Seoul, South Korea
Getting around Seoul
How to travel around Seoul — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.
Last updated 2026-08-08
1. Seoul Metro
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Extensive, cheap, signed in English, and with platform screen doors throughout.
Cost: KRW 1,400 base fareTip: A T-money card covers metro, bus and taxis and is sold in every convenience store.
2. T-money card
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Stored-value card used across almost all transport nationwide.
Tip: Transfers between bus and metro within 30 minutes are free or discounted with the card, not with single tickets.
3. Kakao T
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The standard app for hailing licensed metered taxis.
Watch out Avoids the fixed-rate 'tour taxi' offers made to visitors at tourist sites.
4. Airport Railroad (AREX)
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Direct express from Incheon to Seoul Station in 43 minutes.
5. City buses
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Colour-coded by route type, and cheaper than the metro for short hops.
Tip: Blue is long-distance across the city, green is local feeder, red is suburban express.
Booking apps in South Korea
Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the
journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page —
lookalike apps are themselves a scam.
The standard Korean app for hailing licensed taxis, plus bikes and parking.
Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Dispatches a metered licensed taxi, avoiding the fixed 'tour taxi' rates quoted to visitors.
Journey planning that works far better in Korea than international map apps.
Stored-value card for buses, metro and taxis nationwide.
Official booking for KTX high-speed and regional rail.
More about Seoul