AREX Express Train (Incheon to Seoul Station)
No intermediate stops to Seoul Station; the fastest rail option. Transfer there to Metro Lines 1 and 4.
Seoul Travel Guide
Seoul mixes royal palaces and hanok alleys with glass towers, K-pop energy and food streets that stay busy past midnight. The subway reaches almost everywhere, making it an easy city for first-timers, shoppers, cafe hoppers and food lovers.
Plan your Seoul trip
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On this page
At a glance
- Currency
- KRW (₩)
- Power & plugs
- 220V · Type C/F
- Driving side
- Right
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Local language
- 한국어
- How long to stay
- 3 to 5 days
Emergency numbers
When to go
April-May and September-November bring mild weather and clear skies. July-August is hot, humid and rainy (monsoon), while December-February is cold and often below freezing. Many shops close over Lunar New Year and Chuseok. Autumn-leaf timing changes every year, so check the official autumn-leaf forecast before you go. According to VISIT SEOUL, the city's official tourism site, the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival begins around early April each year on the Yunjung-ro (Yeouiseo-ro) cherry blossom road, and the stretch from the southern edge of Yeouido Park toward the KBS Annex is the best for viewing. Dates change every year, so check official information.
Monthly climate normals
Warmest: Aug (avg high 30.0°C) · Coolest: Jan (avg low -5.5°C) · Wettest: Jul (414.4 mm)
| High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.1° | -5.5° | 16.8 |
| Feb | 5.1° | -3.2° | 28.2 |
| Mar | 11.0° | 1.9° | 36.9 |
| Apr | 17.9° | 8.0° | 72.9 |
| May | 23.6° | 13.5° | 103.6 |
| Jun | 27.6° | 18.7° | 129.5 |
| Jul | 29.0° | 22.3° | 414.4 |
| Aug | 30.0° | 22.9° | 348.2 |
| Sep | 26.2° | 17.7° | 141.5 |
| Oct | 20.2° | 10.6° | 52.2 |
| Nov | 11.9° | 3.5° | 51.1 |
| Dec | 4.2° | -3.4° | 22.6 |
Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration · Seoul station · 1991–2020 normals —View source
Airport to the city
AREX All-Stop Train
Stops at Hongik University, Gongdeok and other hubs, so it is ideal if you stay along the line. Pay with a T-money card.
Airport Limousine Bus
Drops you at major hotels in Myeongdong, Gangnam, Jamsil and more, handy with heavy luggage. Expect traffic at rush hour.
Gimpo Airport (GMP) Subway
Gimpo connects to Metro Lines 5 and 9 and AREX. The Line 9 express is quick to Yeouido and Gangnam.
Getting around
T-money Card
Buy and top up at convenience stores; works on subway, buses and many taxis. Transfer discounts apply automatically.
Subway
Extensive, clean and signed in English, reaching nearly every sight. Service ends around midnight.
City Buses
Useful for Bukchon, Namsan and the city wall areas. Tap your card when boarding and exiting to get transfer discounts.
Taxis and Ride Apps
Reasonably priced and useful late at night. Apps like Kakao T avoid language issues with addresses.
Ttareungyi Public Bikes
Great for flat routes along the Han River parks and Cheonggyecheon. Buy a pass in the app.
Climate Card short-term pass
1/2/3/5/7-day passes for unlimited Seoul subway and bus rides; check Seoul's official site for prices and coverage.
Where to stay
Myeongdong / Euljiro
Good for: First visit, shopping
Central, with airport buses and easy access to Namsan and Gwanghwamun. Very crowded with tourists.
Hongdae / Yeonnam-dong
Good for: Nightlife, cafes, young vibe
Direct AREX link, plus bars, street performers and indie shops. Can be noisy on weekend nights.
Jongno / Insadong / Bukchon
Good for: Tradition, palaces
Walkable to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and hanok lanes. A good place to try a hanok guesthouse.
Gangnam
Good for: Business, upscale shopping
Modern hotels and restaurants on Lines 2 and 9. Farther from the historic sights north of the river.
Seongsu-dong
Good for: Pop-up stores, trendy cafes
Former factory district now full of design cafes and brand pop-ups. Close to Seoul Forest.
Map of stays in Seoul
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Search stays in Seoul in the appMap & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site
Top sights
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul's grandest palace with a changing-of-the-guard ceremony. Free entry if you wear hanbok; closed Tuesdays.
Gyeongbokgung Palace · Photo: Smin630 / CC BY-SA 4.0 Bukchon Hanok Village
Residents live here, so keep noise down. In the red zone, tourist visits are allowed only from 10:00 to 17:00; check the official notice.
Bukchon Hanok Village · Photo: Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 Changdeokgung Secret Garden
The rear garden of UNESCO-listed Changdeokgung, visited only on timed guided tours (closed Mondays). Autumn foliage slots sell out early.
Changdeokgung Secret Garden · Photo: Tungdangthanh / CC BY-SA 4.0 N Seoul Tower (Namsan)
Best city views, especially at sunset. Reach it by cable car, shuttle bus or on foot.
Namsan Park · Photo: Ken Eckert / CC BY-SA 4.0 Han River Parks (Yeouido, Banpo)
Many people picnic here with delivered fried chicken. The Banpo Bridge fountain runs from April to October.
Gwangjang Market
Classic market famous for mung bean pancakes, mini gimbap and yukhoe. Queues peak at lunch and dinner.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Futuristic curved building with exhibitions and night lighting. Nearby shopping malls open late.
Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake
Korea's tallest tower with a high observation deck. The lake is lined with cherry blossoms in spring.
What to eat
Korean BBQ (samgyeopsal, galbi)
Grill pork or beef at your table, ideally with soju in Mapo or Jongno. About 20,000-30,000 won per person.
Bindaetteok and Yukhoe
Crispy mung bean pancakes and beef tartare at Gwangjang Market, great with makgeolli. About 5,000-7,000 won per pancake.
Chimaek (Chicken and Beer)
Order half fried, half sweet-spicy and eat it by the river. About 20,000-25,000 won per chicken.
Tteokbokki and Bunsik
Spicy rice cakes, gimbap and sundae at snack shops or the Sindang-dong tteokbokki street. About 5,000-10,000 won.
Gukbap and Seolleongtang
Hearty rice soups, perfect for breakfast, and many places are open 24 hours. About 10,000-15,000 won.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 70,000-90,000 won per day: hostel, market food, subway
Mid-rangeabout 150,000-200,000 won per day: 3-4 star hotel, restaurants, some taxis
Comfortabout 350,000 won+ per day: 5-star hotel, fine dining, taxis
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Suggested itinerary
- Day 1
Gyeongbokgung and the guard ceremony in the morning (closed Tuesdays), Bukchon and Samcheong-dong in the afternoon, then Insadong and a pancake dinner at Gwangjang Market.
- Day 2
Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour (closed Mondays), Myeongdong shopping and N Seoul Tower in the afternoon, then drinks in Euljiro's old alleys.
- Day 3
Seongsu-dong cafes and pop-ups, a walk in Seoul Forest, then an evening of street music in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong.
- Day 4
Lotte World Tower observatory and Seokchon Lake, COEX Starfield Library in Gangnam, then chicken and beer at a Han River park.
Day trips
Suwon
From Seoul, take express bus 3000 from Gangnam Station (to the Paldalmun stop) or 1007 from Jamsil Station (to the Hwaseong Haenggung stop), or ride subway Line 1 or the Bundang Line to Suwon Station and change to a city bus (check official info for travel times). Suwon Cultural Foundation's day course combines Hwaseong Haenggung, traditional archery, the Hwaseong Trolley and a fortress wall walk.
Jeonju
Take the KTX from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Jeonju Station (about 1 hr 40 min), or an express bus from Central City Terminal (about 2 hr 40 min), and spend the day in Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jeondong Cathedral.
Gyeongju
Gyeongju works as a day trip from Seoul: the KTX from Seoul Station to Gyeongju Station takes about 2 hr 10 min (per Gyeongju City). Walk Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae and Donggung Palace in the centre, then take bus 10 or 11 to Bulguksa.
Local tips
- Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but some market stalls prefer cash.
- There is no tipping; water and side dishes are free and refillable.
- Local map apps (such as Naver Map or Kakao Map) are handy for transit and walking directions in Korea.
- Leave priority and pregnancy seats on the subway empty.
- Tourists can get VAT refunds on qualifying purchases, instantly in some stores or at the airport; carry your passport.
- Taxis are hard to hail late at night, so install a ride app in advance.
- Bukhansan National Park covers about 76.922 km² across Seoul and Gyeonggi-do and is split by Uiryeong Pass into the Bukhansan area to the south and the Dobongsan area to the north. The highest peak, Baegundae, is 1.9 km one way (about 1 hr 30 min) from the Baegundae Visitor Support Center, or 3.4 km one way (about 2 hr 40 min) from the Bukhansanseong Visitor Support Center via Daeseomun Gate.
- For the Baegundae course, take bus 120 from the Gangbuk-gu Office stop near Suyu Station (Line 4) to the Ui-dong terminus, then walk over 2 km of paved road to the trailhead. For the Bukhansanseong course, take bus 704 from Gupabal Station (Line 3) to the Bukhansanseong entrance stop.
- Below Baegundae the trail turns steep and rocky, and weekend crowds can slow the climb, so plan around sunset. Wear hiking boots and use poles; in winter many sections are icy and crampons are needed. Stay out of closed areas, and check the Korea National Park Service's set entry hours and trail closures before you set out.
- The Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong), begun in 1396 along the ridges of Baegak, Naksan, Namsan (Mongmyeoksan) and Inwangsan, runs about 18.6 km. The official guide suggests walking it in sections: Baegak (Changuimun–Hyehwamun, 4.7 km, about 3 hr), Naksan (Hyehwamun–Gwanghuimun, 3.2 km, about 1 hr 30 min), Namsan (Gwanghuimun–Donuimun site, 6.7 km, about 3 hr 30 min) and Inwang (Donuimun site–Changuimun, 4.0 km, about 2 hr 30 min).
- The Baegak and Inwang sections are rocky with many steps, and once you start there are no toilets or convenience stores for about 2 hours, so prepare in advance. The Baegak section is open 24 hours, but recommended walking hours are 09:00–17:00 (November–February), 07:00–18:00 (March–April, September–October) and 07:00–19:00 (May–August). Part of the inner path on the Namsan section opens only 09:00–18:00. Don't climb onto the wall.
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Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.
ⓘ Photo credits
- Bukhansan · Ingu Kang / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Changdeokgung Palace · kallerna / CC BY-SA 4.0