Korea
Travelling in Korea
Choose a place to stay, plan your transport and prepare for everyday travel in Korea.
Before you go
Entry paperwork, where to stay and planning a palace visit.
Where to Stay in Seoul for Your First Trip
Compare Hongdae, Myeongdong, Seoul Station, Itaewon, Gangnam and Jongno by your plans. Check transport, room details and arrival arrangements before booking.
Read the guide →Before you goDo You Need a K-ETA for Korea?
Check the 2026 K-ETA exemption countries, whether you need an e-Arrival Card, and when to complete each form on the official websites.
Read the guide →Before you goHanbok Gets You Into the Seoul Palaces Free
What to wear for free palace admission, what happened at the Gyeongbokgung checkpoint, and why Changdeokgung rear garden needs a separate ticket.
Read the guide →Before you goKorea in Autumn: September, October, November
September is still summer by the numbers and wetter than October and November together. October is the mild month. The foliage peaks late in October, and palace nights end on the second.
Read the guide →Before you goKorea in Winter: December, January, February
Fine particle levels run about 45 per cent higher from December to March, and Seoul's winter nights average below freezing. What the air grades mean, the short days, the skating rink, and Lunar New Year 2027.
Read the guide →Before you goKorea in Summer: June, July, August
July alone brings Seoul more rain than January to May combined, and nobody forecasts when the wet spell starts. The heat warnings changed in 2026, and palace nights take a summer break.
Read the guide →Before you goKorea in Spring: March, April, May
What the cherry blossom headlines really measure, how far the date moves, why yellow dust and fine dust are separate problems, and why blossoms and a palace night cannot share one trip.
Read the guide →Before you goBest Time to Visit Korea, Month by Month
Almost three quarters of Seoul's rain falls between June and September. The whole year from the official normals in one table, with the blossom, foliage and palace night dates that shift each year.
Read the guide →Getting around
From the airport to the city, then on to your next stop.
Incheon Airport to Seoul: Train, Bus or Taxi
Compare AREX trains, airport buses, taxis and private transfers by your Seoul destination, luggage and arrival time. Check the route before booking.
Read the guide →Getting aroundHow to Buy and Use a T-money Card in Korea
Buy and load a T-money card, understand Seoul transfer rules, or compare the supported iPhone option before choosing how to pay for transport.
Read the guide →Getting aroundWhat to Do With Your Bags in Korea
Compare hotel storage, station lockers, staffed counters and luggage delivery around where you need your bags next.
Read the guide →Getting aroundHow to Use the Seoul Subway
Find your platform and exit, use the ticket gates, understand transfer charges and plan a Seoul subway journey with luggage.
Read the guide →Getting aroundCan Foreigners Use Kakao Taxi in Korea?
Use Kakao T as a visitor, find its direct payment option, or compare k.ride and Uber for your account, language and payment needs.
Read the guide →Getting aroundBooking KTX Trains in Korea as a Visitor
Book KTX through the official English site, choose the right departure station, and compare alternatives when seats are sold out.
Read the guide →Money and payments
Cash, bank cards and paying with your phone.
Do You Need Cash in Korea?
When to carry Korean cash, how to approach ATM and card payments, and why buying a transport card is different from loading its balance.
Read the guide →MoneyApple Pay and Amex in Korea: What Works
Using Apple Pay or Amex in Korea? Understand contactless acceptance, why a foreign card may be refused, and which backup payments to bring.
Read the guide →SIM cards and WiFi
Choose a connection that fits your phone and your trip.
Maps and apps
Find places, follow directions and translate on the move.