Plan your first trip to Korea.

Start here

1. Prepare

   Before you go

   K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card, cash, apps, SIM, plugs and tax refunds: the checklist.

2. Land

   Incheon Airport to Seoul

   AREX train, airport bus, or taxi, plus what to do if you land after the last train.

3. Pay

   T-money card

   One card for subways, buses and taxis in every city. Buy it, top it up with cash, get the balance back.

   Where to buy one: Incheon AirportSeoul Station

4. Talk "This one, please"이걸로 부탁드려요

   Phrase cards

   Phrases for T-money top-ups, restaurants, taxis and shops. Tap one to show it full screen.

Where to go

Not sure when? See Korea by month for weather and festivals.

• 

  Seoul

  Palaces, markets and neighborhoods, all on the subway.

  • Getting there
  • Where to stay
  • Sights
  • What to eat
  • Day trips
• 

  Busan

  Beaches, seafood markets and hillside villages on the coast.

  • Getting there
  • Sights
  • What to eat
• 

  Jeju

  No subway: plan by area, and by bus or rental car.

  • Getting there
  • Sights
  • What to eat
• 

  Gyeongju

  The old Silla capital: royal tombs, temples and night views.

  • Sights
  • What to eat
• 

  Gangneung & Sokcho

  East coast beaches, coffee and seafood, and Seoraksan.

  • Sights
• 

  Ulleungdo & Dokdo

  A volcanic island by ferry: coastal walks, island food, and the boat to Dokdo.

  • Sights

For K-pop fans

• Busan Metropolitan City, KOGL Type 1 BTS places in Korea The HYBE building and its pop-up store, the trainee-days neighborhood, the Gamcheon mural in Busan, the Jumunjin bus stop, and what to expect at a Korea concert.
• Moonhayun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) K-pop concert tickets Where to buy, ID checks, and getting to the venues.

Once you're in Korea

• 어썰트 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) Taxis and taxi apps Fares, k.ride and Uber, and paying with a foreign card.
• Narubaru7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) Naver Map in English Directions, subway exits, and live bus times, where Google Maps falls short.
• Money exchange and ATMs Where to change cash and which ATMs take foreign cards.
• Narubaru7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) Tax refund for tourists Get the VAT back: limits, kiosks, and the airport.
• Narubaru7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) eSIM, SIM or pocket Wi-Fi Which one to pick, and when you need a Korean phone number.
• ITN Co., Ltd. / Gongu, Korea Copyright Commission (CC BY) Olive Young The big stores, tax-free at the till with your passport, and sale months.

This season

• Seoul Tourism Organization, KOGL Type 1 Christmas in Seoul Christmas markets, light festivals, and the New Year bell at Bosingak.

What's changed lately

• Suneung Day, November 19: Later Work Hours, Extra Subway Trains, and Adjusted Flights The national college entrance exam (suneung) is on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The government asks workplaces to start at 10:00 or later, and Seoul-area subways run extra trains from 6:00 to 8:10.
• National Park Trails Close November 15 to December 15, Including Parts of Seoraksan The Korea National Park Service closes 148 trail sections from November 15 to December 15, 2026 for the fall wildfire season. 115 are fully closed and 33 partly. The other 515 sections stay open.
• ITN Co., Ltd. / Gongu, Korea Copyright Commission (CC BY) Halloween Weekend in Seoul: Crowd Control in Itaewon, Hongdae, and 12 Other Areas Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. From October 30 to November 1, 2026, Seoul manages crowds most closely in 14 busy areas. On October 31, Itaewon-ro is closed to cars.

See all travel updates

Tools

• Your name in Korean Type your name and see it written in Hangul, block by block, with audio.
• Phrase cards Phrases for T-money top-ups, restaurants, taxis and shops. Tap one to show it full screen.