Getting around South Korea: trains, subways, taxis and apps

T-money: one card for almost everything

A T-money card is the simplest way to pay for subways, city buses and many taxis across the country. Buy and top it up with cash at convenience stores and station machines; transfers between subway and bus are discounted. Since 2026, iPhone users can also pay with a mobile T-money card topped up by Mastercard, and foreign cards are accepted at ticket machines in Seoul stations — though not directly at the gates yet.

Seoul’s Climate Card tourist pass

Launched for visitors in 2024, the Climate Card gives unlimited rides on the Seoul subway and Seoul city buses for a set number of days. It is excellent value if you move around a lot, but it does not cover the Sinbundang line, airport buses or intercity buses.

Subways and city buses

Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju and Incheon all have metro systems with signs and announcements in English. Seoul’s network is vast and fast; buses are colour-coded by route type. Keep your voice down, let passengers off first and leave the yellow and pink priority seats free.

Trains: KTX, SRT and the KORAIL PASS

The KTX high-speed train connects Seoul with Busan in under three hours, and also serves Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangneung and more. The SRT runs similar routes from Suseo Station in southern Seoul.

Foreign visitors can buy a KORAIL PASS, valid on KTX, ITX and conventional Korail trains for a set number of travel days — but not on SRT trains or subways. A pass does not guarantee a seat, so reserve your seats early, especially at weekends and during holidays.

Airport transfers

From Incheon, the AREX Express reaches Seoul Station in about 43 minutes; the all-stop AREX serves Gimpo Airport and Hongik University. Airport limousine buses link Incheon with most districts of Seoul and other cities.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced. The tourism authorities recommend k.ride, Kakao Mobility’s app for foreigners, which works without a Korean phone number and accepts foreign cards; TABA and TADA are other options. The main Kakao T app accepts foreign phone numbers, but foreign cards are often declined — you can pay the driver directly instead.

Map apps: why Google Maps is not enough

For years, Google Maps could not offer full directions in Korea. Korea conditionally approved the export of map data to Google in February 2026, but as of October 2026 turn-by-turn navigation had not been launched. For now, use Naver Map or KakaoMap, both available in English, for walking, transit and driving directions.

Domestic flights and ferries

Flights between Seoul Gimpo and Jeju are among the busiest in the world, with departures all day. Ferries serve Jeju and the many islands off the south and west coasts.