefits.

How To Top Up The Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card is the tourist version of a T-Money card and can be topped up in the same way a regular T-Money card can be topped up. You can top up the Korea Tour Card at convenience stores in Korea and at subway stations in major cities, as well as at the T-Money head office in Seoul.

Convenience store chains in Korea include GS25, CU, Emart 24, Story Way, 7/11 and Ministop. There are fives areas in Korea with subway systems, these are the Seoul Capital Area (which includes Incheon), Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju. You can top up at thousands of locations in Korea.

Remember, you will need to have Korean won to top up the Korea Tour Card. All transportation cards in Korea can only be topped up using cash and can’t be topped up using credit or debit cards. The only exception is the mobile versions of these cards, which can be topped up with card payments.

Top Up In Subway Stations

Topping up the Korea Tour Card T-Money balance at a subway station is the easiest option as the top up machines usually have English instructions. Here are the steps to top up at a subway station:

1. Select ‘recharge card’ on the screen.
2. Select the value to top up.
3. Confirm the top up value.
4. Insert cash into the machine.
5. Place your card on the card reader.
6. Wait for the card to recharge.
7. Take the card and use it.

Top Up At Convenience Stores

Topping up the Korea Tour Card at a convenience store is the most convenient option as there are thousands of these stores across all of Korea. Here are the steps to top up at a convenience store:

1. Go into a convenience store.
2. Ask the cashier to top up the card.
3. State your desired top up value.
4. Pay cash to the cashier.
5. Place your card on the card reader.
6. Wait for the top up.
7. Collect your card and use it.

Where To Use The Korea Tour Card

There are dozens of places you can get discounts on a range of things, including attractions, shopping, services, restaurants, cafes, hanbok rental, river cruises, and more. Discounts are available at popular tourist destinations such as N Seoul Tower, Lotte World Adventure, and the COEX Aquarium.

You’ll find discounts in the major cities of South Korea – Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Daegu. Also, there are select discounts in major tourist areas, such as Jeju Island, Gangneung, Gangjin, and the Namhaean Coast. Use the Korea Tour Card website for a full list of available benefits and locations.

Below is a summary of some of the best benefits available with the Korea Tour Card for each of the different categories (attractions, experiences, shopping, etc.).

Tourist Attractions

Tourists can get discounts at more than 30 popular tourist attractions across Korea with the Korea Tour Card. Here are some of the best attractions benefits:

• N Seoul Tower (20-30% discount)
• Busan X The Sky (10% discount)
• Gwangmyeong Cave (50% discount)
• Korean Folk Village (₩10,000 off)
• Jeju Folk Village (10% discount)
• Nami Island (₩1,000 gift coin)
• Petite France (₩11,000 discount)

Entertainment

The Korea Tour Card offers a range of discounts on family-friendly entertainment options in Seoul and across Korea. Here are some of the best benefits:

• COEX Aquarium (20% discount)
• Everland Resort (30% discount)
• Caribbean Bay (30% discount)
• Hanbok Day (50% discount)
• Lotte World Adventure (30% off)
• Seoul Sky (10% discount)
• Sea Life Busan (30% discount)

Performance / Exhibition

Save money on cultural performances, museums, and exhibitions while you travel in Korea, including family-fun places. Here are some of the best savings:

• Museum Kimchikan (20% discount)
• Brick Campus Jeju (10% discount)
• Animation Museum (20% discount)
• World Doll Musem (20% discount)
• Alive Museum (₩2,000 discount)
• Gangneung Coffee Museum
• Hahoe Mask Museum (10% off)
• Robot Studio (20% discount)

Shopping / Duty-Free

The Korea Tour Card has been designed to allow tourists to Korea to save more when shopping. Here are some places where you can get benefits when shopping:

• The Shilla Duty Free Seoul
• Shinsegae Duty Free Seoul
• Lotte Duty Free
• Hyundai Department Stores
• Hyundai City Outlet Mall
• Gyeongbokgung Duty Free
• Doota Mall

Korean Experiences

Experience more of Korea than just the main sights and attractions. Here are some of the best discounted experiences you can try with the Korea Tour Card:

• Eland River Cruise (10% discount)
• Hwagyesa Templestay (10% off)
• K-Pop Central (20% discount)
• 3355 Hanbok (20% discount)
• Canoe Kayak Experience (10% off)
• Dynamic Maze (₩2,000 discount)
• Grande Bleu Yacht Tour (30% off)
• Incheon City Tour (20% discount)
• Hyanggyo-Pottery (10% discount)

Namhaean Coast Benefits

If you’re visiting Korea’s southern coast, you can get 40 more discounts across this area with the Namhaean Coast version of the Korea Tour Card. Popular attractions in this area that are discounted include:

• Aqua Planet Yeosu
• Tongyeong Cable Car
• Lotte Water Park
• Skyline Luge Tongyeong
• Geoju Blue City Tour
• Yeosu Cable Car
• Suncheon Filming Locations
• Blue Marina Yachts Tour
• Busan Museum Of Movies
• Geojedo Sea Spa

Korea Tour Card App Mobile Version

There is a mobile version of the Korea Tour Card available to Android users. This version of the card is free and comes with the same T-Money benefits as the regular card (through your phone’s NFC function).

The main difference between the mobile and card versions of the Korea Tour Card is that you can top up using a credit card with the mobile version, whereas the card version can only be topped up with cash.

Should you get the mobile version of the Korea Tour Card instead of the physical version? Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. Although the mobile version is free, the reviews of the app are not good (2.2 / 5) and to use the card you need an active Internet connection to use your phone’s NFC function.

The card version of the Korea Tour Card is easier to use and topping up in cash isn’t a problem once you have some local currency. There is no risk of the card not working, unlike the app, and it’s also faster as you don’t have to wait for anything to load (a big problem according to reviews of the app).

Alternative Korean Transportation Cards

Transportation cards are a hassle-free and money saving way to travel on Korea’s public transportation and can double as nice souvenirs when you get one with a nice design. Besides the Korea Tour Card, here are a range of other Korean transportation cards that provide the same or similar functions:

T-Money Card

The T-Money card is the most popular transportation card in Korea and is cheaper than a Korea Tour Card. You can buy, top up, and pay for things with a T-Money card at the same locations as the Korea Tour Card, but it doesn’t any offer discounts. The T-Money card can be used to pay for small purchases in shops, restaurants, and cafes, including McDonalds and Starbucks.

WOWPASS

The WOWPASS card includes T-Money functions, but is more versatile as it is also a Korean debit card. You can top up the WOWPASS card and use it to pay like a local, not just for transportation, but for all your shopping and spending needs. Add up to ₩1,000.000 with 16 different currencies. Check out my guide to WOWPASS to learn more about how to use this useful card.

Cashbee Transportation Card

The main competition to T-Money is the Cashbee transportation card, which can be purchased from convenience stores and subway stations across Korea. Like T-Money, you can use Cashbee to pay for public transportation and small purchases. Cashbee, by Lotte, can also be used in Lotte locations, including Lotte Department Store and Lotte Cinema.

Railplus Transportation Card

The third option for transportation cards in Korea is the Railplus card, which is provided by Korea Rail. These cards are available through Namanecard vending machines in train stations and department stores across Korea. These allow you to personalise your transportation card by uploading a picture which is printed onto the card. Railplus cards can be used on Korea’s train network (unlike other cards).

Is The Korea Tour Card Worth Buying?

Should you get the Korea Tour Card when visiting Korea? I would definitely recommend getting a Korean transportation card to make travelling in Korea easier, cheaper, and more convenient. Whether you get a Korea Tour Card or one of the other transportation cards depends on how you’ll use it.

The price of the Korea Tour Card is ₩4,000, which is only a bit more expensive than a regular T-Money card, but the discounts of the Korea Tour Card can easily save you more. If you plan to visit premium attractions such as the N Seoul Tower, COEX Aquarium, or Lotte World, it’s certainly worth it.

Finally, the Korea Tour Card is available at convenient locations, such as Incheon Airport, which makes it useful for travellers arriving in Korea who want to use the all-stop train to get into Seoul. As public transportation is cheap, effective, and widely available, buying a Korea Tour Card is worth it.

Does The Korea Tour Card Offer The Best Savings?

I wouldn’t rely solely on the discounts of the Korea Tour Card when planning what to see and do in Korea. There are discounted tickets online that might save you more, such as those offered by Klook, Viator, and Get Your Guide. Sometimes the Korea Tour Card is cheaper, sometimes not.

The table below will show you a comparison between the prices you’ll pay with the Korea Tour Card and Klook, which offers the widest range of discounted tours and tickets in Korea. As you can see, the Korea Tour Card is cheaper only when visiting the N Seoul Tower, otherwise Klook has better prices.

Korea Tour Card FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about the Korea Tour Card, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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WOWPASS is a new type of travel card and truly one-of-a-kind. It allows you to pay in local currency in Korea, but can be topped up using 15 different foreign currencies. Because it’s issued in Korea, it’s more reliable and is accepted almost everywhere that local Korean bank cards are.

What’s more, there’s a package designed for tourists to Korea that offers not only a WOWPASS travel card, but also an extremely useful Korean sim card and 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, which is perfect for getting around Korea on day 1 of your journey to Korea. Full details in this article.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is A WOWPASS Card?

The WOWPASS card is an all-in-one prepaid Korean travel money card that allows you to pay like a local in Korea and pay for public transportation using foreign currency or Korean won. The WOWPASS allows you to avoid expensive fees or bad exchange rates from using your home bank card in Korea.

One of the biggest benefits of the WOWPASS is the ability to top it up in one of 15 foreign currencies and use it straight away to pay for things in Korea with no fees. The exchange rates are better than you’ll find at the airport and you can avoid the problem of having to carry loads of cash with you.

Here are some more benefits of the WOWPASS card:

How much does the WOWPASS card cost? Only 5,000 KRW. That’s less than $5 USD. WOWPASS includes a T-Money card, which can cost 4,000 KRW alone. If you use an invitation code (such as INMYKOR1) you’ll get 0.5% cashback when you top-up your WOWPASS with a foreign currency.

As you can see in the pictures below, Korea is fast becoming a cash-free society with more places only accepting card payments, including buses, restaurants, cafes, and attractions. The need for a travel money card in Korea has never been stronger and the WOWPASS is an answer to this issue.

WOWPASS Airport Package: Saving You More

As well as all the great benefits of getting a WOWPASS card, there is also a special package for tourists to Korea called the Airport Package. This complete package includes a WOWPASS, 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, and a discounted uSim or eSim with unlimited data to connect to the net.

The Airport Package is great value for money as it offers all of those benefits but at a lower price vs. buying them separately at the airport. Here’s what you get and how much you can save:

*The price of the WOWPASS Airport Package depends on the cost of the sim card you get and all of them are cheaper than what you’ll pay at the airport counters. The sim cards are available for 3 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 30 days so there’s something to suit you, however long you plan to travel in Korea.

A regular WOWPASS card doesn’t come pre-loaded with a 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, so the Airport Package allows you to jump straight onto the subway from Incheon Airport into Seoul. Use the WOWPASS from the Airport Package and touch the barriers at the subway station to travel.

A T-Money card is an essential purchase for any traveller to Korea. Getting a tourist sim card is also really useful for staying connected so you can surf the web, use apps, and check the weather. The WOWPASS Airport Package gives you both of these at a discount and a WOWPASS card, too.

In the rest of this article, I’ll tell you about how to issue a WOWPASS card and how to get the Airport Package, as well as provide details about where and how you can use WOWPASS in Korea. I’ll also explain some of the key benefits of the WOWPASS app and share my experience using WOWPASS.

How To Issue WOWPASS At A WOW Machine

Getting a WOWPASS card is really simple for travellers to Korea. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you download the app, collect your WOWPASS and start using it when you travel in Korea. That’s why I recommend it in my South Korea Travel Guide, which is full of essential Korean travel tips.

How To Issue WOWPASS In Korea

1: Download The WOWPASS App

The WOWPASS app is available for Android and Apple and is essential for using your WOWPASS in Korea. You’ll need to download the app to be able to issue the card.

2: Create A WOWPASS Account

To use the WOWPASS app, you’ll need to create an account. This is simple and all you need to do is enter an email address, password, select your preferred currency, and accepts the T&Cs. Click ‘Finish Sign-Up’ to complete your account and confirm your email address.

3: Enter Your Invitation Code

Open the WOWPASS app and there is an option to enter an invitation code at the top of the screen. If you enter an invitation code, you will receive up to 0.5% cash back on foreign currency top-ups worth a maximum of 1,000,000 KRW. Invitation Code: INMYKOR1

4: Go To A WOW Exchange Machine

Bring your passport and phone with the WOWPASS app installed to one of more than 90 WOW Exchange machines across Korea, including at Incheon Airport inside the Airport Express non-stop train terminal. Select your preferred language and touch the start screen. Select the service ‘WOWPASS Card’ to issue your WOWPASS.

5: Select ‘Get A New Card’

After reading about the benefits of the WOWPASS card, select the option to ‘Get a New Card’ on the WOW Exchange machine.

6: Select The Currency You Want To Top-Up With

To issue a new WOWPASS card, you need to add credit to the card. You can do this in 16 different currencies, including Korean won. If you registered an invitation code when you registered your app, you will get 0.5% cash back when adding credit with a foreign currency.

7: Scan Your Passport

Before you actually add any money to the WOWPASS card, you first need to validate your identity by showing your passport. This rule applies any time you exchange money in Korea, whether it’s at a WOW Exchange machine, a money changer, or in a bank.

8: Agree To The WOWPASS Membership Agreement

After you confirm your identity, you need to confirm one last time that you accept the WOWPASS terms and conditions. You can view these on the WOW Exchange machine and they’re also stated in the app. Select ‘Agree All’ to continue to

9: Deposit Cash Into The WOW Exchange Machine

Add cash in your selected currency to the WOW Exchange machine. You need to add each bill separately. The screen will show you your current balance as you add more notes.

10: Confirm The Deposit And Get WOWPASS

Once you’ve finished adding cash to the WOW Exchange machine, your WOWPASS card will be issued. Please note, the 5,000 KRW fee for the WOWPASS will be deducted at this stage. Press ‘Get Card’ to receive your WOWPASS card from the machine.

11: Insert The WOWPASS Card To Activate It

Collect the WOWPASS card from the WOW Exchange machine and insert it into the card reader slot at the front. Make sure to push it in firmly. Once the card has been inserted, it will be active.

12: Withdraw KRW To Top-Up T-Money (Optional)

After you activate the card in the WOW Exchange machine, it will ask if you would like to withdraw KRW to top-up the T-Money balance of the WOWPASS. The T-Money feature of the WOWPASS doesn’t come with any preloaded balance (unless you buy the Airport Package) and needs to be topped-up in KRW. T-Money balances can only be topped-up in cash. This is an optional step.

13: Remove Your WOWPASS Card From The Machine

When you have finished topping-up the WOWPASS and withdrawing cash (if needed), select ‘Finish’ on the WOW Exchange machine and withdraw your WOWPASS.

14: Register Your WOWPASS With The WOWPASS App

After issuing your new WOWPASS card from the WOW Exchange machine, you will need to register it in the WOWPASS App. Select the ‘Add Card’ button and it will request permission to access your phone’s camera. This is to allow it to scan the barcode on the WOWPASS.

15: Scan The Barcode On Your WOWPASS

On the back of your WOWPASS card is a barcode, as well as your card’s account and T-Money card details. Register your WOWPASS on the WOWPASS app by moving the barcode into the camera window. The app will read the barcode and register your WOWPASS.

16: Start Using Your WOWPASS Card In Korea

Now that your WOWPASS card has been topped up and activated, you can start using it throughout Korea. You don’t need to activate it or top it up at Incheon Airport, you can activate it and get the card at any WOW Exchange location in Korea.

The regular WOWPASS card doesn’t come with any T-Money balance (the Airport Package does). You will need to add money to the T-Money balance on your WOWPASS to be able to use the T-Money functions. I’ll explain more in the section about How To Use WOWPASS T-Money Features.

As you can see from the guide to getting a WOWPASS card above, it is necessary to use your phone to get a WOWPASS, which means you’ll need an active Internet connection. There is free WiFi available in Incheon Airport, but getting a Korean sim card is a more convenient option when in Korea.

That’s one of the reasons why a WOWPASS Airport Package is a great option for travellers to Korea. You can activate the sim card straight away at the airport and use your phone instantly.

How To Pre-Order WOWPASS Airport Package

The WOWPASS Airport Package is a great deal for those who want to start their Korean journey with a pre-loaded T-Money card, a discounted sim card, and their own WOWPASS card to spend like a local in Korea. It’s available at 5 locations in Korea, including Incheon Airport and Busan Harbour.

Here are the steps required to pre-order the WOWPASS Airport Package from the WOWPASS app. Don’t forget to enter your invitation code before you sign up. If you don’t have an invitation code, you can enter mine – INMYKOR1 – or you can ask if any of your friends have a code.

1: Select ‘Airport Package’ In The WOWPASS App

To reserve the WOWPASS Airport Package, open the WOWPASS app and click on the blue banner.

2: Confirm The WOWPASS Membership & T-Money Costs

The next step of reserving the Airport Package is to accept the WOWPASS & T-Money Costs.

3: Choose Your Sim Card

Choose the sim card you want to use. Both USIM and ESIM have the same costs.

4: Select Your Pickup Date

After choosing your sim card, select the date you will arrive in Korea and collect your package.

5: Choose Your Pickup Location

Choose the collection point from one of the five available locations, including Incheon Airport.

6: Enter Your Personal Details

Enter your personal details, including your email address and name as per your passport.

7: Choose Your Payment Method

Choose your payment method (JCB, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, or UnionPay) and currency, then agree to the terms and conditions.

8: Reservation Successful

After entering your payment details and paying for the Airport Package, you will receive a voucher code and confirmation email.

You can reserve the Airport Package any time before you travel to Korea. I recommend doing it at the same time as you choose your flights to Korea so you don’t forget later on. The next section of this guide will show you how to issue your WOWPASS when you arrive at the airport.

How To Issue WOWPASS Airport Package At Incheon Airport

As long as you’ve reserved the Airport Package in the WOWPASS app, you can quickly and conveniently collect your WOWPASS card with built in T-Money and your discounted sim card at your selected airport or port. It took less than 3 minutes to issue my WOWPASS Airport Package.

Here are the steps required to issue the WOWPASS Airport Package at Incheon Airport:

1: Open The WOWPASS App

Open the WOWPASS App to check your Airport Package voucher code. You will need to show this to the staff at the SK Telecom counter.

2: Go To The SK Telecom Counter

Go to the SK Telecom counter in Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport. You can check the location of the counter in the WOWPASS App.

3: Take A Waiting Ticket

Take a waiting ticket to join the queue at the SK Telecom counter. If there is no one waiting, you can go straight to the counter instead.

4: Provide Passport For ID Check

Show your Airport Package voucher code and provide your passport to confirm your identity. The staff at the counter will check it quickly.

5: Sign For The Airport Package

You will be asked to sign your name on an electronic signature machine to confirm that you have received your WOWPASS Airport Package.

6: Receive Your Airport Package

The staff will hand you your WOWPASS Airport Package, which includes your chosen sim card and a WOWPASS card with T-Money credit.

Once you’ve received your WOWPASS card, you can top it up at any WOW Exchange machine locations, including the one inside the Airport Express terminal. You can add cash the same way as you would when you issue a regular WOWPASS card (step 6 onwards shows you how to top up).

One major benefit of the WOWPASS Airport Package is that it comes with 10,000 KRW in T-Money credit which you can use right away to take the All-Stop train to Hongdae or Seoul Station. The next section will explain how to use the T-Money function of WOWPASS to travel in Korea.

How To Use WOWPASS T-Money To Travel In Korea

The T-Money card is an essential purchase when you travel to Korea as it allows you to pay for buses, subways, taxis, and more across Korea. WOWPASS comes with T-Money functions, which means you save money and wallet-space as you don’t have to buy a separate T-Money card.

Please note: The WOWPASS Airport Package comes with a pre-loaded 10,000 KRW T-Money balance. However, the regular WOWPASS doesn’t, so you will need to top-up before using it. That’s why I strongly recommend getting the Airport Package if you’re flying into Incheon Airport.

Travel From Incheon Airport To Seoul With WOWPASS T-Money

There are several options for getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul, including trains, taxis, buses, and private airport transfers. There are two trains that go to Seoul – the Airport Express (non-stop) and the All-Stop train, which stops at several locations, including Hongdae subway station.

The All-Stop train accepts T-Money, so you can use your WOWPASS from the Airport Package to ride this train into Seoul. Unfortunately, the Airport Express train doesn’t accept T-Money, so you’ll need to buy a separate ticket to ride that. It also only stops at Seoul Station.

Here’s how to ride the All-Stop train from Incheon Airport into central Seoul:

1: Go To The All-Stop Terminal

You can take the All-Stop train to Seoul from Terminal 1or 2 from Incheon Airport. Go to the transport centre on floor B1 of the terminal.

2: Use Your WOWPASS To Enter

Place your WOWPASS on the card reader to enter the All-Stop train platform. The cost will be deducted from your T-Money balance.

3: Ride The All-Stop Train

Enter the All-Stop train carriage at Incheon Airport and ride the train to your desired stop. The journey to Hongdae takes about 50 minutes.

4: Exit With Your WOWPASS

When you leave the train, you will need to place your WOWPASS on the card reader again to finalise your payment through T-Money.

The process of using WOWPASS T-Money is the same when riding the subway in Seoul and other cities in Korea. For buses, tap the WOWPASS to the electronic card reader when you enter the bus, and again when you leave the bus. When you transfer, you’ll get a discount on your next ride.

If you are staying in Hongdae (there are some great hotels in Hongdae), then you can get off at Hongdae subway station and top-up your WOWPASS inside the station or at one of several hotels in the area. Use the WOWPASS app to check WOW Exchange machine locations near you.

How To Top-Up The WOWPASS T-Money Balance

The WOWPASS Airport Package comes with 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, which is enough to take the All-Stop train to Seoul and ride the subway or buses several more times. A one-way subway ride starts at 1,250 KRW and short journeys on buses and subways in Seoul will be the same price.

You can check your T-Money balance on the WOWPASS app by using your phone’s NFC reader to scan your WOWPASS. You can also top-up and check your T-Money balance at ticket machines in train stations, as well as convenience stores across the country.

Here’s how to top-up the T-Money balance on your WOWPASS at a subway station:

1: Go To A Subway Ticket Machine

Go to any subway ticket machine in Seoul or other cities. The machine should say ‘Card Reload Device’ at the top.

2: Select Recharge The Card To Top-Up

Change the language settings as you like, then select ‘Recharge the card’ to top-up the T-Money balance on your WOWPASS.

3: Place WOWPASS On The Card Reader

Place your WOWPASS on the electronic card reader. This will be a flat area with a picture of a card, it changes depending on the machine.

4: Add Cash To Top-Up T-Money Balance

Add cash to top-up the T-Money balance. You can only use cash to top-up a T-Money card, which is standard for any T-Money device.

Once you’ve added the desired amount of cash to top up your T-Money balance on your WOWPASS, select finish and the card balance will be electronically adjusted. Make sure you don’t remove your WOWPASS from the card reader until the machine has finished topping up the balance.

If you’re not close to a subway station and you want to top-up or check your T-Money balance, you can also go to any major convenience store (GS25, CU, 7/11, Emart 24) and do it there.

Here’s how to top-up the T-Money balance on your WOWPASS at a convenience store:

1: Go To A Convenience Store

Go to any major convenience store in Seoul or other cities across Korea.

2: Ask To Top-Up T-Money

Show your WOWPASS and ask to top-up T-Money. Use Papago to translate into Korean.

3: Give Cash To The Cashier

You can only use cash to top-up T-Money balances, so make sure you have cash available to pay with. Give it to the cashier.

4: Place WOWPASS On Card Reader

Place the WOWPASS on the electronic card reader and wait for confirmation from the cashier that the balance has been updated.

Whenever you use your WOWPASS T-Money balance to travel on buses or subways, you should see the fee for the ride and also your remaining T-Money balance. This is the easiest way to check how much you have left to spend and how expensive each journey is.

How To Pay With WOWPASS In Korea

You can travel Korea conveniently with a WOWPASS and T-Money. WOWPASS can be used to pay for street food, souvenirs, attractions, shopping, and everywhere else you’d normally use a card. T-Money can be used to travel on Korea’s amazing public transportation, including subways and buses.

When you want to pay with the WOWPASS, for example in a shop or restaurant, you only need to insert the card into the card reader and it will deduct the payment in a few seconds. When paying with T-Money, simply tap the WOWPASS to the electronic card reader and the payment will be done.

With WOWPASS you can pay like a local in Korea as the card is issued by a Korean company. It will be accepted in locations where regular Korean cards are accepted and paying with WOWPASS is really simple. I’ve used the WOWPASS in lots of different locations across Korea, as shown below:

You can use WOWPASS to pay for entry to attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, to pay for goods in shops, souvenirs, snacks, meals, coffees, taxis, train tickets, and lots more. With the T-Money function, you can also pay for bus and subway rides, too.

Paying with WOWPASS is really simple. Most payments in Korea are made by inserting your card into a payment terminal or on a card reader. WOWPASS can be used in both of these situations and the card was never rejected when I went to pay. It’s so easy and convenient using WOWPASS.

Get Cashback When Using WOWPASS

There are extra benefits from using WOWPASS in certain shops in Korea, including cashback when paying with WOWPASS. When you use WOWPASS in Starbucks, for example, you’ll get 10% of the value of your purchase back to your card. That means you’re getting 10% off your coffee fix.

Here are some of the other great cashback and discount offers currently available with WOWPASS:

CU Convenience Store:
20% cashback*

Olive Young:
1,000 KRW cashback*

Lotte Duty Free:
20,000 KRW discount and 10% cashback*

Starbucks:
10% cashback*

BBQ Chicken:
1,000 KRW cashback*

Seven Luck Casino:
60,000 KRW Casino chips*

*Terms and conditions apply.
Some cashback may only be eligible after spending a certain amount.

How To Withdraw Cash Using WOWPASS

Most purchases in Korea can be made by card, which is why WOWPASS is so helpful for travellers to Korea. However, sometimes you’ll also want to use cash to make small purchases at food stalls, leave a tip for a tour guide, or to give as spending money to children.

You can withdraw cash from your WOWPASS to spend in Korea using a WOW Exchange machine. Here’s how to withdraw cash using your WOWPASS app and a WOW Exchange machine:

1: Go To A WOW Machine

Use your WOWPASS app to locate the nearest WOW Exchange machine. There are more than 90 in Seoul and other parts of Korea.

2: Select ‘Withdraw Cash’

Choose your desired language and then select ‘Withdraw Cash’ from the 4 options on the WOW Exchange machine home screen.

3: Insert Your WOWPASS

Insert your WOWPASS card into the WOW Exchange machine so it can check your balance. Make sure to push it in firmly.

4: Open Your WOWPASS App

Open your WOWPASS App and go to the settings (cogwheel). Select ‘Manage Card’ and then ‘Verify PIN at Machine’.

5: Authenticate Your Transaction

On the WOWPASS Exchange machine, you will be asked to authenticate the transaction. Enter the PIN from the machine into your app.

6: Withdraw Cash From WOWPASS

Select the amount of cash you want to withdraw (max 100,000 KRW at once). 1,000, 10,000, and 50,000 KRW bank notes are dispensed.

Please note: There is a 1,000 KRW fee to withdraw cash from a WOW Exchange machine. This is a flat fee for each withdrawal, regardless of how much you withdraw. Global ATMs can charge considerably more for cash withdrawals from other credit or debit cards, often up to 4,000 KRW.

Learn more: Discover more options for exchanging money and ways to pay in Korea with this article about travel money in Korea and whether you should bring cash or card with you. There’s also details about alternative payment methods, including mobile apps and multi-currency cards.

How To Use The WOWPASS App

The WOWPASS app is key to using WOWPASS, from registering your card to checking balances, tracking your spending, and protecting your WOWPASS. You can see the latest exchange rates for the 16 currencies the WOWPASS accepts and see how much cashback you’ve earned.

Using The WOWPASS App To Track Your Spending

Staying on top of your spending when you’re on holiday can be really hard, especially if you’re using a foreign currency that’s very different from your home currency. Thankfully, it’s really simple to check your spending history and see your current WOWPASS balance, both in KRW and your own currency.

The WOWPASS app not only shows your current balance and transaction history, it can also show you more details about where you’ve spent money and whether the transaction was successful, refunded, or cancelled. You can also see where you earned cashback from certain vendors.

Using The WOWPASS App To Protect Or Replace Your Card

Problems can happen at any time and should the worst happen, you’ll be happy to know that you can protect and replace your WOWPASS card at any time by using the app. In the ‘Manage’ section of the app, you can see options and instructions about how to pause your WOWPASS and how to reissue it.

Pausing your WOWPASS means that the balance will be protected and no one can spend the money you put on there. If you find your card later, you can unpause your card and use it normally. If you need to reissue the card, you can do so at a WOW Exchange machine by following the instructions.

Using The WOWPASS App To Invite Your Friends

Help your friends discover the benefits and savings of WOWPASS by inviting them to join through the WOWPASS app. Both you and your friend will benefit. If your friends use an invitation code, they’ll get 0.5% cashback when they top-up. You’ll receive 1,000 KRW in WOWPASS credit to spend in Korea.

My Experience Using WOWPASS In Korea

For this review, I ordered the Airport Package with a 10-day 4G SK Telecom sim card. The sim card works really well and SK Telecom are one of the main phone companies in Korea. You can always rely on their sim cards to provide great coverage and secure network connections across Korea.

I signed up for the WOWPASS in summer 2023 and have been using the card since then to purchase goods, meals, snacks, and lots of coffee in various cities in Korea. The card has worked everywhere I’ve tried it, just the same as my regular bank card and T-Money card, which is awesome.

The WOWPASS app is convenient for checking my balance and I get a notification every time I spend money with the card. I can keep track of my spending and top it up when I need to at a nearby WOW Exchange machine. If I lose the card, I know that it’s safe as I can pause and reissue it, too.

My only criticism of the WOWPASS is it’s convenience outside of Seoul. Most of the WOW Exchange machines are located in Seoul, with a few in a couple of other major cities. However, if I am travelling outside of those locations and need to top-up, then I won’t be able to. I wish there was another way.

However, that’s not a major issue and one that I think can best be avoided by topping-up with your planned spending money when you first issue the card. I saw plenty of people adding 1,000,000 KRW balance to their card (the maximum allowed) at the airport. This seems like a sensible idea.

I hope to see more WOW Exchange machines in the future, along with more cashback opportunities for using the card in various shops. I think the WOWPASS card can be a great asset for travellers to Korea and can make their life easier. It can certainly save them some money, too.

WOWPASS Korea FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about WOWPASS and how to use it in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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You’ll find all the best Korean travel tips and advice in this article. Whether you’re a first-time traveller to Korea, or you’ve visited before, this South Korea travel guide will show what to see, when to travel, and which places to visit, as well as help you avoid any difficult situations or surprising culture shocks.

This guide is designed to walk you through everything you need to know to prepare for your trip to Korea. You can use it to plan your itinerary, to pre-book travel essentials, to learn about what festivals and seasonal events are on, and to find more reasons to want to travel to Korea right now.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What’s In This South Korea Travel Guide

This South Korea travel guide covers all the essential information you need to plan a trip to Korea. This is useful for first-time travellers to Korea who might not be aware of uniquely Korean cultural and travel issues. Even if you’ve visited Korea before, I’m sure you can learn a lot from this travel guide.

This article contains lots of insights and knowledge about travelling to Korea and is quite long. I’ve added links in each section to articles that provide more information about each topic. Therefore, I suggest viewing this South Korea travel guide on a desktop computer as it will be easier to read.

What Are You Looking For?

To help make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for, I’ve broken this article into the following sections. Click the quick links below to jump straight there or keep reading through all parts.

Latest Travel News

Entry Requirements

Why Visit Korea

When To Visit

Flights To Korea

Where To Stay

Korea Travel Costs

Travel Money

Phones & Internet

Public Transport

Where To Visit

Seoul Day Tours

Sightseeing Spots

Korean Activities

Korean Festivals

1-Week Itinerary

Culture Issues

Language Issues

Health & Safety

Korean Travel Tips

Korean Travel News And Travel Restrictions 2024

This section of the South Korea travel guide will show you the latest travel news and restriction updates, including any temporary or permanent changes to the entry process, visa changes, and other things that might affect travel to Korea. COVID-related updates will also be posted here.

Latest Korean Travel News In 2024

This section will detail any interesting or important travel news that could affect travellers to Korea, such as price increases in public transport, travel changes, new services, or closures.

What Are the Current COVID Restrictions In Korea In 2024?

Korea has been removing COVID-related restrictions in the country throughout 2022 and 2023. It is no longer necessary to show a QR code to enter a building and restrictions involving masks and health checks have mostly gone. The latest COVID-related rules for Korea are as follows.

Masks: From Monday, March 20th, Korea has removed the mandatory mask rule for public transport, one of the final places that masks were required for the general public. The only places that require a face mask (from June 1st) are in medical facilities (hospitals). Masks are not mandatory elsewhere, including in schools, shops, restaurants or anywhere outside. Source: Korea Herald

Self-Quarantine: From June 1st, Korea will no longer impose a mandatory self-isolation period on infected people. The government instead ‘recommends’ a period of self-isolation for 5 days to reduce the chance of transmission to other people. Source: Korea Herald

For further details about the latest COVID requirements for entering or travelling in Korea, check out the second section of this South Korea travel guide, which has a list of all the updated entry requirements, including visas, tests, and other considerations.

Current Requirements To Travel To Korea In 2024

This part of the South Korea travel guide is for tourists. If you plan to travel for business, employment, or other reasons, check your nearest Korean embassy for the latest travel requirements.

Most of the restrictions and requirements for travelling to Korea have now been scrapped. You can see what entry and travel rules are in place for Korea in the table below:

The following section provides more information and exceptions about these requirements:

COVID-positive travellers should avoid travelling to Korea: To avoid infecting others on the way to Korea, as well as in Korea, the Korean government recommends that you shouldn’t travel to Korea if you exhibit COVID-symptoms or have tested positive. Self-quarantine is mandatory in Korea.

There are no PCR or other testing requirements: It is not necessary to take a PCR or other test before travelling to Korea. However, you will be asked to take a test if you show symptoms of COVID or similar illnesses when travelling to or arriving in Korea.

There is no quarantine on arrival: Travellers to Korea no longer need to quarantine when entering Korea. From June 1st, there is only a ‘recommended’ 5 day self-isolation period for infected travellers, but this is not enforced.

Complete the self-health check before or on arrival: From July 15th, 2023, travellers to Korea no longer need to complete a Q-Code self-health check or declare their health status on arrival.

Apply for a K-ETA or tourist visa before travelling: You need to apply for either a K-ETA or tourist visa for South Korea before flying to the country. Entry will be prohibited without the correct one. From April 1st, 2023 until December 31st, 2024, 22 countries are excluded from the K-ETA.

If you’re not sure which of these you need to apply for, more information is provided in the next section of this South Korea travel guide about the K-ETA and tourist visa for Korea.

K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation)

The K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation) is an online travel authorisation that visa-free foreign visitors aged 18 to 65 must obtain before entering the Korea for tourism, visiting relatives, participating in events or meetings, and for business purposes other than profitable activities.

Tourists from 112 eligible countries need to apply for a K-ETA before travelling to Korea and won’t be allowed to board a flight to Korea without it. The approval process isn’t difficult, but requires accommodation details, travel dates, and personal details such as passport number, etc.

The K-ETA is based on your nationality, not the country you’re travelling from. That means, if you require a tourist visa from your home country (e.g. the Philippines), but are travelling from a country that requires a K-ETA (e.g. the USA), you can’t use the K-ETA to travel to Korea.

Tourists should apply as far in advance as possible at the official K-ETA website. If you would like to know more about the K-ETA, check out my article explaining what is the K-ETA. The K-ETA costs 10,000 KRW (about $9.00 USD). If you are charged more than this, you’re on the wrong site.

Official K-ETA website

Not sure if you need a K-ETA? Check out this infographic to find out.

Will The K-ETA End In The Future?

The K-ETA will continue for the indefinite future. It is not a pandemic-related travel restriction but a permanent feature that just happened to start in 2021. The Korean government have stated that the K-ETA will be ongoing and other countries and areas, such as the EU, are planning similar ETAs.

Update: In July 2023, the Korean government stopped requiring children 17 years and younger and adults 65 years and older to apply for a K-ETA. The validity period was also increased to 3 years.

Update: In April 2023, the Korean government suspended the K-ETA for travellers from 22 countries (listed previously). This is in an effort to reduce the burden on travellers visiting Korea during the ‘Visit Korea Years’ of 2023 and 2024. This lasts until December 2024, but could possibly go on longer.

Tourist Visas For South Korea

Tourists that aren’t from one of the 112 countries that require a K-ETA to travel to Korea will need to apply for a tourist visa. This includes nationals from countries such India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Tourist visas are based on nationality (passport), not country of residence.

The process to apply for a tourist visa differs depending on the country and may be as simple as submitting an application at the Korean embassy in the country you live in. For other countries, it may be necessary to submit extra information like bank statements and a full itinerary.

If you need a tourist visa for South Korea, contact your nearest Korean embassy as soon as you can to start the process. Tourist visas may be rejected, delayed, or take longer than expected. For some countries, such as the Philippines, it is necessary to apply through a specialist visa agency.

Transit Tour Visas For South Korea

Visa-free entry for foreign transit passengers at Incheon Airport will resume from May 2023 after being suspended for 3 years during the pandemic. There are two types of visa-free transit entry methods for travellers to Korea, they differ in length, requirements, and eligibility.

The first type of visa-free entry for transit passengers is open to all travellers to Korea and allows entry for 3 days, as long as they take a transit tour from Incheon Airport. The second type of visa-free entry for transit passengers is available for 30 days, but only from travellers from 36 select countries.

Visa-Free Entry For Transit Passengers (3 Days)

From May 15, 2023, travellers from any country can travel from Incheon Airport to the Seoul Metropolitan area for up to 3 days, as long as they book at least 1 transit tour from Incheon Airport. If Korea is not their final destination, they’re free to explore more of Seoul after the tour.

There are a wide range of transit tours available from Incheon Airport, including cultural, historic, food, shopping, and entertainment tours. See the sights of Seoul’s most popular places in a few hours, or stay for longer and see more. You can find out more about transit tours from the Visit Korea website.

Requirements: To be eligible for a transit tour visa, travellers must:

• Have an onward flight to their home country or a 3rd country after Korea.
• Participate in a transit tour program by a designated travel agency.
• Stay within the Seoul Metropolitan area only.
• Have more than 2 hours between connecting flights.

Eligible countries: Visa-free entry with a transit tour is open to passengers of all countries, as long as they meet the above requirements.

Tip: If you have a transit tour in Korea, I recommend staying in Hongdae, as there is a direct train from Incheon Airport to Hongdae called the All-Stop Airport Line. Hongdae is also a really fun place where you can see lots of culture, try Korean dishes, and pack your suitcase with Korean souvenirs.

Visa-Free Entry For Transit Passengers (30 Days)

This will allow travellers from 36 countries to enter and stay in Korea for up to 30 days without a Korean visa. Travellers must be travelling to or from one of these 36 countries to be eligible to stay in Korea without a visa. This includes passengers who are not citizens of those countries.

Requirements: To be eligible for a visa-free entry as a transit passenger, travellers must:

• Hold an onward flight to any of the 36 countries mentioned below.
• Have no illegal stay records of any kind, nor have been denied entry to Korea.
• Not have exceeded a maximum of 3 days stay in any other transit airport.

Eligible countries: Travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 32 EU countries (see picture below) can stay for up to 30 days, as long as the above-mentioned requirements are met.

Why You Should Travel To Korea In 2024

There’s not enough space in this South Korea travel guide to write down all of the reasons why you should travel to South Korea. Korea is an under-appreciated gem that has so much to discover and experience that’s completely different from what you’ll find in other countries.

Much the way that Japan has a very distinct culture and history, Korea has lots of unique, appealing places to see, people to meet, history to learn about, and natural sights to appreciate. Many people only see a small slice of Korean culture and beauty through modern media, but there’s a lot more.

Here are some of the reasons you should travel to Korea:

• Delicious foods and tasty seasonal dishes.
• Four distinct seasons that offer a variety of views.
• Fascinating history to learn about and explore.
• Stunning mountains and beaches for outdoor lovers.
• Unique and unusual festivals throughout the year.
• Friendly locals and a safe country to travel around.
• Modern, high-tech cities that are clean and efficient.
• Welcoming Buddhist temples and temple stays.
• Cheaper than most other developed countries.
• A shopper’s paradise with many markets and malls.
• Korea really wants you to come and visit.

Korea wants you to visit so much that they declared 2023-2024 the Visit Korea Year. This two-year period, confusingly referred to as a single year, is set to feature loads of events and activities to draw tourists to Korea, and includes promotions for discounted flights, accommodation, and food.

Some of the events you can expect to see during the Visit Korea Year(s) include K-Pop concerts, e-sports competitions, food festivals, and cultural celebrations. There’ll be K-Cultural stars involved, too, including your favourite K-Pop and K-Drama stars. Get ready to travel to Korea soon!

Want to know what you can do in Korea that you can’t do in other countries? Check out these amazing unique Korean experiences that should definitely be on your Korean bucket list.

The Best Time To Visit Korea

The best time to visit Korea is in spring (late-March to May) or autumn (mid-September until mid-November). These seasons have the most comfortable weather, ranging from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, an average amount of rain, and also have the most festivals and events.

My favourite months to travel in Korea are April and October. Early-April is when cherry blossoms come out and the weather warms up enough to stop wearing a jacket. October in Korea is a beautiful month when autumn foliage sweeps across the country and the weather is warm and calm.

When you travel to Korea, the season you travel in can have a big impact on what you can see, eat, and do. This section of the South Korea travel guide is one of the most important and if you want to travel to Korea in the future, I recommend learning about Korea’s seasons before making plans.

What Can You See In Korea Each Season?

Although spring and autumn are undoubtedly the best time to visit Korea, there are plenty of reasons to visit in other seasons, too. Visitors to Korea who are restricted to travelling during certain times, such as during school or work holidays, needn’t be put off by travelling in summer or winter.

Here’s a summary of what you can see and do in each season in Korea:

Spring: Cherry Blossoms, Blooming Nature, Culture Festivals

Spring is an amazing season to travel in Korea as you can see colourful plum blossoms (Mar), cherry blossoms (Mar-Apr), and many other bright sights. The warm weather allows people go out more to enjoy cultural activities and spring festivals, such as the Lotus Lantern Festival and Jindo Sea-Parting Festival, and also trekking, hiking, and cycling. Spring is one of the most popular times to travel in Korea for locals, so expect places to be busy, especially around cherry blossom season.

Check out my cherry blossom guide for the best places to see cherry blossoms in Korea.

Summer: Beaches, Korean Desserts, Water Sports, Camping

Summer is a difficult season for travellers due to the high humidity and heat. June and July are rainy season in Korea and it may rain for days on end, causing people to change travel plans to indoor activities. In late July and August it gets very hot, which is good for going to the beach and enjoying water sports or water parks, which Korea has many of. Evening activities like hiking, drinking in rooftop bars, and visiting night markets are great ways to get out in summer when it’s not as hot.

Check out my guide to Korean summer activities for the best places to have fun during summer and rainy day activities in Busan in case the weather isn’t so good.

Autumn: Foliage, Festivals, Fresh Foods, Harvest Festivals

Autumn is another incredibly popular time to travel in Korea, especially in October when the autumn foliage is at its best. The foliage really brings everything to life, adding shades of colour to plain palace walls, mountains, and parks. The calm weather is warm with clear skies, making it perfect for going into nature to see the fresh fruits and other harvest goods, as well as join in harvest and cultural festivals. Enjoy local Korean dishes, fresh from the farm to your table.

Check out my guide to autumn foliage in Korea for the best places to see the leaves.

Winter: Snow, Winter Sports, Ice Fishing, Light Festivals

Winter in Korea is often neglected due to the cold weather, but is actually a very nice time to travel with delicious winter foods to try. It’s the driest time of year with blue skies making everything bright and beautiful. When it snows, sights look even more incredible. Jeju Island is a great place to visit during winter as it has fresh citrus and colourful camellia flowers to see. You can enjoy winter sports, festivals and activities, such as ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, and more.

Check out my guide to Korean winter activities for the best places to have fun during winter.

What Is The Weather Like In Korea?

The weather in Korea follows a similar pattern each year, spread over five distinct seasons. As well as spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Korea also has a rainy season, which starts around mid-June and finishes mid-July. It doesn’t constantly rain during rainy season, but may do for several days.

There’s always something to do in Korea, no matter what the season. Even rainy season in Korea is fine for travelling, as long as you plan lots of indoor activities and can be flexible with your schedule. Don’t let the weather in Korea put you off visiting, you’ll find plenty to do in each season.

Here’s a summary of the weather in Korea each season:

The graph below shows you the average temperature each month in Seoul. This is an average temperature, so some days will be much hotter and others much colder. I’ve experienced summer temperatures of over 35 degrees and winter nights of -20, so be prepared for both.

The table below shows the average rainfall for each month in Korea, based on records from climate-data.org. The summer months have the most, while winter in Korea is very dry. The rainfall in the winter months can turn to snow when it’s cold enough, too.

There will be more information about the sights, festivals, and events you can enjoy in Korea in later parts of this South Korea travel guide. Check them out for travel ideas for your trip to Korea.

How To Book Flights To Korea

Flying to Korea in 2024 is getting easier with more airlines offering direct or connecting flights to Korea and budget airlines adding more routes to Korea from other parts of Asia and as far away as the USA. There aren’t as many routes as there were in 2019, but they are returning month by month.

Booking a flight to Korea is one of the first things most people do and finding the right flight can really affect your travels. Choosing the right flight not only affects how much money you need to spend, but also when you’ll arrive, how you’ll get to your hotel, and where you’ll arrive in Korea.

Check out my guide to booking flights to Korea to discover the best ways to book a flight to Korea, including the best time to book (21 to 127 days before travel), where to get cheap flights, the various airlines that offer flights to Korea, and lots more.

Arriving At Incheon Airport

Most flights to Korea arrive at Incheon Airport, which is near Seoul. It takes about an hour to get to the centre of Seoul from Incheon Airport and there are various transportation options including a high-speed train, subway, limo buses, taxis, and private transfers.

The best option for transferring from Incheon Airport to your hotel is usually a limo bus as these run to popular areas of Seoul, such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Insadong. There’s also a direct train to Seoul Station and a subway that goes to Seoul Station via Hongdae.

Arriving during the daytime gives you the best options for getting from Incheon Airport into Seoul, while nighttime flights will leave you fewer options. There are a few night buses that run, but late arrivals will either need to stay at the airport or book a private transfer or taxi instead. More details about taking a taxi from Incheon Airport can be found in my guide to taxis in Korea.

If you want to book a private transfer direct to your hotel from Incheon Airport, contact Jerry Heng, a freelance driver. I want to recommend Jerry as he has years of experience organising airport pick-ups and drop-offs, as well as personalised tours around Korea. He’s also a friendly guy.

Recommended Flight Comparison Sites

I suggest checking at least one flight comparison website before booking any flights. You can alter the arrival and departure times, flight duration, choose direct or indirect flights, and sort by price to find the perfect flight for you. Skyscanner is my preferred comparison site, but they’re all useful.

Take time to change the dates and flight times to find the most suitable flights for you. Cheaper flights often have inconvenient arrival times, so you should decide whether it’s worth the hassle to save a bit of money. Sometimes spending more for the right flight is worth it, especially when time is limited.

I try to go for a balance of convenience and savings and avoid flights that arrive late at night or leave too early in the morning. These flights require you to book an extra night at the airport or make you lose time when you could be travelling and doing more interesting things.

Here are 4 of the best flight comparison sites for booking flights to Korea:

Skyscanner is one of the most popular flight aggregators and offers flights, hotels, and other travel bookings for all major destinations. Skyscanner shows airline environmental ratings and which flights are practical or difficult.

Skyscanner Flights

Expedia is a large US travel company that offers tours, flights, hotels, and other services around the world. You can book hotel and flights together, to save you time and effort when travelling. A good place to start your flight search.

Expedia Flights

Kayak is great for people looking for cheap flights to Korea. You can see price trends for your flight to Korea to see when the best prices are available. There are also lots of budget travel options on the site that can save you more.

Kayak Flights

WayAway is a flight comparison site for the modern generation, with Instagram tips & travel advice as well as a good selection of cheap flights. You can get cashback on bookings with their premium service.

Wayaway Flights

Where To Stay In Seoul

Incheon Airport is the main arrival destination for most travellers visiting Korea, with more than 71 million travellers passing through the airport in 2019, making it the world’s 14th busiest airport. It’s close to Seoul and has lots of transportation options to get into Korea’s capital.

Seoul is the first place people visit, not only because it’s close to Incheon Airport, but because it’s undeniably the heart and soul of Korea. The greater Seoul area includes about 50% of Korea’s population (25 million people) and is by far the biggest, most vibrant, and fun city in Korea.

To travel to Korea you need either a K-ETA or tourist visa. One of the requirements to apply for these is the address of the first place you’ll be staying in Korea. Therefore, you should book at least your first hotel in Korea so you can begin those applications. Seoul is an ideal first place to stay.

Best Neighbourhoods To Stay In Seoul

Deciding where to stay in Seoul can be difficult because there are so many unique neighbourhoods, each offering something interesting for travellers to experience. Knowing which has the best sights, entertainment, culture, shopping, transport, markets, restaurants, cafes, etc., is useful.

Seoul’s neighbourhoods typically contain a mixture of several of these elements and will appeal to different types of travellers. Below is a very rough guide for which neighbourhood each type of traveller might enjoy. Of course, there are plenty of other things to do in each area.

As you can see from the list above, both Hongdae and Myeongdong have a lot to offer and I would definitely recommend either of these neighbourhoods for first time travellers to Seoul. Even people who have travelled to Korea before will find lots of reasons to stay there. They’re where I usually stay.

I have detailed guides to hotels in the two best districts for staying in Seoul – Hongdae and Myeongdong. My guide to hotels in Hongdae includes a range of hotels for all types of travellers, while my guide to hotels in Myeongdong highlights Myeongdong’s best budget to mid-range hotels.

Each neighbourhood feels unique and offers something to discover, from traditional markets and eateries, modern Insta-worthy cafe districts, peaceful parks and lakes, world-class skyscrapers, and many fun activities. Wherever you choose to stay, you’re sure to find something you enjoy.

I’ve included the 8 best neighbourhoods in Seoul in this South Korea travel guide, along with a small summary about what you can expect in each area. These are the most popular areas for tourists to stay in, but certainly not the only places to stay. There are also links to hotels in these areas.

Here are the 8 best neighbourhoods in Seoul:

Myeongdong is arguably one of the best places to stay in Seoul for any traveller. It has the best range of budget and mid-range hotels in Seoul and is conveniently located for sights, activities, and public transport. It’s close to popular tourist sites, such as the N Seoul Tower and royal palaces. There are traditional markets and Myeongdong’s famous street food alley to check out. As Myeongdong is popular with tourists, you’ll find more people that can speak English and places to exchange money.

Hongdae is one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Seoul and a must-see for any traveller to the city. This area has emerged as a creative hotbed for the latest Korean fashion, art, food, and culture, thanks to innovations from students of nearby universities. Youth culture is on display in Hongdae’s main and side streets, with boutique shops, trendy bars and cafes, inventive restaurants, street art, and live performances. If you want to see a vibrant, colourful side of Seoul, then Hongdae is the place for you.

Gangnam is an upscale area of Seoul that’s home to some of Korea’s biggest stars. This area was where K-Pop was invented, as can be seen by the golden Gangnam Style statue outside COEX Mall. Gangnam is a lot more than that, and is a powerful business area with Seoul’s best shopping and dining experiences, as well as some of the city’s finest cafes and bars. Gangnam has a host of upmarket hotels that provide outstanding luxury, but also has a selection of budget and mid-range hotels making it accessible for all travellers.

Jongno is the area north of Myeongdong that includes Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Ikseongdong Hanok Village, Jogyesa Temple, 4 of Seoul’s royal palaces, the presidential Blue House, and lots more. This area is packed full of interesting sights and traditional restaurants and tea houses to explore. You can find a good range of hotels in Insadong, Seoul’s artistic area that is home to artists and tourist-friendly attractions. There are also guesthouses and apartments to rent in the residential areas of Jongno that offer a more homely stay.

Jamsil is an upmarket residential neigbourhood close to Gangnam that’s home to one of Korea’s largest companies, Lotte. You’ll find the Lotte World Tower, Lotte World Theme Park, and Lotte Aquarium in this area, as well as the beautiful Seokchon Lake and leafy Olympic Park. Jamsil is a great base for people visiting for cherry blossoms in spring as the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Seoul’s best. There are lots of trendy cafes and bars near the lake and it’s a relaxed part of the city to stay in.

Dongdaemun is known for both its traditional markets, where you can buy a range of goods, as well as the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The area is an unusual mix of traditional Seoul, with Gwangjang Market offering some of Seoul’s best Korean street food, and modern culture, displayed by the night markets and art installations at the DDP. There are lots of cheap eats and bargain markets and malls in this area, making it a great place to stay if you plan to do a lot of bargain shopping in Seoul.

Yongsan is the area encompassing the N Seoul Tower, the popular international area of Itaewon, the trendy hilltop area of Haebangchon (HBC), Seoul Station, the National Museum of Seoul, and many riverside parks. Yongsan has a busy train station with towering skyscrapers and hotels around it catering to business and luxury travellers, as well as shoppers. This quiet business and residential area has good transport links and fewer crowds than other parts of Seoul, as well as interesting cultural attractions.

Yeouido is a large island that rests in the Han River, overlooking Hongdae and Yongsan. It has some of the best parks in Seoul and is a popular place for locals to walk along the river on weekends and at night. These parks are home to Seoul’s biggest cherry blossom festivals, as well as summer night markets, fireworks performances, live music, and people enjoying life outside of work. Yeouido is the upmarket financial centre of Seoul, making it an ideal base for business, luxury, and family travellers.

Seoul’s neighbourhoods are informal designations, not necessarily the official district name. For example, Hongdae is a neighbourhood in the Mapo-gu district and Myeongdong a neighbourhood in the Jung-gu district. Whereas Jongno is both the neighbourhood and district name (Jongno-gu).

You might see some areas referred to differently. However, the terms I’ve used in this section are the names most commonly used to describe these areas by tourists and expats. Koreans will certainly know which area of Seoul you’re talking about when you use these names.

Learn more: If you want to know more about Seoul’s best districts and figure out where the best place to stay for your trip to Korea, then check out my detailed guide about where to stay in Seoul. It’s packed with useful info about each neighbourhood, hotel recommendations for different budgets, and tips about booking accommodation in Seoul. Also learn more about the Han River Boat Service launching in 2024 to connect Yeoudio, Jamsil and other riverside destinations.

Hotel Recommendations For Seoul

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of hotels in Seoul to choose from ranging from multi-person dorm rooms to the height of luxury looking down over Seoul from a 5-star hotel room in the Lotte World Tower. Whatever your budget or requirements, there’ll be somewhere to stay in Seoul for you.

To save you time searching for the best places to stay in Seoul, I’ve created a list of the 9 best luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels in Seoul, as well as 6 long-stay serviced apartments. This list has been created based on customer reviews, location, facilities, amenities, reputation, and quality.

I live outside of Seoul, so often book hotels when I’m visiting Seoul for the weekend. I’ve stayed at quite a few of these, so can personally recommend them based on my own experience. I’ve had both good and bad hotel experiences in Seoul and only want to recommend the best to you.

Recommended Luxury Hotels

Seoul has some incredible luxury hotels to enjoy, each with a true 5-star service, excellent amenities, and delectable restaurants. Many of Seoul’s best luxury hotels are located in Gangnam, Seoul’s wealthiest district, where you can find top restaurants and designer brand shopping.

Recommended Mid-Range Hotels

If you want to experience a luxurious stay in Seoul without breaking the bank, then these mid-range hotels will be perfect for you. These unique, 4-star hotels are reasonably priced and provide stylish, comfortable rooms that you’ll sleep easily in after a busy day exploring Seoul.

Recommended Budget Hotels

Seoul has a wide range of excellent budget hotels with prices that might surprise you for a large city. These are some of my favourite places to stay in Seoul when I visit for the weekend and are popular with travellers due to their convenient location, facilities, and comfortable beds.

Recommended Serviced Apartments

If you plan to stay in Seoul for a month or more, these serviced apartments will provide you all the comforts of home with the benefits of staying at a hotel. These excellent serviced apartments come with cleaning services, health facilities, cooking facilities, and are value for money.

Cost To Travel In South Korea In 2024

This part of the South Korea travel guide will help you understand some of your expected costs to travel to Korea. The costs to travel to Korea include flights, accommodation, food, drinks, transportation, activities, sim cards, visas, souvenirs, travel insurance, and lots more.

The costs you will pay when you travel vary massively depending on what type of traveller you are and what style of travel you can afford. If you want 5-star luxury and fine-dining, your budget will be very different from someone eating ramyeon from 7-11 and staying in a budget guesthouse.

Therefore, I will try to provide expected costs for 3 different types of traveller – budget, mid-range, and luxury. These aren’t exact figures, but should give you a rough idea of how much you’ll spend.

Daily Costs To Travel In Korea

There are costs that you will pay each day when travelling in Korea that can be averaged out to give you a daily cost. Knowing these figures will help you plan your budget for Korea and to see where you can afford to spend more for the one-off costs to travel, which will be covered next.

The daily costs are accommodation, food & drinks, transportation, attractions & tours, and miscellaneous expenses that can pop up unexpectedly. These miscellaneous costs might include getting a street food snack, an unexpected entrance fee, or a few extra drinks in the evening.

Transportation will be covered later in this South Korea travel guide and there are some useful tips to reduce your transportation costs. You will also be able to see some of the best attractions, tours, and activities in Korea and you’ll be able to work out how much you’ll spend on those.

Here are the daily costs per person to travel in Korea:

Please note: These are costs per day, per person. Couples and families sharing a room will have lower costs as double rooms aren’t much more expensive than single rooms. Some days will be cheaper, some much more expensive, especially if you take day trips or visit premium attractions.

There are also one-off costs not included in these daily costs. These can be pre-travel costs, such as flights and a K-ETA or tourist visa (already covered), travel insurance, vaccinations, and such like. Pre-travel costs are different for each traveller and depend on your country of residence.

Other one-off costs during travel in Korea may include day tours, souvenirs, shopping, celebrations, medical costs, and expenses that you don’t normally pay each day. Again, these vary for each traveller and are difficult to calculate as people’s budgets are so different.

Is Korea A Cheap Country To Travel In?

Korea is relatively cheap country to visit, but certainly isn’t always a budget destination. The cost to travel to Korea has risen over the last few years and might be more expensive than you think, even if you’ve previously visited Korea. Flying to Korea is certainly more expensive now.

Food costs rose by 7.5% in 2022 alone and these costs have been passed on to restaurants, which now charge higher prices for meals. Transportation costs rose by about 20% in 2023 for buses and subways, although these are still relatively cheap compared to some countries.

Despite these price increases, travelling in Korea is still cheaper than travelling in most other high-income industrialised countries such as Japan, the USA, and Western Europe. If you’re from countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, or Malaysia, Korea may seem expensive.

City Passes That Save You Money In Seoul

There are a number of city passes that can save you money when visiting Seoul by offering free or discounted entry to some of the best attractions in the city for a single price. The original city pass for Seoul is the Discover Seoul Pass, but now there is also the Go City Pass and Klook Pass Seoul.

Here’s a summary of each of these Seoul city passes:

Discover Seoul Pass: Available in 24 | 48 | 72 hour periods, allows entry to top attractions in Seoul such as Lotte World Adventure, N Seoul Tower, COEX Aquarium, Alive Museum, Zoolung Zoolung, Sealala Sauna, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and more. Prices start at 50,000 KRW.

Go City Seoul Pass: Available as 1 – 5 day passes or a flexible pass for up to 7 attractions. Covers a wider amount of attractions than the DSP, including a DMZ Tour, Nanta Cookin’ Musical, Seoul Land, Seoul Pub Crawl, Seoul Ghost Tour, and more. Prices start at 68,000 KRW.

Klook Pass Seoul: Available for use 2 – 5 attractions, including Everland or Lotte World Adventure theme parks. The Klook Pass Seoul allows free entry to selected attractions within a 30 day period. Attractions include the N Seoul Tower and Lotte World Aquarium. Prices start at 44,000 KRW.

If you’d like to know more about these passes, be sure to check out my article about the Klook Pass Seoul, as well as my suggested Discover Seoul Pass itineraries. I’ll have a review article of the Go City Seoul Pass soon, too.

How To Save Money In Korea

There are always ways to save money and spend less in Korea. Budget options exist for travellers and you can travel in Korea for less than 150,000 KRW per day, even as little as 50,000 KRW per day. Here are some of the ways you can save money in Korea and travel more for less:

Eat like a local: Visit the traditional markets, food stalls, and traditional Korean restaurants. These are much cheaper than eating foreign foods in Korea. University areas are usually cheap, too.

Spend less on coffee: Coffee in Korea can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. A latte could cost you 5,000 KRW in a chain store, but there are cheap hole-in-the-wall cafes where it’s half that.

Shop in the markets: From designer goods (possibly fake) to souvenirs, the markets of Seoul and other cities usually have the best prices. Don’t be afraid to haggle.

Use public transport: Korea has a fantastic public transport network both in cities and between cities. Don’t waste money on taxis and private transfers when you can use a bus or subway.

Book everything online: You can find discounted entry and tour tickets online that are much cheaper than the regular price. Use Klook, Get Your Guide, and Viator for the best prices.

Stay in guesthouses and hostels: You can find rooms for as little as 10,000 KRW per night in shared dorms and 20,000 KRW in guesthouses. Book ahead to find the best prices.

Take advantage of free things: There are lots of places you can visit for free in Seoul and free services, such as walking tours in Seoul, 30-minute hanbok rentals, and even free entry to the palaces.

Get your tax back: Korea makes it really easy to recover tax you’ve paid when shopping. Stores in Seoul will process tax returns for you or you can claim a refund at the airport when you leave.

You will see tips and links in this South Korea travel guide that are designed to help you save money when you visit Korea. Booking tours, attractions, and sim cards in advance can save you a lot of money, as can using a T-Money card and Wise travel card. Keep reading for more money-saving tips.

Travel Money And Money Exchanges In Korea

If you follow the tips in this section of this South Korea travel guide, you can certainly save yourself a lot of money and avoid unnecessary fees when spending in Korea. Learn where and how to exchange money, how to avoid ATM and card fees, and how to get tax back before you leave.

Because this section covers a lot of the common questions people ask about travel money in Korea, it will be broken down into a question and answer format. This should make it easier for you to find the information you’re looking for and discover answers you didn’t know you were looking for.

Can You Use A Foreign Card In Korea?

Almost all foreign credit cards with Visa or Mastercard will be accepted in Korea and it is possible to use these cards to pay across the country. American Express is also accepted in popular tourist areas, but not as widely as Visa or Mastercard and may have problems outside of big cities.

Foreign debit cards should work if they use Visa or Mastercard, but there may be restrictions in place with your bank when using them abroad. It is recommended that you call your bank to check before travelling. For both credit and debit cards, check your bank for any fees you’ll pay overseas.

Can You Withdraw Cash From An ATM In Korea?

You can withdraw cash from ATMs in Korea using a debit card, but not all ATMs will accept international cards. Look for a sign saying ‘Global ATM’ or ‘Foreign Currency ATM’ to withdraw cash in Korea with a debit card. You can also withdraw cash using a credit card, but it’s more expensive.

Whether you use a debit or credit card, an ATM is likely to charge a fee to withdraw money using a foreign card. Your bank or credit card company may also charge a fee or give a bad exchange rate. These costs can add up a lot if you withdraw regularly, so try to make fewer withdrawals.

Learn more: Should you use cash or card when you visit Korea? This article about the how to pay in Korea has lots of useful information about payment methods in Korea, including alternatives to the usual mix of cash and a credit card.

How Can You Save Money When Paying By Card In Korea?

Instead of using a foreign debit or credit card in Korea, which might have expensive fees or not work in places, here are two better options. The first is the WOWPASS travel card, which offers tourist-friendly card services in Korea. The other is to apply for a travel card that can be used globally.

Both the WOWPASS and the two other travel cards offer the ability to pay by card in Korea and to withdraw cash in Korean won. They also offer better exchange rates than you’ll find in airport or local money exchanges in Korea. They each have some unique features, which will be illustrated below.

Pay Like A Local With WOWPASS

The WOWPASS is a new way to pay in Korea that combines the essential functions of a T-Money transportation card with the benefits of a local debit card. This is a prepaid card you can top up at more than 90 locations in KRW or your own currency. Just look for the bright orange WOW machines.

The T-Money function in the WOWPASS means it’s more useful than other travel cards as you don’t need to carry two separate cards when you travel. Please note, you still need to charge the T-Money balance of WOWPASS with cash, just like a regular T-Money card.

The WOWPASS travel card allows you to add up to 1,000,000 KRW to your card and can be used to pay for almost anything in Korea without any fees. The card is issued by a Korean company, so you can use it to withdraw cash at any WOWPASS machine located in Seoul & other cities in Korea.

Thanks to the user-friendly WOWPASS app, users can freeze or replace their card, check their spending, add funds, and check exchange rates. Because the WOWPASS isn’t tied to your home bank account, it also reduces the damage by card fraud, in case the worst was to happen.

As well as a regular WOWPASS, you can also reserve the All-In-One Airport Package, which includes the WOWPASS, 10,000 KRW T-Money balance, and a discounted Korean sim card. This is really useful for those who want to get connected and travelling as soon as they arrive in Korea. Get the WOWPASS app for Android or Apple.

Tip: Use the invitation code INMYKOR1 to get cashback on WOWPASS top-ups in foreign currency.

Overseas Travel Cards You Can Use In Korea

Overseas travel cards are another option for spending in Korea and I use them myself to spend money from my UK bank account in Korea, as well as when travelling in other countries. They’re really simple to use and are much cheaper than paying with my foreign card or exchanging money.

Two of the leading travel card companies are Wise and Revolut. I use both of these to pay for things in Korea and have written an article about how to use the Wise card in Korea. You can use them to pay for hotels, food, drinks, transportation, taxis, attractions, and lots more. They’re really useful.

Here’s a summary of the main features of these travel cards:

The Wise travel card allows you to easily transfer and convert money from your home bank account into dozens of other currencies and use this money to pay when you’re travelling. You only need to transfer as much as you plan to spend and can easily transfer back anything you haven’t. The exchange rate will be better than your bank or a money exchange offers, too.

A versatile, easy to use app breaks down what you’ve spent by category so you can track your travel spending. You can withdraw cash from ATMs, pay by QR code, use it for Google Pay, and pay by contactless. Even if you lose your card, you can still spend money. It’s also really safe as you can freeze your card, set spending limits, and limit how much money you transfer.

Wise Travel Card

The Revolut travel card can be used in Korea to pay for a wide range of goods and services without expensive fees for spending your home currency overseas. Unlike the Wise travel card, which lets you transfer money into different currencies and then spend in a local currency, such as Korean won, the Revolut travel card lets you pay fee-free with your home currency.

The Revolut travel card comes with an easy to use app that can be used to manage your money both at home and when travelling in Korea. You can check your spending with categories and reports and set budgets for your spending. The Revolut travel card also offers cashback in the US, stock and crypto investments, and the same security features as the Wise travel card.

Revolut Travel Card

Can You Use Apple Pay In Korea?

Apple Pay wasn’t previously available in Korea due to a lack of approval by Korea’s financial regulator. However, in February 2023, Apple Pay received approval to begin operating in Korea through the Hyundai Card Co., allowing payments with Apple devices from March 2023 onwards.

The Apple Pay payment system has been available in Korea since March 21st, 2023 and allows Apple Pay members to pay for goods and services at NFC-enabled payment terminals. However, on the launch date of Apple Pay, there were only 70,000 NFC-enabled payment terminals in Korea.

The lack of NFC-enabled payment terminals will be a big issue for Apple Pay users in Korea as there are around 2,900,000 shops in Korea and most won’t accept Apple Pay. Franchises like Starbucks can’t accept Apple Pay and it can’t be used to pay for public transport. You’ll need a T-Money card.

Samsung Pay, which uses MST technology, not NFC, currently dominates the Korean market. NFC-enabled terminals should grow, especially in tourist areas and city-centres from 2023 onwards. This will be good news for Google Pay, which also uses NFC technology and also isn’t in use in Korea yet.

Should You Exchange Money Before Travelling To Korea?

It is not necessary to exchange money into Korean won before travelling to Korea, but it can certainly be useful to have a small amount of money. Exchange rates for Korean won outside Korea may not be as good as within Korea and changing large amounts of cash before you travel isn’t essential.

It might be hard to get Korean won from your local bank or money exchange as it’s not one of the most commonly exchanged currencies. Therefore, you might find exchange rates less favourable and extra fees applied to exchange money. Using travel cards like Wise or Revolut is a better option.

Should You Change Money At Incheon Airport?

I’ve travelled around the world and always avoid exchanging money at the airport if I can help it. Airports often have the worst rates for money exchange as they know people need to get local cash, there aren’t many other options, and you need at least a bit of money to travel to your hotel.

Incheon Airport is an exception to this rule and I’ve compared travel exchange rates at several times when flying into and out of the airport. The foreign currency exchange rates at Incheon Airport aren’t that bad and are just slightly higher than what you’d find in Seoul. Not the best, but not bad.

There are also Global ATMs at Incheon Airport, so you can withdraw cash here. If you have a Wise or Revolut travel card, you can withdraw up to $200 fee-free from an ATM in Korea. However, Korean banks will charge a withdrawal fee (about 3,000 KRW), which applies to any foreign card used.

Where Can You Exchange Money In Seoul?

Seoul is the first destination for most travellers to Korea and if you want to save money on exchange rate fees, I recommend exchanging money in the capital. There are two main options for exchanging money easily and quickly in Seoul – WOW money exchange machines and money exchanges.

Here’s a summary about the two main ways to exchange money in Seoul:

The cheapest and most convenient option for exchanging money in Seoul is through a WOW money exchange machine. This automated machine gives the best exchange rates and can quickly and easily exchange foreign cash for Korean won. It doesn’t accept card payments, only cash. All you need to do is scan your passport and deposit your cash and it will convert it into Korean won immediately. There are dozens of these machines in Seoul, as well as in other cities like Busan and Daejeon.

The traditional way to exchange foreign currency in Seoul was through a money exchange. You can find these in Myeongdong, where many tourists stay and visit in Seoul. There are also money exchanges inside banks and in other tourist hotspots. These used to be the best place to exchange money, until the WOW money exchanges were introduced and travel cards like Wise and Revolut made it easier to use a card. If you want to use a money exchange in Seoul, Myeongdong is the best place to do it.

Can You Get Tax Back When Shopping In Korea?

Travellers to Korea can claim tax back on eligible purchases during their trip. This can be done immediately after you purchase an item (if the shop offers the service) or at Incheon Airport or other airports in Korea before you depart.

Instant tax refunds are available at certain locations in Seoul and other big cities. These are usually department stores and large chain stores. You are able to claim tax refunds for goods up to a total value of 2,500,000 KRW (incl. tax). There is a tax refund limit of 500,000 KRW per transaction.

2024 Tax Refund Changes: From 2024, the tax refund limits will be doubled, so you will be able to claim up to 5,000,000 KRW of tax back and claim up to 1,000,000 KRW back per transaction. Source: Korea Herald.

To claim a tax refund you need:

• To show your passport
• To be a tourist in Korea
• To spend between 30,000 to 300,000 KRW in one place
• To be leaving Korea within 3 months

Tax isn’t refundable on all purchases, so be sure to check when shopping. Tax refunds can also be claimed at the airport as long as you have the receipt and the goods you’ve purchased.

Mobile Phones And Internet In Korea

Staying connected to the Internet when visiting Korea is becoming more and more essential these days. Keeping your mobile phone, tablet, or computer connected to the web is useful not only to stay in touch with people back home, but also to help you save money and travel Korea more easily.

There are several options to stay connected in Korea when you travel. The main options for travellers are tourist SIM cards, either physical or eSIMs, portable WiFi routers, and relying on free WiFi provided in public places and hotels. All of these are good options, but there are other considerations, too.

This South Korea travel guide will cover the main differences between Korean SIM cards and portable WiFi routers and which will be most suitable for you. There are also details about why you might want a Korean phone number and which apps to use to help you travel in Korea.

Don’t forget, if you bring your phone or other mobile devices to Korea, you’ll need a travel adapter.

Should You Get A Korean SIM Card Or WiFi Router?

Both a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router will provide access to Korea’s high-speed mobile networks and keep you connected to the Internet. They provide a secure internet connection, but do so in a different way and with different available features. Find out about the best Korean SIM card for tourists in this SK SIM card review.

Here are the main features of Korean SIM cards and WiFi routers:

Costs: SIM cards and WiFi routers are similarly priced when using them for a two week period, but they are charged in different ways. SIM cards are fixed-price and can be bought for set time periods, whereas WiFi routers are charged daily. WiFi routers are cheaper in the short-term.

Ease of use: If you purchase or pre-order a SIM card or portable WiFi router at Incheon Airport, which I highly recommend, the staff will install or setup everything for you. Once they’re activated, it’s very simple to use either one. Cancelling and returning them at the airport is also easy for both.

Here are the reasons you should get a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router in Korea:

You should get a Korean SIM card when visiting Korea to get a Korean phone number. The benefits of having a Korean phone number are mainly to make calls and use Korean apps. SIM cards are also useful if you want a secure connection everywhere you go and plan to make calls or send texts. When you have a SIM card, you can tether your network connection to connect other devices you own. Korean phone coverage is amazing and you’ll get service everywhere. SIM cards don’t require you to carry any extra devices and are cheaper over the long-run than WiFi routers.

Korean Sim Card

You should get a portable WiFi router if you’re travelling in a group or as a family as you can connect multiple devices to one router. This is much cheaper than getting separate SIM cards for all travellers, but also requires people stay close together. WiFi routers are charged per day and if you need additional days, they’ll be automatically added and charged when you return the router. This means you’ll never have to worry about your service suddenly ending. The main downside to using a WiFi router is the lack of Korean phone number, but that might not be an issue if you don’t need one.

Korean WiFi router

Where Can You Get Korean SIM Cards Or WiFi Routers?

You can get a Korean SIM card or portable WiFi router in several ways. The easiest way, and one that I definitely recommend, is to purchase online through a tour company such as Klook, Viator, or Get Your Guide, and get a SIM card at Incheon Airport or other entry point into Korea when you arrive..

The main reason I recommend this method is that you can guarantee you will get a SIM card or router and it will be waiting for you when you arrive. The collection desks at Incheon Airport are open 24-hours a day and they will help you install everything you need to get started immediately.

You can also get SIM cards and WiFi routers when you arrive at the airport and you should find similar rates. However, you won’t be guaranteed a device and you will need to pay in person. When you book online, you can pay in your home currency and avoid those issues.

I don’t recommend getting a SIM card or WiFi router in Seoul or other cities. It is possible, but you may run into language issues and find less tourist-friendly options. Phone shops outside the airport usually cater to Koreans, not tourists. Airport rentals are the easiest options for visitors to Korea.

What’s The Benefit Of A Korean Phone Number For Tourists?

There are two main benefits of having a Korean phone number for tourists. The first benefit is the ability to call people when you’re in Korea. This can be useful for making reservations, keeping in touch with people, and in case of emergencies.

The second benefit of having a Korean phone number is the ability to use Korean apps. It isn’t mandatory to have a Korean phone number to use Korean apps, but most won’t let you use their services unless you sign up with a phone number. Using Korean apps makes travelling easier.

A phone number is like a form of identity in Korea, which is why you need your passport to register a SIM card. Once you have a phone number, many more services are available, including food delivery, ordering taxis, making reservations (such as for the Busan Sky Capsule), and online messaging.

What Apps Do I Need For Travelling In Korea?

If you have a Korean phone number, you can use Korean apps. Even without a Korean number, you can still download these apps and use some of their services. Full features typically require a phone number though. There are other, non-Korean apps that will help you when travelling, too.

Here are the most useful apps to use when travelling in Korea:

Papago: This is the essential translation tool for visiting Korea. Papago’s translation services are the best and you can use the app to take pictures and translate Korean signs, menus, and other pictures.

Naver Maps: To find your way around Korea, use Naver Maps or Kakao Maps. Their systems are much more accurate in Korea than Google Maps. Use them to plan travel routes and transport times.

Kakao Taxi: Uber and Grab don’t really exist in Korea, so if you plan to take a taxi, you’ll need to use Kakao Taxi. Simple to use and takes the hassle out of trying to use Korean to give directions.

Kakao Talk: This is Korea’s most popular messaging app and is useful for keeping in touch with Korean friends, contacting businesses in Korea, and even calling abroad.

Seoul Subway: Use this app to travel around Seoul’s underground more easily. Plan your route, see when the next train is due to arrive, check connections, and see how late the trains run.

Korail Talk: This app allows you to book trains on Korea’s high-speed train network and regular train routes. This app has an English setting, so you can check train times and prices easily.

Coupang Eats: This is a food-delivery app that allows you to order almost anything edible and get it sent directly to you. You can even order convenience store goods. Useful for rainy days.

Mango Plate: Find restaurants in Korea with this app and discover the best places to go out and eat. You can also see restaurant details and get directions in Naver Maps and Kakao Maps.

WOWPASS: To use the WOWPASS to pay like a local in Korea and for T-Money functions, you’ll need the WOWPASS app. This will let you check your balances and spending and control your card.

Wise & Revolut: As mentioned in this South Korea travel guide, using a travel card to pay for items in Korea will save you money when you travel. If you use Wise or Revolut, make sure you have the app.

Klook: This company provides some of the best tours in Korea and if you make bookings through their website, you can easily manage them with the Klook app.

Intercity Bus by T-Money: This app is great for booking buses between cities in Korea. There is an English version that allows you to book tickets, check times, and see available seats.

These apps should be available on both Android and Apple. Some of these apps might default to Korean, but you should be able to change them to English in the side menu.

Is There Free WiFi In Korea?

Travellers in Korea have the option to not get a sim card or portable WiFi but still stay connected. This is thanks to the excellent Free Wifi in Korea that is provided in public transport, government buildings, restaurants, cafes, and many other places. This is mostly in the cities, however.

Hotels also provide free WiFi in most cities in Korea. If you plan to rely on free WiFi, I recommend using the hotel’s WiFi to plan routes, check opening times, and research places you want to visit. Take screenshots of these details so you can see them later, even if you don’t have Internet access.

The only warning I would give about relying on free WiFi when travelling in Korea is the increased use of mobile-dependent apps and passes in Korea. Physical tickets and passes are being phased out in favour of digital versions, which often need an active Internet connection to use.

I’ve noticed in recent years that services that impact travellers have moved to digital versions. This includes the T-Money card, Discover Seoul Pass, train and coach tickets, attraction tickets and event tickets. I believe that having a reliable net connection will be a must for most travellers soon.

Using Public Transport In Korea In 2024

This section of the South Korea travel guide looks at Korea’s public transport system and how to navigate it as a traveller. Korea has arguably one of the best public transport systems in the world. It’s cheap, well-connected, frequent, and runs on time. Other countries could learn a lot from Korea.

The great news for tourists is that Korea’s public transport is very foreigner friendly and information is provided in English in almost all places, as well as Chinese and Japanese in popular areas such as Seoul and Busan. Travelling by public transport in Korea is cheap, easy, and convenient.

How Much Does Public Transport Cost In Korea?

The cost of public transportation in Korea is fixed, no matter what day you purchase tickets on. If you buy one month in advance, or last minute, you will pay the same price for the journey. Journeys within a city are a single price and not dependent on how far you travel, unless you leave the city limits.

All journeys are single fares and you can’t buy return tickets. You will need to buy two singles when you want to travel somewhere and back again. The cost of a single fare depends on how you pay for the ticket – by cash or with a transportation card.

Here are the costs for public transport in Korea by payment method, type and user:

Please note: The cost of subway rides is set to rise to 1,400 / 1,500 KRW in October 2023. These prices will be adjusted when this occurs.

How Do You Pay For Public Transport In Korea?

The cost of public transport in Korea depends on whether you pay with a transportation card, such as T-Money, a Korea Tour Card, or Cashbee, or in cash. This applies to both subways and buses. If you use a transportation card, you should add credit to it, then touch it to the card reader at the subway or bus to pay.

To use cash to buy a subway ticket, you will need to buy a ticket at the station. For buses, you should pay the correct fare to the driver when boarding the bus. However, since 2022, buses across Korea have started to end the use of cash and some will insist on payment by transportation card only.

In the future, bus payments are expected to become simpler with fares deducted via bluetooth-enabled phones that have the relevant app downloaded. This system has already been in place in Gyeonggi Province since March 2022 and is likely to spread to more bus routes in the future.

I highly recommend getting a T-Money card when you travel to Korea. You can use it to pay for public transportation (at a discounted rate), and it will work almost everywhere in Korea. It can also be used to buy goods from shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s really convenient and a must-have for Korea.

Using T-Money To Pay For Public Transport In Korea

A T-Money card is the essential transportation card for using public transport in Korea. You can purchase one at Incheon Airport, subway and train stations, and convenience stores across Korea. The card can be used in many places. It never expires, so you can use it on different trips, too.

Here is how to use a T-Money card in Korea:

• Purchase a T-Money card (2,500 KRW)
• Add money to the card (cash top-up only)
• Enter the bus or subway station
• Tap the T-Money card against the card reader (see pic above)
• Tap the T-Money card again when you get off (for transfer discount)
• Recharge when necessary

I recommend adding about 10,000 KRW for each day you plan to travel in Korea. That means about 70,000 KRW for a week. You can add more money later if necessary. You can top up at convenience stores and transport stations. There is also an app version of T-Money, but the card version is better.

How Do You Use Trains In Korea?

The train network in Korea is divided into high-speed trains (KTX) and regular trains (ITX and Mugunghwa). The KTX network connects major cities in Korea and is convenient for travelling around Korea quickly and cheaply. The carriages are comfortable and come with modern facilities.

Unlike other forms of public transport in Korea, transportation cards like T-Money aren’t accepted for trains. You will need to buy a train ticket to travel and all tickets are single tickets. The price to buy a ticket doesn’t change and you can refund a ticket up to the last minute for only a small fee.

You can book tickets within 30 days of travel through the official Korail website or app, or at a train station in Korea. Unfortunately, buying a train ticket online in Korea can be difficult as Korean payment systems often reject cards issued outside of Korea. Buying in person is recommended.

How To Book Korean Rail Tickets Outside Of Korea

If you want to book Korean train tickets outside of Korea, you can do it online with Trip.com, which is Korail’s exclusive overseas distributor. The price is slightly higher (about 5%) than the price you’ll pay in Korea, but it will allow you to book tickets online and secure your seat in advance.

If you plan to travel on the main KTX route between Seoul and Busan, I highly recommend booking tickets in advance. There are three types of tickets available – first class, regular, and standing. The journey takes 2:34 and you don’t want to be standing for all that time. Book ahead for comfort.

Is The Korea Rail Pass Worth The Price?

The Korea Rail Pass is a good option for tourists who plan to travel long distances by train in Korea, such as between Seoul and Busan or Seoul and Jeonju. The pass has two main options – flexible and consecutive. These mean you can use it any time (flexible) or within consecutive days.

The flexible pass is more expensive, but offers more freedom to travel around Korea over a longer period. You can use the pass to only cover big journeys and won’t feel pressured to use it again until you’re ready. The extra cost is more than worth the inconvenience of having to rush travel plans.

Will you save money with the Korea Rail Pass? That depends on your travel plans, how often you’ll be travelling by train, and how many people are travelling. If there are 2 people or more, purchase the group saver pass and save 10,000 KRW each on the pass. Group tours make it better value.

The Korea Rail Pass does not allow you to ride on the subway for free, which would make it better value. It can also be complicated to reserve tickets online using the pass and buying tickets in the regular way is more convenient. Overall, the pass isn’t essential, but might save you money.

How Do You Use Taxis In Korea?

Taxis in Korea can be hailed from the street or called directly to you using apps such as Kakao Taxi. Companies like Uber and Grab don’t have a large presence in Korea and operate the same way as Kakao Taxi, by helping you find an official taxi driver. Private taxi services aren’t common.

The big issue facing the Korean taxi industry in 2024 is the lack of taxi drivers. This can make it hard to get a taxi, even when using an app like Kakao Taxi. Late night taxis are particularly difficult to find. Read this guide about how to use Kakao Taxi to help you learn how to call a taxi in Korea.

Taxi prices in Korea are reasonable, especially compared to countries like Japan and the UK. Although base taxi fares rose in 2023 to 4,800 KRW, the price is still low and relatively affordable to travel by taxi if you need to. It’s a good option if there are no direct public transport routes.

Taking a taxi to and from Incheon Airport is a convenient option if you have a lot of bags or you are travelling in a group. For solo travellers or couples, I would recommend using public transport or a limo bus, as it’s significantly cheaper and won’t take much longer than a taxi.

How Do You Use Intercity Buses In Korea?

Intercity buses in Korea operate in a similar way to trains. You can only book tickets within 30 days of travel and can only buy single tickets. Book tickets online through websites such as T-Money Bus or Bustago, through app versions of these sites, or at the bus terminal you will depart from.

You can’t walk onto intercity buses without a ticket, nor can you use transportation cards like T-Money to pay on entry. You will need to pay for and receive your ticket (physical or digital) before you can enter the bus. Ticket machines usually (but not always) have English options for buying tickets.

There are no return bus tickets in Korea and you can only buy tickets from your point of departure, unless you book online or via an app. If you’re travelling from Seoul to Gangneung, for example, you will need to buy a ticket in Seoul and then a ticket in Gangneung. You can’t buy both in Seoul.

How Can You Hire A Car In Korea?

Renting a car is a great way to see parts of Korea that aren’t covered by the train network and gives you the freedom to explore at your leisure. If you plan to travel to Jeju Island, which doesn’t have any trains, hiring a car will be a lot more convenient and is almost a must if you plan to travel inland.

Car rental in Korea isn’t that expensive and you can rent a modern car for as little as 75,000 KRW per day. I recommend booking car rentals through Klook, they will deal with the Korean car rental companies and reserve a car for you. This is easier than trying to do it in Korean.

To hire a car in Korea, you will need:

• Driver’s license (must have had it for at least 1 or 2 years)
• International Driving Permit (in some cases)
• Credit card (in the name of the main driver)
• Valid photo ID (passport)
• Printed voucher for rental (if booked online)

Here’s some more information about the International Driving Permit and rules you should follow when driving in Korea, such as the legal requirement to wear seatbelts, booster seats for under 6s, and not using your phone while driving. Be sure to read up on local rules before driving in Korea.

Best Places To Visit In Korea In 2024

The next few sections of this South Korea travel guide will help you figure out what you want to do and see on your travels. This first section will give you a brief introduction to the best places to visit in Korea, including the major cities, tourist hotspots, and unique areas that you’re sure to love.

Here are the best places to visit in Korea:

Seoul: Korea’s Capital

Seoul is Korea’s vibrant, bustling capital and truly a must-see for any first-time visitor to Korea. There is so much to see and do in Seoul that you could easily spend a week or more exploring the city and not get bored. You will find yourself falling in love with the city for different reasons. Maybe it’s the friendly people, the deliciously cheap street eats, the way things just work, the hidden murals on old buildings down side streets, the feeling of safety even in a big city, or the historic sights creeping out from modern buildings. Seoul includes everything Korea has to offer, plus a lot more you won’t find elsewhere.

What To See In Seoul

Here are 10 great places to visit in Seoul:

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
2. Bukchon Hanok Village
3. Myeongdong Street Markets
4. Lotte World Tower & Seokchon Lake
5. Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Markets
6. Yeouido Han River Park & Cruise
7. Secret Garden (Changdeokgung Palace)
8. N Seoul Tower & Namsan Mountain
9. COEX Mall & Bongeunsa Temple
10. Bukhansan National Park

Busan: Big Coastal City

While Seoul is a showcase of all things Korean, Busan is unashamedly its own city and a celebration of coastal life and local culture. Busan is famous for fresh seafood, traditional markets, great beaches, big festivals, movies, temples, and places to explore the coast. Beaches are popular places to visit in Busan, along with cliff-side walkways with views over the ocean. Central Busan is a lively spot with lots of entertainment and markets to enjoy, including a famous fish market where you can choose your own lunch and then eat it. Busan is spread out and deserves several days to explore it properly.

What To See In Busan

Here are 10 great places to visit in Busan:

1. Haeundae Beach & Beach Train
2. Jagalchi Fish Market
3. Gamcheon Culture Village
4. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
5. Songdo Beach & Cable Car
6. Huinnyeoul Culture Village
7. BIFF Square & Centum City Mall
8. Oryukdo Skywalk & Coastal Paths
9. Lotte World Busan
10. Busan X The Sky Observatory

Jeju Island: Natural Wonder

Jeju Island is a gorgeous island created from a volcano rising out of the ocean 2 million years ago. Today it’s one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of Nature and deservedly so. The lush island is packed with pine trees, tangerines, rolling hills and fields, cacti, and jet black volcanic rock tumbled all around. You can relax on a beach, go horse riding, explore ancient lava tubes, scuba dive, climb to the volcano’s peak, chill in a beach-side cafe, explore traditional markets, learn about local culture, and lots more. The island has two main cities, but the attractions are spread out along the coast.

What to See On Jeju Island

Here are 10 great places to visit on Jeju Island:

1. Hallasan Mountain (Volcano)
2. Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak
3. Hyeopjae & Hamdeok Beaches
4. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
5. Jeju Folk Village
6. Udo Island
7. Yakcheonsa Coastal Buddhist Temple
8. Jungmun Beach & Jusangjeolli Cliff
9. O’Sulloc Green Tea Museum
10. Cheonjiyeon & Jeongbang Waterfalls

Gyeongju: Historic Capital

Gyeongju, the former capital of the Shilla Kingdom in ancient Korea, is a true treasure trove of UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as local culture, history, and natural beauty. Described as an outdoor museum, you can see many of the big attractions in the Gyeongju Historic Area, including the 1,400 year Cheomseongdae Observatory. There’s so much to see in Gyeongju outside this area though, including the impressive Bulguksa Temple, one of the best Buddhist temples in Korea. There’s also the Bomun Lake Tourist District, a dreamy sight during cherry blossom season.

What To See In Gyeongju

Here are 10 great places to visit in Gyeongju:

1. Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Shrine
2. Cheomseongdae Observatory
3. Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
4. Yangdong Folk Village
5. Hwangnidangil Hanok Street
6. Daereungwon Tomb Complex
7. Bomun Lake Tourist Complex
8. Woljeonggyo Bridge
9. Gyeongju National Museum
10. Gyochon Traditional Hanok Village

Jeonju: Traditional Views & Food

Jeonju is the perfect destination for a day trip from Seoul and has most of its main attractions in one area of the city. What can you see in Jeonju? The main attraction is the gigantic Jeonju Hanok Village, featuring more than 700 traditional hanok houses. You can dress up in Korean hanbok, dine on Jeonju’s famous bibimbap in an old restaurant, and see how life in Korea used to be. There are plenty of other sights nearby, including a traditional market, pretty river, and the rather unusual Jaman Mural Village.

What To See In Jeonju

Here are 5 great places to visit in Jeonju:

1. Jeonju Hanok Village
2. Jeongdong Catholic Church
3. Gyeonggijeon Shrine
4. Nambu Traditional Market
5. Jaman Mural Village

Suwon: Fortress City

Suwon is another city close to Seoul that you can visit in a day and see many interesting and unique sights. The main draw of Suwon is the Hwaseong Fortress and the fortress walls, which are still intact and run for 6km around the city. Inside this fortress you’ll find lots of museums, historic buildings, parks, and activities, such as archery. There are often cultural festivals in this area, too. Surprisingly, Suwon is the best place to get KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). There’s a whole street dedicated to making it.

What to See In Suwon

Here are 5 great places to visit in Suwon:

1. Hwaseong Fortress & Fortress Walls
2. Hwaseong Haenggung & Haengridan Gil
3. Fried Chicken Street
4. Korean Folk Village
5. Gwanggyo Lake Park

Incheon: Modern City With Islands

Incheon is one of Korea’s largest cities, but is sadly ignored as it’s right next to Seoul and most people think it’s just there for the airport. That’s not true at all and there’s plenty to see and do in Incheon. Described as a futuristic city, Incheon is at the front of Korea’s push to become an ultra-modern country and nowhere shows that more than Songdo Central Park. The traditional side of Incheon is also worth exploring, including the Chinatown, which is home to Korea’s most popular student food – jajangmyeon. If you want to explore a lesser-seen side of Korea, check out the islands near Incheon to see ancient fortresses, temples, and charming sights.

What to See In Incheon

Here are 5 great places to visit in Incheon:

1. Songdo Central Park
2. Incheon Chinatown
3. Wolmido Island
4. Incheon Grand Park
5. Ganghwa Jeondeungsa Temple

Gapyeong County: Tourists Treats

Gapyeong County is a rural part of Korea just outside Seoul that is one of the most popular day trip destinations for visitors and locals alike. Inside Gapyeong County is the lovely Garden of Morning Calm, a beautiful sculpted garden that showcases traditional Korean buildings set amongst thousands of different plants and trees. There’s also Nami Island, an ever-popular attraction that has long tree-lined streets to explore, woodland animals, bike paths, and even a zip line to the island. You can also visit Petite France, a recreation of a French village, Gapyeong Rail Bike Park, and Cheongpyeong Lake, and many other attractions in Gapyeong.

What To See In Gapyeong

Here are 5 great places to visit in Gapyeong:

1. Nami Island
2. Garden of Morning Calm
3. Petite France
4. Gapyeong Rail Bike Park
5. Cheongpyeong Lake

North-East Coast: Amazing Beaches

The north-east coastal region of Korea, spreading between Sokcho and Gangneung, features some of Korea’s most popular summer seaside resorts and beaches. The wide, sandy beaches are perfect for water sports, working on your tan, and sitting at night listening to local musicians perform BTS covers and their own tunes. Sokcho deserves at least two days to explore, more if you plan to visit nearby Seoraksan National Park, one of Korea’s best places to see autumn foliage. Gangneung is where to see cherry blossoms in spring, sit and relax at a seaside cafe at Gangneung Coffee Street, and enjoy beach life.

What To See On The North-East

Here are 5 great places in north-east Korea:

1. Sokcho Beach
2. Gangneung Beach
3. Seoraksan National Park
4. Yangyang Surfyy Beach
5. Gangneung Coffee Street

East Coast: Harbour Cities

Ulsan and Pohang are two industrial cities that don’t get enough attention, but are ideal for a weekend visit once you’ve explored other top sights. These coastal cities both have good beaches, coastal walks, and green spots, including a pretty bamboo forest in Ulsan. In Pohang, you can see the dizzying Space Walk, which looks out over the city and ocean. There’s also a former Japanese district with old buildings, and the famous Homigot Sunrise Square where you can watch the first sunrise of the year. Ulsan is famous for whaling and visitors should check out the charming Jangsaengpo Whale Museum and Daewangam Park.

What To See On The East Coast

Here are 5 great places on Korea’s East Coast:

1. Yeongildae Beach & Space Walk
2. Ilsan Beach & Daewangam Park
3. Jangsaengpo Whale Museum
4. Homigot Sunrise Square
5. Taehwagang National Garden

South-West: Iconic Rural Destinations

South-west Korea is a long way from most travellers’ typical route, but this area is worth visiting if you have time. Gwangju, one of Korea’s largest cities, is hidden away down here and surrounded by natural beauty, including the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, Boseong Green Tea Fields, and Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve. If you plan to hire a car, these spots will show you a completely different side to Korea. Gwangju, too, which is a fun city and the birthplace of Korean democracy. Hidden in the far corner of Korea is Mokpo, a lovely coastal city that has a new cable car carrying you over the ocean.

What to See In The South-West

Here are 5 great places in south-west Korea:

1. Damyang Juknokwon Bamboo Forest
2. Boseong Green Tea Fields
3. Gwangju Culture Park & Penguin Village
4. Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve
5. Mokpo Marine Cable Car

South Coast Islands: Summer Getaways

Best explored during the hot summer months and early autumn, the south coast islands in Korea, which span from Busan to Mokpo, are where Koreans spend their summer holidays. The most popular destinations here are Geoje, Tongyeong, Yeosu, Namhae, and Goheung and each offers winding coastal paths, beaches, natural beauty, and fun summer activities. The best way to see these islands is with a rented car or by bike, riding around the coast visiting a few different beaches and attractions. Don’t expect too many cultural sights, instead you’ll find luges, gardens, water sports, and lots of fun.

What to See On The South Coast

Here are 5 great places on Korea’s South Coast:

1. Dolsan Park & Cable Car
2. Namhae Geumsan Boriam Hermitage
3. Hallyeohaesang National Park
4. Oedo-Botania Botanical Garden
5. Skyline Luge Tongyeong

As you can see, there are many great places to visit in Korea. Korea is truly a country of undiscovered wonders that people aren’t aware of. Seoul is an incredible place to visit, but there’s so much more to see. That’s why I try to include lesser-known places in this South Korea travel guide.

The list above covers a lot of the most popular or tour-worthy destinations in Korea, but there are still more places I could recommend, such as Andong (home to the mask dance festival), Gunsan (port town with a retro vibe), Daegu (big city with historic sights), Daejeon, and many more.

Besides cities and towns in Korea, there are also 18 national parks to explore, thousands of mountains, Buddhist temples, beaches, bike routes, campsites, and so much more. I’ll include a few of each of these in the next few sections of this South Korea travel guide.

Best Day Tours From Seoul In 2024

Taking a day tour while you’re staying in Seoul is a great way to see more of Korea’s top attractions without the hassle of moving hotels to somewhere new. The 10 day tours from Seoul below can all be done in a day or less and can even be combined with other activities in the same day.

I don’t want to include every day tour available in this South Korea travel guide as there isn’t enough room to talk about them all. If you want to find more day tours, I recommend looking at the options available through tour providers such as Klook, Viator, and Get Your Guide.

Please note: There are many day tours from Seoul and they come with various prices. I recommend avoiding the very cheapest as these will often waste your time by taking you to some overpriced gift shop area and pressuring you to buy souvenirs or rushing you through too many attractions.

Here are 10 great day tours from Seoul:

Why Visit The DMZ

The DMZ, the demilitarised zone between North & South Korea is a truly unique place to visit when you’re in Korea. There are several different locations to see in this area, each reflecting the bitter struggle between the two Korea’s in the ongoing Korean War. Some of the highlights are the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Dorasan Station, Gamaksan Suspension Bridge, and the Imjingak Park. There’s also the Panmunjom Truce Village where you can walk into North Korea, but this is currently closed. Tours are required to travel to certain parts of the DMZ.

DMZ Tour

Why Visit Gapyeong County

Gapyeong County is home to Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France, Gapyeong Rail Bike Park, and several other fun attractions. Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm are the most popular and can both be visited in a day. You can witness beautiful scenes at these destinations, especially during cherry blossom season (April) and autumn foliage season (October). Tours from Seoul to Gapyeong County are convenient and can take you to multiple places in one day without the hassle of buses and finding your own way.

Gapyeong County Tour

Why Visit Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong Fortress and its fortress walls offer a unique chance to see what life was like in Korea 200 years ago. Not only can you walk the full length of the walls around the city, you can also try archery and other traditional activities in the fortress grounds. There are many museums, fortress buildings, and exhibitions showing how people lived in this period. You can also enjoy the beautiful ponds and streams that run through the palace with traditional Korean restaurants and cafes looking out over these areas.

Hwaseong Fortress TOur

Why Visit Korean Folk Village

Discover traditional Korean life at the Korean Folk Village in Yongin during a day trip from Seoul. Walk through dozens of recreated farm buildings, government offices, academies, shops, smiths, schools, and other traditional buildings from Korea’s past to get a feel for how people lived at this time. Actors dressed in traditional Joseon-era costumes bring the scenes to life. You can try fun activities, such as mask carving, horse riding, and archery. Witness exciting festivals and cultural performances, too.

Korean Folk Village Tour

Why Visit Jeonju Hanok Village

A day trip to the Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju is a great way to experience various traditional Korean cultural activities in a beautiful setting. This sprawling hanok village has over 700 traditional buildings for you to explore, dine in, or even stay in. Make sure you rent hanbok in Jeonju so you look like Korean royalty and make memorable photos during your trip. Whilst you’re in Jeonju Hanok Village, you can try local delights such as Jeonju bibimbap and PNB chocopies. Also check out the traditional Nambu Market and Jeongdong Catholic Church.

Jeonju Hanok Village Guide

Why Visit Alpaca World

When you travel to Korea, you may not think about seeing alpacas, which are from an entirely different continent. But Korea’s love of all things cute means that these furry friends have become very popular in Korea and have their own theme park a few hours from Seoul. There are dozens of cuddly alpacas to see, feed, and play with at Alpaca World, as well as hundreds of other cute critters such as ponies, rabbits, deer, goats, fennec foxes, and more. There are 17 separate areas to explore in Alpaca World and it’ll provide hours of fun for the whole family.

ALpaca World Tour

Why Visit Seoraksan

Seoraksan National Park on Korea’s east coast is a great day trip from Seoul for those who want to see mountain peaks, leafy valleys, stony rivers, and a gigantic Buddha. Even if you’re not a keen hiker, you can explore lots of the park’s valley pathways easily, or reach the top thanks to the convenient cable car. See the sights from the observatory and check out the small temple in the clouds. Make sure you try haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) and makgeolli (rice wine). It’s the traditional meal Koreans enjoy after hiking.

Seoraksan Tour

Why Visit Everland

Everland is Korea’s biggest theme park and is packed with attractions for everyone to enjoy. Thrill seekers will love the rollercoasters, such as T Express (the world’s 4th steepest rollercoaster) and many more exciting rides. Check out the Zootopia section to see wild animals and wild rides, or the Plantopia section for floral beauty, romantic walkways, and seasonal delights. There are plenty of attractions, cultural performances, entertainments, and seasonal events to keep you amused all day long.

Everland Theme Park Tour

Why Visit Danyang

A great way to see Korea’s countryside is with a day trip to Danyang to enjoy the rush of sailing over valleys and beside mountains while tandem paragliding. Feel the wind in your face and the sensation of riding the air currents as you pass over the many delightful views of Danyang. You can enjoy other activities in this area, such as the Mancheonha Skywalk, a clifftop lookout with incredible views, riding an alpine coaster, and zooming along a zip line. The perfect day tour from Seoul for thrill seekers.

Danyang Paragliding Tour

Why Visit Dae Jang Geum Park

Fans of Korean period dramas and movies will love a day trip to Dae Jang Geum Park in Yongin. This is the largest historical drama filming set in Korea and was used to film MBC productions such as ‘Wind in the Palace’ and ‘The Great Queen Seondeok’, as well as K-Pop videos including Daechwita by Suga from BTS. If you’re lucky, you may see filming going on here. But even if you don’t, it’s a fun place for those who want to learn more about Korea’s history and take some cool pictures in a real movie set.

Dae Jang Geum Park Tour

I’ve linked to tours provided by reliable tour companies in Korea. If you would rather book a tour through a local guide, contact Jerry Heng or Andrew Chung Hanbyul. They’re freelance guides with years of experience offering tours in Korea and both offer amazing service.

These places are accessible by public transport, but may take much longer than a tour would do, wasting your precious time. Check out my guide for getting to Nami Island to help you navigate Gapyeong County. For other destinations, I would recommend a tour – it’s more practical.

Best Sights To See In Korea In 2024

South Korea truly has something for everyone. There’s so much I want to include in this South Korea travel guide, which is why this section is full of different sights to see and explore. However, to keep things short and simple, I’ll just list them, not give full details about each one.

Whether you’re travelling to Korea to learn about Korean culture or history, to see Korea’s impressive landmarks, to enjoy family fun attractions, to hop from cafe to cafe, to immerse yourself in nature, or simply to eat and shop, then you’ll definitely find something for you in this section.

Famous Landmarks In Korea

Landmarks and iconic buildings are often top of a traveller’s bucket list for Korea as they provide great photo opportunities, showcase the best of the country, and offer fantastic views. Seoul has many top landmarks, but you can see plenty of other sights outside of the capital, too.

Here are 10 famous landmarks in Korea:

1. Lotte World Tower (Seoul)
2. N Seoul Tower (Seoul)
3. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (Seoul)
4. Cheonggyecheon Stream (Seoul)
5. DMZ Area (near Seoul)
6. Nami Island (Gapyeong County)
7. Gamcheon Culture Village (Busan)
8. Seongsan Ilchulbong (Jeju)
9. Homigot Sunrise Square (Pohang)
10. Banwol Purple Island (West Coast)

Historic Sights In Korea

Discover life in the Joseon period and before in Korea’s many captivating historic sights, including royal palaces, Buddhist temples, fortresses, and hanok villages. There are so many amazing historic sights to see in Korea, with each city having something to see.

Here are 10 historic sights in Korea:

1. Bukchon Hanok Village (Seoul)
2. Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul)
3. The Secret Garden (Seoul)
4. Seoul Fortress Walls (Seoul)
5. Hwaseong Fortress (Suwon)
6. Bulguksa Temple (Gyeongju)
7. Gyeongju Historic Area (Gyeongju)
8. Jeonju Hanok Village (Jeonju)
9. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan)
10. Andong Hahoe Village (Andong)

Korean Modern Cultural Sights

Fans of BTS, K-Dramas, Korean movies, and modern Korean culture in general have a lot to see and do in Korea. As well as famous filming locations across the country, these modern cultural sights will entertain, inform, and provide great destinations to visit.

Here are 10 modern cultural sights in Korea:

1. Hallyu K Star Road (Seoul)
2. K-Style Hub (Seoul)
3. Hongik Uni. Station Area (Seoul)
4. COEX Artium (Seoul)
5. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (Seoul)
6. Asia Culture Centre (Gwangju)
7. BIFF Square (Busan)
8. Dae Jang Geum Park (Yongin)
9. Sunshine Studio (Nonsan)
10. Kim Gwang-Seok Street (Daegu)

Family Fun Attractions In Korea

Families travelling to Korea have plenty of things to see and do and ways to enjoy spending time together. There’s no Disneyworld or Universal Studios in Korea, but there are plenty of great alternatives, as well as places for children to explore, learn, and discover.

Here are 10 family fun attractions in Korea:

1. Lotte World Adventure (Seoul)
2. Everland Theme Park (Yongin)
3. Seoul Grand Park & Zoo (Seoul)
4. Alive Museum & Dynamic Maze (Seoul)
5. Seoul Children’s Museum (Seoul)
6. Zoolung Zoolung (Seoul)
7. Sea Life Busan Aquarium (Busan)
8. Jeju Dinosaur Island (Jeju Island)
9. Alpaca World (Gangwon Province)
10. Skyline Luge & Lotte World (Busan)

Korean Museums & Galleries

Travellers to Korea who want to learn about Korea’s history, culture, and art will love Korea’s impressive museums and galleries. These are great places to visit when the weather is bad and you might be surprised at how much there is to learn about Korea’s past.

Here are 10 museums & galleries in Korea:

1. National Museum of Korea (Seoul)
2. War Memorial of Korea (Seoul)
3. Seoul Museum of Art (Seoul)
4. Seoul Museum of History (Seoul)
5. Seodaemun Prison Museum (Seoul)
6. Museum Kimchikan (Seoul)
7. National Folk Museum of Korea (Seoul)
8. Gyeongju National Museum (Gyeongju)
9. National Maritime Museum (Busan)
10. Daegu Art Museum (Daegu)

Cafe Areas In Korea

When you need a break from travelling in Korea, visit one of these cosy cafe areas and take time to relax and recharge. Although Korea was traditionally a tea drinking country, cafes are now everywhere and you’ll find photogenic cafes everywhere these days.

Here are 10 cafe areas to visit in Korea:

1. Ikseondong Hanok Village (Seoul)
2. Gyeongui Line Parks (Seoul)
3. Samcheondong Cafe Street (Seoul)
4. Sinsa-dong / Garosugil Road (Seoul)
5. Jukjeon Cafe Street (Seoul)
6. Jeonpo Cafe Street (Busan)
7. Haeridangil (Busan)
8. Hwangnidangil (Gyeongju)
9. Hwaseong Haenggung Area (Suwon)
10. Gangneung Coffee Street (Gangneung)

Korean Markets & Malls

If you want the best selection of street food, souvenirs, and bargain shopping options, be sure to visit Korea’s many traditional markets. It’s a cultural experience itself. Korea also has some of the world’s largest malls with a wide variety of Korean and international goods.

Here are 10 markets & malls in Korea:

1. Gwangjang Market (Seoul)
2. Dongaemun Market (Seoul)
3. Hongdae Shopping Street (Seoul)
4. Starfield COEX Mall (Seoul)
5. Jagalchi Fish Market (Busan)
6. Seomyeon Underground Mall (Busan)
7. Centum City Mall (Busan)
8. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (Jeju)
9. Nambu Market (Jeonju)
10. Paju Premium Outlets (Paju)

Korean Natural Wonders

Korea is a country covered in mountains, waterfalls, valleys, rice terraces, and beautiful natural sights. Make time to visit some of these natural wonders when you visit Korea and you’ll be amazed at the incredible views you can find. The national parks are truly breathtaking.

Here are 10 natural wonders to see in Korea:

1. Hallasan Mountain (Jeju)
2. Jirisan National Park (Southern Korea)
3. Seoraksan National Park (Gyeonggi)
4. Garden of Morning Calm (Gapyeong)
5. Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (Damyang)
6. Boseong Green Tea Fields (Boseong)
7. Udo Island (Jeju Island)
8. Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak (Jeju)
9. Hyeopjae Beach (Jeju)
10. Suncheon Bay National Park (Suncheon)

These 100 ideas are just the tip of the iceberg for what you can enjoy when travelling to Korea. There’s so much more to discover and I recommend you add some time to your travel plans to explore without a plan. Sometimes the best travel memories come from unexpected discoveries.

Best Activities To Try In Korea In 2024

Often the most memorable moments when travelling come from the experiences we have, not just the places we visit. Visiting a palace is interesting, but visiting a palace while dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, pretending you’re Joseon-era royalty with your friends or family is much more fun.

This section of the South Korea travel guide offers 10 fun activities you can try when you visit Korea. These will give you a good introduction to Korean culture, food, history, and nature. If you want more ideas, check out my list of 50 unique Korean experiences you can only do in Korea.

One of the top experiences to try in Korea has to be wearing Korean hanbok. It is available for all members of the family (even pets) and you can rent hanbok near most palaces or hanok villages. The hanbok easily fit over your regular clothes and come in a variety of colourful or traditional designs. You can get hair styling, accessories, and even have a hanbok photoshoot. Rentals can be as short as one hour or up to a full day.

Travellers to Korea can’t say they’ve truly tried Korean cuisine until they’ve eaten Korean street food from a market stall or street vendor. There are many types of Korean street food to sample in Korea, such as savoury snacks like tteokbokki and eomuk, to sweet treats like hotteok and bungeo-ppang. Korean street food is cheap and delicious. It’s usually not that healthy, but always leaves you feeling great. Give it a try.

Experience life as a Korean would have in the Joseon-era with a night in a traditional hanok house. A hanok stay is very different from sleeping in a hotel and allows you to try a night on a futon (with underground heating keeping you warm in winter). Slide the doors aside in the morning and walk out onto the wooden decking to enjoy traditional Korean tea at a low table and the sight of the ornately decorated garden. Don’t forget to take your shoes off before you enter.

Seoul and other cities in Korea still have fortress walls you can walk or hike along that will offer incredible views of cities and mountains. As you walk along the fortress walls, you begin to imagine what life would have been like as a soldier keeping the city safe from invaders. Nowadays, you can enjoy exercise and sightseeing at the same time. Seoul’s fortress walls are a good place to start, but you can find fortress walls in many other places.

Visiting a Korean sauna might be a bit shocking for first-time travellers to Korea, but it’s a great way to relax and is especially good in winter. When you enter a Korean sauna, you should take off all your clothes, have a shower, and then enter one of the hot baths. Being naked in front of others can be scary for some, but you soon overcome that fear. Korean saunas sometimes have a communal resting area called a jjimjjilbang. These areas require pyjamas and offer snacks, drinks, and places to rest.

The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism have set up a templestay program at dozens of temples across Korea where you spend a day or two at the temple and join in various activities. This is truly a unique experience that you should try in Korea as you get to see customs performed by the monks that aren’t normally shown to the public. You also get to stay overnight at the temple and experience a hanok stay at the same time. Guests can also eat healthy vegan temple food, learn a lot, and chat with the monks.

A noraebang is the Korean version of a karaoke room, but is more popular in Korea and is commonly visited by locals and tourists alike. This is a great place to visit in the evening after a big Korean bbq meal and a few drinks. Everyone can relax and belt out their favourite Korean or international tunes together (or alone), shake some tambourines in support, or just watch and enjoy the atmosphere with some drinks. You can find these in every town and city in Korea and they provide a cheap night of fun and drinks.

Open since 2020, the Sky Bridge at Lotte World Tower offers unbeatable views of Seoul and a nerve-racking trip above the city. Walk between the two towers at the top of the Lotte World Tower and peer down the 541 metre drop to the city streets below. It’s actually very safe and you’re strapped into a harness as you walk from one side to the other, but this definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted. If you’re not sure you can handle the height, check out the Seoul Sky Observatory on the 117th floor instead.

Koreans love to drink coffee and also love cute, unusual things, which is probably why theme cafes have become so popular in Korea. Besides the many cat cafes, there are theme cafes where you can stroke sheep, pet dogs, and see other animals. There’s more to Korea’s theme cafes than just drinking coffee with animals, you can also try drinking from a toilet at the Poop Cafe, paint pictures, build lego, go camping, practice being a wizard, and more. Hongdae in Seoul is the best place to find theme cafes.

Although cafes are replacing Korean tea houses, Korea still grows and drinks lots of tea, especially green tea. You can visit these tea fields in areas such as Boseong and on Jeju Island, both of which have visitor centres and attractions to teach you about the wonderful world of Korean tea. The Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation in Boseong has lush green fields all year round and has been used as a filming location for several Korean shows. The O’sulloc Tea Museum on Jeju Island also has lovely views.

I recommend trying at least a few of these unique activities, they’ll really make your trip to Korea more memorable and offer insights into Korean culture and life. My advice is to be brave when visiting Korea and try new things, even if they seem a bit unusual at first. The same applies to Korean foods.

Best Korean Festivals To Join In 2024

There are dozens of festivals held in Korea each year celebrating the seasons, local products, traditions, culture, and often just for the sake of having fun. Visiting a festival in Korea will offer you a glimpse of how locals celebrate life, culture, and nature and let you join in the fun.

Whenever you visit Korea, there’ll be festivals going on. However, the biggest festivals occur in spring or autumn. As mentioned previously in this South Korea travel guide, these are the best seasons to visit Korea as the weather is pleasant and people are celebrating the end of summer or winter.

Cherry Blossom Festivals

The cherry blossom festivals in Korea occur in late March and early April and are some of the biggest festivals in Korea. People flock to forests, lakes, and rivers to see the pretty blossoms. The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival has over 2 million visitors each year, and even more people visit Seokchon Lake and Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. There are many festivals and tours to see cherry blossoms in Korea so you should be able to find a quiet place to enjoy the view.

Winter Light Festivals

During the cold, dark days of winter, attractions such as Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, and Herb Island transform into sparkling winter wonderlands with millions of bright lights illuminating them. There are also winter illumination festivals in Korean cities, such as the Haeundae Lighting Festival in Busan, Cheonggyecheon Stream Winter Lights in Seoul, and the Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival. When it snows in Korea, these festivals look even more magical.

Summer Music Festivals

Summer in Korea is hot, but that doesn’t stop people enjoying day-long music festivals across the country. From chilled jazz festivals like the Seoul Jazz Festival, to action-packed concerts like Psy’s Summer Swag, there are music festivals to suit everyone. This is a popular summer activity in Korea, so be sure to book in advance for ticketed events. If you can’t get tickets, just go to a popular beach in the evening and you’ll usually find musicians performing.

New Year Festivals

There are various festivals in Korea to celebrate the solar new year. New Year’s Eve festivals involve a bell-ringing ceremony where a giant bell is rung at midnight to welcome in the new year. Fireworks festivals are common events in cities across Korea, starting at midnight, too. Koreans celebrate the start of the new year by visiting the East Coast to see the first sunrise of the year at places like Homigot Sunrise Square or Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju Island.

Buddha’s Birthday Festivals

Buddha’s Birthday is like Christmas for the Buddhist world, but celebrated very differently. It also falls on changing dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, just like Korean New Year. Korean Buddhist temples across Korea will celebrate by putting up colourful lanterns and decorations for at least a month before the actual date. The biggest festival celebrating Buddha’s Birthday is the Yeon Deung Hoe Lantern Festival, which features thousands of lanterns and a lantern parade through central Seoul.

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is one of Korea’s largest festivals and attracts visitors from around the world. Running for 2 weeks during rainy season, this is the best way to see a Korean festival even when the weather is bad. There’s a lot to see and do at this festival, including getting dirty in the mud with mud sports, mud wrestling, mud tug-of-war, and other mud-filled events. Boryeong is famous for the high-quality mud found in nearby waters and, by joining this festival, you’re getting a free mud facial.

Jinju Lantern Festival

The visually stunning Jinju Lantern Festival is held in October each year in Jinju City and runs for several weeks. During the day, watch cultural performances and enjoy exploring the central fortress grounds of Jinju. Once it gets dark, see the city transform as thousands of lanterns, some as big as trees, come to life. There are so many weird and wonderful lanterns to discover at this festival. You can also set your own lanterns to float down the river with your wish inside.

Andong Mask Dance Festival

The Andong Mask Dance Festival in Andong, home of the Andong Hahoe Village, is a great opportunity to witness traditional Korean dance and music performances. Not only can you see traditional Korean performances during this 4 day festival, there are also international performers displaying their own culture’s dancing. Get hands-on with traditional Korean culture at this festival. Explore Andong and learn about its contributions to Korea’s cultural development.

Goyang Flower Festival

The Goyang International Flower Festival runs twice per year, once in spring and once in autumn. It’s a beautiful celebration of floral beauty mixed with Korean cuteness and creativity. At this flower festival you can stroll through a maze of different displays, with each section focusing on certain flowers and plants. There are indoor displays with vividly coloured roses, nature-based outdoor photo zones, and the lovely Ilsan Lake Park in the background.

Baekje Culture Festival

The Baekje Culture Festival probably isn’t one that first-time travellers to Korea would know about. Held in Gongju and Buyeo, the two former capitals of the ancient Baekje Kingdom, this 10-day long festival held around Chuseok (Korean mid-autumn harvest festival), is packed with unique events and sights and is set in historic locations in each city. There’s local food to try, musical & cultural performances, fun photo zones, lantern displays, and much more.

Knowing when you plan to visit Korea will help you research what festivals are on and what the weather will be like. There are certainly a lot more than just the ones mentioned above, including some others mentioned previously in the seasons part of this South Korea travel guide.

I recommend using a tour company to see out of the way festivals like the Jinju Lantern Festival and the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. These are often far from typical tourist destinations and can take hours to get to by public transport. Tours are worth the cost to save you time and avoid hassle.

Recommended Itinerary For Korea In 2024

In this section of this South Korea travel guide is my recommended first-timer itinerary for South Korea. This introduces you to two of Korea’s biggest cities, as well as a couple of day trips to highly rated destinations in Korea. There’s a mix of history, culture, nature, sights, and experiences.

This itinerary starts in Seoul as that’s where most people arrive to Korea after flying into Incheon Airport. If you arrive in Busan, you can change the route to start and end there instead. For travellers to Korea with only 2 or 3 days, I recommend using the first few days of this itinerary instead.

The itinerary lasts for one week, which isn’t enough time to see all of Korea, but enough time to get a feel for the country. If you have more time, use this itinerary and add in or replace extra destinations as you like. Jeju Island is certainly worth visiting if you have an extra 2 or 3 days.

Classic Sights Of Korea Itinerary

This itinerary covers a few must-see sights in Korea, including the two largest cities, the history city of Gyeongju, and some popular day trip destinations from Seoul.

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul and explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong Art Street, Jogyesa Temple, and Cheonggyecheon Stream. Get dinner at the Jonggak Avenue of Youth for authentic Korean food that’s better than the touristy places in Myeongdong.

Day 2: Learn about Korean history at the War Memorial of Korea or National Museum of Korea, explore Seoul’s traditional Gwangjang market in Dongdaemun, take the cable car to the N Seoul Tower for sunset & night views, then head down to Itaewon or Myeongdong for dinner & drinks.

Day 3: Take a day trip to Gapyeong and visit Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, and the Gapyeong Rail Bike Park. Return to Seoul for dinner and rooftop drinks in Myeongdong and then walk along the fortress walls from Dongdaemun Station if the weather is good.

Day 4: Take the KTX to Busan, drop your bags, and take the subway to Nampo-dong for Jagalchi Fish Market, Bosu-dong Book Alley, and traditional sights. Take a taxi to Huinnyeoul Culture Village. End the day in Haeundae for evening dinner & drinks and a walk along the beach at night.

Day 5: Take the bus to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, then a taxi to Songjeong Beach. Relax in a beachside cafe, then take the Haeundae Beach Train to Cheongsapo, change to the Sky Capsule, and end up in Haeundae. Take a bus to Gamcheon Culture Village and get dinner at Songdo Beach.

Day 6: Take a day trip from Busan to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Gyeongju. Visit the Gyeongju Historic Area, then Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village for traditional food and sights of Woljeonggyo Bridge. See tranquil night views of Wolji Pond before getting dinner at Hwangnidangil.

Day 7: Head back to Seoul on the KTX for a final day of shopping and sightseeing in Hongdae. Walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park or Book Street or visit a theme cafe. Take the subway directly to Incheon Airport from Hongdae or spend a night here and check out the lively night scene.

Please note: I recommend trying not to cram too much into your itinerary. You may want to see as much as possible, but people often end up rushing past sights and not appreciating them. Plan for less and see more if you have time. It gives you a chance to be spontaneous.

To plan a realistic itinerary for South Korea, it is important to factor in transportation, meal breaks, and rest times. Use Naver Maps to plan your route and work out travel times. A short journey on the map might take much longer if there’s no direct route. Also consider breaks if you plan to walk a lot.

Cultural Issues When Visiting Korea

The next few sections of this South Korea travel guide will provide answers to some of the most common questions first-time travellers to Korea have in regards to cultural, language, and safety issues. Korea is a culturally unique country with customs and traditions you might not be aware of.

Korea is a society that places a strong emphasis on social image, respect for others, and social harmony. This means Koreans will often try to avoid conflict, especially in public. To show respect for Korean culture and to avoid being rude, try to respect social harmony and always avoid conflict.

If you follow these tips, you’ll find it easier to avoid accidentally upsetting someone in Korea. There’s far too much to cover in this South Korea travel guide, so if you’d like to know more, check out my detailed guide to Korean etiquette and culture, it’s packed with tips and insights to understand Korea.

What is considered rude in Korea? It is considered rude to point with one finger or with chopsticks, give and receive with one hand, cross your legs when sitting, and to walk inside with your shoes on. Things considered rude in other countries such as swearing and spitting are also rude in Korea.

What is considered unlucky in Korea? It is considered unlucky to write someone’s name in red ink and to stand chopsticks upright in rice. Both are used in rituals for deceased people. The number 4 is also unlucky as the word is the same as the word for ‘death’.

Do you need to tip in Korea? It’s not necessary to tip in Korea and most restaurants and cafes won’t expect or allow you to tip. There is no service charge added to bills in Korea, with the exception of some upmarket restaurants, bars, and hotels in touristy areas of Seoul. Tipping guides is okay.

Do you need to take off shoes when going inside? If you enter someone’s house in Korea, you should take off your shoes. This rule also applies to temples, traditional restaurants, and other places in traditional buildings. Most cafes, shops, and restaurants won’t ask you to take off your shoes.

When should you use two hands in Korea? You should use two hands when giving and receiving things in Korea, such as money, a gift, a business card, or food. When you shake hands, use both hands, not just one. The same applies to pouring drinks, both pouring and holding a glass.

Do I have to act like a Korean in Korea? You don’t have to follow Korean customs and traditions when you visit Korea. You are a guest in the country and Koreans won’t expect you to know every rule. However, showing cultural awareness in Korea will help you make friends and impress locals.

The best tip for being culturally sensitive in Korea is to first consider all the things that you’d consider rude in your own country – spitting, swearing, shouting, physical violence, etc. Show the same acts of kindness you’d show at home – help others, give up your seat for those in need, be polite, etc.

Furthermore, remember that social harmony is really important in Korea and try not to cause a scene. Keep your voice down in public, don’t talk or act aggressively, be polite, and don’t force things when people are reluctant. Koreans may feel obliged to do things, even when they don’t want to.

Language Issues When Travelling Korea

Language issues can be a big concern for first-time travellers to Korea as Korean is a very different language from English and has a unique alphabet. Korean is also one of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers, ranked alongside Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic.

However, as a tourist to Korea, you don’t need to worry about mastering the language. English is used for signs and announcements in most places that you’ll need it, such as on public transport, at the airport, at attractions & tourist sites, on menus, and most other places. It’s common across Korea.

If there is a sign or notice that isn’t in Korean, I recommend using the Papago app to take translate it. Use the image translation function in the app to scan the sign and Papago will translate it into English for you. It’s really convenient and the way I translate things I can’t read in Korean.

Do Korean People Speak English?

Speaking in English to Korean people is different from being able to read and translate signs. English is taught from elementary school until the end of high school. That doesn’t mean everyone will remember it, but there’s a good chance some people will know English, especially younger Koreans.

It is best to ask if someone speaks English before trying to have a conversation. You can do this in Korean by asking “영어 할 수 있어요?” (Yong-oh hal su iss-o-yo?) or just ask it in English. Tour guides and people in the tourism industry will probably be able to speak English, but it’s not guaranteed.

Shyness is an issue in Korea and locals may be reluctant to speak English at first for fear of making a mistake. As an English teacher in Korea, I know that Korean students are usually quite competent in English, but lack confidence to use it. Be patient and encouraging when talking in English.

Although some Koreans may be too shy to use English, other people may be enthusiastic about speaking English to you and want to practice it. I’ve been asked random questions in English by strangers in the street in Korea who want to practice English and find out about my life.

Should You Learn Korean Before Visiting Korea?

If you do want to learn some Korean before you travel, I recommend you start by learning the Korean alphabet, or at least learning some basic Korean travel phrases. Knowing how to introduce yourself, discuss prices, ask for directions, and ask for help will make your trip to Korea a lot easier.

You can learn Korean online through courses such as 90 Day Korean and Korean Class 101, or with self-study textbooks like the excellent Talk To Me In Korean series. There are lots of resources on YouTube, too. I particularly like Learn Korean with GO! Korean Billy as he explains things clearly.

Another way to prepare to move to Korea is to read some Korean novels in English. Although these books won’t teach you any Korean, they’ll offer up valuable insights into Korean culture, both traditional and hidden under the surface. Literature is a good way to gain an understanding of a culture.

A warning about Konglish: Although Korea uses English in many useful ways, there’s also a lot of Konglish. The sign above is a good example of random English words being used to look cool, but ending up being confusing. There’s a lot of this in Korea and it’s mostly harmless, so don’t worry.

Health And Safety Issues In Korea

First-time travellers to Korea may be worried about health and hygiene issues, such as if certain foods are available and if they’re safe to eat. Other issues include vaccinations, personal safety, and how easy it is to contact emergency services. These issues are addressed below.

Is Korean Street Food Safe To Eat?

Korean street food is generally safe to eat and won’t give you any health issues unless you have an intolerance to the food. Korean street food can be spicy or contain a lot of salt, be aware of your own personal tolerances and dietary requirements before trying it.

Also be careful when ordering food with meat or seafood and check that it is cooked thoroughly. Korean street food that has been left out for a long time is more likely to cause food poisoning problems, so ask for freshly cooked food if you’re concerned.

Is It Easy To Find Vegan-Friendly Food In Korea?

There are many vegan-friendly Korean dishes, such as gimbap, japchae, pajeon, bibimbap, ramyeon, and tteokbokki. However, some restaurants may use non vegan-friendly ingredients when preparing these foods, so be careful. Kimchi isn’t vegan-friendly due to its seafood ingredients & sauces.

Vegetarianism and veganism aren’t common in Korea with fewer people following these diets than in countries such as the USA or UK. Vegetarians in Korea account for 3% of the population, while vegans in Korea are only 0.2% of the population as of 2022. The UK is 10% and 2% respectively.

However, the number of vegan-friendly restaurants and bakeries is increasing each year in Korea, especially in areas such as Hongdae and Itaewon. Korean Buddhist temple food is vegan-friendly and a good option for vegans who want to enjoy vegan food while learning about local Korean culture.

If you’re concerned about accidentally ordering non vegan-friendly food, or want to know how to tell someone about food allergies or requirements, check out my guide to Korean phrases for ordering food. This has a whole section about special requests when ordering food in Korean.

Is It Safe To Drink Tap Water In Korea?

Korean tap water is potable and safe to drink. Korea ranks 23rd for water hygiene, which is above the USA, Canada, and Australia. However, many Koreans don’t drink tap water, preferring to use water purifiers and bottled water instead, claiming that tap water smells strange or water pipes are bad.

Personally, I don’t like drinking tap water in Korea as it tastes a bit stale, but it’s perfectly fine to drink and doesn’t cause any problems. Bottled water is very cheap in Korea and costs 600 KRW for a 500ml bottle from a convenience store. Buying water from a supermarket is a cheaper option though.

Do You Need Any Vaccinations To Travel To South Korea?

There are no mandatory vaccinations required to travel to Korea, but it is suggested you should have at least routine vaccinations such as tetanus, MMR, and polio. Hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations are also recommended.

Is Korea Friendly To Tourists?

Korea is generally friendly and welcoming to tourists. The Korean government spends a lot of money and effort to promote Korean tourism to the world and there are many incentives to bring people to the country. Korean people are also mostly polite and welcoming, especially in the tourism sector.

Is Korea A Dangerous Country To Travel In?

South Korea is a safe country to travel in and the crime rate in Korea is low, comparable to Norway or the Netherlands. Public crimes, such as theft and assault, are rare. Pickpocketing and purse snatching aren’t common and unattended goods are generally left alone or reported to the police.

How safe is Korea? I regularly see people leave their phone or handbag on a cafe table to reserve it before going up to order a drink. People even leave their laptops open while they pop out for lunch or go to the toilet. Stealing disturbs social harmony and is one of the reasons it’s rare in Korea.

Physical violence is also rare, but still occurs in Korea, as it does in all countries. This is most often found in areas with lots of bars and when people are drunk. However, visiting bars in Korea is a lot safer than I’ve experienced in other countries and trouble is not common, even in busy places.

How Do You Contact Tourist Information Services In Korea?

Call 1330 in Korea to contact the Travel Helpline. The Korean Travel Helpline provides the following services free of charge to tourists in Korea.

• Tourist Information: Find out about attractions, opening hours, prices, and other information.
• Tourist Interpretation: Access travel information in several languages.
• Tourist Complaints: Report rip-offs and problems you encounter when travelling in Korea.
• Tourist Police: Report minor crimes in English and other languanges.

There are tourist police patrolling the streets of Seoul, dressed in purple uniforms as shown in the picture above. In popular tourist locations like Myeongdong and Bukchon Hanok Village, you’ll also find friendly tourist information staff dressed in red shirts with matching red cowboy hats.

What Should You Do If You Have An Emergency In Korea?

If you need to report a fire or medical emergency in Korea, you should call 119 from any phone. To contact the police in Korea, call 112. You will need to select an option to report an emergency in English or another language. It may take some time to be redirected to an English speaker.

• 119 – Medical Emergency & Fire Rescue
• 112 – Police

When you use medical services in Korea, you have to pay the cost of treatment, but there is no fee for the ambulance ride as this is covered by the Korean government. Travel insurance should cover the cost of medical bills, so if you’re worried about a large medical bill, insurance is recommended.

Fortunately, the cost of treatment in Korea is quite reasonable and Korea has advanced medical facilities, which is why it’s a popular medical tourism destination. Many people travel to Korea for minor and major surgery, including laser eye surgery, cosmetic surgery, and internal medicine.

Is Air Pollution A Problem In Korea?

Air pollution is an issue in Korea, especially in spring & summer. Winds blow yellow dust from Central Asia, field burning spreads fumes across Asia, and fossil-fuel burning contributes to higher levels of air pollution. Some days there’ll be very low visibility and health risks for people with lung problems.

My Personal Travel Tips For Korea

This South Korea travel guide is a collection of information I’ve researched and learned since moving to Korea in 2015 and blogging about Korean travel since 2019. I hope the provided information and insights are useful and assist you plan your dream first-time, or even tenth-time, trip to Korea.

This section includes my personal tips that didn’t really fit anywhere else and reflections built from travelling all over Korea in all seasons. These are tips I would offer to first-time travellers to Korea and people who might have some worries about visiting the Land of Morning Calm. I hope they help.

The Real Korea Isn’t What You See On TV

Korea is a developed country that went from being a 3rd world country in the mid 20th Century to a high-tech country in a short time. Despite the many high-rises and modern K-Pop stars, there are still shadows of the former Korea seen in both run-down slums and people with ‘traditional’ values.

The image created by selective K-Culture can distort people’s reality when dreaming of a trip to Korea in the same way Korean people can suffer from Paris Syndrome when visiting France. There are many wonderful things about Korea, but don’t travel thinking that everything is as shown on TV.

Be Prepared For Culture Shock

One of the best things about travelling is seeing a country and people that act and behave differently to how you do in your own country. This is known as culture shock and can be both a blessing and a challenge for first-time travellers to Korea. Things you might be used to can be different in Korea.

Some examples of culture shock in Korea include the way age determines hierarchy in Korea and how older people can be rather pushy, especially on the subway. Younger people also typically don’t question the decisions of older people in Korea as it is considered rude and disrespectful.

Less extreme cultural differences that might confuse some first-time visitors to Korea include having to shout to call someone to take your order in a Korean restaurant or not giving a tip. Koreans might similarly look at you strangely if you do something culturally different, such as walking while drinking.

Don’t Overpack When You Travel To Korea

First-time travellers to Korea may be worried about visiting a country like Korea without taking everything they need from home, even the kitchen sink. My advice is to pack as light as possible and leave yourself some space in your suitcase. There are two reasons for this.

1. You can buy most things you need in Korea. This includes sun cream, heat packs, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, travel accessories, etc. They’re also probably cheaper in Korea, too.
2. You will want to take home lots of things. From weird Korean snacks to beautiful hand-crafted pottery and woodwork, there are so many things to buy in Korea.

(1) The only exception is if you might have a problem finding correct-fitting items. Korean shoes and clothes are slightly smaller than what you’d find in Western countries and the sizes are also differently labelled. I’m a medium in the UK but a large (sometimes XL!) in Korea. Be careful when shopping.

(2) It’s hard to fit everything you buy in Korea into an already full suitcase. Fortunately, you can buy extra suitcases at low prices. Check out Namdaemun Market for cheap luggage options, as well as shops like the one pictured below (this is in Busan) in places like Hongdae and Dongdaemun.

Electricity In South Korea

Be careful with electric items when travelling to Korea. Korea uses type C and F plugs, which are used in Europe, Russia, and other parts of Asia. The standard voltage is 220V with 60Hz frequency. Anything designed for a standard voltage between 220V and 240V should be fine in Korea.

Laptops, mobile phones, and other portable devices will be fine when you travel in Korea as long as you use a travel adapter with a USB or socket connection. Hairdryers, shavers, curlers, and similar devices might have problems charging in Korea and run out of power very soon. My shaver did.

Go With The Flow And Go Quickly

Korea is a very busy country and you might hear people mutter ‘빨리빨리’ (ppalli ppalli) if you walk slowly, especially in the subway. Koreans work long hours and are eager to get home or go out for dinner. Don’t take it personally if people push past you and don’t feel like you have to rush.

Know Where To Throw Away Rubbish

It can be difficult to find a bin to throw away rubbish in Korea, even in urban areas. The best place to dispose of rubbish in Korea is at a convenience store. You can find recycling and trash bins in these shops. If you go hiking or explore the countryside, expect to carry your rubbish home with you.

South Korea Travel Guide FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about this South Korea travel guide, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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The Wise card is a multi-currency travel money card which you can use to pay and withdraw cash in 53 currencies in more than 175 countries around the world. You can easily convert currencies by adding money from your home account and converting it in the app. Not only is it really simple, you also get the mid-market rate, which is usually much better than the rates offered by money exchanges.

As a tourist, you can use the Wise card to pay for almost all of your travel expenses in Korea, including shopping, eating out, cafes, attractions, hotels, transport, and even for online purchases. It’s as functional as your regular bank card, but with lower fees and instant currency exchange. The Wise card is also really useful for expats in Korea who want to spend money from their home countries.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Use The Wise Card In Korea?

The Wise card is a prepaid travel money card and a really useful way to pay for goods and services in Korea and a way to withdraw money from Korean ATMs. It’s safer and easier than carrying foreign currency, less complicated than traveller’s cheques, and allows you to convert your money into dozens of currencies using the mid-market exchange rate.

Here’s a summary of the main benefits of using the Wise card as a travel money card in Korea. I’ll provide more details about these benefits throughout the article.

• No need to exchange cash at a money exchange: simply withdraw cash from your Wise balance at an ATM from any bank with ‘Global ATMs’.
• Pay in Korean won fee-free by card: After you convert money from your chosen currency into Korean won, you can spend money like it’s a Korean bank card with no fees.
• Easy to add money from your home account and spend in Korea: Add funds to your travel budget as you go through online transfers from your home bank account to your Wise app.
• Free withdrawals from ATMs (up to a limit): Wise doesn’t charge a fee for the first $100 of cash withdrawals per month. Travellers in Korea won’t need much cash anyway.
• No unexpected fees when you get home: Using your home bank card or credit card may charge you for using it overseas, which can give you a nasty surprise when you get home.
• Convert leftover foreign currency back to your own currency: Anything you convert into Korean won but don’t use can be converted back at the mid-market exchange rate in the app.
• Can use it to pay in other countries, too: Planning to visit Japan after Korea? Use Wise to pay for things when you’re in Japan, Thailand, Europe, and loads of other countries.
• Tracks your spending and categorises each cost: Each transaction is recorded by the app and broken down into categories so you can see where your travel budget has gone.
• Safe and secure service while travelling: You can easily freeze the Wise card if you lose it, set a password to access the app, and get a replacement card.
• Offers physical and digital card versions: Use the physical card to pay for goods and items in person or the digital version for other situations.
• Works with Apple Pay & Google Pay: Add your Wise card to your Apple Pay or Google Pay account and spend your foreign currency in Wise wherever they’re accepted.

The biggest advantages of using the Wise card in Korea that I’ve personally found is the exchange rate, which uses the mid-market rate and not the rip-off rates some money exchanges use, as well as the ability to instantly top-up my Wise balance from my UK bank account. I also use my Wise card when I travel outside Korea as I can spend my UK money or Korean money safely and easily.

If you’re interested in getting a Wise multi-currency card to pay for travel costs, use these links below:

Wise Card Vs. Credit Card & Money Exchanges

What’s the benefit of using a Wise card to spend in Korea? As mentioned above, there are many benefits of using a multi-currency card like Wise as a tourist in Korea. Whether Wise is better than your credit cards depends on a number of factors, such as if your credit card charges you a fee to use it overseas (mine does) and what rate you get when paying with your credit card.

Even if your credit card doesn’t charge a fee, banks typically give bad exchange rates when converting payments into foreign currencies. I never use my UK credit card in Korea for both of these reasons. Wise offers Visa or Mastercard services, both of which are widely accepted in Korea and can be used to pay for hotels, attractions, food, drinks, taxis, and lots more.

A Wise card allows you to withdraw cash from an ATM in Korea, which is easier than visiting a money exchange. However, Korea is quickly becoming a cash-free society and using a card to pay in Korea is more common and convenient. Public transport is moving towards only using transportation cards or apps like the T-Money card and buses have stopped accepting cash in some cities.

Learn more: If you want to read more about the best way to save money on your travel expenses in Korea, check out my article about the various ways to pay in Korea as a tourist. There’s information about the Wise card, WOWPASS, money exchanges in Seoul, and tips for spending wisely.

Who Can Get A Wise Card?

Residents of the following countries are eligible for a Wise travel money card.

Asia: Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

North America: Canada and the US.

Latin America: Brazil.

Europe: Austria, Belgium. British Virgin Islands. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (only Metropolitan), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory), and the UK Crown Dependencies: Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Jersey.

Other countries in the European area: Andorra, Åland Islands, Saint Barthélemy, Curaçao, Falkland Islands [Malvinas], Faroe Islands, French Guiana, Greenland, Guadeloupe, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Cayman Islands, Monaco, Saint Martin (French part), Martinique, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Réunion, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, San Marino, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), French Southern Territories, Holy See, Virgin Islands (British), Wallis and Futuna, Mayotte.

The Wise multi-currency travel money card should arrive within 3 days in Singapore, 2 to 6 days in the UK, 2 weeks in Europe, Japan, or Malaysia, and 3 weeks in the US, Australia, or New Zealand.

Can Koreans get a Wise travel card? Unfortunately, people in South Korea can’t apply for a Wise travel money card right now, but if you’re an expat from one of the countries listed above, you can apply in your home country and use it when you’re in Korea (which is what I did).

How To Sign Up For A Wise Card

As long as you’re a resident of one of the aforementioned countries and you currently live in that country, you’re eligible to sign up for a Wise travel money card. Here are the steps to sign up for a Wise card:

1: Create An Account: You can do this by downloading the Wise App or on the Wise website (links below). You can create an account with your email, Google, Facebook, or Apple account.

2: Verify Your Identity: You’ll need to verify your identity to use Wise. To do this, you’ll need a valid mobile phone number, a government ID, and a bank account in the country you’re applying in.

3: Complete Account Setup: Once verified, complete your account setup and order your Wise travel money card. This should arrive within 2 weeks, but it can be fewer than that. Mine took about 3 days.

How To Add Korean Won To A Wise Card

Once your account has been setup and you’ve received your Wise card, you will need to add some money to the card and create different currency accounts. Don’t worry, this is really easy and is definitely the simplest way to create a bank account for a foreign country, which is kind of what you’re doing.

How to create different currency accounts: Open the Wise App and you’ll see your account balance at the top with available currencies below that. Scroll through your available currencies and you’ll see a button that says ‘+ Open‘ – you can use this to add new currencies to your Wise account. Select the ‘Balance‘ option to create a new bank account and select the currency you want.

How to add Korean won to your Wise card: Open the Wise app and select the Korean won account. Click the green button that says ‘Add‘. In this screen (shown below), type the amount of money you want to add to your account and the currency you want to pay in. If you want to transfer directly from your bank account into Korean won, you can do that by selecting your home currency.

If you prefer to add money in your home currency and convert to other currencies later on, you can do this in the same way by selecting your home currency, ‘Add’ to add funds, and then bank transfer. There is no fee to do this. To convert that into Korean won, select the ‘Convert‘ button in your currency account and select the currency you want to covert into. There’s a small fee for this.

How To Activate Wise Card In Korea

Before you can use your Wise card to spend money in Korea and elsewhere, you’ll need to activate the card. You can do this by using your card to withdraw cash or pay for something using Chip and PIN. If you signed up for your Wise card in the US or Japan, you will need to activate your card before you travel. Details of this are included below.

I made the mistake of not activating my Wise card before using it in Korea and it was declined when I tried to make a payment, as you can see in the image below. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to activate the Wise card in Korea at a Global ATM.

Use your Wise card in a Global ATM to activate it: This is the method I used to activate my Wise card in Korea as this method requires you to enter your PIN number. This part is very important as you must enter your PIN for the Wise card to activate. I withdrew some cash from my Wise account and after that the Wise card worked perfectly for card payments and other transactions.

Tip: You don’t have to withdraw cash to activate the Wise card, just check your balance and this will activate your card. As long as you’ve entered your PIN number, your card will be activated.

Why won’t Wise activate when paying by card? A Wise card is activated by using the PIN. Unfortunately, PIN numbers aren’t really used in Korea as a way to authenticate purchases. Purchases under ₩50,000 don’t require approval. If the purchase is over ₩50,000, then you’ll need to sign for it. This is why withdrawing cash from an ATM is the best way to activate a Wise card in Korea.

How To Activate Wise Card For US Customers

There are special rules about activating your Wise card for US customers. You need to activate your Wise card using the 6-digit PIN number that was sent with the card. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to your Wise account
• Go to Card
• Choose Activate Now
• Enter the 6-digit PIN number that’s on the letter your card came attached to.

Please note: You can only activate your Wise card when you’re in the US, so make sure you do that before you travel to Korea or use it in other countries.

How To Activate Wise Card For Japanese Customers

There are special rules about activating your Wise card if your card was issued in Japan after 27th March, 2023. You need to activate the card in Japan using the 6-digit PIN number. Here are the steps to do that:

• Go to your Wise account
• Go to Card
• Choose Activate Now
• Enter the 6-digit code that’s on the letter your card came attached to.

Please note: You can only activate your Wise card when you’re in Japan, so make sure you do that before you travel to Korea or use it in other countries.

Wise ATM Withdrawal In Korea

Travellers to Korea can use their Wise card to withdraw cash from Global ATMs instead of relying on money exchanges or airport exchanges to convert foreign currency. This is a convenient way to get cash to spend while you’re travelling in Korea and means you don’t need to bring lots of cash with you – you can withdraw it as and when you need it.

How to withdraw cash using a Wise card in Korea: To withdraw cash from your Wise account, you’ll need to go to a Global ATM as they accept foreign cards and allow cash withdrawals. You can find Global ATMs in Seoul and other major cities and they’re typically in popular tourist locations like Hongdae and Myeongdong. There are Global ATMs at Incheon Airport and other airports in Korea.

Is there a fee to withdraw cash using Global ATMs? Yes, Korean banks impose a fee of around ₩3,600 (~$3 USD) to use Global ATMs, which is something you should consider when withdrawing cash using your Wise card. It’s better to withdraw large amounts at once as the fee is set per transaction and not based on how much you withdraw. The fee is deducted from your Wise balance.

I visited several ATMs to check the fee to withdraw cash using a Wise card, including the ATM inside Seoul Station AREX terminal, and found that they all charged me a fee of around ₩3,000 to ₩3,600. Reports from other travellers in Korea who have used the Wise card at Global ATMs shows that these foreigner-friendly ATMs also charge a fee.

Is there a fee to withdraw cash using Wise? Wise states that you are entitled to fee-free withdrawals from ATMs up to a certain limit. The picture below shows the fees and fee-free limits for USD customers ($100), but the limit changes depending on your country. The fee-free withdrawal limit for UK customers is £200 per month. Please check the Wise website for your country to see the fees.

Should you use cash or card in Korea? As mentioned previously, Korea is a country that is becoming cash-free. You can pay for many things by card in Korea and the Wise card can be used to cover most of your costs when you are travelling. Having a small amount of cash is useful as you’ll need it to top up transportation cards (T-Money) and to pay for small purchases in markets.

Where Can You Use Wise In Korea?

As Wise cards are issued by Visa or Mastercard, two of the most widely accepted card payment methods in Korea, they can be used anywhere these cards are normally accepted. Travellers in Korea can use the Wise travel money card to pay for many things, including hotels, restaurants, transportation, trips, entertainment, cafes, and anywhere you can use a card.

Here is a summary of some of the available places you can use your Wise card in Korea:

• Hotels: Pay for your hotel in Korea when you arrive or book online.
• Shopping: From large department stores to small convenience stores and everything in between.
• Eating Out: Cafes, restaurants, and even Korean street food sellers will accept card payments.
• Entertainment: Theme parks, attractions, bars, Korean noraebangs (karaoke), and more.
• Sightseeing: Pay entry fees for famous attractions in Seoul and beyond.
• Transportation: Pay for KTX train tickets, intercity bus tickets, and taxis in Korea.
• Day Trips: You can book tours online* in your home currency or Korean won.

*online payments in Korea can be fiddly and sometimes foreign cards can be rejected due to Korea-specific security protocols or language-based technical issues.

Will you pay a fee to use Wise in Korea? No. When using your Wise card’s Korean won balance in Korea, you will only pay the price stated. Whether you spend 600 won for a bottle of water, or 60,000 won for a Korean BBQ meal, there are no transaction fees charged by Wise.

Is the Wise card a credit card? No, the Wise card is a debit card, which means you can only spend the money you have available in your Wise account for that certain currency and you can’t borrow money. If you don’t have any money in your Korean won currency account, you won’t be able to use it in Korea. However, it’s easy to top up the balance by transferring from your bank account.

Are taxes added to prices in Korea? No. When you see a price tag, that’s the price you will pay. Sales tax or other fees won’t be added on to the price, with the exception of shipping costs if buying online. Restaurant bills typically don’t include a service charge as tipping is not a Korean custom.

Where Isn’t Wise Accepted In Korea?

Like foreign debit and credit cards, the Wise travel money card isn’t guaranteed to work in every single place you try to spend money in Korea. There may be instances when the place doesn’t accept cards, such as a street food stall or food cart, even though all businesses in Korea are supposed to accept card payments. As Wise uses Visa and Mastercard, it should be accepted almost everywhere.

In my experience, there has only been one place where I wasn’t able to use my Wise card in Korea, which was an automated ticket machine at a bus terminal in Daejeon. I think these automated machines usually don’t accept foreign cards and the ticket machine at Seoul Station even says it only accepts Korean debit cards. Fortunately, you can still buy tickets at the station counter so it’s not a big issue.

Card not working because it’s not activated: If you’re having problems using your Wise card in Korea, don’t forget you need to activate it before you can use it to pay for things. As mentioned, you can do this at a Global ATM by checking your balance. However, Japanese and US customers need to activate their card before they travel to Korea as it must be done in their respective countries.

How To Use The Wise App In Korea

The Wise app is an essential part of using your Wise card in Korea and allows you to:

• Check your spending
• See your account details
• Add funds to your balance
• Send money to other people
• Transfer between currencies
• Lock the card if it’s lost or stolen
• Use digital card services

When you use the Wise multi-currency card in Korea to pay for something, you will receive a notification showing your expenditure. This is good for security, to make sure it’s not being used fraudulently, and also helps you track your spending, which can be difficult when you’re on holiday. Don’t forget, you’ll need a Korean sim card or WiFi to use your phone when travelling.

The main reason I use the Wise app when I’m travelling in Korea or elsewhere is to check that I have enough money available in my Korean won Wise balance, to add funds, to convert currencies, and to see how much I’ve spent. You can easily check your transaction history for each account and the payments are categorised according to the type of cost, as you can see in the picture below.

How To Replace A Lost Wise Card

If you lose your Wise card in Korea, or it gets stolen, you can use the Wise app to freeze the card instantly. Open the Wise app and select the ‘Card‘ option on the bottom menu to get to your card details. From this screen, select ‘Freeze card‘ to stop anyone using your card and protect your balance. You can order a replacement card in the same screen, which should be delivered within 2 weeks.

You can also unblock your PIN (in case you accidentally block it), view your card and PIN details, set limits on your spending, and manage where you can use your Wise card, such as whether ATM withdrawals or online payments are allowed or not. This can be useful for card safety and controlling how your Wise card is used when you’re in Korea.

Losing your card when travelling can be a big issue, but fortunately you can still use your Wise account with a digital card to spend online, with Google Pay or Apple Pay, or in store (when accepted). Select ‘Order a card‘ in the Wise app to get a digital card, which is an app-based version of your physical card. The digital card is free, issued immediately and connects to your existing Wise balance.

Please note: Only the following countries are eligible for a digital card – UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Switzerland, Canada, Brazil or EEA. US applicants aren’t included.

Benefits Of Using Wise As An Expat In Korea

I created a Wise card when I was home in the UK and have been using it in Korea and in other countries since 2022. As an expat in Korea since 2015, I can say that having this card has made managing my online finances so much easier. I no longer have to make expensive and time consuming bank transfers, I can manage my money through the Wise app, and I get a better exchange rate, too.

Here are some of the main benefits of using the Wise card as an expat in Korea:

1: Spend your money from your home country in Korea: Set up your Wise card for your home currency and Korean won and you can transfer money directly from your home bank account to the Korean won account and then spend Korean won in Korea with your Wise card. This can be really useful for people who are about to move to Korea and don’t have a Korean bank account yet.

2: Spend your Korean money when you travel abroad: Wise is accepted in over 175 countries and works with over 40 currencies, which means you can take it with you when you travel and pay anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, which is most places. I use my Wise card as my main means of paying for things when I travel. It saves you money on foreign exchange fees and bank fees.

3: Receive money from other people: If your friends of family want to send you some money in Korea, they can send it to your Wise account in whatever currency you need. For example, you have relatives in the USA, the UK, and Australia, you can set up a Wise account for each of those currencies in the Wise app (all for free), tell them your bank details for each currency account, and they can pay you.

4: Receive payments from other countries: If you work as a digital nomad or need to be paid in a foreign currency, you can provide your bank details from Wise for that currency account. These details are found in the Wise app and come with routing numbers, BIC numbers, etc. – all you need to receive money from other countries. This saves on conversion fees for receiving foreign payments.

Expats in Korea typically still have connections in their home country, whether that’s friends, family, or business partners. Being able to receive money and spend money while in Korea with a Wise card can be a good way to buy and receive birthday presents and other gifts.

From surveys I’ve conducted from expats in Korea who use the Wise multi-currency travel money card, it seems that it’s also a good option for travelling outside of Korea. The main reason for this was that Korean banks charge high fees to exchange money or to use your Korean card overseas.

The only real criticism that other expats in Korea had about the Wise card was that, on rare occasions, the money transfers weren’t instant. Some people said that they had to wait up to 3 days for their balances to clear, which would be an issue if you need to spend money instantly.

Learn more: if you want to know more about how to transfer money to and from Korea using Wise and the best ways to receive money in Korea from abroad, check out this article about using Wise to send money to Korea.

Can You Apply For A Wise Card In Korea?

Korea isn’t one of the countries where you can sign up for a Wise card. If you’re an expat living in Korea, you’ll need to apply for a Wise card before moving to Korea. You need to be a resident of an eligible country, which you technically wouldn’t be if you’re already living in Korea long-term. However, if you’re registered in your home country with an address and bank account, you should be fine.

You’ll also need to be in the country to order a Wise travel money card, as you have to have phone number in that country and receive a call from Wise to setup your account and use the app. If you can’t receive a phone call, you won’t be able to verify your identity.

My Experience Using Wise In Korea

I picked up a Wise card in the UK and have been using it in Korea since 2022.

Here are some of the good things I’ve found out about the Wise card:

• It works in most places: As mentioned, I’ve only had one payment rejected, which was at a bus terminal ticketing machine. Everything else has been really smooth.
• It has saved me money: Transferring money between the UK and Korea isn’t cheap and the Wise multi-currency travel money card is certainly a much cheaper way to get my UK money into Korea.
• More convenient for transfers: If I want to send money from the UK to Korea, I need to do it through my banking app in the UK, which can require a phone call to approve it. Using Wise, I can skip that and it’s done instantly and hassle-free.
• Helps me track my spending: I love the Wise app, it’s much better than my UK and Korean banking apps and shows me what I’ve spent money on more cleary.
• Can use it when travelling: I use my Wise card when to avoid bad exchange rates when converting cash and high fees for using my UK card overseas.

And here are some of the downsides of having a Wise card in Korea:

• Can’t always withdraw cash from an ATM: I live in Daejeon and there aren’t many Global ATMs in this area, which makes it hard to withdraw cash from my Wise card. I don’t need to withdraw cash, but if I did, I’d need to find a Global ATM to do so.
• Interferes with my other contactless cards: I have a contactless Korean bank card in my wallet which I use to pay for things. As the Wise card is also a contactless payment card, it confuses the card reader and I have to take my Korean card out of my wallet to use it. It’s not a big hassle, but it’s worth considering.

Generally, the Wise card has been a great advantage to my range of payment options in Korea and helps me manage my money in the UK and Korea more conveniently and cheaply. As a tourist in Korea, the Wise card would be a very useful addition to anyone’s travel payment options and a way to avoid using money exchanges, paying high overseas fees, and worrying about how much money to bring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, here are a few FAQs about using the Wise card in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. This is based on my personal experience, feedback from other people who have used the Wise card in Korea, and research from other websites.

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The Klook Pass Seoul is looking to beat the Discover Seoul Pass with it’s unique features, such as flexible booking dates and ability to book manage multiple passes under one account. This article dives into the benefits and features of the Klook Pass Seoul, explains how to use the pass, shows you how much you can save, and compares it to the Discover Seoul Pass.

My thoughts about whether you should buy the Klook Pass Seoul are included, as well as detailed sections that explain the pass, its features and whether or not it beats the Discover Seoul Pass.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Summary Of The Klook Pass Seoul

Below is a brief overview of the Klook Pass Seoul and how it compares to the Discover Seoul Pass. Please be aware that there are a lot of fine points that aren’t discussed in this section that I cover later on in the article that help explain these conclusions.

The Discover Seoul Pass is better because: The Discover Seoul Pass offers a wider range of attractions in Seoul, with free and discounted entry, as well as other features such as the T-Money Card. The cost of the Discover Seoul Pass is higher than the Klook Pass Seoul for the 24 hour card, but can potentially save more money, depending on your schedule.

The Discover Seoul Pass is better for: Travellers in Seoul for a short time who want to visit many premium attractions in a few days.

The Klook Pass Seoul is better because: The Klook Pass Seoul allows you to visit premium attractions in Seoul for a discounted price over a period of 30 days. This is better for travellers who are visiting Seoul for a long time, or who plan to visit on separate occasions. Less pressure to rush around Seoul before the pass expires.

The Klook Pass Seoul is better for: Travellers in Seoul that want to spread out the time spent at premium attractions over a longer time and on separate days.

Both passes will save you money on Seoul’s attractions and are designed for tourists.

Personally, I think the Discover Seoul Pass has more advantages, but the Klook Pass Seoul could be a better option for travellers who plan to visit a few attractions over a wider time frame.

Find out more about the Klook Pass Seoul in the next sections, as well as a detailed comparison of the two passes and my final thoughts.

What Is The Klook Pass Seoul?

The Klook Pass Seoul is a tourist-friendly premium pass that allows free entry to some of Seoul’s top attractions, including 2 theme parks.

The cost of the Klook Pass Seoul is based on the number of attractions you want to visit. The price of the pass starts at 44,000 KRW for 2 attractions and goes up to 87,000 KRW for 4 attractions.

The Klook Pass Seoul differs from the Discover Seoul Pass as you can choose to use the pass at any time during a 30 day period, which you select when booking the pass. You can visit multiple attractions on the same day, or split them out into separate days.

The attractions in the Klook Pass Seoul include Lotte World Adventure, Lotte World Aquarium, the N Seoul Tower, Everland theme park, and other premium attractions in Seoul.

To buy the Klook Pass Seoul from the Klook website, click the button below:

Klook Pass Seoul Attractions

The Klook Pass Seoul comes with 7 main attractions and 2 add-on attractions that can be added for extra savings. You can purchase up to 4 attractions with the Klook Pass Seoul in combinations of 2/3/4 main attractions and 0/1/2 add-on attractions. Prices and details of these combinations will be covered later.

Here are the key details about each of the 7 main attractions, including their regular entry fees, address, and how to get there.

1: Lotte World Aquarium

The Lotte World Aquarium, located next to Lotte World Adventure, is the world’s largest ocean ecology tank. Discover the wonders of the underwater world, with more than 650 species and 55,000 creatures to meet. Lots of fishy fun for all the family.

Regular Price: 33,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 300 지하1층

How To Get There: Take the subway to Jamsil Station and leave via Exit 11 on Line 2 or 8.

2: COEX Aquarium

Located in the beautiful COEX Mall in Gangnam, the COEX Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Seoul and features the highest number of sharks and widest variety of species from all around the globe. Explore the oceans and enjoy the mermaid shows and penguin feeding displays.

Regular Price: 28,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513

How To Get There: Option 1 – Take line 9 Bongeunsa Station Exit 7, then walk 3 minutes to Coex Mall. Option 2 – Take line 2 Samseong Station Exit 5/6, and follow the Coex sign towards the Coex Mall entrance at the back of the Millennium Plaza

3: Alive Museum & Dynamic Maze

The Alive Museum & Dynamic Maze in Insadong both offer family-fun indoor activities in Seoul. The Alive Museum features ‘trick art’ exhibitions and parodies of famous pieces. The Dynamic Maze is packed full of obstacles, challenges, and puzzles to solve together.

Regular Price: 19,700 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 12

How To Get There: Take subway line 5 and alight at Jongno 3-ga Station, exit 5. The attraction is approximately 150m away from the station. Walk for 5 minutes to reach the Alive Museum

4: N Seoul Tower

The N Seoul Tower, also known as Namsan Tower, is an iconic tourist attraction that offers 360 degree views of central Seoul. The Klook Pass Seoul N Seoul Tower ticket doesn’t just provide access to the tower and observatory, you also get dinner at the N Burger Restaurant, too.

Regular Price: 36,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 용산구 남산공원길 105

How To Get There: There are several ways to get to the N Seoul Tower, including on foot, by cable car, bus, or car. Visit the official site for full travel details.

5: 63 Building Observatory & Aqua Planet 63

The 63 Building is an unmissable landmark on the Han River – it’s a gigantic golden building that offers views across Seoul. See the sights from the observatory and explore Aqua Planet 63, filming location of “Legend of the Blue Sea“.

Regular Price: 34,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 영등포구 63로 50

How To Get There: There is a free shuttle bus from near these stations – Daebang Station (Exit 6), Yeoinaru Station (Exit 4), and Saetgang Station (Exit 1).

6: Hanbok Experience

No trip to Seoul’s royal palaces or hanok villages would be complete without dressing up in flowing Korean hanbok. With this hanbok experience, not only do you get a whole day to walk around dressed up, you also get hairstyling, too. Perfect for unforgettable pictures.

Regular Price: 30,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 종로구 사직로 133-5

How To Get There: Take subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station. Upon exiting through Exit 4, turn around and walk forward, then turn left at the first alley to find the yellow building

7: Ewha Korean School Uniform Rental

Instead of a day wearing traditional Korean hanbok, you can try life as a Korean high-schooler with the Ewha Korean School Uniform Rental. Located close to Lotte World, this is the perfect place to dress up as you enjoy other attractions in the area.

Regular Price: 20,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 송파구 잠실3동 올림픽로 212

How To Get There: Take subway Line 2 or 8 to Jamsil Station. Ehwa Gyobok (Ehwa school uniform) is located in the basement level of Galleria Palace Apartment, which is next to the Lotte World parking lot.

Klook Pass Seoul Add-On Attractions

As well as 7 main attractions, at least 2 of which must always be selected when purchasing the Klook Pass Seoul, there are 2 add-on attractions – Everland and Lotte World Adventure.

By adding either of these 2 add-on attractions, you can increase your savings a lot, as well as add an extra day out that’s perfect for families, couples, or anyone who loves to ride rollercoasters, play fairground games, see animals, and enjoy other theme park attractions.

Here are the key details about each of the 2 add-on attractions, including their regular entry fees, addresses, and how to get there.

Lotte World Adventure

Lotte World Adventure is the world’s biggest indoor theme park and a great family-fun day out close to Lotte World Tower. Ride thrilling rollercoasters, enjoy fairground attractions, and check out the exciting exhibitions and more at Seoul’s premiere theme park.

Regular Price: 62,000 KRW

Address: 서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 240

How To Get There: Take the Subway to Jamsil Station Exit 4 on Line No. 2 and No. 8

Everland Theme Park

Everland is Korea’s answer to Disneyland and Universal Studios, featuring dozens of exhilarating rollercoaster rides and amusements, as well as a cute petting zoo, animal safari, fairground rides, and other attractions. Also see special events throughout the year, such as winter illuminations and scary Halloween shows.

Regular Price: 50,000 KRW

Address: 경기도 용인시 처인구 포곡읍 에버랜드로 199

How To Get There: Book the Everland Shuttle Bus from Seoul, with departures from various locations, including Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam.

How Much Does The Klook Pass Seoul Cost?

The Klook Pass Seoul comes in a range of options starting from 44,000 KRW for 2 attractions and increasing in price up to 105,000 KRW, which is the price for 4 attractions plus entry to Everland.

Here’s a table to show the costs of the Klook Pass Seoul with each of the different options to help you see which one is best for you:

To compare how much you’d normally pay for each of the main attractions and add-ons, here’s a table to see their original cost to enter each of these attractions, which is what you’d pay if you bought a ticket on-arrival at each place.

If you take the 4 cheapest attractions from the list above and added their cost together, the total would be 97,700 KRW – that’s 26,700 KRW more expensive than the cost of the 4 attraction Klook Pass Seoul. There are combinations where the pass actually costs more than the attractions separately (only when using a combination of the 3 cheapest activities), however, most combinations of attractions and add-ons would save you a lot more than you’d spend.

Example Klook Pass Seoul Itinerary

A practical example itinerary for the Klook Pass Seoul could include a day out in Jamsil to visit Lotte World Adventure and Lotte Aquarium while wearing an Ewha school uniform.

These 3 attractions are right next to each other and could be done in a day. The original cost of these attractions would be 115,000 KRW, but with the 2 attractions + Lotte World Adventure add-on, it would only cost 71,000. That would save you 46,000 KRW vs. the regular price.

Is the Klook Pass Seoul worth it? I’ll discuss more about the costs and savings later in this article, as well as give my own opinions on whether or not you should buy it. Before looking at those details, here’s a quick guide about how to use the Klook Pass Seoul.

How To Use The Klook Pass Seoul

The Klook Pass Seoul is simple to use, which makes it perfect for tourists looking to effortlessly visit attractions as they travel. The process of using the Klook Pass Seoul can be broken down into the following 4 steps.

Step 1: Choose and purchase your pass.

Choose which attractions and add-ons you want to visit from the 9 different attractions available and then select the dates you want to use the pass. The pass is valid for 30 days and you can use the selected attractions at any time within those 30 days.

Step 2: Activate your pass by reserving activities in your bookings.

This is the most important step. You need to make a reservation for each attraction that you want to use. This means you will confirm a date that you will visit that attraction on the Klook website to make sure that your ticket is reserved for you. Details of this in the next sections.

Step 3 Use your pass on any date at any activity included within the validity period.

This is the best step – go out and enjoy the attractions you’ve booked! Bring your voucher, either printed or electronically, and show it when you enter. Simple.

Step 4 Check the package details for specific inclusions.

This isn’t really a step, it’s more of a reminder. There are some conditions for attractions and it’s good to be aware of them before booking. I recommend looking at the fine print for each one when making the booking and checking again before visiting. These are usually small things like needing to redeem the ticket in a certain place or confirmation about what’s included with your ticket.

Here’s a handy visual guide from Klook that shows those 4 steps in a simplified way:

The next few sections will look at where to buy the Klook Pass Seoul, how to redeem it, and what to do if you need to get a refund.

Where To Buy The Klook Pass Seoul

You can buy the Klook Pass Seoul from the klook.com website. Once you’ve decided which combination of attractions and add-ons you want to buy and when the pass will be active from, proceed to the payment screen and enter your payment details. You can buy multiple passes together if travelling as a family.

Please note: you will need to create an account on the website to be able to use the pass.

How To Redeem The Klook Pass Seoul

After you’ve purchased the Klook Pass Seoul, you will be able to redeem the pass by making reservations for the attractions you want to visit when you visit Seoul.

You can make the reservations for the attractions in the following way:

• Log into your Klook account.
• Go to the ‘bookings‘ section of your account.
• Find your pass and click on the ‘reserve‘ button.
• Select the date you want to reserve.
• Follow all the steps to confirm your activity.
• Receive your voucher.
• Bring the voucher to the attraction.

Each attraction needs to be reserved separately, even if you’re visiting them on the same day. If you’re travelling as a family, each member needs to make the booking, too. You can buy multiple passes with one account. I recommend one person buying multiple passes in this situation so they can make all the reservations with one account.

How To Cancel The Klook Pass Seoul

If you haven’t made any reservations with your Klook Pass Seoul and decide that you want to cancel it, you can get a full refund. To be able to get a refund for the pass, you must not have validated the pass. That means you must not have made any reservations for attractions featured in the pass.

Once you have activated the pass (reserved or visited an attraction) at least once, it may no longer be possible to get a refund, even if you have remaining attractions that you did not visit.

Contact Klook customer service for refunds or changes. Log in to your Klook account and go to the Help Centre section of the website and then select ‘change booking’ or ‘cancel booking’.

Please note: once you have confirmed the dates of the activities by making a reservation, it is not possible to change those dates. However, the Klook help desk may be able to help you adjust those dates with the attraction owner. Send them a message if you need to change dates.

Klook Pass Seoul Vs. Discover Seoul Pass

The Klook Pass Seoul is essentially a more flexible version of the Discover Seoul Pass that doesn’t have fixed time limits of 24 | 48 | 72 hours. It allows you to visit the listed attractions on separate dates within a 30 day time period.

The attractions offered by the Klook Pass Seoul are mostly the same as the attractions offered by the Discover Seoul Pass. However, the Discover Seoul Pass has a wider range of attractions available, as well additional benefits such as including a T-Money Card, free transportation to or from Incheon Airport, and more.

To find out more about the Discover Seoul Pass, check out my very helpful Discover Seoul Pass Guide, which features loads of itineraries for the various time periods, as well as information about where to buy it, how to get the best price, and who it is suitable for.

Below is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Klook Pass Seoul vs. the Discover Seoul Pass. There will also be a summary of whether or not the Klook Pass Seoul is worth buying at the end of this article.

Why Klook Pass Seoul Is Better Than Discover Seoul Pass

Here are the main reasons why the Klook Pass Seoul is better than the Discover Seoul Pass:

Flexible: The Klook Pass Seoul is valid for 30 days and attractions can be visited any time within those 30 days. This gives users a lot more freedom than the Discover Seoul Pass, which has fixed time limits of 24 | 48 | 72 hours once the pass is activated.

Simple: The Klook Pass Seoul is focused only on attractions in Seoul with no other features that might tempt you to use it earlier. There are also no issues of balancing activation periods and other features with the Klook Pass Seoul. You also can’t accidentally activate the Klook Pass Seoul, which can happen with the Discover Seoul Pass.

Lower Price: The 24 hour Discover Seoul Pass is 50,000 KRW for the 24 hour pass, the cheapest pass available. This is more expensive than the 2 attraction Klook Pass Seoul, which starts at 44,000 KRW. However, you can cover a larger number of activities with the Discover Seoul Pass in a 24 hour period, making it better value for money overall.

Why Discover Seoul Pass Is Better Than Klook Pass Seoul

Here are the main reasons why the Discover Seoul Pass is better than the Klook Pass Seoul:

More Attractions: There are a wider number of free attractions available with the Discover Seoul Pass than the Klook Pass Seoul. There are 56 free attractions available with the Discover Seoul Pass, but only 9 with the Klook Pass Seoul.

More Features: The Discover Seoul Pass also offers discounted entry to some attractions. Furthermore, it includes the T-Money Card features and comes with a free AREX train ride between Incheon Airport and Seoul. The Klook Pass Seoul doesn’t offer any additional benefit besides free entry to attractions.

Collectible Cards: The hugely popular Korean K-Pop group BTS have collaborated with the Discover Seoul Pass to create the highly-collectible version of Discover Seoul Pass – the BTS Discover Seoul Pass. There is no physical card with the Klook Pass Seoul, so nothing to collect.

Is The Klook Pass Seoul Worth It?

Is the Klook Pass Seoul worth the cost? Is the Discover Seoul Pass a better option for travellers visiting Korea? Should you buy a Klook Pass Seoul? Well, that all depends on what you value most when you travel.

If you are a smart traveller who is willing to spend a bit of time checking the prices of various attractions online and comparing them to the cost of the Klook Pass Seoul, then it can certainly be worth it. However, the savings probably won’t be as big as you imagined they would be.

The Klook Pass Seoul Savings Are Misleading

The Klook Pass Seoul initially seems to offer big savings on premium attractions in Seoul, saving up to 52% in some situations vs. the regular entry price. However, Klook and other online tour companies also offer discounted entry to these attractions.

The amount of money you’d actually save would be much lower if you booked attractions through the Klook website vs. booking on-arrival at those attractions.

The table below shows how much Klook charges for attractions included in the Klook Pass Seoul:

As you can see from the table above, it’s typically cheaper to book attractions through Klook instead of paying the cost of entry on-arrival.

Booking attractions ahead of time can save you a lot of money when you travel. However, using passes like the Klook Pass Seoul and the Discover Seoul Pass can potentially save you even more, especially when you consider the savings you can make on entry to theme parks.

Klook Pass Seoul Saves You Money On Theme Parks

The cost to add-on entry to Lotte World (27,000 KRW) and Everland (27,500 KRW) to the Klook Pass Seoul is much lower than the original cost to enter these theme parks and lower than the entry price offered on the Klook website. The table below compares the different prices:

The Klook Pass Seoul can save you 14,000 KRW against booking entry to Lotte World vs. booking through the Klook website. It can save you 35,000 KRW vs. the original price.

The Klook Pass Seoul can save you 10,500 KRW against booking entry to Everland vs. booking through the Klook website. It can save you 22,500 KRW vs. the original price.

Does the Klook Pass Seoul save you money vs. booking each attraction separately through Klook? That depends on which attractions you want to visit and whether you’ll add-on one of the theme park options.

Realistic Klook Pass Seoul Savings

Looking at the previous example of using the Klook Pass Seoul for a day out in Jamsil to visit Lotte World Adventure and Lotte Aquarium while wearing an Ewha school uniform, the actual savings would be less when compared to the Klook website price.

The original cost (on-arrival) of these attractions would be 115,000 KRW. The Klook website price (booked separately) would only be 82,000 KRW. The Klook Pass Seoul with 2 attractions + Lotte World Adventure add-on costs 71,000 KRW.

This means you would save 11,000 KRW, which is lower than the 46,000 KRW savings against the original cost. That’s still a good saving.

If you rented hanbok (19,800 KRW), visited Seoul’s royal palaces (not included) and later went to the nearby Alive Museum and Dynamic Maze (16,900 KRW) using the Klook Pass Seoul 2 attractions pass (44,000 KRW), you would actually pay 7,300 KRW more.

Final Conclusions

So is the Klook Pass Seoul worth it? Again, that all depends on what attractions you visit and whether you plan to book trips separately online or turn up and pay the standard entry fee.

The Klook Pass Seoul can be worth it if you want to visit a theme park and several premium attractions in Seoul. The more attractions you visit, the more you will save with the pass.

The benefit of being able to visit each attraction on separate day is a big advantage of the Klook Pass Seoul vs. the Discover Seoul Pass and allows you to plan your trip more flexibly.

Here’s an example of how you can use the Klook Pass Seoul to travel more flexibly:

Day 1: Lotte World Adventure and Ewha school uniform rental. Spend the rest of the day exploring Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Tower, and Jamsil.

Day 2: 63 Building and Aqua Planet 63. Spend the rest of the day exploring Yeouido and the Han River parks, night markets, and surrounding area.

Day 3: COEX Aquarium. Spend the rest of the day exploring COEX Mall, Bongeunsa Temple, and Gangnam.

The total cost of these attractions would be 87,000 KRW with the Klook Pass Seoul. The cost to book these attractions through the Klook website would be 108,600 KRW. This means you save 21,600 KRW and can split your activities over several days and travel at your own leisure.

Personally, I think the Klook Pass Seoul is worth it if you plan to visit a theme park and other attractions over several different days and want the flexibility of spreading out these big attractions.

However, if you’re in Seoul for a short time and will be doing many activities in a few days, the Discover Seoul Pass is better value for money and offers more features than the Klook Pass Seoul.

The Discover Seoul Pass Can Be Cheaper

The 3-day example above would cost 87,000 KRW with the Klook Pass Seoul. However, a 72 hour Discover Seoul Pass would only cost 90,000 KRW and you would get more benefits, including the T-Money card and freedom to enter more places for free.

If you only have a few days in Seoul and plan to visit some of the premium attractions in Seoul, the Discover Seoul Pass could save you money vs. the Klook Pass Seoul.

Tips For Using The Klook Pass Seoul

If you use the Klook Pass Seoul, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the pass.

Plan Ahead: Work out which attractions you want to visit and when. Can you visit them more cheaply by booking tickets separately, or is the pass cheaper?

Visit The Theme Parks: Lotte World and Everland are a great, whole-day activity for visitors to Seoul. The discounted entry price through the Klook Pass Seoul is cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere.

Research Locations: Seoul is a big city with attractions spread out across its many districts. Plan where you will visit and see what attractions are in the locations you want to visit.

Klook Pass Seoul FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about Klook Pass Seoul, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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In this article you’ll find 8 one-day Discover Seoul Pass itineraries that you can piece together to cover the 24 | 48 | 72 hour time limits of the pass. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, with friends, or by yourself, there are itineraries that will suit your interests.

There’s also information about how to buy the Discover Seoul Pass, the key features, and tricks to get the most from the pass. Furthermore, these are all realistic Discover Seoul Pass itineraries that won’t require you to rush from attraction to attraction all over Seoul.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries Info

These Discover Seoul Pass itineraries have been created with different types of travellers in mind. After all, not everyone’s perfect itinerary is the same.

To help make it easier to find the best Discover Seoul Pass itinerary for you, I’ve created two different types of itinerary for the 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hour Discover Seoul Passes.

The first itinerary type focuses on families and those travelling with children. These itineraries will feature lots of family-fun places and premium attractions that kids will love.

The second itinerary type focuses on friends and couples who want to explore the best of Seoul. These itineraries still feature some places that can be considered family-friendly, but focus more on things that adults will enjoy.

I recommend looking at both itineraries and choosing parts from either one to create your own perfect Discover Seoul Pass itinerary.

Unrealistic Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

Some travel bloggers create Discover Seoul Pass itineraries that cram in loads of different activities to make it look like you’re saving more money. While these look appealing, they’re often unrealistic and the savings aren’t as high as you end up abandoning some activities.

The Discover Seoul Pass itineraries in this article provide a recommended amount of time in each location and a practical number of activities that you can do each day. They also include activities that are close to each other or within a 30-40 minute commute by public transport.

I will give you a realistic guide to how you can save money with the Discover Seoul Pass and how many activities you can do in one day. This is especially important when travelling with children as they aren’t going to want to run from location to location all day long.

What Is The Discover Seoul Pass?

In case you’re not sure what the Discover Seoul Pass (DSP) is and how it works, here’s a quick overview of the essential features and different pass types you can buy. If you already know how to use the Discover Seoul Pass, you can jump ahead to the itineraries section.

Discover Seoul Pass Types

There are three different Discover Seoul Passes available and the only difference between them is validity time.

The Discover Seoul Pass types are:

• 24 Hour Discover Seoul Pass
• 48 Hour Discover Seoul Pass
• 72 Hour Discover Seoul Pass

The Discover Seoul Passes are all fixed-time passes. That means once you activate them, the clock is ticking and they’ll expire after that amount of time. This is actually very important information and the key to getting even more out of a Discover Seoul Pass, which I’ll tell you about soon.

BTS Discover Seoul Pass Special Edition

Fans of the Korean supergroup BTS can purchase a special edition of the 24 hour Discover Seoul Pass that comes with a special BTS design. The special BTS Discover Seoul Pass designs first went on sale in March 2019 and were limited to only 50,000 editions.

Since summer 2022, the BTS Discover Seoul Pass designs are back in stock and are available for everyone to purchase. Even if you’re not ARMY, you can still buy these special designs to share with friends when you get back or keep for yourself in case you convert later on.

The BTS Discover Seoul Pass costs 50,000 KRW, which is the same price as the regular 24 hour Discover Seoul Pass. You can get the same benefits from this pass as the regular pass, but with the added benefit of the exclusive design.

Please note: the BTS edition often goes out of stock. Check back later if it’s currently unavailable.

Who Is The Discover Seoul Pass For?

The Discover Seoul Pass is available for foreign tourists (non-South Korean passport holders) visiting or living in Korea. The Discover Seoul Pass is not available to Korean citizens.

Families travelling with children will need a Discover Seoul Pass for each member of the family. Unfortunately, there are no discounts for children when buying the pass and no free entry for children accompanied by an adult.

Please note: because this pass is for tourists, you’ll need to bring your passport with you to collect the pass and also when you use the pass.

Key Features Of The Discover Seoul Pass

The key features of the Discover Seoul Pass are the large number of premium attractions in Seoul that you can enter for free.

There are more than 56 tourist attractions in Seoul with free entry for Discover Seoul Pass holders. To get free entry, simply show the QR code on the pass, collect an entrance ticket, and enter without having to pay.

Some of the free attractions with the Discover Seoul Pass include:

• N Seoul Tower
• Lotte World Adventure
• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• COEX Aquarium
• Color Pool Museum
• Seoul Zoo
• Alive Museum
• Han River Cruise
• Hanbok Rental
• And many more…

There are also more than 150 tourist attractions and experiences that offer discount tickets for Discover Seoul Pass holders.

Some of the discounted attractions with the Discover Seoul Pass include:

• Dynamic Maze
• Lotte World Tower Seoul Sky
• Seoul Land
• Everland Theme Park
• National Gugak Centre
• Makgeolli Making Class
• Rice Cake Making Experience
• Taekwondo Experience
• Various Shopping Discounts
• And many more…

The discounted attractions are mostly cultural and shopping related activities.

Please note: you can only access these discounted attractions during the time your Discover Seoul Pass is active.

These free and discounted attractions are some of the key features of the Discover Seoul Pass, but there’s a lot more you can get.

Extra Features Of The Discover Seoul Pass

Besides free and discounted entry to some of Seoul’s top attractions, the Discover Seoul Pass comes with several other great benefits that make it value for money. Here’s a quick summary of those extra features.

Free Airport Express (AREX) Ticket (One-Way)

You can use the Discover Seoul Pass to get a free ride between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station on the tourist-friendly Airport Express (AREX). A one-way ticket normally costs 9,500 KRW. The AREX is a high speed train with lots of space for suitcases.

Please note: This activates the Discover Seoul Pass, so you should consider whether or not you want to use the pass immediately after you arrive.

Free Airport Limousine Bus Ticket (One-Way)

If the AREX isn’t convenient for where you want to go, you can take an airport limousine bus instead. The Discover Seoul Pass gives you a one-way free ride between Incheon Airport and destinations in Seoul. An adult bus ticket is normally 18,000 KRW.

Please note: This activates the Discover Seoul Pass, so you should consider whether or not you want to use the pass immediately after you arrive. The free airport limousine bus is only valid with the mobile version of the Discover Seoul Pass.

Free Seoul Public Bike Rental

After you activate your Discover Seoul Pass, you can rent a Seoul Public Bike for free. You can rent the bike for 24 hours during the period your pass is active.

Free Transportation Card

The Discover Seoul Pass comes with either a T-Money Card or Rail+ Card, both of which are transportation cards that allow you to travel on Korea’s public transportation (buses and subway) more easily and also save you money on the fare for each journey.

Unlike the other features of the Discover Seoul Pass, the transportation card feature is permanent and doesn’t count towards your time limit. You can activate your transportation card as soon as you get your Discover Seoul Pass.

Please note: There are full details about each of these extra features later on in this guide. Check the ‘About The Discover Seoul Pass‘ section to find out more.

What Is The Discover Seoul Pass Price?

The official price of the different Discover Seoul Pass is 50,000 Korean won for a 24 hour pass, 70,000 won for a 48 hour pass, and 90,000 won for a 72 hour pass. You can see these prices below:

Where To Collect The Discover Seoul Pass

You can collect the Discover Seoul Pass at four different locations. You can collect the Discover Seoul Pass at Incheon Airport in either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. You can also collect it in central Seoul at the Myeongdong Tourist Information Center or the Seoul Tourism Plaza Tourist Info Center.

Here are details about where to collect the Discover Seoul Pass at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 or 2 and in Seoul at the Myeongdong Tourist Information Center and Seoul Tourism Plaza, as well as opening hours and addresses.

Incheon Airport Terminal 1

Location:
SKT Roaming Center
(1F, between Gates 9 and 10)

Opening Hours:
6:00am to 10:00pm
Open Every Day

Incheon Airport Terminal 2

Location:
SKT Booth
(Near the East Immigration area – 2F)

Opening Hours:
Open 24 Hours
Open Every Day

Location:
SK Roaming Center
(1F, between Exit 4 and Exit 5)

Opening Hours:
5:00am to 10:00pm
Open Every Day

Myeongdong Tourist Information Center

Address:
66, Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 을지로 66

Contact Number:
+82 2 778 0333

Opening Hours:
9:00am to 6:00pm Daily

Closed:
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Seollal (Lunar New Year)

Seoul Tourism Plaza Tourist Information Office

Address:
85 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 청계천로 85

Contact Number:
+82 2 6365 3100

Opening Hours:
9:00am to 6:00pm Daily

Closed:
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Seollal (Lunar New Year)

Best Place To Buy A Discover Seoul Pass

If the Discover Seoul Pass is right for you, and you plan to get one when you travel to Seoul, then I recommend buying it from the official website or from an official reseller, such as Klook or Trazy. Resellers can be convenient as you can manage all your tour and travel bookings with one account.

I’ve worked with these two companies for many years and they’re two of the biggest providers of tours and tourist services in Korea. They offer reputable services and good customer support. If you need sim cards / portable WiFi, tours, or car rental, I also recommend them for those, too.

The Discover Seoul Pass can also be purchased from CU convenience stores. However, this is the digital version of the pass and you won’t get a physical card. You will need a Korean sim card or portable WiFi router to get access to the Internet and use the pass.

How To Save More With The Discover Seoul Pass

Finally, here’s a small trick that I want to share so you get more from these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries. It could save you an extra 50,000 KRW on top of other savings.

As mentioned, the Discover Seoul Pass is valid for a fixed time-period. For example, if you activate the card at 10:00am, it’s valid until 9:59am the next day. Instead of activating the pass early in the morning, wait until about 10:00am. This way it’ll still be active on the next day and you can use it for an all-day activity on the second day as well (starting before 9:59am).

Examples of all-day activities for the Discover Seoul Pass for include visiting Lotte World Adventure theme park, renting a Seoul Public Bike, or renting a hanbok and exploring the royal palaces.

Tip: If you use the Discover Seoul Pass to rent hanbok on the second day, you get free entry to all of Seoul’s royal palaces – you won’t need to use the Discover Seoul Pass for entry.

I haven’t included these money-saving tips to the 24 | 48 | 72 hour Discover Seoul Pass itineraries, but it’s worth remembering so you can get more free things for your money.

Now, here are the Discover Seoul Pass itineraries for the 24 | 48 | 72 hour passes.

24 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

Want to see the best of Seoul’s premium attractions in just one day? Then these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries are for you. They’ll cover some of the most expensive attractions within 1 day to get the most value from your pass.

As mentioned, these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries are designed to be realistic, giving you enough time to enjoy each activity and to travel between locations.

Each of these itineraries is focused on just one or two areas of Seoul to reduce travel time. If you want to mix & match these itineraries, please check the locations of each attraction.

For some of these itineraries, I’ve added the Seoul City Tour Bus Downtown Palace Route. You can use this to get between many tourist hotspots for free. This is especially useful to get between Seoul’s palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and N Seoul Tower.

Please note: I’ve given a rough time estimate for each the locations in these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries. These estimates don’t include time to move between locations or meals. You might also want to spend more time in each place, or less.

If you want to purchase the 24 hour Discover Seoul Pass, you can visit the official Discover Seoul Pass website, or order one from these great tour companies in Korea.

Family-Friendly 24 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

I’ve included two 24 hour Discover Seoul Pass itineraries for families in this section as there are two very different parts of Seoul you can cover in one day – central Seoul and the Gangnam & Jamsil districts.

Central Seoul Family Itinerary

The first of these itineraries is a family-friendly day out in central Seoul that involves dressing up in hanbok, seeing the historical sights, an afternoon of fun activities, and an evening seeing the sights of Seoul from the N Seoul Tower and downtown Dongdaemun.

Head to Gwanghwamun Square to activate the Seoul City Tour Bus ticket before walking towards Gyeongbokgung Palace and the hanbok rental shops. Wearing hanbok, enter the palace and take some beautiful photos before it gets too busy. You can also explore parts of nearby Bukchon Hanok Village, too.

Drop the hanbok off and get ready for an afternoon of fun activities in Insadong, home to the Color Pool Museum, Alive Museum, and Dynamic Maze – all premium attractions that kids (and adults) will love. Grab refreshments and lunch in the many cafes, teahouses, and restaurants in the side streets.

Ride the Seoul City Tour Bus to Myeongdong for the SBA Seoul Animation Center and a quick look at the markets and street foods. After, you can either jump back on the bus or take the Namsan Cable Car to the N Seoul Tower.

When you’ve seen all you want from the N Seoul Tower, head back to Myeongdong for night markets, or Dongdaemun to see the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza and night views as you walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Where To Eat

Grab breakfast at your hotel or cafe before heading to Anguk Station where you can activate the Seoul City Tour Bus and rent hanbok. There’s a great cafe in this area called Fritz Coffee (Wonseo branch) – one of my favourites in Seoul.

For lunch, check out some of the traditional Korean restaurants or street food stalls around insadong. Depending on your schedule, you can eat dinner before the N Seoul Tower in Myeongdong, or wait until after and get something near Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Other Sights

Some of the other sights you’ll pass on the way include Jogyesa Temple, Museum Kimchikan (Free with DSP), Bukchon Hanok Village, Anyoung Insadong, Ssamzigil Shopping Center, and Myeongdong Street Markets.

Gangnam & Jamsil Family Itinerary

The second of these 24 hour itineraries covers Seoul’s wealthy Gangnam & Jamsil districts, home to Seoul’s richest residents, K-Pop stars, and a load of family-fun activities that you can enjoy for free with the Discover Seoul Pass. Kids will love this one day itinerary as it features thrilling theme park rides, fishy fun, and incredible sights from one of the world’s tallest buildings (and a scary glass floor!).

Start the day at the COEX Mall in Gangnam and see the wall-to-wall bookshelves of the Starfield Library before gazing at the fish and sea animals at the COEX Aquarium. Browse the shops of this giant mall and other sights before shedding the materialistic world with a quick visit to the nearby Bongeunsa Temple.

After the spiritual sights of Bongeunsa Temple, ride the subway a few stops to Jamsil Station, home to all things Lotte. Enjoy an afternoon of thrilling rides and attractions at Lotte World Magic Island & Lotte World Adventure – the world’s largest indoor theme park. This is a perfect Rainy Day Activity in Seoul.

Step outside and take a peaceful stroll around the Seokchon Lake, one of the top cherry blossom spots in Seoul. Take some pictures of the world’s 6th tallest building, the Lotte World Tower, before entering and zooming up to the 117th floor to see incredible views of Seoul from the Seoul Sky observatory.

Explore the rest of the Lotte World Tower, which includes shops, restaurants, and other attractions before heading home to rest or setting out to explore Korea’s night sights.

Where To Eat

There’s a wide range of dining options inside the COEX Mall, including plenty of traditional Korean and western dishes. Grab something here for lunch before a busy afternoon in Lotte World Adventure.

If you fancy a night of fine dining and views, you can book a table at the 123 Lounge inside Seoul Sky. Otherwise, head to Apgujeong in Gangnam for fine dining and local food options.

Other Sights

K-Pop fans will know Gangnam as the home of not only Psy (Gangnam Style), but also the location of K-Pop company headquarters. Although some of these have moved, you can still see K-Pop’s influence in the area, including at the K-Star Road.

Near to Lotte World Tower you can see the beautiful Olympic Park and Seokchon-dong Ancient Tombs. Cross the river and you’ll find the delightful Seoul Forest, a great place to see Autumn Leaves In Seoul.

If you want to do some shopping, head to the Hyundai Department Store in Gangnam where you can get 5-10% off goods there with the Discover Seoul Pass

Friends & Couples 24 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itinerary

There’s only one 24 hour itinerary for friends & couples as I think the two family itineraries are mostly suitable for adults, too. This itinerary covers similar areas to the first family itinerary, so you can mix & match between the two to build your own schedule.

Please note: These activities aren’t that expensive and probably cost about the same as the Discover Seoul Pass. However, don’t forget you can add a second day’s activity with the tricks I mentioned before, as well as the Airport Express (9,500 KRW) and T-Money Card (2,500 KRW) savings. These extras make the Discover Seoul Pass worth it, even if you don’t visit a lot of expensive places.

Central Seoul Cultural Itinerary

For adults who want to see more of Seoul’s history, culture, and sights, this one day itinerary will be perfect for you. This schedule will take your through Seoul’s royal palaces and a traditional hanok village before showing you the artistic streets and attractions of Insadong and the sights from the N Seoul Tower.

As with the family itinerary, I’ve included the Seoul City Tour Bus (free with DSP) as it will take you between the palaces, central Seoul, and N Seoul Tower. Start early with hanbok rental from near Anguk Station and see the Jongmyo Shrine and Changdeokgung Palace before exploring the traditional streets of the Bukchon Hanok Village.

After returning the hanbok (or before), get lunch and indulge in the artwork of the National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art near Bukchon Hanok Village. A short walk to Insadong will bring you to Museum Kimchikan, where you can learn all about Korea’s national dish (and its many varieties).

Take a break from the culture and history and have some fun in Insadong at the Color Pool Museum, Alive Museum, or Dynamic Maze. Whichever one sounds most exciting for you. If you want some fun Instagram pics, I recommend the Color Pool Museum.

Use the Seoul City Tour Bus to get to N Seoul Tower and see the night sights. If you arrive just before sunset, you’ll be treated to the changing views as Seoul’s lights come on. After exploring the observatory area and the many attractions there, head back down and enjoy a relaxing evening at Ohui & Whoo Spa in Myeongdong.

Where To Eat

Grab breakfast at your hotel or cafe before heading to Anguk Station where you can activate the Seoul City Tour Bus, rent hanbok, and make your way to Jongmyo Shrine.

For lunch, check out some of the traditional Korean restaurants or street food stalls around Bukchon Hanok Village. Grab dinner in Myeongdong or Jonggak Avenue of Youth before or after the N Seoul Tower.

Other Sights

When you visit Changdeokgung Palace, you can book a special tour that will take you around the Secret Garden. This is only available to a limited number of visitors per day, so get there early and make a reservation.

If you need a coffee break, there are loads of great cafes in Samcheongdong-gil Road, an area north of the Bukchon Hanok Village. There are plenty of other small galleries and art shops in the Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong areas, too.

48 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

These 48 hour Discover Seoul Pass itineraries are meant to be second day activities after you’ve already completed one of the 24 hour itineraries. Therefore, these only cover 1 day of activities that you can add on to one of the previous itineraries.

There are loads of fun attractions and activities to enjoy in Seoul, many more than you’d fit in one day. These second day activities move out from the central area of Seoul and into some of the beautiful riverside areas and historic sights.

If you want to purchase the 48 hour Discover Seoul Pass, you can visit the official Discover Seoul Pass website, or order one from these great tour companies in Korea.

Family-Friendly 48 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itinerary

This itinerary is just as action packed as the first day and features lots of fun places that children and adults will enjoy and shows you two different parts of Seoul.

Yeouido Island is a charming spot located on the Han River that’s popular with locals. You’ll see them flocking here on the weekends to relax and unwind by the water.

Rent a bike to help you get around between locations (free with DSP) and enjoy the greenery of the riverside parks. Also book your evening cruise while you’re in this area.

Explore the Yeouido Hangang Park outside Yeouinaru Station and ride down to the impressive 63 Building for Aqua Planet 63 and 63 ART. You can’t miss it, it’s bright gold! Ride back to Yeouido Hangang Park to drop the bikes and take a bus to Zoolung Zoolung indoor zoo in the Times Square Mall.

From Times Square Mall, take the subway to Hapjeong Station and walk to the Real K-Pop Dance Studio. Afterwards, explore Nature Labs: Pieces of Time in Hongdae, an interactive digital art exhibition featuring flower art and images and an awesome photo shoot area.

End the night with a Han River cruise back from Yeouido Hangang Park and see Seoul’s night sights. Reserve a seat in the morning so you’re guaranteed a cruise at night. Cruises available Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

If you’re travelling on a day without the cruise, you can still visit the park or spend more time in Hongdae. There are plenty of things to do in the area, including singing rooms (noraebang) gaming rooms, arcade machines, bars, escape rooms, and lots more.

Where To Eat

If the weather is warm and sunny, you can experience lunch like a local with some convenience store ramyeon by the river in Yeouido Hangang Park. Otherwise, there are restaurants in IFC Mall and similar buildings in Yeouido. If you go to the Real K-Pop Experience or Nature Labs, then grab dinner near Hapjeong Station, there are loads of great restaurants in this area of Hongdae.

Other Sights

Yeouido Island is a beautiful part of Seoul that’s especially pretty in spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (fall foliage). If you rent a bike for the day, check out Yeouido Park and Yanghwa Hangang Park and see local sights.

On the other side of the river is Hongdae, a fun part of Seoul that’s full of youth culture and local art, fashion, and entertainment. Stop by in the evening to see late night performances, arcades, singing rooms, and the local night scene. Children will love the busy arcades and novelty shops.

Friends & Couples 48 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itinerary

Learn about Korean history with some famous (and infamous) sites in central Seoul before heading over towards Gangnam for a relaxing time with the fish at COEX Aquarium and the peaceful scenes of Starfield Library and an evening stroll around Bongeunsa Temple.

Start the day at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, which offers an interesting look into recent Korean history and tells the story of this dark prison where political prisoners were tortured daily. You can see the horrible devices and lock yourself up inside the prison.

Afterwards, head towards City Hall Station and walk around the charming Deoksugung Stone Wall Road, a famous K-Drama Filming Location, before entering Deoksugung Palace itself.

If you want to try cooking Korean food or experience life as a K-Pop star, sign up for a course in Mapo district and follow it up with the nearby Seoul Battle Ship Park. Stop off in Hongdae to soak up the local culture and a coffee in the afternoon and visit the Nature Labs: Pieces of Time media art exhibition.

Before the sun sets, take a subway to Gangnam to visit the COEX Aquarium and the COEX Mall, including the famous Starfield Library. When you’ve finished exploring the COEX Mall, head outside and you’ll find the beautiful Bongeunsa Temple – a charming Korean Buddhist Temple.

Where To Eat

There are plenty of restaurants around the City Hall and Deoksugung Palace area, as well as many cafes. I recommend trying some Korean noodles. The best ones usually come from the small shops tucked into corners or basements of buildings on the side streets.

For dinner, there are dozens of restaurants in and around the COEX Mall. For fine dining, eat in the mall. For something a bit more fiery and local, head out the west exit and you’ll find a variety of delicious restaurants and bars. Alternatively, you can always find great food in Hongdae for lunch or dinner, as well as late night bars.

Other Sights

Next to Deoksugung Palace is Seoul City Hall, both the new one and the traditional old one. There are often protests outside here and sometimes cultural performances, too. Avoid the first, join the latter.

In Hongdae, I highly recommend a stroll along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park or Gyeongui Line Book Street, both of which start at Hongik Uni. Station and follow an abandoned train line. You can also watch street performances near this area in the evening.

72 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

These 72 hour Discover Seoul Pass itineraries are meant to be third day activities after you’ve already completed 48 hours of activities on other itineraries. Therefore, these only cover one day of activities that you can add on to one of the previous itineraries.

The difference between the 48 and 72 hour pass is only 20,000 KRW, which means any extra activities that cost more than this make it worth upgrading from a 48 hour pass to a 72 hour pass. It’s easy to find free activities with the Discover Seoul Pass that make the third day pay for itself.

Unlike the other Discover Seoul Pass itineraries, this section will give you a range of day trip activities that you can do with the pass. The pass actually covers more than just Seoul and will get you into some of Korea’s top attractions for free.

If you want to purchase the 72 hour Discover Seoul Pass, you can visit the official Discover Seoul Pass website, or order one from these great tour companies in Korea.

72 Hour Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries

Here are a couple of all day activities you can do with free or discounted entry from the Discover Seoul Pass that will save you more than 20,000 KRW – the difference between the 48 and 72 hour passes. These are all family-friendly activities that will also be enjoyed by adults without children.

Nami Island

One of the top Day Trips From Seoul is Nami Island – a unique island republic that sits in the middle of a wide river which you can access by ferry or zip line. Nami Island is a top attraction that always has something to offer, no matter what season you visit in.

Nami Island features long tree-lined streets that you can walk or ride along, wild bunnies and deer that live on the island, and lots of cultural attractions, performances, and displays. There’s also a number of good cafes and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the view.

This is another famous K-Drama filming location and was made famous from the drama Winter Sonata. Tourists flock to Nami Island during spring for cherry blossoms and autumn for the incredible autumn leaves. It’s an extremely photogenic place and definitely worth visiting.

The Discover Seoul Pass provides free entry to Nami Island, as well as a free ferry ride to the island. For info about travelling to Nami Island, check out my Seoul To Nami Island travel guide, which includes public transport options.

Seoul Land & Seoul Zoo

Take the subway (line 4) from Seoul Station to Seoul Grand Park and have a fun day out with all the family at Seoul Land and Seoul Zoo. Located just outside of Seoul, the Seoul Grand Park is nestled between forested mountains and is a beautiful place to see cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

Seoul Land is a theme park that provides dozens of fun rides and activities that kids will love. Seoul Zoo is Korea’s largest zoo and has a wide range of animals from all corners of the globe. There’s also a chair lift that will take you over the zoo and an elephant train to get between places.

Outside the zoo is a relaxing forest area with walking paths, a big lake to walk around, petting zoos, and picnic areas to rest in next to the water.

Access to Seoul Zoo and the chair lift is free with the Discover Seoul Pass, while holders can get 40% off the entry price of Seoul Land.

Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village offers a fun day out full of traditional cultural performances detailing traditional life in Korea through plays, dances, and music. You can play traditional Korean games and explore hanok buildings to see how Koreans lived and worked.

This is the largest folk village in Korea covering almost 1 million square metres and is surrounded by forests and mountains, providing attractive backgrounds and places to explore.

It’s not all about looking, however. You can also try your hand at traditional activities such as pottery making, horse riding, fabric dyeing, mask making, bamboo crafting, and lots more. This place is the perfect location to learn and experience traditional Korean culture.

Discover Seoul Pass holders get free entry to the Korean Folk Village. As with these other Discover Seoul Pass itineraries, if you have extra time, there are always plenty of other activities you can add on to make the pass even more worthwhile.

More About The Discover Seoul Pass

This final section offers up a lot more information about the Discover Seoul Pass and how these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries can help save you money when you visit Seoul.

You’ll find more details about how to use the free transportation services from the Discover Seoul Pass, the different types of pass, and some final tips and conclusions about whether the pass is right for you.

How To Get A Free AREX Ride With The Discover Seoul Pass

If you’ve preordered your Discover Seoul Pass online through Klook or Trazy, you can collect the pass and use it to get a free AREX ride into Seoul when you arrive.

Collect your card from one of the aforementioned collection points and then go to the AREX terminal in Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport. Use the ticket vending machine to scan the QR code on the back of the Discover Seoul Pass and enter in your unique number (from the card).

You’ll receive your tickets and you can ride straight away. This will activate the time limit on your Discover Seoul Pass, so be sure you’ve planned your day with this in mind.

How To Get A Free Airport Limousine Ride With The Discover Seoul Pass

Use the Discover Seoul Pass to get a free airport limousine ride to or from Incheon Airport to locations across Seoul, including Gimpo Airport. You can only use the mobile version of the pass for the free limousine bus ride, not the physical card version.

This is run through the Korean Airlines Limousine service. You can check which routes are available through the KAL Limousine website.

When you enter the limousine bus, scan the QR code from the Discover Seoul Pass mobile pass to travel for free. You can ride the limousine bus from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. The bus stop locations are in the picture above.

How To Use Discover Seoul Pass Transportation Card

In order to use the transportation card functions in the Discover Seoul Pass (T-Money or Rail+), you first need to top up the card with cash at locations at Incheon Airport, subway stations, or at a convenience store. You can’t top up transportation card balances in Korea with anything but cash.

Once the transportation card has a credit balance, you can use it to pay for items in shops, travel on subways and buses across Korea, and anywhere you see the T-Money or Rail+ logo. Each time you use the Discover Seoul Pass as a transportation card, it will show you the remaining balance.

How To Get Free Bike Rental With The Discover Seoul Pass

Rent a bike through the Ttareungi (Seoul Public Bike) rental system at any of the 1,100 locations across Seoul. Here are the steps needed to activate the bike rental with the Discover Seoul Pass:

• Log into the Ttareungi App
• Select ‘Foreigner’ on the log-in screen and select ‘purchase pass’.
• Select the ‘Discover Seoul Pass’ option.
• Select ‘All day 24h’ option.
• Enter the 10-digit QR code on your Discover Seoul Pass.
• Enter your email address.
• Select ‘Agree’.
• Select ‘Pay amount’ to complete the payment (it’s free).
• Screenshot the 8-digit rental code to and use it to unlock the bike.
• You can also access the unlock code via email.

Once you’ve activated the Discover Seoul Pass, you can rent a bike as many times as you like while the pass is active. For example, you can rent one in the morning and return it, travel to a different area, and then rent another bike there.

There are lots of places to ride a bike in Seoul, such as along the Han River. There are over 240km of riverside bike paths in and around Seoul alone, meaning you’ll always have somewhere to ride. I recommend riding along the river paths near Seoul Forest.

What’s The Difference Between The Mobile & Card Versions?

As well as the card version of the Discover Seoul Pass, there’s also a mobile version that you can download with your phone and activate whenever you like. There are some advantages and disadvantages of the mobile pass vs. the card pass, which I’ll summarise below:

Advantages of the Discover Seoul Pass Mobile Version

The biggest advantage of the Discover Seoul Pass mobile version is the instant availability. You won’t need to go anywhere to collect the mobile pass and you can download it and use it on the day. You can check the remaining time of the pass and get details of the available discounts and locations where you can use the Discover Seoul Pass. You can also only get the free airport limo bus ride with the mobile pass.

Disadvantages of the Discover Seoul Pass Mobile Version

The biggest disadvantage of the Discover Seoul Pass mobile version is the lack of the transportation card function. This is because there’s no physical card to swipe when you want to use public transportation. You will need to purchase a T-Money Card or WOWPASS and carry that instead.

The other big disadvantage is that you will pay full price vs. the discounted versions you can buy from the official resellers. There are sometimes special editions of the Discover Seoul Pass, such as the BTS special edition, which can double as souvenirs – mobile versions can’t be collected.

Whether you use the mobile or card version, you’ll still have access to all of the same discounts and features (except for T-Money) and these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries can be enjoyed with either version. If you get the card version, you can still download and use the app.

Which Is Better: Discover Seoul Pass Or The Korea Tour Card?

The Korea Tour Card is another option available to tourists in Korea. This is a premium version of the T-Money Card that offers exclusive discounts to tourists. These discounts are small compared to the savings you can make with the Discover Seoul Pass and can cover different attractions and activities.

If you’re travelling to Seoul and want to save money on expensive attractions, I would recommend getting the Discover Seoul Pass instead of the Korea Tour Card.

Which Is Better: Discover Seoul Pass Or T-Money Card?

The T-Money Card is a transportation card that’s used across Korea. The T-Money function is included in the Discover Seoul Pass, so if you want to both save money on premium attractions and travel on buses and subways in Korea, I would recommend getting a Discover Seoul Pass.

If you don’t plan to follow one of these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries but still want to travel around Korea for less, then get a T-Money Card.

Which Is Better: Discover Seoul Pass Or Klook Pass Seoul?

A new entry to the premium attraction discount market is the Klook Pass Seoul. This pass from Klook allows you to visit multiple attractions within a 30 day period. This is great for travellers who want to spread out big days out at Seoul’s attractions and those moving around Korea a lot.

However, the number of attractions offered by the Klook Pass Seoul (9) is much lower than the Discover Seoul Pass and it also doesn’t come with additional benefits such as a T-Money Card and airport transfers.

You can find out all about that pass in my Klook Pass Seoul Review where I compare it to the Discover Seoul Pass and give you my thoughts about which is best.

Is The Discover Seoul Pass Worth it?

If you’ve read this far, congratulations. I hope all of this information and these different Discover Seoul Pass itineraries have been useful in helping you decide if the Discover Seoul Pass is worth the cost.

Personally, I think the Discover Seoul Pass is a great way for tourists to save money and see the sights, especially if this is your first trip to Seoul. If I was visiting Seoul for a few days, I’d get a pass like this and I have actually purchased similar passes when travelling to other cities, including London.

However, you might not think the Discover Seoul Pass is worth it. This can be true if you’re not too bothered about the expensive attractions such as aquariums and theme parks, or you have lots of time and want to travel more slowly and relaxed.

Here’s a summary of whether the Discover Seoul Pass worth it or not. The Discover Seoul Pass is worth the cost for many types of travellers, but some will find the Discover Seoul Pass is not worth the cost. It all depends on your situation, who you’re travelling with, and your travel style.

The Discover Seoul Pass Is Worth it For People Who:

• Have a short stay in Seoul
• Are visiting Seoul for the first time
• Like to see as much as possible
• Want to see many things quickly
• Are interested in expensive shows and attractions
• Are travelling as a family (many attractions are great for families)
• Plan to stay in one area each day
• Like convenience when planning and won’t book all activities separately in advance

The Discover Seoul Pass Is Not Worth it For People Who:

• Have plenty of time in Seoul
• Have visited major sights in Seoul before
• Want to focus on specific sights
• Prefer to travel slowly
• Are budget travellers and aren’t interested in expensive attractions
• Are likely to spend lots of time in cafes, restaurants, or bars each day
• Want flexibility to explore all over Seoul
• Plan and book tours in advance and search for the best price for each attraction

Whether you get a pass or not, I hope you have a great time in Seoul. Thanks for reading.

Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries By Users

This section is made from travellers to Seoul to help you see how people actually used the Discover Seoul Pass and what their itinerary was like. I’m sharing these real-life experiences as I hope this can help you plan your own Discover Seoul Pass itinerary and see if it’s worth the money for you.

I want to say a big thank you to travellers who have shared their experiences and helped me to create this section. Thank you!

Review 1: Pamela from the USA

Pass Type: 48 Hour Pass

Number of Travellers: 4 (family)

Using the Discover Seoul Pass with a family of 4 is super cheap if you visit some pricier places. We visited Lotte World, Aqua Planet 63, Zoolung Zoolung, animation centre (kid-friendly), COEX Aquarium, took a night tour of the palace, a night cruise on the Han River, and rented hanbok.

The hanbok rental has a photo studio downstairs with the lockers. The pass allowed us 1.5 hours at the studio, which was enough time to get some pictures. Visiting the palace at night was a bonus as we got to see beautiful lights and even if the tickets are sold out, you are guaranteed entry if you’re wearing hanbok!

My little girl loved it. This is her 3rd time dressing up in hanbok. You can also see the 3D TV screens nearby. We picked up the passes at night and planned to start the Discover Seoul Pass timer at this point because the passes are nearby.

We also went to the Animation Centre, which is more of an indoor play area where my son loved the 3D games and the stop motion movies he created. My daughter played everywhere! We spent 2 hours here in total and the kids loved it.

Lotte World has a huge area indoors (the outdoors is geared towards teens and I wish we skipped it altogether). We rode the swings then went indoors for the rest of the day. It feels very Disney and I want to go back.

The 7:30pm Han River cruise area was packed. It was hard to get in and out of and I got out of the car and walked ahead to get tickets. I planned to do the mermaid show first, which was the only reason we made it on time to the cruise at all. It took 2 hours to arrive and only 30 minutes to get back to the hotel. Check Naver Maps to help you navigate.

We ate a hurried dinner from the convenience store there and boarded before realising we could have gotten a few options of snacks and drinks on board so we didn’t have to rush.

The top gets crowded quickly. If you don’t mind standing, there’s a secret spot near the back of the boat – the space where the glass windows are. You can squeeze back there and enjoy the view if it’s too crowded elsewhere. I’d try to stand in the front down below if you can.

At night, the lights above competed with the cityscape, but in the day I’m sure it would be great. My kids enjoyed it, but after a while they were ready to do something else. Luckily, there were 2 people downstairs on a keyboard and violin playing Disney and other familiar music.

The next day we visited Zoolung Zoolung. Go! It’s worth it. There is a wait there, too. Sign in at the kiosk and wait to be called. Buy the sets of food there for $1 each ($5 for 5 different foods) or else you have to pay more later on. You definitely want these. We got 3 for 4 of us to share. This was one of the top highlights of our trip.

We swung over for the mermaid show at Aqua Planet 63. I wish we had more time, but we were concerned about time so we headed to COEX Aquarium. It didn’t feel as big as the Audubon in New Orleans or the Atlanta Aquarium, but it was very nice. Because it was the end of our 48 hours of the Discover Seoul Pass, we took our time.

If I planned a Discover Seoul Pass itinerary again, I would leave Lotte World for the end. It was a blast using the Discover Seoul Pass and making sure we got our money out of it.

The last thing worth mentioning, I see why it’s called a Discover pass – there isn’t much worth doing close together and each area is huge and you could spend hours doing the other things the destination offers. Most places are attached to mall like shopping areas with a variety of stores, restaurants, and other things to do.

I wouldn’t advise doing all I listed above in 48 hours unless you do Lotte World last. I’d probably do 2 full days starting at 11ish the first day then on day 3 (after 46.5 hours into your pass) go to Lotte World for the whole day (this is my tip as well).

If you have a Discover Seoul Pass itinerary or experience you want to share, please feel free to contact me via email (contact@inmykorea) or send me a message on Facebook – In My Korea.

Discover Seoul Pass Itineraries FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about these Discover Seoul Pass itineraries, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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Find out where to buy a T-Money Card at Incheon Airport and other locations in Korea, learn how to top-up your card in Korea and where to top-up, and also discover the many benefits of using a T-Money Card. This in-depth article will answer all your T-Money queries quickly and easily.

This comprehensive guide is updated regularly to bring you the latest information about changes and additional ways to use the T-Money Card. There are also lots of my own tips about how to use the T-Money Card, where it can be used, and lots of really useful travel advice for visiting Korea.

For those who prefer to watch a video version of this article, please watch it here:

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is The T-Money Card

The T-Money Card is a prepaid transportation card that can be used to pay for public transportation in cities across Korea, including buses and subways. It provides cash-free travel around Korean cities, and takes the hassle out of to get around Korea and buying tickets for each journey.

The T-Money Card can be used to pay for a range of items and services, including taxi charges, items in convenience stores, entrance fees for attractions, vending machines, and food and beverages in restaurants. Anywhere you see the T-Money logo (above), you can pay with T-Money Card.

Why Do I Need A T-Money Card In Korea?

Korea is fast becoming a cash-free society and in recent years Korea’s buses have moved away from accepting cash payments. Almost a quarter of all buses in Seoul are now cash-free and you can’t pay with cash at all on Daejeon’s buses. This will likely be the norm everywhere in Korea very soon.

Even when you can buy tickets in cash, it’s inconvenient making sure you have the right cash available (no change is given on buses). Queueing up to buy a ticket at a crowded subway station is a real hassle when you could just touch-and-go straight through the barriers with a T-Money Card.

The biggest reason is the two rates to travel in Korea’s subways and buses – one for cash and one for transportation cards like the T-Money Card. The rate for the T-Money Card is lower, meaning you’ll save money when you travel with a T-Money Card, as you can see in the table below:

*Bus fares in Seoul rose to ₩1,500 from August 2023. However, it hasn’t been confirmed whether cash and T-Money costs will be the same now or not.

Quick Summary

Here’s a summary of the T-Money Card and why you should get one when you travel to Korea.

Where To Buy A T-Money Card

T-Money Cards are available in many places in Korea, including at Incheon Airport, in convenience stores, and in public transportation stations. This section of the T-Money Guide will show you where to buy a T-Money Card in each of these different locations and extra services that include T-Money.

Buy T-Money At The Incheon Airport, Seoul

The most convenient place for most travellers to get a T-Money Card is at Incheon Airport in the Transit Centre (Floor B1) of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. There are vending machines that sell the Korea Tour Card, which is the tourist-friendly version of the T-Money Card that comes with extra benefits.

Follow the directions to the ‘Airport Railroad‘ in either terminal and it will lead you to the B1 Transit Centre. The T-Money Card vending machines will be well signposted and located next to the All-Stop subway train, which is the subway to central Seoul that you can pay for with T-Money.

Please note: If you arrive at Incheon Airport Terminal 1, the Transit Centre is the only place you can buy a T-Money Card (Korea Tour Card). The CU convenience stores in Terminal 1 don’t sell T-Money Cards. In Terminal 2, you can buy T-Money Cards from GS25 and 7/11 convenience stores.

How to buy T-Money card At Incheon Airport Transit Centre:

It’s easy to buy a T-Money Card from the Transit Centre. Head to the All-Stop train station where the T-Money Card vending machines are located. You must have cash (KRW) to purchase at the vending machines, as well as cash to top-up the balance afterwards.

Here are the 4 steps required to buy a T-Money Card from the vending machine:

1: Insert Cash

The cost of the Korea Travel Card (hereafter called T-Money Card) is ₩4,000. Insert cash into the machine. Change is available.

2: Press The Number

Like a normal vending machine, press the number of the card you want to buy. Don’t select a number which is empty.

3: Press The Green Button

To confirm your purchase, press the green button at the bottom of the keypad.

4: Collect Your T-Money Card

The vending machine will collect your T-Money Card and dispense it to you.

Once the T-Money Card has been dispensed, don’t forget to collect any change from the vending machine. To top-up, take it to the ticket machines outside the All-Stop terminal. Full details about how to top-up will be included in the section ‘How To Top-Up A T-Money Card‘

Need Cash For T-Money?

One issue with T-Money is that it can only be topped-up using cash (KRW). Unfortunately, airport money exchanges typically give bad exchange rates. You can get better rates by taking the Airport Express non-stop train into Seoul and changing money in Myeongdong or Hongdae, or by ordering a Korean sim card from Klook with a T-Money Card with a preloaded balance of 5,000 KRW or 10,000 KRW.

Where to Buy A T-Money Card In Korea

I recommend buying a T-Money Card at the Incheon Airport Transit Centre. However, if you’re not arriving in Korea at Incheon Airport, want to get a card with a cuter design, or want to save money by combining T-Money with other services, here are 6 other places where you can buy T-Money Cards.

Buy T-Money At A Subway Station In Korea

Subway stations in Korea sell the basic version of the T-Money Card, which comes with no balance. You can usually top-up from the same machine that dispenses them.

Price: ₩2,500

Buy T-Money At A Convenience Store In Korea

Korean convenience stores, including GS25 and 7/11, sell T-Money Cards with their own designs. These come with no balance but can be topped up straight after purchase with cash.

Price: ₩3,000

Buy T-Money On The Airport Express

It is possible to buy a T-Money card inside the subway stations along the Airport Express all-stop train between Incheon Airport and other parts of Seoul. You can even personalise this card and add your own picture to the card.

Price: From ₩6,000

Buy T-Money From Klook

Klook offers a combined Korean sim card and T-Money package that comes with a T-Money Card with Klook’s own cute design. You save money on both the T-Money Card and sim card with this combined package.

Price: From ₩32,500

Get T-Money With The WOWPASS

The WOWPASS is a travel money card that allows you to pay for goods and services like a local. It includes T-Money functions and the WOWPASS Airport Package comes with ₩10,000 T-Money balance included.

Price: From ₩5,000

Get T-Money With The Discover Seoul Pass

The Discover Seoul Pass is a city-pass that offers free entry to dozens of premium attractions in Seoul. It also includes T-Money functions to allow you to travel on public transport without having to buy a separate T-Money Card.

Price: From ₩50,000

You can also buy T-Money cards from stationery stores like ArtBox. ArtBox is a popular place to buy souvenirs and cute stationery. They also have their own line of T-Money Cards with ever-changing fun designs for you to collect. There is no T-Money balance and the cards cost more.

How Much Does The T-Money Card Cost?

The price of the T-Money Card is ₩2,500 for the standard T-Money Card that is sold at public transportation stations in Korea. This does not include any credit and you will need to add funds to the card before you can use it. The cost of the Korea Travel Card at Incheon Airport is ₩4,000.

T-Money Cards from other locations, such as convenience stores and stationery stores, which include special artworks, typically cost more money. The cost of T-Money can be free when it is included in another service, such as the WOWPASS or Discover Seoul Pass.

Where Can You Buy Special T-Money Designs?

If you want to buy a T-Money Card with an interesting design, there are several options in Korea. The stationery store ARTBOX offers some cute designs with their own characters, as do convenience stores. These cards have the same functions as a regular T-Money Card and work the same way.

Please note: T-Money Cards with unique designs are a bit more expensive – around ₩5,000 to ₩6,000 per card. The base cost of a T-Money Card is ₩2,500. These can make nice gifts or souvenirs and as the T-Money Card doesn’t expire, you can use them every time you visit Korea.

BTS-Themed T-Money Cards

BTS ARMY members may want to get a special souvenir of their time in Korea and can do so with a BTS-themed T-Money Card. These special edition BTS T-Money Cards work the same as regular T-Money Cards, but come with 7 different designs, one for each member of the hit group, BTS.

These aren’t widely available, and new versions replace older versions frequently. If you want to buy a BTS-themed T-Money Card, you can find them in some convenience stores or in K-Pop merchandise stores in areas such as Gangnam, Hongdae, or in the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Where Can You Use T-Money In Korea?

The T-Money Card is primarily a transportation card that can be used to pay for bus and subway journeys in most Korean cities. However, it also functions as a payment card that can be used to make small purchases in certain Korean shops, cafes, restaurants, and attractions.

If you bought the Korea Tour Card from the Incheon Airport Transit Centre, you will be eligible for discounts at tourist attractions, shops, entertainment, restaurants, and other locations. For example, you get 30% off entry fees at N Seoul Tower and 20% off entry fees at COEX Aquarium.

Here are the places you can use the T-Money Card in Korea:

On Buses

It’s really simple to use T-Money on Korea’s buses. Touch the T-Money Card to the card reader when you enter the bus to start your journey, then touch it again when you exit the bus. In most city buses in Korea you enter at the front of the bus and get off in the middle. There will be a T-Money Card reader in both locations.

Most bus journeys cost the same price, however, if your bus travels more than 10km, you will be charged an extra fee. If you don’t tap-off when you leave the bus, you may be charged this fee.

On The Subway

The T-Money Card is accepted on all subway systems in Korea, including in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju, Touch the T-Money Card when you enter the security gates at the start of your journey, then touch again to exit. If you run out of credit, there are machines inside the gates to top-up (but you’ll need cash).

Like bus journeys, most short journeys on the subway will be the same fee. If you travel a long way on the subway, or make many transfers, the fee can be higher.

Transfer discounts: When you transfer between subway or bus rides within 30 minutes, you’ll get a discount on your next ride as long as you tapped-off when on your previous journey. Also, if you accidentally enter the wrong subway gate, you can leave within 10 minutes for free on some lines.

For Taxis

You can use a T-Money Card to pay for taxis in Korea. It’s quick, easy, and allows you to avoid using a credit card or having the right change. As long as the taxi driver has the T-Money logo displayed, you can pass your T-Money Card to the driver who will touch it to the card reader and complete the payment.

You can call taxis directly to you using the Kakao Taxi app, which is available on Android and iPhone and can be used in English, Korean, and Chinese. My guide to using Kakao Taxi will show you how to order and pay for a taxi in Korea.

For Shopping

The T-Money Card is really useful when you want to buy small items, such as a bottle of water, coffee, or some snacks. When you see the T-Money logo, you can use the card to pay for goods and services. You can use T-Money to pay for purchases in convenience stores (CU, GS25, Emart 24, 7/11).

You can use the T-Money Card in Korea’s supermarkets and chain stores, including Home Plus (supermarket) Emart (supermarket) Face Shop (cosmetics) Innisfree (cosmetics) Tony Moly (cosmetics) and others.

Using the T-Money Card for shopping: As the T-Money Card needs to be topped-up in cash (KRW), using it for shopping isn’t really that convenient. Instead, I recommend getting a WOWPASS in Korea, or bringing a travel money card like the Wise Travel Card or Revolut Travel Card.

In Cafes

Food and beverage outlets also accept the T-Money Card, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Angel-in-Us Coffee, Ediya Coffee, Gong Cha Tea, and Paris Baguette and more.

It’s best to check for the T-Money logo before trying to pay with your T-Money Card or asking if T-Money is accepted. Again, using the T-Money Card is possible for this, but usually not the most convenient way to pay.

At Attractions

You can use T-Money to pay for entry fees for major attractions, including theme parks and sports stadiums, as well as other locations like pay-phones and vending machines.

Here are some of the locations you can use T-Money: vending machines, public pay-phones, Everland theme park, sports stadiums (including Wyverns Baseball Club), and at festivals (to pay for food and drinks).

Where Can’t You Use T-Money In Korea?

You can’t use T-Money to pay for intercity train tickets, including the KTX – Korea’s high speed train network. You also can’t enter intercity buses and pay with T-Money like you can when entering a regular city bus. However, you can use T-Money to buy intercity bus tickets and board with those.

Generally, the T-Money Card is accepted in major cities across Korea, especially destinations popular with tourists. If T-Money isn’t accepted, there will be other options available, such as using Cashbee or paying with cash.

How To Top-Up A T-Money Card

The T-Money Card can be recharged (reloaded) at subway stations and convenience stores throughout Korea. Vending machines at subway stations are the easiest locations to recharge a T-Money Card and will also allow you to check your balance before or after the top-up

These machines can be found in each major city in Korea where you can use T-Money. They are available in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. These T-Money recharging machines only accept cash and the T-Money Card can’t be reloaded with a credit card.

This is how to top-up a T-Money Card using a ticket machine in subway stations in Korea. The T-Money card can only be topped-up using cash and can’t be topped up using credit or debit cards or money transfers. This method works for other transportation cards in Korea, too.

1: Go to a ticket machine in a subway station

Go to a ticket vending or transportation card at a subway station. These machines are usually close to the entrance barriers to the subway inside the station.

2: Select ‘Recharge Transportation Card’

Change the language of the ticket recharge machine as desired, then select ‘Recharging the Transit Card’ or a similar option to begin to top-up your T-Money Card.

3: Select the value to top-up

Select the amount of money that you wish to add to your existing T-Money balance. The screen should show you what balance the T-Money Card already has. New T-Money Cards usually have no balance. You can recharge the T-Money Card with as little as 1,000 Korean won.

4: Confirm the value to top-up

Once you’ve selected the desired amount you wish to top-up the T-Money Card with in Korean won, confirm the top-up value by pressing ‘confirm’ on the screen.. You should select the amount that you have available in cash as you can’t top-up the T-Money Card in any other way.

5: Insert cash

To top-up a T-Money card, enter cash into the ticket vending machine up to the value you wish to top-up. Insert each bank note separately. Please note: only KRW can be used to top-up a T-Money Card.

6: Place your t-Money Card on the card reader

After inserting cash to top-up your T-Money Card, place your T-Money Card on the card recharge plate, which is usually located below the main screen of the recharging machine. Make sure the card is placed flat on the reader.

7: Wait for the T-Money Card to be recharged

The T-Money Card will be recharged once the recharging machine recognised the T-Money Card placed on the card recharge plate. Wait for the recharge to complete, which should take about 5 to 10 seconds in total.

8: Take your T-Money Card and start using it

Once the T-Money Card has been topped-up, take the card from the card recharge plate and you can use it to travel on the subway, on buses, and in other places. Tap to start your journey, and tap again when you finish.

Besides subway stations, you can also recharge a T-Money Card at a convenience store. The same rule about only charging with cash applies. You can’t recharge a T-Money Card with a credit or debit card. Here’s how to top-up the T-Money Card at convenience stores in Korea:

1: Go To A Convenience Store

Go to any major convenience store in Seoul or other towns and cities across Korea, including CU, GS25, Emart 24, and 7/11.

2: Ask To Top-Up T-Money

Show your T-Money Card to the cashier and ask to top-up the balance. Use Papago to translate into Korean if you’re not sure what to say.

3: Give the amount of cash to top-up to the cashier

You can only use cash to top-up T-Money balances, so make sure you have cash available to pay with. Give it to the cashier.

4: Place your T-Money Card On the Card Reader

Place your T-Money Card on the electronic card reader and wait for confirmation from the cashier that the balance has been updated.

There is a T-Money office at Seoul Station where you can ask for advice, purchase & reload the card, and get your remaining balance refunded when you leave Korea. T-Money Headquarters Address: 1st Floor. T-money Town, Seoul City Tower Building, Namdaemun-ro 5-Ga, Jung-gu, Seoul.

How Much Money Should I Add To A T-Money Card?

How much money to add to a T-Money Card depends on how you intend to use it. If you will use your T-Money Card mostly for transportation, I recommend adding ₩10,000 per day. This should cover all subway / bus travel costs within a city like Seoul, which cost ₩1,400 /₩1,500 per journey.

If you plan to use your T-Money Card to pay for small purchases, such as snacks, bottled water, and coffee, then add ₩20,000 per day, which includes transportation costs. A coffee in Seoul costs between ₩2,000 – ₩5,000, water is ₩1,000, and snacks from ₩1,000 – ₩5,000.

When you first top-up a T-Money Card, add ₩50,000 for the starting balance. This balance should last most travellers for a week if they use their T-Money Card just for bus and subway rides. You can check your balance during your travels and top-up when the balance gets low (under₩ 5,000).

Can You Recharge A T-Money Card With A Credit Card?

It is not possible to recharge a T-Money Card with a credit or debit card. Only cash can be used to top-up the T-Money Card. There are restrictions that only allow cash top-ups. The app version of T-Money can be topped-up by card payments or online transfers, but not physical T-Money Cards.

How To Your Check T-Money Card Balance

There are a number of ways to check your balance. When you use the T-Money Card on the subway or a bus, the electronic card reader will show you the fee for the ride and the remaining balance. This is the most common way to check your balance.

You can also check your card balance at subway ticket machines and T-Money recharge stations. When you recharge your card, it will show your balance before you add credit. This is a good way to check your balance, even if you don’t intend to recharge the T-Money Card right then.

Using T-Money Mobile App To Check Your Balance

The T-Money mobile app is an online-only version of T-Money that doesn’t come with a card. Instead, you can use your phone’s NFC function to use your T-Money balance. You can also use your phone’s NFC function to scan a physical T-Money Card and check the balance when logged into the app.

However, I don’t recommend using the T-Money mobile app to check your T-Money balance. There have been reports by travellers in Korea that the app sometimes accidentally wipes the T-Money Card, making it useless. I can’t confirm this myself, but it is much easier to check your balance elsewhere.

How To Refund A T-Money Card Balance

You can refund the existing balance of your T-Money Card at major convenience stores and subway stations across Korea, as well as at the T-Money headquarters in Seoul. These are the locations you can top-up a T-Money Card. Refunds will be paid in cash and partial refunds aren’t possible.

There’s a ₩500 fee to refund a T-Money balance, which is deducted from the existing balance. The cost of the T-Money Card won’t be refunded, but you can keep the T-Money Card after the balance is refunded. The T-Money Card doesn’t expire, so you can use it if you visit Korea again.

Tip: The credit balance on the T-Money Card will stay active for 5 years from the date of the last top-up. If you plan to visit Korea again in the next 5 years and have a small balance left, it might be best to keep the balance on your T-Money Card so you don’t need to top-up the card when you return.

Alternative Korean Transportation Cards & 1 bonus (UPDATED with Climate Card Tourist Pass July 2024)

There are several alternative transportation cards to T-Money, including the Cashbee Card (pictured above), Namane Card, which uses Rail+, and varieties of the T-Money Card that offer slightly different benefits from the original T-Money Card. Here’s a summary of those cards and what they offer:

Cashbee Card

The Cashbee Card by Lotte can be purchased and used in most of the same locations as T-Money. You can purchase a Cashbee Card at convenience stores and subway stations across Korea. The CU chain of convenience stores only offers the Cashbee Card, not T-Money.

The Cashbee card can be used to pay for journeys on buses and subway across Korea. Tap the card when you enter the bus or subway, then tap again when you finish your journey. Transfer discounts should also be applied. Cashbee can be used in Lotte shops, including Lotte Department Store and Lotte Cinema.

Price: ₩2,500

Where to buy: Convenience stores, subway

Namane Card

The Namane Card by KB Bank uses the Rail+ transportation card system by Korail, Korea’s national train service. One big advantage the Namane Card has over T-Money and Cashbee is you can use it to pay for train services, including Korea’s high-speed KTX trains.

The other big difference with the Namane Card is that you can personalise your card by uploading pictures of yourself or other designs you upload using the Namane app. The Namane Card is available from locations across Korea, including inside major train stations, department stores, stationery stores, and book shops.

Price: ₩7,000

Where to buy: Convenience stores, subway, Namane machines, online from Klook

Korea Tour Card

The Korea Tour Card was designed for tourists travelling to Korea and provides not only with the standard T-Money functions, but also offers lots of discounts. This is the version of T-Money that’s available at Incheon Airport.

Price: ₩4,000

Buy: Incheon Airport

Discover Seoul Pass

The Discover Seoul Pass is a city-pass that offers free entry to more than 50 premium attractions in Seoul. It also includes T-Money functions to allow you to travel on public transport without having to buy one. Discover Seoul Pass comes in flavours of 24, 48, and 72 hours validity, and only starts counting down starting when you use it for the first free benefit.

Price: from ₩50,000

Buy: Online from Klook

Creatrip X Bellygom Transportation Card

The Creatrip X Bellygom transportation card is a colourful travel card from Creatrip, which really stands out thanks to its bright pink picture of Bellygom, a popular Korean character that’s big on YouTube. With the ‘Decoration Card’ feature, you can make your own special transportation card, too. This makes it a lovely souvenir of your trip.

Please note: this card is a version of Cashbee and can be used and charged in all the same locations as Cashbee can.

This card comes with ₩5,000 loaded, which means you don’t need to worry about charging it at the airport (which should be done in cash). Simply collect the card at Incheon Airport (either terminal) or Gimpo Airport and then take the all-stop train straight into Seoul with it. It’s really convenient.

You can use the Creatrip X Bellygom transportation card to pay for public transportation across Korea, as well as in franchises such as Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins, Angel In Us, and Lotte Mart.

Price: Around ₩10,200 (includes ₩5,000 balance)

Buy: Online from Creatrip.

Climate Card Tourist Pass

The Climate Card Tourist Pass is a new public transport card that will give visitors unlimited access to Seoul’s subway, bus system for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days. n addition to getting unlimited access to Seoul’s public transport, tourist pass users can also benefit from the same discounts for cultural and performance facilities that are applied to the Climate Card, such as 50% off admission to the Seoul Science Center and Seoul Grand Park.

For more information, please read the Climate Card Seoul Tourist Pass Guide.

Bonus: Driving in Korea

If taking public transport is not your style of travelling, consider driving in South Korea. You’ll get to see things outside of the bigger cities, and also added convenient of not following rigid timetables. Check out our guide on driving in Korea for foreigners!

Tip: The Discover Seoul Pass includes a free Airport Express journey from Incheon Airport to Seoul. This can be useful to get yourself into the city before you top-up the T-Money balance on the card. Find out more tips and ways to use the pass in my list of Discover Seoul Pass itineraries.

Is The T-Money Card Worth Buying?

So, if you’ve read all this and you’re still not sure if you should get a T-Money Card or not, here is a simple summary to show why you might want to get one. This is based on my personal experience of using a T-Money Card, as well as opinions shared from members of my Korea Travel Group.

For travellers who want to pay for transportation across Korea’s bus and subway networks, the T-Money Card will be perfect and an essential purchase. However, if you’re looking for a way to pay for goods, services, and attractions in Korea, then the T-Money Card isn’t really what you’re looking for.

Instead of the T-Money Card to pay for things in Korea, I recommend getting a WOWPASS or Wise Travel Money Card. These are both more convenient and allow you pay in Korea using your card’s balance, which can be topped up in foreign currency (WOWPASS) or by bank transfer (Wise).

Learn more: Check out my guide to using Wise in Korea to learn how to get a Wise card, who is eligible, how to activate the Wise card, and all the ways it can save on your travel money expenses.

The T-Money Card is really useful and I can’t imagine travelling in Korea without one. I’d recommend buying one when you arrive in Korea. If you want to know more about T-Money and its alternatives, you can find lots of useful information in my complete South Korea travel guide.

Tips For Using T-Money In Korea

Here are a few quick tips to help you use the T-Money Card more effectively when in Korea:

1: Check the remaining balance as you travel so that you don’t run out by accident.

2: Don’t top-up too much. I’d recommend adding ₩50,000 starting balance and then ₩20,000 – ₩30,000 each time after that. Maybe less if you don’t plan to travel much.

3: Buy one as soon as you arrive. Get a Korea Tour Card at Incheon Airport.

4: Make use of the T-Money Card when you are shopping in convenience stores. You’ll end up with a lot less change.

5: Store the T-Money Card away from other cards that can be used to pay by touch as card readers can be confused by multiple cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, here are a few FAQs about using the T-Money card in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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