In this guide, we will go over how to get around in Seoul! I am Korean and have been taking public transportation in Seoul since I was a little kid (it’s a safe city!).

The efficient and extensive public transportation system is one of the things I am most proud of and miss now that I have moved to NYC for work.
Here is my complete guide on how to travel around Seoul!
Planning a Seoul trip? Check out the 10 Best Non-Touristy Things To Do in Seoul!
FAQs about getting around in Seoul
Does Google Maps work in Korea?
I want to point out that Google Maps actually doesn’t really work in Korea. The public transportation navigation is usually solid, but the walking directions are usually incomplete.

Like… Google Maps will just draw a line between two locations without showing you the street directions, and the walking time estimates are therefore unreliable.
Instead, I highly recommend downloading NAVER Map. It’s the best map app for Seoul in my experience.
I’ve tried the rival KakaoMap, but there are much fewer reviews on it if you’re interested in looking up restaurants and other venues.
Is it easy to travel around Seoul?
Yes, the public transportation system in Korea is amazing. There is no need to rent a car if you are visiting Seoul.
The subway is super reliable and gets you pretty much anywhere. The bus system is also reliable and will get you into the nooks and crannies of the city.

Let me add, there’s also reliable public wifi at subway stops and on the bus in Korea, which comes in handy if you’re navigating and planning your trip with on your phone.
The main downside of getting around in Seoul is that taxis can be very hard to catch during rush hour. I would recommend sticking with public transport especially during the morning (around 8am) and after-work (around 6pm) rush hours.

How much is public transportation in Korea?
Both the subway and bus cost about $1 USD per ride. Transfers between the subway and bus are free!
- Subway: 1,400 won (~1.05 USD) for adults
- Bus: 1,200 won (~0.90 USD) for adults
How to get around in Seoul
1. Primarily take the Subway!
I recommend taking the subway as your main mode of transport. The subway is super reliable in Korea and gets you pretty much anywhere you need to go.
The Korean subway is pretty much as extensive as it gets, with over 300 subway stations in Seoul alone, along 9 different lines.
In addition, the subway is affordable at about $1 USD per ride, which includes transfers onto the bus!
Plus, if you’re planning to venture outside of Seoul, know that there are a total of 768 subway stations across 23 different train routes in Korea, so you’ll most likely be covered.
In addition, the trains and stations are clean, and several stations have bathrooms that are generally well-maintained.
Is the Seoul Subway Pass for Tourists worth it?
There is a T-Money pass for tourists, but it’s likely that it’s not worth your money, unless you plan on taking the subway or train more than 7 separate times per day.
I recommend that you buy a regular T-Money subway card and top it up. It costs about 3,000 won (~2.25 USD) and you can find them at pretty much any convenience store (just ask the store associate for one!).
2. Buses are convenient
Even though the subway system is very extensive, there are times that the bus will be more convenient because your trip is super short, or your destination is right near a bus stop.

Other times, it may make sense to pair the subway with a bus.
At large, there are larger city buses that travel major highways and roads, and small green “village” buses that operate within neighborhoods.
Large City Buses
Of the larger city buses, there are a few different colors. Most relevant to you will likely be the blue and green large buses.

The blue buses run longer distances than the green buses, whereas the green bus routes are shorter and are focused on connecting major transport hubs like subway stations and major bus terminals.
Cost of Blue & Green Buses: 1,200 won (~0.90 USD)
Lastly, the large red buses are commuter buses that connect neighborhoods outside the city center to Seoul.
Cost of Red Buses: 2,300 won (~1.73 USD)
Small Village Buses
The smaller green “maeul” buses, or village buses, are designed to connect Seoul residents with transport hubs like subway stations, and therefore usually operate within a neighborhood or a smaller area.
The village buses might come in handy to you if you’re traveling during a colder or warmer month and prefer to be on a climate-controlled bus rather than walk 20-30 minutes.
Cost of Village Buses: 1,100 won (~0.83 USD)
3. Grabbing a Taxi can be hard
Is there Uber in Seoul?
Yes, Uber is available in Seoul. If you’re on a US or non-Korean app store, you can download Uber and use it as usual.
If you’re on the Korean app store, you can access Uber by downloading the UT App, which is the Korean joint-venture with Uber.
Most Koreans use KakaoTaxi

Most Koreans, though, use KakaoTaxi as their main taxi app. Note that you’ll need a Korean SIM card to sign up for KakaoTaxi, since you’ll need a working Korean phone number to sign up.
If you want to get around via taxi, you will need to ensure you get a Korean SIM, since you need a working Korean phone number in order to sign up for the taxi apps.
4. Walking around is generally safe

The last option, of course, is to walk around. From my lived experience, I have found that Seoul is generally a very safe city.
I have walked around at night, alone, and have felt safe. In addition, I have felt safe taking public transport in the later hours.
How to get around in Seoul (Conclusion)
In this article, we went over how to get around in Seoul, South Korea.
- Primarily take the Subway!
- Buses are convenient
- Grabbing a Taxi can be hard
- Walking around is generally safe
Thanks for reading my guide on how to get around in Seoul!
Now that you know how to get around, check out the 5 Best Neighborhoods in Seoul!
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