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South Korea

Seoul travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-08

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Common scams in Seoul

11 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Seoul, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Seoul — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Seoul

6 places worth your time in Seoul, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Seoul →

Top food to try in Seoul

6 dishes to eat in Seoul, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Seoul →

Traditions and customs in Seoul

5 customs and traditions in Seoul — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Seoul →

Getting around Seoul

How to travel around Seoul — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Seoul: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Seoul

2 laws, restrictions, and customs in Seoul that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Seoul — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Seoul

3 emergency services in Seoul you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Seoul — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Seoul

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Seoul — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Seoul — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.