Transportation


Getting around the city


Getting around Seoul is relatively easy thanks to well-planned and efficient roads and public transport system. Visitors can get around by driving, taxis, or public transportation (bus and subway), but should note that traffic can get heavy in the city. We recommend that visitors download the following apps that will be introduced in this page:


Navigation: Naver Map

Driving: Naver Map, Waze

Ride hail: Uber (UT in Korea), Kakao Taxi


Driving


To rent a car, renters must be at least 21 year-old and have at least one year experience driving. We recommend visitors to rent a car using rental sites like Rentalcars.com, QEEQ or Klook, or rent from Lotte rent-a-car or Avis Car Rental that offer English platforms and customer service.


To go through the rental process in Seoul, visitors will need the following:

  • Passport

  • Local driver's license (depends on the rental company)

  • International driver's license/permit (IDP)

      • IDPs should be issued by country under Geneva or Vienna Convention

      • EU International Drivers Licenses cannot be used in Korea; EU IDL holders must present an IDP to pick up their cars

      • US citizens must issue IDPs from the American Automobile Association (AAA)


Note that you must have all 3 documents with at any given time when driving.


Navigation for driving


Finding a good navigation app in English can be a little tricky here as all addresses are registered in Korean. According to foreign drivers in Korea who do not speak the language, Naver Map or Waze are the most reliable English-friendly options. Download Naver Map from the App Store or Google Play Store, or download Waze from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Driver Service


Visitors can choose to get around Seoul in comfort with a private driver that speaks English – from the airport to your hotel, hotel to Frieze Seoul at COEX, and anywhere else in Seoul and beyond. Below are some of the more well-known international driver services.

International Taxi

Book onlineNo.: +82 1644-2255

Regular taxi (~4 people)

₩60,000/3hrs


Minivan (~6 people)

₩80,000/3hrs


₩20,000/additional hour

Klook Private Car Charter

Book online

9-hour Seoul City Chartered Tour: ₩287,800 ~

Airport pick up/drop off: ₩85,000

Outside service hours: ₩50,000/hr

Additional hours: ₩25,000/hr

Seoul Private Driver

Book onlineNo.: +82 70 7717 9646

Minivan: ₩28,000/hr

Minibus: ₩35,000/hr


Airport transfer

From Incheon: ₩88,000 ~

Gimpo: ₩75,000 ~

Taxi


Taxis are prevalent in Seoul and are a convenient and relatively affordable choice. However, they can sometimes be an inefficient choice due to Seoul's traffic. Taxis may be difficult to flag down in Seoul due to high demand, especially during peak hours, so make sure to plan ahead.


  • All taxis in Seoul accept cash and most accept credit card and prepaid T-money

  • All taxis are metered in Seoul

  • Available taxis show a red light, reserved taxis show a green light, and unavailable taxis show no light

  • Most taxi drivers do not speak English

  • Although illegal for taxi drivers to refuse passengers, it is not uncommon to be refused a ride for any number of reasons such as:

    • Destination is in a different direction from where the driver wants to go

    • Requested destination is too close or far away

    • Driver is uncomfortable with the language barrier


If staying at a hotel, it is recommended to request a taxi in advance at the concierge and ask them to write out the destination in Korean

Regular Taxi

  • Orange, silver or white

  • Cheapest taxi with base rate of ₩3,800

  • 20% higher rates during peak hours and past midnight (11pm – 4am)

  • Can be flagged down on the streets or called via ride hail apps mentioned below

Deluxe Taxi

  • Black with golden stripes with Deluxe Taxi insignia on each side

  • Fares 40-50% higher than regular taxis with base rate of ₩6,500

  • More spacious seats, no late-night surcharges

  • More English-speaking drivers and safer service

International Taxi

Book onlineNo.: +82 1644-2255Hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 | Sat 09:00-13:00

  • Black or orange with International insignia on each side

  • Driven by drivers who are proficient in either English, Japanese or Chinese

  • Usually operate on a reserved basis, but an sometimes be hailed on the streets

Ride Hail


Of the many ride hail apps available in Seoul, we recommend visitors use those introduced below as they are the most efficient and foreigner-friendly.


  • Simply input your starting point and destination – you do not need to communicate your destination with your driver

  • During peak hours, rides can take long to book, be difficult to book and and traffic gets heavy, so make sure to book your rides with ample time

  • Rides can get especially difficult to book on weekend nights at crowded night life hubs, taking from 30 minutes to an hour

  • While you can sometimes search in English, names and addresses of many locations will only be searchable in Korean. To make your search easier, this guide includes both the Korean and English names of all places mentioned in each page.

UT (Uber) taxi in Seoul

UT (우티: 우리들의 택시)

Uber is available in Korea as UT, in conjunction with TMAP. If you do not have Uber on your device, download UT/Uber from the App Store or Google Play Store, and sign in and verify your number to begin using their services.


  • If you already have Uber on your device, the icon will change to UT and the app will relaunch as UT in Korea

  • Uber may be the more convenient choice for visitors as it allows payment with foreign cards

  • Less drivers under UT compared to Kakao Taxi


Kakao Taxi

Kakao T (카카오 T)

Kakao T (Kakao Taxi) is the most widely-used ride hail app in Korea that offers the most drivers in its system. Download Kakao T from the App Store or Google Play Store, and sign in and verify your number to begin using their services.


  • Although Kakao T offers different types of taxis, only General Request is available for foreigners as others require in-app Korean card payments

  • Select Pay to the driver under Select payment method as in-app card payments are only available for Korean cards


To book a General Request taxi, follow the steps below.

Select Taxi
Search starting point and destination and select General Request
Select Medium or Large taxi and Select Payment Method
Swipe right to select Pay to the driver, Apply, and Request your taxi

T-money Card for Public Transporation


We recommend that visitors purchase a rechargeable T-money card that can be used on Seoul's subway, bus systems and select taxi rides. Subway stations and bus stops are generally within a 10 minute walk of most destinations in central Seoul.


  • Sold for ₩2,500 at convenience stores: CU, GS25, Ministop and 7-Eleven

  • Lower rates than using cash or purchasing single journey tickets to get around the city

  • Transfer discounts limited to four times a day, within a transfer time limit of 30 minutes (up to 1 hour from 21:00 to 07:00 the next day)

Charging your card

  1. Cashier at retail convenience stores

  2. Ticket vending machines located in all subway and train stations *Recommended (English option)

  3. Newsstands near a bus stop with a T-money sign, usually next to subway station exits and entrances


Checking the balance on your card

  1. Ticket vending machines located in all subway and train stations

  2. Remaining balance displayed on card readers when tapped on on subways and buses

Purchase and charge your T-money card at a machine in stations
Charge your T-money card at a newsstand near a bus stop
Interior of Seoul subways
Tap your T-money card at a subway station

Subway/Underground


The city has its fair share of traffic jams that cause significant delays, so the clean and extensive subway system is a safe and reliable option. Visitors who only intend to utilise the subway once or twice can purchase single journey tickets at any station.


  • Colour-coded 10 subway lines

  • Operation hours are 5:30am to approximately midnight

  • Estimated travel time between stations is 2˜3minutes

  • Base rate: 1,250 KRW T-money and 1,350 KRW cash for adults


To use cash, purchase a single journey ticket from ticket vending machines

    • Fare depends on the final destination, in addition to a 500 KRW deposit

    • Deposits can be refunded by returning the card to a Card Refund Deposit machine at the destination station

Bus


Although visitors generally tend to find the subway system easier to navigate with clearer way-finding in English, public buses are also an efficient way to get around. Passengers pay with T-money cards as they board the bus, and must tap-out before they alight.


  • Operation hours of most routes are 4:30am to approximately 1:00am

  • Night buses run nine routes exclusively from midnight to 5:00am

  • Base rate: 900-2,300 KRW T-money and 1,000-2,400 KRW cash for adults, depending on bus circuit


Colour-coded bus circuits

  • Green: within one neighbourhood (adults base rate: 1,200 KRW T-money, 1,300 KRW cash)

  • Blue: between neighbourhoods across town (adults base rate: 1,200 KRW T-money, 1,300 KRW cash)

  • Yellow: short circuits and tourist destinations (adults base rate: 1,100 KRW T-money, 1,200 KRW cash)

  • Red: different cities (adults base rate: 2,300 KRW T-money, 2,400 KRW cash)

Colour-coded buses in Seoul
Tap your T-money card when boarding and alighting a bus