Getting around · Seoul · South Korea
Getting around Seoul
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 서울특별시 소방재난본부 (Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters), Public domain
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Quick answer
Seoul's subway, with more than 20 lines including suburban routes, is the fastest way around, backed by an extensive bus system. Signs and announcements are in Korean and English. For navigation, use Naver Map or KakaoMap rather than Google Maps, which gives limited walking and driving directions in Korea. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- ICN, GMP
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- T-money card
Ways to get around
Metro
Trains run from about 5:30am to around midnight and are frequent, clean and inexpensive, with distance-based fares and free transfers to buses.
Tap out at the end of every journey; transfers to buses within about 30 minutes are discounted or free.
Bus
Blue trunk buses, green local buses and red express buses cover the city and suburbs. Board at the front, tap your card, and tap again at the back door when you get off.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced; a late-night surcharge applies. Many drivers speak little English, so show your destination in Korean.
The Kakao T app lets you call a taxi with the destination entered in advance.
Walking
The palace district, Insadong, Bukchon and Myeongdong are walkable, but the city is large and hilly, so combine walking with the subway.
Cycling
Seoul's public bike-share, Ttareungyi, has docks along the Han River cycle paths and across the city.
Train
KTX high-speed trains leave Seoul and Yongsan stations for Busan in about 2.5 hours and Jeonju in about 1.5 hours.
Tickets and passes
T-money card
A rechargeable transport card sold and topped up at convenience stores and station machines, valid on subway, buses and many taxis across Korea.
From the airport
Incheon International Airport is about 50 km west of the centre. AREX express trains reach Seoul Station non-stop in about 45 minutes, all-stop trains take about an hour, and airport limousine buses serve major hotel districts. Gimpo Airport, for domestic and some regional flights, is about 30 minutes from the centre by subway.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and public transport covers the city and most day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| DMZ | Full-day organised tour | Organised tour from central Seoul |
| Suwon Hwaseong Fortress | About 1 hour by subway or train | Subway Line 1 or Shinbundang Line, or train to Suwon Station |
| Nami Island | About 1.5 hours by train and ferry | ITX-Cheongchun train to Gapyeong, then taxi or bus and ferry |
| Incheon | About 1 hour by subway | Subway Line 1 to Incheon Station |
| Everland | About 1 hour by express bus | Express bus from Gangnam or central Seoul, or subway and Everland Line |
| Jeonju Hanok Village | About 1.5–2 hours by KTX | KTX from Yongsan Station to Jeonju |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Seoul?
No. Traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and public transport covers the city and most day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Seoul?
Incheon International Airport is about 50 km west of the centre. AREX express trains reach Seoul Station non-stop in about 45 minutes, all-stop trains take about an hour, and airport limousine buses serve major hotel districts. Gimpo Airport, for domestic and some regional flights, is about 30 minutes from the centre by subway.
+What is the best way to get around Seoul?
Metro: Trains run from about 5:30am to around midnight and are frequent, clean and inexpensive, with distance-based fares and free transfers to buses.