Korea Travel Tips

Travel Tips

1. 01

   Travel Tip #1

   Prepare a Credit Card!

   For my first tip, I want to encourage you to get a credit card that works reliably internationally. I currently use a Barclays card, which generally works quite well in Korea, although there are still occasions when it fails. Before that, I had a Visa World Card that worked 100% of the time. Sadly, they no longer serve German customers, so I had to find an alternative.

   Having a reliable credit card will make your life a lot easier while travelling around Korea. Not just when it comes to paying for things, but also when trying to find ATMs that actually accept your card.

   I’d recommend looking into larger international banks and, if possible, checking online to see how well their cards work in Korea. You can also try asking your bank, but they’ll probably tell you that everything should work just fine anyway.

   A friend I travelled with in 2024, for example, got a card from a big German bank. They assured him there shouldn’t be any issues. But… there were. Quite a lot of issues, actually. His card barely worked anywhere, so I usually ended up paying for both of us. He always sent me the money afterwards, of course, so it wasn’t a big problem for us. But if you’re not lucky enough to have someone with you who can cover the bill, things can get awkward pretty quickly. In restaurants, for example, you usually pay after eating. Finding out that your card doesn’t work when you’re trying to pay for a meal you’ve already finished isn’t exactly a situation you want to find yourself in.

   So make sure you get a good international credit card before your trip. If possible, bringing a second card as a backup is also a good idea.

   And if you’re worried about getting a credit card because you might end up spending more than you intended, consider looking for a prepaid card that you can gradually top up while waiting for your trip. Just make sure it supports international payments and works in Korea as well.

2. 02

   Travel Tip #2

   Get some Cash!

   Having some cash on hand in Korea is a very good idea. You should at least have enough to cover a meal in case your card doesn’t work. But even aside from that, it can come in handy in all kinds of situations. If you want to eat your fill at the various street food markets, having some cash is essential, for example. Vintage stores and souvenir shops also sometimes offer small discounts if you pay in cash. You’ll also need cash to top up your T-money card at many of the usual charging locations. More on those cards later. For now, just remember that carrying some cash is useful.

   You can either prepare some Korean won in advance by ordering it through your bank or simply withdraw it from an ATM once you arrive in Korea. If you decide to get your cash beforehand, make sure the exchange rate is reasonable. One thing I definitely wouldn’t recommend is exchanging your money at one of those airport currency exchange counters without checking the rates first. I don’t know if it’s the same everywhere, but at Frankfurt Airport in Germany, the rates I’ve seen are basically robbery. It’s just not worth it. Instead, I’d recommend withdrawing some cash from an ATM at Incheon Airport once you arrive. Just make sure to check the withdrawal fees and exchange rate.

   Having some cash with you will make your life a little easier. You might be perfectly fine without it for a few days, but sooner or later, you’ll probably run into a situation where you need it. And if you somehow end up not needing it at all, you can always spend your leftover won on some souvenirs in Insadong (인사동) on your last day!

3. 03

   Travel Tip #3

   Pack some Headphones!

   If you happen to visit Korea without really being a fan of K-Pop, having a good pair of headphones can come in handy. Walking around an area like Myeongdong, for example, means you’ll be blasted with K-Pop left, right, and center.

   For people who enjoy it, like me, this can be an awesome way to discover new songs. But for people who don’t particularly like it… well, it might get a little overwhelming.

   Having a pair of headphones you can put on while browsing the shops can make walking around these areas a lot more pleasant. This is obviously more useful if you’re travelling alone, since you don’t have to worry about keeping up a conversation with someone else, but it’s still a nice option to have.

   As an additional bonus, if you bring a pair of wired headphones, you might also be able to use them with the audio guides available at many museums in Korea. That way, you won’t have to rely on whatever headphones they provide.

4. 04

   Travel Tip #4

   Get your Internet sorted!

   When you’re out and about in Korea, you’ll probably want to use your phone quite a bit. While plenty of places offer free Wi-Fi, there will be times when you’re walking around without access to it. And you don’t really want to stop by a café every time you need to send a message or look up where to go next. So having a working SIM card or eSIM is definitely useful.

   I’ve tried all three of the big providers you’ll find at the airport: SK Telecom (SKT), Korea Telecom (KT), and LG U+. Personally, I’ve had the best experience with LG U+. No spam calls or messages, and fast, reliable internet basically everywhere.

   The downside is that LG U+ only seems to serve customers with Apple or Samsung phones at their airport counters. At least that’s what the employees told me when I tried getting an eSIM from them during my last two trips. Since I’ve been using a Google Pixel for a while now, I ended up going with the other two providers instead. They weren’t bad by any means, but I did get some spam calls, and the internet connection seemed a little less reliable. Then again, all three still offered a much better experience than what I’m used to in Germany.

   I recommend getting a data eSIM if your phone supports it. That way, you can keep your original SIM and phone number active while using the Korean eSIM for internet access.

   If you speak a bit of Korean or have a Korean friend, having a local phone number might come in handy as well. Just keep in mind that a tourist SIM with a Korean number generally won’t allow you to verify your identity on Korean apps or websites. For that, you usually need a phone number registered to your Korean resident identity. A tourist number can still be useful for calling friends or restaurants to make reservations, though. Just make sure your plan actually supports outgoing calls.

   You can either prepare your eSIM beforehand using services like Airalo, for example, or get one at one of the airport counters. Personally, I usually just get mine at the airport.

   For longer stays, it might also be worth checking out the mobile carrier stores in the city. Last time I got my eSIM, the employee told me I could save quite a bit of money by going to a regular store instead. I haven’t tried that myself yet, but it’s definitely something to look into if you’re planning to stay for a longer period.

   Oh, and one last thing! Make sure to disable data roaming on your German SIM before your trip to avoid any unexpected roaming charges. Some travel eSIMs actually require data roaming to be enabled on the eSIM itself, so check the instructions for whichever provider you choose!

5. 05

   Travel Tip #5

   Prepare your Apps!

   If you want to make your life easier once you arrive in Korea, there are a few apps that you should install before your trip. Today, I’m going to focus on three that I think are particularly useful. The first one I would consider absolutely essential, the second is incredibly helpful, and the last one is useful if you plan on making connections while you’re there.

   The first app, and an absolute necessity in my opinion, is Naver Map. Well, either that or KakaoMap. Both work well, but I personally prefer Naver Map. When you arrive in Korea and try using Google Maps, you’ll quickly notice that it doesn’t work nearly as well as you’re probably used to. I still remember trying to use it during my first trip in 2019 and getting absolutely stumped. It told me there was no way to reach my destination on foot when I could literally see the building right in front of me. Thank God a good friend told me to forget about Google Maps and install Naver Map instead. Navigation is very reliable, and so is the information about public transportation, including the subway. If you have the sense of direction of a dead cat, like I do, don’t go exploring without this app!

   The second app is called Kakao T, formerly known as Kakao Taxi. This neat little application helps you get from point A to point B when public transportation isn’t an option. Say, for example, you went to a bar in Itaewon (이태원) and it’s now 2 AM. Depending on where you’re staying, you might still be able to catch a night bus. But otherwise, you might be stuck walking or trying to find a taxi yourself. This is where Kakao T comes in handy. You simply select a pickup location and destination and request a taxi. You can also register a credit card for automatic payment, which means you won’t have to worry about paying the driver directly at the end of your ride. The app also shows you the estimated fare beforehand, making it much easier to avoid misunderstandings or unexpected surprises. At this point, I want to make it clear that all the taxi drivers I’ve personally met in Korea have been really nice. I don’t think any of them would have tried to pull anything funny. But the truth is that problems can happen, and being a tourist who doesn’t speak the language might make you a little more vulnerable. If using an app can help prevent those situations, then I think it’s definitely worth doing.

   The final app is KakaoTalk. It’s Korea’s main messaging app, basically the Korean equivalent of WhatsApp, LINE, or WeChat. If you happen to get to know someone while you’re out and about, KakaoTalk and Instagram are probably two of the easiest ways to stay in touch. So installing KakaoTalk and setting up your profile before your trip is a good idea. That way, when it’s time to exchange contact information, you’re already prepared.

   Oh and one thing I almost forgot. If you don’t happen to speak Korean, having a translation app like Google Lens or Papago will come in handy! So installing either of these will help you navigate situations where English isn’t available.

   I definitely recommend installing these apps before your trip. There are plenty of other useful apps as well, but we’ll talk about those another time!

6. 06

   Travel Tip #6

   Prepare for Public Transportation!

   My final tip for today has to do with public transportation, which is incredibly good in South Korea’s bigger cities. Seoul in particular has one of the best systems I’ve experienced. And to keep everything running smoothly, the payment system is also pretty convenient.

   There’s something called a T-money card, which is a rechargeable transportation card that you can top up at convenience stores or dedicated charging stations in subway stations. This is also where having some cash comes in handy. While some newer payment options have become available, topping up a regular physical T-money card is still mostly cash-based, especially if you’re using a foreign credit card. You’ll want to get one of these cards as soon as you arrive in your destination city. You can buy them at convenience stores, and places like ARTBOX even sell some with really nice designs. Once you’ve charged it, you’re all set!

   One important thing to remember is that every person should have their own transportation card. If you’re travelling with friends or family, make sure everyone gets one. You can’t simply tap the same card multiple times to let everyone through the subway gates, and having your own card also makes tracking fares and transfers much easier.

   To use it, simply tap your card on the reader when entering and leaving the subway. If you take a bus, make sure to tap it on your way out as well. That’s important for getting the correct fare and any applicable transfer discounts.

   Now, if you’re planning to spend a bit more time in Seoul, there’s another transportation card you might want to consider. It’s called the Climate Card (기후동행카드), and it basically works like a flat-rate pass for public transportation. These can be a little harder to find since not every convenience store carries them, but you can also buy them at designated machines in subway stations. Once you have your card, you’ll need to charge it using one of the supported charging machines. For visitors, there are several short-term passes, including options for 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. You pay the amount for your chosen period and can then use the card as often as you want on the covered public transportation services. This is especially useful if you spend your days travelling from one area to another.

   There used to be a 30-day option, which is the one I always used. Unfortunately, that option was discontinued in October 2026. A new Climate Pass has taken its place, but this one is aimed at eligible Seoul residents and requires registration through the K-Pass system. Foreigners generally need a Foreigner Registration Number to sign up, so regular tourists can’t take advantage of it. If you’re planning a longer stay and meet the requirements, though, it’s definitely worth looking into!

   One important thing to keep in mind is that the Climate Card only works on certain routes and in specific areas. The short-term passes are mainly intended for transportation within Seoul, and not every subway line or station is covered. If you travel outside the supported area, you might find yourself stuck at the exit gate and have to ask an employee for help. How do I know? Well… it happened to me. I took the subway from Seoul to Suwon (수원) without realizing that my Climate Card wouldn’t cover the entire trip. Luckily, an employee helped me sort everything out. These days, Naver Map can help you check whether a journey is covered by the Climate Card, which makes things a lot easier. Back when I got myself into that situation, that wasn’t the case.

   Oh! And another thing! When using the subway, make sure to tap your card properly and give the gate enough time to open. If you try to rush through, you might end up with the system registering your card without the gate opening properly. Trying to tap again can then result in an error because the system thinks you’ve already checked in. I’ve run into this a few times myself, and a station employee actually showed me a simple trick to fix it. Tap your card on the reader on the opposite side of the gate to check out, then try entering again. If you can safely reach that reader, this might save you from having to call an employee every time it happens. Of course, if that doesn’t work or you’re unsure what’s causing the error, just ask a station employee for help. They’re used to dealing with these kinds of issues, and it usually isn’t a big problem to sort out. I’ve used this trick several times myself and even helped other tourists who were struggling with the same issue. And since you now know about it, I expect you to help out the next confused tourist you see struggling at the gate!