Tips to Know Before Visiting Korea

General Travel Tips

Currency: ₩ (Won)

South Korean won or KRW is the official currency of South Korea. The paper money comes in denominations of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000 won bills, and coins come in 1, 5, 10, 100, and 500 won.

Cash/Card: Bring Both

Although Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, smaller restaurants, outdoor markets, and public transportation fares require cash. I recommend exchanging currency at your bank before traveling or use a debit card with no foreign ATM withdraw fees for the best exchange rate.

Travel Visa: Depends

You may need a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), depending on your nationality. Check the official website here. Be careful because there are a lot of fake websites, so only use the official site to apply.

Money Exchange: Everywhere

Don’t exchange at the airport because they give the worst rates! Instead, exchange in the city at banks and/or in the Myeongdong area. There are several exchanges with a reasonable rate next to the Chinese embassy in Myeongdong.

Wi-Fi: Available Citywide

Wi-Fi hot spots and cybercafes are easily found in the city. Seoul has over 20,000+ free Wi-Fi spots. I connected to Wi-Fi in Seoul in the subway stations, especially en route! I still recommend getting an eSIM/SIM for

eSIM/SIM Card

The easiest option is to get a prepaid tourist SIM or eSIM from providers like SK Telecom, KT, or LG U+. Most travelers only need a data-only eSIM, which works perfectly for maps, messaging apps, and social media. You do not need a Korean number, unless you plan to make calls, book tours by phone, or use services that require SMS verification.

Plans are affordable, easy to pre-order online, and can also be picked up right at the airport on arrival. Coverage is excellent nationwide, so a data-only plan is typically the most convenient choice, with the option to add a Korean number if your trip requires it.

Plug Type: Type C & F

Type C is a widely used plug internationally and can fit into Type F as well. The standard voltage is 220 V at a frequency of 60 Hz.

Escalators: Keep Right

Keep to the right on escalators if you're standing, and go on the left side if you are walking up. You'll see people line up on the right side to get on the escalator during peak hours, but you can skip ahead on the left if you're okay with walking.

Public Restrooms: Available Citywide

Public restrooms are available citywide, and you won’t have trouble finding one! They can be found in most restaurants, coffee shops, stores, malls, gas stations, other public buildings, and bus and subway stations.

Drinking Age: 19 Years Old

You need to be at least 19 years old to drink alcohol in Korea.

Also, it is legal to drink alcohol in public, but make sure to still be decent to avoid a fine or visit to the police station!

Smoking in Public: Some Areas

You need to be at least 19 years old to smoke, and it is not legal to smoke at bus stops, plazas, restaurants, bars, cafes, and other public areas. However, you can find designated smoking areas around the city.

Tap Water: Safe to Consume

Tap water is safe to use and to consume. But if you’re still unsure, many places (restaurants, offices, buildings, hotels, etc.) have water coolers.

You can also buy water bottles at convenience stores or markets. But I recommend limiting the use of this to save the planet!

Weights & Measurements: Metric System

South Korea uses the metric system.

Temperature = Celsius (°C); Weight = Grams ; Length = Meters

Get the Discover Seoul Pass

Use the Discover Seoul Pass and get access to visit 50+ major attractions in Seoul. You can visit as many attractions as you want within 24, 48, or 72 hours. With the pass, you’ll be able to enter attractions without waiting in lines, and you can also use this as a transit card for buses and subways across South Korea.

Get the Royal Palace Pass

If you want to visit the palaces, I highly recommend getting the Royal Palace Pass to visit 4 palaces and the Jongmyo shrine for a discounted price (currently ₩10,000). The pass can be purchased at any of the palaces or the shrine and is valid for 1 month.

Use KTX and Book on LetsKorail.com

If you’re planning to visit a different city in Korea and book a single train, you should book a train on the official Korail website. Other sites often overcharge.

If you are booking multiple trains, you can get a KTX pass on Klook.com. Klook will give you a Korail number which you can use to book multiple reservations on the Korail website.

Eating Alone Can Be Difficult

Certain restaurants like KBBQ, hot pot, stews, dak-galbi, or bossam may be difficult for solo diners to dine at since they generally have a 2-person minimum per table, especially during peak times. Solo diners should look for restaurants with single-portion menus, eat at off-peak times, consider street food, or try these 2 restaurants, Wangbijip or Honggo, for solo KBBQ.

Wear a Hanbok for Free Palace Entrances

If you want to immerse yourself in Korea's culture, I highly recommend wearing a hanbok! There are a lot of hanbok rental shops in Korea where you can rent and wear one by the hour or day, or you can reserve a hanbok in advance - I have a few hanbok rental place recommendations in this guide. If you wear one, you can even get into the 5 palaces in Seoul for free!

Visit Convenient Stores

Convenience stores (CU, 7/11, and GS25) in Seoul are budget-friendly, and many are open 24/7, making them the perfect option for breakfast and a late snack when most restaurants are not open.

Bring Your Passport When Shopping

You need to bring your passport with you when you shop! Many stores in Seoul offer immediate tax refunds if you have your passport, so you don’t have to go early to the airport to claim it.

Etiquette to Know

General etiquette to know before visiting Seoul

Remove Shoes at the Entryway

Remove your shoes at the entryway when entering any residence, temple, or traditional restaurant with seats on the ground.

Greet Others with a Bow and Handshake

Greet people you meet with a short bow and your hands to your side or a soft handshake using both hands to show respect. The deepness of the bow signifies the level of respect. A deeper bow with the torso at 45 degrees can be used to express sincere gratitude or apology.

Be Mindful on Transportation

Don't eat, take phone calls, or speak loudly in front of others while riding on public transportation. You could receive stares from locals for doing that, so just try to be mindful!

Use Both Hands When Giving/Receiving Something

It can be considered rude to use only one hand, so make sure you use both hands to show respect to the other person. This often comes up when exchanging items and cash at cash registers.

Tips Are Not Necessary

Tipping is not necessary in Korea and can sometimes even be considered rude, so try not to be too pushy if you do try to tip! Some restaurants and hotels may also already charge a 10% service fee.

Pointing is Considered Rude

Refrain from pointing with your index finger because it is considered rude. Instead, point using the whole hand with the palm facing down.

Avoid Too Many Public Displays of Affection

Koreans (and Asians in general) tend to be more conservative than in Western countries, so you won’t often see excessive public displays of affection. Quick pecks and hugging are generally okay, but save the rest for private!

Avoid Jaywalking

You can receive a ticket for jaywalking, and it's often frowned upon by others. You’ll notice that locals will often wait for the light to turn green to cross even if cars aren’t present.

Dining Etiquette to Know

Eat After The Eldest

Koreans show a sign of respect to their elders by allowing them to start eating first. If eating with people senior to you, allow them to eat first before you.

Don’t Finish the Shared Dishes

When eating in a group, try not to be the last person to finish the shared dishes. Usually, this is left for the host or somebody that had liked the particular dish.

Avoid Sticking Utensils Up From Your Bowl

efrain from leaving your chopsticks or spoon sticking up from your bowl of rice. Instead, place utensils in their original position on the table or leave them on the rim of the bowl.

Don’t Pour Your Own Drink

When drinking alcohol in a group, pour for other people because it is considered bad luck to pour your own drink. Also, hold the cup or bottle with both hands when receiving or pouring a drink. It's also considered polite to turn your face when you are drinking.

Use a Spoon to Eat Rice

Use a spoon instead of chopsticks to eat rice in a bowl.

Leave Bowls on the Table While Eating

Leave bowls on the table for the duration of the meal and instead bring yourself and your utensils to the bowl to eat from it.

When to Visit

I recommend visiting during spring or fall! However, you can’t go wrong with any depending on what you are looking for.

Note: There are two additional peak travel times in Korea, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving ~ September) and Seollal (Lunar New Year ~ February). During these holidays, accommodations can be expensive and hard to find.

Spring: March to May (10-23°C and 50-73°F)

Spring is a popular time to visit Seoul because the weather is pleasant, and there are mostly clear days. It is also cherry blossom season during April, and the streets will be lined up with beautiful blooming trees. Festivals also occur during this time, so there will be plenty of things to do.

Summer: June to August (27-30°C and 80-86°F)

Summer in Seoul is pretty hot and humid. You can expect rain during that time with July being the wettest month and August being the hottest month. However, summer is a good time to go to enjoy its lively nightlife and outdoor activities.

Fall: September to November (5-20°C and 41-68°F)

Fall is another popular time to visit because the weather is cooler, and the sky is clearer. October is the best time to visit during fall because the weather is more temperate and the fall foliage of yellow and red autumn leaves can be seen. The weather is generally better earlier in the fall.

Winter: December to February (-10-4°C and 14-40°F)

Winter is the coldest time to visit Seoul with temperatures dropping below freezing. Sometimes it snows in Seoul, and January is the coldest month to visit during the winter. If you can handle the cold, winter is a great time to visit for winter sports and festive holiday decor!