Korea
Our home base. Deep, first-hand guides and travel helpers.
Travel Kit for Korea
Basics
See allEntry, money, SIM cards, apps and safety.
Apps You Need in Korea (and Why Google Maps Isn't Enough Yet)
The handful of apps that make Korea easy for visitors: maps that actually give directions, taxi apps that take foreign cards, and translation, set up before you land.
Entry to Korea: K-ETA, Arrival Card and Customs (2026–2027)
What to sort out before entering Korea: visa-free stays, the K-ETA and its temporary exemption ending 31 December 2026, the e-Arrival card, customs allowances.
eSIM vs SIM Card vs Pocket Wi-Fi in Korea (2026)
How to get mobile data in Korea: tourist SIMs and eSIMs with a Korean number, international eSIM apps, pocket Wi-Fi rental at the airport, and free public Wi-Fi.
Korea Travel Checklist: What to Sort Out Before You Fly
Everything to sort out before a trip to Korea: K-ETA or arrival card, mobile data, apps, money, transit card, plugs, emergency numbers and what to book ahead.
Getting Around
See allAirports, transit cards, subway, taxis and trains.
Getting Around Busan: Subway, Airport Transfers, Buses, Taxis and Passes (2026)
How to get around Busan: which subway lines reach the beaches and markets, fares, Gimhae Airport transfers, the city tour bus, taxis and the Haeundae beach train.
Gimpo Airport to Seoul: Train, Subway and Taxi (2026)
Gimpo Airport to Seoul: the AREX train (₩1,750 to Seoul Station), subway Lines 5 and 9, taxi fares to Hongdae, Myeongdong and Gangnam, and transfers to Incheon.
How to Use the Seoul Subway: Fares, Tickets, Transfers and Etiquette (2026)
A practical guide to riding the Seoul subway: current fares, transit cards vs single tickets, transfers to buses, finding your line and exit, and lost property.
Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX Train vs Airport Bus vs Taxi (2026)
The ways from Incheon Airport to central Seoul compared by price, speed and luggage: AREX express and all-stop trains, limousine buses, night buses and taxis.
Where to Stay
See allNeighborhoods compared, by travel style.
Staying in Gangnam: Pros, Cons and Who It Suits
Is Gangnam a good place to stay in Seoul? Gangnam Station, Garosu-gil, Apgujeong and COEX compared, links to Suseo and the express bus terminal, and the trade-offs.
Staying in Hongdae: Pros, Cons and Who It Suits
Is Hongdae a good place to stay in Seoul? Buskers and nightlife, Yeonnam-dong and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Mangwon Market, the direct airport train, and the noise.
Staying in Myeongdong: Pros, Cons and Who It Suits
Is Myeongdong a good place to stay in Seoul? What the area is like, getting around, nearby sights like Namsan and Namdaemun Market, and who should stay elsewhere.
Staying in Seongsu: Seoul's Café and Pop-Up District
Is Seongsu a good place to stay in Seoul? The old shoe-factory district turned café and pop-up store hotspot, Seoul Forest, getting around, and weekend crowds.
Itineraries
See allDay-by-day plans you can load into the planner.
Best Day Trips from Seoul: DMZ, Suwon, Nami Island and More (2026)
Easy day trips from Seoul: the DMZ on your own or with a tour, Suwon's fortress, Nami Island, the Korean Folk Village and Incheon, with prices and closing days.
One Week in Korea: A 7-Day Seoul and Busan Itinerary
A realistic week in Korea: four days in Seoul, the KTX to Busan, then beaches, markets, Gamcheon village and a cliffside temple, with hours, closing days and transport.
Seoul in 3 Days: A First-Timer's Itinerary (with Opening Hours)
A realistic three-day Seoul plan for a first visit: palaces and Bukchon, Namsan and Dongdaemun, Seongsu, Hongdae and a Han River sunset, with hours and closing days.
Seoul in 5 Days: An Itinerary with Palaces, Gangnam and the Secret Garden
Five days in Seoul: the classic first three days plus Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, Jongmyo and Ikseon-dong, then Gangnam's COEX library, Bongeunsa and Seoul Sky.
Seasons
See allWeather, blossoms, foliage and festivals by month.
Best Time to Visit Korea: Month by Month (with 2027 Holidays)
When to visit Korea: Seoul's weather month by month, the rainy season, blossoms and autumn colors, and the 2027 public holidays when trains sell out and shops close.
Korea Cherry Blossoms 2027: When to Go and Where to See Them
When cherry blossoms bloom in Seoul, Busan, Jinhae and Gyeongju, how early they came in 2026, the main festivals and when the 2027 forecast comes out.
Deals
See allDiscounts and welcome perks for foreign visitors.
Help
See allEmergency numbers, hotlines and lost property.