Planning our family trip to South Korea was one of the most time consuming experiences I’ve ever had putting together an itinerary—and that’s coming from someone who prides themselves on being able to organize a weeks-long trip to several European countries in about three hours flat.
With Korea being such a tech-advanced country, I was shocked by how long it took me to figure out basic things like buying train tickets, reserving passes for attractions and even just plotting landmarks on a map to plan our sightseeing routes.
That’s because a lot of the tools we depend on here in North America like Google Maps don’t always work in Korea, which means learning how to use a whole new app (Naver, anyone?) while also trying to decipher the Korean versions of words and cursing when you get to a final confirmation page and your credit card doesn’t work—fun, right?!
Anyway, on that note I’ve compiled a list of tricks and tips I learned along the way to make things a bit easier for planning your own South Korea trip itinerary, as well as what to expect when you arrive in this otherwise fabulous country.
Cash vs credit cards
Experiences seem to be mixed when it comes to using ‘foreign’ credit cards in Korea.
All of the hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops we went to there took cards, as did taxi drivers. However, we needed cash at the street food markets and to get on buses (unless you have a T-Money card–more on that later) so I suggest having some won on hand.
Where I did encounter issues with my ‘foreign issued’ card was when trying to reserve tickets for Busan’s popular Sky Capsule online, and apparently lots of tourists have the same problem. So, it can be hit or miss and in that case you’d better hope you know someone with a Korean card who can help!
To try and negate this issue while in country, I primarily relied on my Wise credit card since it works a bit differently than a traditional Visa or Mastercard by automatically withdrawing the money from your account in the same currency (in this case, won) similar to a debit card.
I highly recommend using one abroad since there’s no annual fee, no foreign exchange fee and you’ll always get better rates than a traditional credit card.
Internet access in South Korea
Having internet access on the go is essential here, especially when you’re trying to figure out which subway stop to get off at, arrange an Uber or explain directions to a driver. WiFi in public places like the airport, malls or train stations didn’t seem to work consistently, so you’ll definitely want to set up a data plan ahead of time.
When traveling internationally I often buy an eSim through Airolo, which I did for this trip and spent about $40 for 10 days of unlimited data in South Korea which worked flawlessly all around the country.
Globe Guide tip: Use code TAMARA4142 at checkout for a discount on any Airolo purchase
Essential apps in South Korea
Naver Map
As mentioned, Google Maps is pretty useless here and Apple Maps didn’t work well either, so you’ll want to download and get familiar with Naver. Along with directions it provides public transportation details, estimated costs for taxis versus transit, and real time traffic updates.
Kakao T
Also outlines all transport options/costs, and can order taxis. Set up your credit card in the app ahead of time, and it will handle payment that way just like Uber. Uber also works in South Korea if you prefer that instead, but actually sends the same taxis that Kakao T uses anyway so there’s not much difference.
Papago
Translates from voice memos, by typing text into it or holding the camera up to images like menus and signs. We ended up using this a lot to communicate with drivers, and when I had complex questions for people where I knew ‘charades’ wouldn’t cut it I would just type it into Papago and show them the translation.
KORE
It isn’t always easy to find public restrooms while travelling, but luckily there’s an app for that. KORE has more than 60-thousand locations around the country listed, shows whether a restroom has an emergency bell and entrance CCTV, if there are accessible stalls, a baby-changing table or nursing room, and is totally free.
You can rent a hanbok, and it will be awesome
If you’ve come across any Instagram content from South Korea, chances are the person in it is wearing a hanbok—the outfits are so darn photogenic!
This traditional Korean clothing is usually worn by Koreans during holidays, birthdays and weddings and has a long historical and cultural significance. Women wear full colourful skirts over a petticoat, a cropped blouse and intricate hair pieces, while men don pants, long draping jackets and a hat.
Visitors can get in on the fun by renting a hanbok in touristy spots like Gyeongju, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok village in Seoul, and Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan.
Our family opted to try this out in Seoul: I thought it would be a bit hokey, but we just couldn’t resist when we came across a rental shop that had an outfit small enough for our seven-month-old baby!
We paid about $20 each for a two hour rental, which felt pretty rushed to try and snap photos while also touring Gyeongbokgung Palace. Instead, I’d recommend booking here to get a full day rental for the same price so there’s enough time to wear it in multiple locations.
The outfits are scratchy, hot and uncomfortable, but I regret nothing–the photos of us all dolled up are absolutely hilarious and a core memory. Also, admission to tourist sites is usually free for those wearing a hanbok, plus there are so many other people wearing them that no one blinks an eye and you won’t feel silly.
There are Japanese-style toilets
One fun surprise about South Korea is that they have Japanese-style toilets! IYKYK. These were standard in every hotel we stayed in, as well as many public restrooms.
Transportation in South Korea
Public transportation in South Korea is fantastic: stations are safe, well-organized and clean with lots of signage, and the buses and trains leave right on schedule. If only everywhere was this easy!
We relied on a mix of taxis and public buses in Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju, the airport bus in Seoul, and speedy, inter-city ‘bullet’ trains called the KTX. We never had a reason to use the subway, but that’s an option too.
Taxis/Ubers
Taxis in South Korea are plentiful and quite inexpensive compared to what we pay here in North America, so we primarily used these to get around since it was easier with a baby. We rarely had to wait more than a few minutes for one to arrive after arranging it in the Kakao app.
The only place we ran into issues was in Seoul where we got stuck in traffic jams quite a few times (which the underground subway avoids, and public buses have dedicated lanes to avoid the gridlock), so be aware that if it’s a busy time of day it might just be easier to walk.
When we queued up in the long taxi line at Seoul Station with all of our luggage and baby gear, we were shocked to discover none of them would let us in! I guess the drivers felt we had too much stuff (for the record everything fit just fine in every other car we got in), and we were instructed to go to the ‘deluxe’ taxi line instead. So just be aware not to waste your time in the regular line at the main train station if you have lots of baggage.
Buses
While credit cards can be used at subway stations (though foreign credit cards might not always work), you can’t pay for city buses with one. Instead, get a T-Money card at any convenience store or major transportation hub, and load it up with cash.
You ‘tap’ it on the card reader each time you board, and rides cost ₩1.200 (about $1). If you purchase a physical Visit Busan or Discover Seoul pass to save on attractions, those also work as a transportation card once you add money to it.
If you don’t have T-money and need to take the airport limousine bus in Seoul (₩17,000 each way, which is about $15 per person), you can buy a ticket at the office right when you come out of the arrivals area at the airport. Like most local buses in Korea drivers can only accept payment with T-money or cash, so if you don’t have any and are heading from the city to the airport you can ask to pay by card upon arrival.
KTX trains
I was so impressed with the inter-city train stations when we took trips on the bullet train between Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju. Not only were our trains always on time, but there was at least 15 minutes notice about which track it would be on as well as where to stand depending on which car your seat was reserved for. Europe, take notes!
Seats can be booked one month in advance on the official Korail website or app: whatever you do, don’t accidentally use the RailNinja or KoreanTrain.com sites since they’re way more expensive. If you plan on moving around a lot, you may save money by purchasing a Korail Pass instead of individual tickets.
While it’s feasible to buy a ticket at the station just a few minutes before departure, some busier routes like Seoul to Busan sell out so you’ll want to confirm seats ahead of time if you’re on a schedule.
When booking, you’re able to select a First or Second class fare, your seat, and which car you’d like to be in. Some are designated as ‘for conversations and infants’ which families will want to reserve, since the changing tables are close by and no one can give you the side-eye if your child is being loud!
We ended up in all sorts of different seats during our various journeys, and while I can confirm first class feels slightly more elevated they’re not wildly better than a second class fare. Both feature wide seats, charging outlets, tray tables and luggage racks, but on some routes you may want to avoid the backward-facing seats in second class.
There’s no need to print off a physical copy of your ticket, as the electronic confirmation will suffice if staff happen to ask for proof (which likely won’t happen anyway as long as you’re in your assigned seat.)
Is the water safe to drink in South Korea?
There are public water fountains at some of the main attractions and airports in places like Seoul and Busan which are safe to drink from. However, some hotels don’t have potable water right out of the faucet, which means while you’re alright to brush your teeth with it you won’t want to drink any.
In that case, there will likely be a machine next to the sink or at the mini bar for filling up glasses or a kettle with safe drinking water. There are about a zillion convenience stores in Korea, so you’ll have no issue finding a big jug of bottled water if you prefer that instead.
Soju = Yum
The traditional drink in South Korea is called soju, and WOW am I ever a fan. It’s similar to Japanese sake, but with a hint of lemon.
Basically, it tastes identical to my fave ‘vodka martini with a twist’ but goes down smoother, and is a lovely alternative to wine. You can grab a bottle in the convenience store for about $1! To learn more about this rice wine, book this highly-rated tasting tour at the Samhae Soju distillery in Hongdae.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date
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