Choosing where to stay and how to get around Seoul

T-money card: buy, top up, tap

One card for subway, bus and most taxis. Buy it at any convenience store or a subway machine — ₩3,000–4,000 for the card, then top it up with cash at the same counter. An empty card will not tap.

Tap in and tap out on the subway. On buses tap when you board and again when you get off — that is what gives you the free transfer within 30 minutes.

Left-over balance under ₩20,000 can be refunded at a convenience store minus a ₩500 fee.

• Any GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24 or a subway station machine
• Card ₩3,000–4,000 (not refundable) + top-up in cash at the same counter; some machines take cards
• As of Sept 2026: subway from ₩1,550, city bus ₩1,500 by card; free transfers within 30 min
• Tap in AND tap out on the subway; tap when boarding a bus and again when leaving to get the transfer discount

Getting around: subway first, taxi at night

The subway covers almost everything a visitor wants. Naver Map or Kakao Map (both have English) give exits and platform numbers — Google Maps does not route Korean transit well.

Taxis are cheap by Western standards: base fare ₩4,800 for the first 1.6 km, most rides across the centre ₩10,000–20,000. Kakao T and Uber both work with foreign cards; show the Korean address from our card.

After midnight the subway stops; N-numbered night buses and taxis (20% night surcharge) take over.

• Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes (English UI); Kakao T or Uber for taxis
• Subway roughly 05:30–00:00 (lines differ); night buses (N routes) run after that
• Base fare ₩4,800 for 1.6 km (as of Sept 2026); 20% surcharge 22:00–04:00; most rides across the centre ₩10,000–20,000
• Rush hours 07:30–09:30 and 18:00–20:00 on lines 2 and 9; 'deluxe' black taxis cost about 1.5x

Luggage storage at Seoul Station and the airport

Seoul Station has lockers on the KTX level and next to the subway; pay by card, ₩3,000–6,000 per 4 hours depending on size. Big suitcases go to the manned counter.

If you land early or leave late, a delivery service (T-Luggage, Safex) moves bags between the airport, stations and hotels for about ₩20,000 a bag — book the day before.

• Seoul Station: coin/card lockers on level 2 (KTX concourse) and B1 near the subway; ₩2,000–6,000 per 4 hours by size
• Seoul Station: KTX ticket counters and the KTX waiting hall are on level 2 (the main concourse up the escalators from the plaza); self-service ticket machines are on levels 2 and 3 next to the gates. Buying in the 코레일+ app skips the counter (needs verification)
• Larger bags: T-Luggage manned storage at Seoul Station and both Incheon terminals; hotel delivery Safex ₩15,000–30,000 a bag (airport drop-off by 15:00, hotel after 19:00), T-Luggage ₩17,000–31,000 weekdays
• Lockers 24 h; manned counters roughly 07:00–22:00

Where to stay in Seoul, by neighbourhood

Myeongdong and Jongno put you within walking distance of the palaces, markets and the airport train. Hongdae is the late-night, student side; Gangnam is the business side with the big hotels; Itaewon is the international-food strip.

If you arrive late or leave early, a hotel near Seoul Station means the AREX Express is a 5-minute walk.

• Myeongdong · Jongno/Insadong · Hongdae · Gangnam · Itaewon — see the stay-areas card
• First visit: Myeongdong or Jongno. Nightlife: Hongdae. Business/K-pop: Gangnam. Late flight in/out: near Seoul Station (AREX)