Things to Know Before Visiting Seoul

Below, I’ll dive into and answer the most common questions people ask when visiting Seoul. I'm currently living in Seoul, so these are the tops tips I would give to my bestie who wants to come here. I hope this information can help make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

When to visit

Seoul has 4 distinct seasons, two of which come with their own extreme challenges: winters are brutally cold and summer is monsoon season so it very hot and humid. It is recommended to travel to Seoul during the mid-seasons such as Spring or Fall where the weather is warm and not as extreme as it can be during Winter or Summer. Furthermore, these seasons offer the most beautiful landscapes with the iconic Spring cherry blossoms or the changing yellow and red leaves during Fall. If you're looking to avoid the busiest period, which is during the summer, it's best to come between April and May or September and October. If you are only able to visit during the Summer, the weather will be unpredictable and probably very hot and humid.

How long to stay

I recommend to stay in Korea for around a week, if possible, and if you have more time, 10-14 days would be great to truly see and do everything without feeling rushed. But personally I don't think a long stay in Seoul can ever get too long ~ hehe. Seoul is a city of culture, in addition to the historical sites, there are a handful of very interesting museums worth visiting, not to mention all the temporary expos and pop ups at various exhibitions centers all over the city. The coffee culture makes up for about 80% of local Koreans' social activities and lives, so it's a must to carve out some time to go cafe hopping during your time in Seoul.

How to get around

There are different ways to travel through Seoul, and it all depends on what you're comfortable with and where you are going. One of the best ways to get around is by using the bus or subway system. Seoul’s buses and trains are operated by several different companies, but you can pay for every public transportation service with a T-money card. To purchase a T-money card, all you need to do is to go to any convenience store across the city. There, you will be able to purchase it for ₩2500 and then charge it with credit in cash directly in the convenient store with the cashier or at any subway station kiosk. It is possible to buy a single-ride ticket at the station each time, but T-money cards can be used in taxis, subways and buses across the country, and they can be purchased in addition with other special deals for foreign tourists.

Another way of getting around is by walking, if you are planning to stay in the same area all day, walking from one location to the other is very easy as the city is very walkable!

To get around easily by walk, bus, or subway, I highly recomend having either Kakao map or Naver map on your phone as it is better referenced than google map.

Safety

Seoul is known for being one of the safest places to travel to. The locals are friendly and if you try to speak very basic korean sentences, they will do their best to help you out. It's also a great place for solo travel and meeting new people. While it is common for women to walk around at night by themselves without any fear, ladies, I would recommend you still take the same precautions you would in any other country.

Language

I would advise you to come prepared with some basic vocabulary just in case because many Korean do not speak eEglish. In the touristy parts of Seoul, many people speak basic/broken English and there shouldn’t be too much trouble communicating. However, when you travel to less touristy areas, you may encounter locals who do not speak English. It's always useful to have a translation app to help you or to learn some words in Korean, which the Koreans highly appreciate! For that I recomend the app Papago, which gives a much more accurate translation that google translate. You can also use the photo feature, which can translate a picture of a menu or sign.

Currency

The currency used in Seoul is the Korean Won (KRW). The cash comes in notes of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000. Just to give you an idea, approximately $1 USD is equivalent to 1,340 KRW.

Cash

It's always a good idea to have at least a little bit of cash with you in Seoul. Even if most places use card payment, your foreign card may not work in some places. Furthermore, some areas such as markets, underground shopping malls or streetfood stands only accept cash. There are ATMs everywhere in Seoul but I highly recomend to check before hand in which banks you can use your cards as some ATMs may not work. Remember to call your bank ahead of time if you plan to use your card from your home country so that they don't block your card due to suspicious acticity in another country.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected nor common at all.

Wifi

Most places have Wi-Fi in Seoul (even the buses and the subway). If you need to have internet access on your phone, it's best to buy a local SIM card. The most convenient and easiest way to buy a SIM Card is to buy it online in advance and pick it up at the airport.

To buy it offline, you can purchase it at Incheon Airport or outlets run by Korean mobile service providers: KT, SKT, LG U+. Major convenience stores, such as GS25, CU, Seven Eleven, also provide SIM cards.

This website explains very well how to do it:

All About Korea SIM Card 2023

Costs

Even if the pandemic has made the usual prices go up a little, you can still find cheap alternatives to nearly everything. You ca have dinner for as little as $5 to $10, or you can spend over $100 depending on where you go and what you eat. Accomodation in Seoul ranges from $47 to $200 per night with an average of $58.

For transportation, if you plan to get around primarily via public transit, you might want to consider the tourist-only regional MPASS card. This pass can be purchased in varying durations (ranging from ₩15,000 for one day to ₩64,500 for seven days) and allows for 20 rides per day.

Concerning cultural sights and tourist activities, most of them are affordable and you'll be able to enter for a few dollars. If you happen to be in South Korea on the last Wednesday of the month, more than 2000 cultural places such as museums, art galleries, performance halls, movie theaters, sports facilities and heritage sites across the country give free or discounted admission.

Concerning shopping, your budget is up to you! … but it is good to know that foreigners who stay less than six months in South Korea are eligible for a refund of the 10% sales tax paid on purchases. These purchases must be more than ₩30,000 and less than ₩500,000 and can be made only at participating tax-free stores. You can claim your reimbursement immediately at the tax-free store itself, at a tax-refund booth outside airports and ports, or at the tax-refund counter or kiosk inside major airports. You’ll need your receipts and your passport. So you might want to check that out if you want to purchase a designer item.

In average, the price of a 7-day trip to Seoul is for a solo traveler is around $1,700 (including plane tickets bought during the cheapest period) to $2,400 (when the plane tickets are on the expensive side).